An interview with Team Foxflow & Shelley Gilbert: Exercise is my Medicine
Biography
Shelley Gilbert: Being diagnosed with Parkinson’s at age 60, an otherwise healthy and fit 60-year-old, was certainly a big blow. I remembered watching my grandmother’s decline as the disease took over her body and mind and decided definitively that was not going to be me. I was going to fight with as much vigor as possible. My attitude was pretty good, that is until things began to progress. As my physical abilities declined, I became embarrassed to have anyone witness what I thought of as my weaknesses. It was then that I stopped attending yoga classes. I would shake, sometimes fall and I felt like my postures were no longer graceful as I had to fight for my balance in every asana. I began practicing on my own so that I could hide.
Through a very fortuitous turn of events, I now teach yoga to many students 3 days per week, including one class by Zoom for PD-Connect. So instead of hiding in my own little yoga space, I stand up in front of rooms full of people and let them see me shake and fall and be generally ungraceful. And through this, my confidence and acceptance has grown, and I now no longer feel the need to hide my PD symptoms.
Yoga has so many benefits for someone dealing with Parkinson’s. We work on strength, balance and flexibility. I lose my balance so many times per day and I absolutely credit core strength from my yoga practice for the ability to prevent falls. I fight the PD rigidity by working on flexibility and stretching. And the meditative part of my practice helps to ease negative self-talk. I have decided to take this journey medication free and therefore exercise is both my medicine and my job. Yoga helps!
Can you tell me more about your Advocacy?
FoxFlow: FoxFlow is a grassroots, leadership organization that stemmed from the teachings of the Self-Mastery Trilogy. Our mission is to bring awareness to Parkinson’s disease in our community and to help raise funds for a cure.
What is your passion and how did you get involved in Parkinson’s awareness and hope for a cure?
FoxFlow: Our inspiration is Shelley Gilbert. We were tasked as a group in our Self Mastery Trilogy to make a sustainable difference in our community. Shelley is the cornerstone and FoxFlow is the foundation.
What type of goals do individuals with Parkinson’s have when seeing your Advocacy?
-FoxFlow hopes they will want to advocate for themselves as well and to know that yoga will help strengthen them.
Shelley: I hope to encourage PD folks not to give up or give in.
What type of training and how long are the programs?
Shelley: I teach yoga and train at the gym in various modalities every day of the week. Strength, flexibility, barre, Pilates, swimming laps.
What effect can your Advocacy have on an individual with Parkinson’s?
Shelley: Realizing that reliance on meds alone will not cut it, you must use your body as much as possible.
What would you like to see as a future goal for your Advocacy?
FoxFlow would like to see a cure for Parkinson’s! We hope that our event continues for many years to come even after a cure is found.
What events do you participate in?
Shelley: All of the above, plus our signature event “Taking Parkinson’s to the Mat”
Other events: “A Walk in Art” and “Tour de Fox”
How does this also assist the caregivers?
Shelley: My husband is a saint. He started practicing yoga with me and found all the benefits of practicing Yoga. He also signs on for Davis Phinney Care Partner Support group zoom calls.
How can someone get in touch? What is your website?
Instagram: fox_flow12
Facebook page: FoxFlow
Foxflow email: tina@foxflow.org
How can others also become advocates for awareness?
FoxFlow: Participating in our events, volunteering with Foxflow.
What is Foxflow?
FoxFlow is the 501c3 non-profit org created by our leadership group in 2023. 100% net proceeds support Parkinson’s disease research and awareness.
In your opinion, what is the key to effective advocacy?
FoxFlow: Relating to people on a personal level.
How can we better fundraise to support a cure for Parkinson’s?
FoxFlow: Keep growing our event!
What other activities do you undertake to help improve and support your daily living Eg exercise and alternative remedies?
FoxFlow: Eating healthy, exercising, meditating, socializing, stretching and yoga.
Why should people who don’t have Parkinson’s care about this?
FoxFlow: Most likely you or someone you know has it or will be impacted by the diseases.
Have you had any family members or relatives affected by Parkinson’s disease?
FoxFlow: Besides Shelley, who has PD herself, each member of FoxFlow knows someone who has succumbed to the disease in some way.
If you had one song that would tell us more about you or represent your life, which song would it be?
FoxFlow: Imagine- John Lennon
If you had one final statement or quote you could leave for the Parkinson’s community, what would it be?
FoxFlow: “With gratitude, optimism is sustainable.” -Michael J. Fox