An interview with Colleen Bridges M.Ed, NSCA-CPT, Parkinson’s Disease Fitness Specialist, 2020 Medfit Education Foundation
Biography
Professional of the Year, Belmont University Occupational Therapy advisory board member, two Rock Steady Boxing affiliates and the owner/head coach of Bridges for Parkinson’s Fitness and Wellness Program, has worked nearly 20 years as a personal trainer, group exercise instructor and fitness consultant specializing in individuals with neurological impairments,
specifically, Parkinson’s Disease.
In 2016, Colleen introduced the Nashville Parkinson’s community to Rock Steady Boxing when she opened her Rock Steady Boxing-Music City affiliate, followed by the second affiliate in Franklin, TN in 2017.
Colleen’s commitment to the Parkinson’s community has led to her involvement in numerous research studies and exercise program development with programs such as Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Johns Hopkins Hospital, www.FitFixNow.com, Let’s FACE It Together and MedFit Education Foundation.
Can you tell me more about your Advocacy?
Bridges for Parkinson’s Fitness and Wellness Program is a unique fitness and wellness program that addresses the whole body not just the Parkinson’s symptoms. If a “fighter” has a musculoskeletal issue, we are going to address that in class with a trainer working 1:1 with them or provide modifications so the “fighter” gets the most out of their exercise therapy. I have a wonderful team of physical therapists, occupational therapists, body work therapists, certified PD Fitness Specialist (group instructors/personal trainers) that assist and/or lead classes.
“Fighters” have access to 29 classes each week at two locations and online (Rock Steady, PWRMoves, Dance, Tai chi, Stretch, Simple Strength). We also provide a members only portal on the www.Bridgesforparkinsons.com website that offers “on-demand” videos of all our classes, videos created by our therapists and me addressing various topics of PD and educational resources.
“Fighters” also have access to our private Facebook page which hosts exercise videos, resources, and much more. And “fighters” can consult with any of our therapist as needed whether at the gym, online or by phone. We make sure they have as many resources available to them as possible.
One feature our program offers ALL “fighters” is 2- half hour neuro-based stretch sessions EACH month with our body work therapist, Theresa. This is free to ALL our “fighters” and has proven to be Invaluable in helping our “fighters” move better which means I can get more out of them in our classes/private sessions.
We also welcome care partners to exercise at no additional cost and offer a care-partner support group. AND…the best part is that we NEVER turn anyone away due to financial issues. Thanks to many private donors, sponsors, grants and our annual “Fighter Fest”, we can make sure the overall cost remains as low as possible and anyone needing financial assistance is not turned away.
What is your passion and how did you get involved in Parkinson’s awareness and hope for a cure?
I began my personal training/fitness career working with the general population and I loved it! A few years into my career a friend of mine was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and asked me to train her.
While I was familiar with MS, I didn’t feel completely qualified to train her. I asked her if I could take some time to learn more by visiting doctors, physical and occupational therapists and earn my Multiple Sclerosis Fitness Certification.
She agreed to wait and once I was prepared to meet her needs, we began working together. I loved seeing her regain her strength, mobility, independence, AND zest for life that ultimately enabled her to do things most of us take for granted, such as caring for her young children.
Over time, physical and occupational therapists and physicians began sending clients to me, those living with MS, post total knee or hip replacements, stenosis and other back problems. All of these issues motivated me to study and push myself to be the best trainer possible for my clients.
And then, AND THEN, in 2007, one of my clients shared that a friend of hers had just been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. She asked if I would be interested in working with him (Dick Fitzgerald). I said “yes, but once again, I wanted to learn about the disease and make sure I would be meeting my client’s needs. A few years later I shared with my client (Dick Fitzgerald) my dream to have a Parkinson’s Fitness and Wellness Center available to anyone regardless of financial status. He said, “keep working hard and you will.” So that is exactly what I did. I attended every Parkinson’s Education class I could find, I spoke to doctors and therapists. Then my mentor shared a research article about boxing, and I thought “hmmm, interesting” So we gave it a try and he loved it! It wasn’t until 2016 that I learned about Rock Steady.
When my client and I started working together in 2007, Parkinson’s research on exercise was limited but I knew that Dr. Jay Alberts of the Cleveland Clinic suggested “forced-intense” exercise as the most effective method for people living with Parkinson’s. With the guidance of my mentor, Dr. Irv Rubenstein (owner of STEPS Fitness), we developed a plan for my client.
The results were astounding! His mobility, flexibility, agility and coordination, strength, and cardio endurance improved significantly! These improvements allowed him to continue traveling internationally, playing golf, tennis, skiing, volunteering with his church and community projects and his precious grandchildren.
From there, my dream began to take shape and six years later, Bridges For Parkinson’s (www.bridgesforparkinsons.com) was born! Today, we have had the honor of serving 800+ “Fighters”, 2 locations, virtual classes, 29 classes per week, 18 coaches with backgrounds ranging from Physical and Occupational Therapy, Body Work Therapist, Certified Parkinson’s Disease Coaches, Tai Chi, Parkinson’s Dance, Music and Movement, Personal Training, Care-partner support group and a Mental Health therapist.
Vanderbilt University Movement Disorder Physicians took note of their patients’ improvements and asked me to join them in a research study focused on the effects of Rock Steady Boxing on the glymphatic system.
In 2020 I was asked to develop the first “Parkinson’s Fitness Specialist” course for personal trainers and group coaches through Medfit Education Foundation. Additionally, I offer additional continuing education for fitness professionals via my website.
This year, I had the joy and honor of awarding my first client/fighter, Dick Fitzgerald, as the first recipient of the “Call On The Fighter” award. Thanks to his willingness to “fight back” he changed the trajectory of my life and the lives of so many!! Truly, it is a joy to work with my “fighters” and they have changed my life. They are a part of my family, and I am so blessed to work with them.
What type of goals does an individual with Parkinson’s have when seeing your Advocacy?
*Live independently
*Reduce or eliminate falls
*Travel
*Continue working
*Resume playing an instrument or be able to keep playing
*Take care of grandkids
What type of training and how long are the programs?
My most popular classes are my RSB classes. I design them from a neuro-perspective with an intense focus on the areas of the brain affected by PD and what they are designed to do but not doing. My programming looks a little different than the normal RSB class, but we still incorporate boxing!
I start with micro-warmup then move to a dynamic warmup, then take the movement patterns we have just performed in the first two sections of the routine, we move into the work phase. We repeat these patterns (or patterns like them) in our strength and boxing/agility exercises. The repetition is fantastic for our fighters and mimics the ADL’s they need to perform outside of the gym. We also have a lot of fun and make sure we laugh a lot! We then stretch and everyone is worn out, but the results are wonderful!
We also offer: Tai chi, PWR Moves, Simple Strength, Music and Movement, Stretch, Body work therapy.
What effect can your Advocacy have on an individual with Parkinson’s?
This is my favorite part!
*Many clients have not had any medication change OR experienced disease advancement in years (6+ years) BECAUSE they follow the Bridges for Parkinson’s Exercise Prescription (i have a course available for coaches to learn about this format)! Doctors always comment on how wonderful it is to see them thriving!
* I have had several earn their driver’s licenses back! That is huge!!! YAY!!
* Doris- she joined in 2022 and was in a wheelchair. NOW…walks on her own, cooks and can go about life independently!
*Many are able to travel the world! One fighter is the head conductor (look for his FB page called “Conducting Parkinson’s- Tom Verrier) at Vanderbilt University! This past year, I believe he went to over 14 countries!!! WOW!!!
What would you like to see as a future goal for your Advocacy?
I would LOVE to get our “Call On The Fighter” music out to the PD community!!! We have 5 songs! We write these songs to bring awareness and encourage anyone living with PD! We would love to see them used at PD events etc…we even perform them at no cost at various PD events here in Nashville and would love to do the same at other locations.
I would also love to see my PD Fitness Specialist Course be used at more universities! The information is vital to helping future doctors, therapists and fitness specialists understand the battle they are helping their patients “fight” and have the understanding to communicate and provide for them better.
What events do you participate in?
Moving Day
PD Foundation Symposiums
Vanderbilt Symposiums
Center of Excellence visits with PD Foundation directors
Peterson For Parkinson’s event and symposiums
*Fighter Fest” is our annual event and we also hold social events throughout the year
How does this also assist the caregivers?
We welcome care-partners at no additional cost and offer a care partner support group.
How can someone get in touch? What is your website?
www.BridgesforParkinsons.com
info@Bridgesforparkinsons.com
How can others also become advocates for awareness?
One thing we do is visit with as many local businesses (doctors/therapists too) and share what we do and ask if they would like to sponsor us or come by and visit our gym to see what our program is about. We have built some wonderful partnerships with community businesses which have led them to tell friends/family about us when they are diagnosed.
How are you connected with coaches around the country doing the same thing?
I am so honored to work with many PD coaches around the country!
Whether they take my course or not, I love encouraging them, giving them ideas to use in class or for fund-raising and making sure they know that the impact they are making is HUGE!! They are the “boots on the ground in their community” and their “fighters” are beyond thankful for the work they do every week.
In your opinion, what is the key to effective advocacy?
The best way to raise awareness for us has been to work hard in providing an effective exercise program with enormous amounts of resources! THEN…” fighters” do a lot of talking and that has helped spread the word tremendously!
How can we better fundraise to support a cure for Parkinson’s?
We just raised $100,000 for my Bridges for Parkinson’s Fitness and Wellness program a week ago at our 3rd annual “Fighter Fest”. One of the things that I believe helped us raise (and reach) our $100,000 goal (first year our goal was $10,000!!!) was that we had our fighters perform for us! All are grammy winning or nominated artists! Hearing and seeing them perform and telling their story inspires people to donate because they see our fighters continuing to do the things they love to do! And of course, it fuels my fire!
So, maybe focus on what our fighters are able to do due to fitness with the goal of continuing these activities thanks to a cure/exercise might help!
What other activities do you undertake to help improve and support your daily living Eg exercise and alternative remedies?
I’m a big walker! My husband and I love to walk several miles every day! I also have two boys so playing basketball/swimming/tennis/hiking with them is fun! I also find that making time to visit with my friends and just giving my brain/heart a break from PD and talk about life is very helpful!
My family and I are all musical, so we participate in church choir and orchestra which is always a great way to decompress and help me feel refreshed and ready to tackle PD!
Why should people who don’t have Parkinson’s care about this?
When you understand what people are going through, you’re more likely to be compassionate and understanding when helping a friend/family member.
People want to help! Sometimes they just are not aware of the opportunities around them. Often, when someone asks me what I do for a living and tell them, their eyes perk up and they want to know more! They truly had no idea that PD was so much more than a tremor and they had no idea programs like mine exist. One example is Leslie! She asked me one day at church what I do and now she has been a volunteer for 2 years! She tells everyone about us and now her mom even spreads the word!
Have you had any family members or relatives affected by Parkinson’s disease?
My Mother-inlaw- 4 years ago she was diagnosed. She is doing very well!!
If you had one song that would tell us more about you or represent your life, which song would it be?
Any of the songs on our platform!
- “Call On The Fighter”- I am a cancer survivor so I’ve had to call on my inner fighter to not give up!
- “You Are Not Alone”- even though this song is to remind PD fighters that they are not alone, even I sometimes need to be reminded of that during a tough time. I have my family and my PD family and their support means the world to me.
- “Eyes UP”- this song is dedicated to PD fitness coaches all over because I know first hand how difficult it is to keep going sometimes. We get so close to our “fighters” and losing one is really hard. Or maybe our personal life is tough and we need a boost. So this song, helps me keep my eyes up and focused on the “fight”.
If you had one final statement or quote you could leave for the Parkinson’s community, what would it be?
It is ok to be scared, it is ok to be sad, BUT…don’t stay in that place! There is an amazing community of friends that will support, encourage and love you more than you could ever know! YOU ARE NOT ALONE (hence the song…lol) You can thrive and you can laugh again and we are honored and excited to help you do that!