"I dread to think where I'd be without mindfulness" - Pete's story
Pete Turner first encountered mindfulness as part of his Buddhist practice. And there's evidence it can can help people with Parkinson’s manage their symptoms, especially anxiety and low mood.
Pete's interest in mindfulness quickly took on a life of its own, outside of the spiritual. “I liked how secular and neutral it was. Mindfulness doesn’t make fantastical or supernatural claims about what it can do.”
Exercise for the mind
In some ways mindfulness has become a victim of its own success, Pete says: “The word has become a little tired and misunderstood. Lots of things get labelled as ‘mindful’, and people think it’s just another word for ‘relaxing’.”
In reality, it’s not a therapy so much as a practice - a way to exercise the mind and improve the quality of your attention.
“The original name for mindfulness means ‘remembering’,” Pete explains. “It’s about remembering your body and paying attention to what’s really happening, not a virtual or imagined reality.”
That can be especially powerful with a condition like Parkinson’s, which can change so much from day to day. “The only option you have is to look at what’s happening today. I dread to think where I’d be without it,” says Pete.
Good habits
The important thing is to be consistent, and make it a habit, which can take a few months.
“It can be difficult to restructure your life,” Pete admits. That’s why he started a free weekly club called Parky Friends, open to anyone with Parkinson’s, their partners and supporters.
“It’s a club, not a class,” Pete stresses. “We have a good old gab, then I lead a mindfulness practice. People come to share their frustrations, vent about what’s bothering and share tips. And the mindfulness session makes sure it’s a safe, non-threatening place. The isolation for people with Parkinson’s and those looking after them can be awful, but having a regular class gives you a reason to get out of the house.”
Plus you learn a skill that you can take away with you and use anywhere, and which has no side effects!
Online or in-person
The Mindfulness for Parkinson’s programme has been running since October 2019, drawing people from the Oxfordshire and Aylesbury areas.
The programme runs all year round. This includes online weekly drop-in sessions, specific 8-week courses, and less formal sessions.
Mindfulness practitioner Azizë Stirling explains: “Whenever possible the classes are free to attend. And we run a series of 3 online sessions called ‘Introducing Mindfulness for People with Parkinson’s’."
It’s open to people with Parkinson’s, their family, friends, and people who care for them professionally. “The aim is to introduce mindfulness and its possible relevance to people with Parkinson’s, and to give people time to experiment with a variety of the key mindfulness practices and the thinking behind them.”
- Try the Parkinson's UK mindfulness toolkit
- Find real-world or online mindfulness clubs and classes with our local support finder or by calling the Helpline on 0808 800 0303.