Photo: www.soljames.com
April is Parkinson's Awareness Month. And while many of us may take time to learn a thing or two, or even know somebody living with Parkinsons -- for those with the disease, every day they are aware. Parkinson's Disease was first medically described as a neurological syndrome by James Parkinson in 1817, and is a brain disorder that leads to shaking, stiffness, and difficulty with walking, balance, and coordination.
To further discuss the topic, we reached out to a Manitoba musician who has spent some time using her music as therapy, at the U-Turn Parkinson's Wellness Centre in Winnipeg. Heitha Forsyth goes by the stage name "Sol James" as a musician, and we asked Heitha to walk us through her decision to get into music therapy...
Becoming familiar with Parkinson's Disease was a process she learned as she went:
Parkinson's does not discriminate -- anyone can have it:
Through her work at U-Turn, Heitha has been able to connect with a lot of people:
And finally, some thoughts on music, as a healer:
For more details on the U-turn Parkinsons centre, visit: www.uturnparkinsons.org