An interview with Cecilia Pulido from Pilates 4 Parkinson’s on June 20, 2023 by George Ackerman, Ph.D, J.D.
Biography
Cecilia Pulido has been in the natural health & fitness industry since the early 1990’s. Regarding the Pilates Method, she has completed the Comprehensive Foundation and Mat program of Polestar Pilates in 2010, and again with Ms. San Miguel in the Lolita’s Legacy 500+ hour Comprehensive Pilates Teacher Training Program. She later studied with Ms. San Miguel herself in a Pilates Master Mentor Program (PMMP). She is a Lolita’s Disciple and carries the title of 2nd Generation Pilates Teacher, Lolita San Miguel Pilates Master. She also has a Master of Science in Applied Exercise Science, Human Movement Science.
In addition to training with many other Master Pilates Teachers, she was also certified by Dr. Suzanne Martin, Pilates Therapeutics, to work with individuals who have Scoliosis and Spinal Asymmetry. Her credits include Core Align level 1 & 2, level 3 ELDOA instructor, certificates in Myofascial meridian training (Anatomy Trains), and specific Parkinson’s training programs including the American Parkinson’s Disease Association (APDA), Parkinson’s Resources Organization of the Pacific Northwest and several other programs.
With over 20+ years of experience working with people who have Parkinson’s disease in all stages, in conjunction with her training and specializations, she has developed a truly efficacious method to help people with PD to preserve their movement independence. Her teaching style and work emphasize proper kinematics, and fine attention to form according to everyone’s ability. She has worked with special populations including Obesity, Severe Diabetes, Scoliosis and Spinal Asymmetries, Opioid Rehabilitation, Multiple Sclerosis, Cancer, but her particular interest and focus is Parkinson’s Disease.
Her company Pilates4Parkinson’s is committed to:
- delivering quality and efficacious program education to Pilates instructors and fitness professionals on how to work with people who have Parkinson’s disease in any stage
- bringing Pilates based exercise programming to the Parkinson’s community to promote freedom of movement and preserve movement independence, which ultimately enhances quality of life
- Creating awareness of Parkinson’s disease and how Pilates instructors are a well-trained, viable, and valuable resource to support people living with Parkinson’s disease
Visit www.pilates4parkinsons.com for more information.
Please tell me a little about your background and what got you involved with awareness.
I began working with Parkinson’s Disease, when a young adolescent boy was brought into my fitness studio by his mother, who had hoped to find some effective therapeutic movement for her son. Her son was symptomatic of Parkinson’s disease, and formally diagnosed with juvenile Parkinson’s at the age of 8. The boy started with me when he was in his early teens. At the time, I was not a certified Pilates instructor but taught movement through an Ancient Chinese Knowledge called Pa Kua. The Pa Kua (or Ba Gua) includes Chinese style Martial Arts, Tai Chi Chuan, and Sintonia (Chinese Yoga), among many other Chinese Arts and Sciences. Additionally, all the Pilates exercises I taught at that time were based on the Pilates Mat repertoire.
The changes in this young man’s movement, coordination, flexibility, and balance improved so much that his doctor recommended that he do even more sessions with me. What I learned then was how the body and mind can be conditioned into a coordinated response by learning repetitive, consistent patterns, especially coordination patterns. Further, I discovered that I could elicit more complex movements by teaching progressively and adding one tiny new piece at a time. This may not seem like a lot, but for someone with a neuro-degenerative condition it makes a huge difference which translates into improved movement in everyday life activities.
Then, in Puerto Rico, I began to work with clients with various neurological related disorders like Fibromyalgia, Epilepsy, Stroke, and more Parkinson’s. What I learned throughout those 14 years was that although conditions are diagnosed as degenerative, they can be immensely slowed and seemingly almost frozen from progression, with the right care which includes low stress/stress management, good nutrition, consistent medication as prescribed by one’s doctor, and of course EXERCISE! The most effective exercise regimens are the ones which include deep breathing, stretching, cardio, light strength training, and exercises to improve balance and coordination. I saw and experienced changes which made me a believer and staunch advocate of exercise as a deterrent to progressive neurological conditions.
I moved to San Jose in 2016 and began working with clients with Parkinson’s Disease as well as other neuro-degenerative conditions, and again was reminded of the importance of preserving the mind-body connection through mindful movement. The work I do with clients involves constantly reinforcing the development of Somatic intelligence, attempting to find areas which need myo-fascial release, and manipulation of fascia to help create space within the body and joints (de-coaptation sometimes practiced as ELDOA).
Now I reside in Eugene Oregon where I have truly evolved the Pilates 4 Parkinson’s Method and have a client base which teaches me daily how to integrate my work, experience, and knowledge to the needs of a person with Parkinson’s disease.
With any neurodegenerative condition, you must keep moving as best you can. I believe the Pilates Method is the best and safest form of exercise and movement therapy for those suffering from Parkinson’s Disease.
Can you tell me more about Pilates 4 Parkinson’s?
I am currently an LLC. P4P is the result of 20 years of working with people with Parkinson’s disease and applying various fitness training modalities to achieve or maintain optimal mobility, flexibility, coordination, and balance.
Pilates 4 Parkinson’s evolved from the question, “Is the Pilates Method of exercise effective in decelerating and/or stabilizing the progression of motor symptoms for those suffering from Parkinson’s disease?”
Multiple research studies conclude the answer is “YES”. In a study of the efficacy of a mat Pilates program on patients in stage 1-3 of the Hoehn & Yahr scale for PD, researchers claimed that Pilates was a cheap, effective, and home-based exercise program which would improve fitness level and quality of life for this population.
In another study specific to assessing whether Pilates could improve balance, test group participants who completed an eight-week exercise program showed a significant improvement in functional balance. Further the premise of this investigative study was specifically to identify an effective exercise means to improve postural instability. As one of the most common debilitating factors of PD, postural instability can lead to increased risk of falls, reduced mobility, and impaired functional capacity.
Abundant and positive research exists supporting the beneficial effects of physical exercise programs on both motor and non-motor symptoms of PD. However, the heterogeneity of exercise interventions continues to obscure professionals and care support providers of PD from establishing a physiotherapeutic, standardized protocol for intervention, per disease stage. For this reason, Pilates 4 Parkinson’s has emerged with a specific protocol and method in working with people of all stages of Parkinson’s disease.
What is your passion and how did you get involved in Parkinson’s awareness and hope for a cure?
My passion is helping people to preserve their movement independence. I recognize that the quality of a person’s life is 100% based on their ability to physically move. People with PD are unfortunately subjected to the torture of watching their physical movement slip away little by little and losing control of their bodies. I can’t imagine a greater torture because there is currently no cure. I am committed to helping anyone with PD who is interested in preserving their movement independence. It is my goal to expand and promote this program so many other Pilates teachers can help more people with PD.
What type of goals do individuals with Parkinson’s have when working with Pilates 4 Parkinson’s?
Because PD manifests in everyone so differently, clients are focused usually on alleviating their most predominant motor or non-motor symptom, and that can be any number of things from improving balance, to walking better, to reducing stiffness. P4P programs are customized to the client’s needs and their current stage of PD.
What type of training and how long are the programs?
The program is designed to be accessible in private or group sessions, and for any stage. The private instruction is designed to be like a giant information download which pushes the client in education and training for an initial 3 months as much as the client can participate (recommended 3-2x/week for the first 3 months). After the initial 3-month upskilling and learning phase, in which we educate the clients about what movements are most important for their current state, then the client has the option to break away or continue on at a lesser interval weekly or, check-ins monthly.
The group instruction is currently a free class online called Fit Bit Friday which is 30 minutes of movement live streamed on Instagram and recorded on ZOOM for anyone to watch or participate. In this brief class we review mostly the 11 “ABSOLUTE MUST DO” Exercise mini sets if you have Parkinson’s disease. We focus on only 2-3 movements and do them slowly and thoroughly so people can learn and replicate the movements at home.
The other part of our company is Education and Training of Pilates Teachers, so they can safely, comprehensively, and effectively work with people with PD. We do this in the form of continuing education programs that are all authorized with CECs through the National Pilates Certification Program (the only existing third party NCCA certifying agency for the Pilates industry)
What effect can Pilates 4 Parkinson’s have on an individual with Parkinson’s?
The difference in general movement and physical ability/movement retention is amazing and so much so that we currently have Neurologists who are referring clients to us. The goal is to attenuate disease progression and keep people moving independently for as long as possible. There’s so much a person with OPD can do, they just need to learn/know what to do…that’s where we come in. Our programs are Specific, Customized, Targeted, Progressive and Effective. One of the keys to the success of our program is that clients can adhere to the programming because it is designed in their own environments.
What would you like to see as a future goal for Pilates 4 Parkinson’s?
The mission of P4P is to support people with Parkinson’s disease by taking the guesswork out of what kind of exercise movement is important and relevant to the stage of their condition. The vision of Pilates 4 Parkinson’s is that the Pilates 4 Parkinson’s Method of exercises is prescribed to every single person diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease as the primary exercise training modality. Until there is a cure, our goal is to help people with PD Preserve their Movement Independence by incorporating the Pilates 4 Parkinson’s Method of exercises into their daily routine.
What events do you participate in?
So far, we participate in: Parkinson’s Foundation Moving Day, and Parkinson’s Resources of Oregon – Sole Support. I would like to participate in more events but currently it is a challenge to take on more since I am still more or less a startup company.
I also deliver educational workshops and Teacher Training programs on our educational content both domestically and abroad.
How does Pilates 4 Parkinson’s also assist the caregivers?
When we do the initial consultation for the client with PD, we ask that the dedicated care giver is present. We want the caregiver to be involved with the education and training process so they can help their loved one adhere to the daily exercise program with as much consistency in the movements as possible. It’s important that both the caregiver and client understand the goals and purpose of the exercises. People with PD especially in more progressed stages sometimes have difficulty with cognition and memory, so it is helpful to have someone who understands the P4P process to support the client.
In addition, P4P also offers continuing education workshops for caregivers in general to teach them how to safely exercise with their clients. There are currently 3 basic workshops:
- PT After Care – Helping Clients with the Most Common Exercises,
- Essential Exercise Mini-sets for Seniors and Why,
- Care for Caregivers – How to Protect YOUR Physical Body Through Smart, Strong Movement Strategies and Exercise
The educational content for caregivers teaches some safe and very basic/fundamental movements with their clients who do or do not have PD.
Finally, we offer a free Stretch and pre-Pilates class for any caregiver of a person with PD. This class is on Wednesday mornings at 10am for approximately 45 minutes online. Any caregiver can register for free through our website Caregiver options page | Pilates4Parkinsons
How can someone get in touch? What is your website?
Contact me through email: pilates4parkinsons@yahoo.com, or find me on social media @pilates4parkinsons (IG, FB, LI) or visit our website: www.pilates4parkinsons.com
This website is part of my commitment to share the knowledge and resources I have available with anyone who wants to be Encouraged, has the desire to be Educated throughout their journey with Parkinson’s, is ready to again feel Empowered, and is willing to make a significant lifestyle change which includes Exercise! We can help with that! I am willing to support and answer questions to help as many people as I can. https://www.pilatesaura.com/classes
If you had one final statement or quote you could leave for the Parkinson’s community, what would it be?
People with PD can get overwhelmed and easily discouraged. It’s so difficult to know what exercise will be best and most effective for their condition and their current stage. The short answer is the more the better, just keep moving and challenging yourself the best that you can. Most importantly, get educated and find a fitness professional who understands the physiology of PD. In this way you will not waste time, which is of the essence!
You are not alone. There is so much you can do to preserve your movement independence. We can help with that!