I was with a group of friends the other day and the topic of exercise came up. The general consensus was that everyone hated it. I kept quiet because, thanks to my husband’s diagnosis of PD, I have come to  understand the value of exercise and, while I may not always enjoy it I work out with him at least 4 days a week. It is one of the few things we can still do together, in many ways it replaces our dancing and the hikes we used to take.

We subscribe to a Parkinson’s program and the coaches all do their best to make the sessions fun. They play oldies music we recognize which makes the hour go by quickly. The classes are through zoom, but the coaches make a point to call out class members and encourage them individually. They share jokes, highlights of their lives and work to build community within the on-line format. They also adapt the programs to meet the needs of a broad group of people with a variety of abilities. My husband works out from a seated position, I can do the same moves standing and get a great workout too.

At a time when my husband and I seem to be losing so much of who we were, it is nice to have something new that connects us. We box together and lift weights. We can talk with and about the coaches, we can complain about sore muscles when we’ve tried too hard. We are both exhausted after a really good session. It’s an activity that we share that is healthy and adaptable. I don’t love exercising, but I do love spending time with my husband. When I look at it from that perspective, I really don’t mind it so much at all.