Social enterprise, BH Live, has teamed up with Parkinson’s UK to offer classes aimed at getting people living with the neurodegenerative condition active in a fun, sociable way.

The sessions launch at Littledown Centre, Bournemouth, UK in January 2025. The first session is free, with subsequent classes charged at a subsidised rate of £2.50 per person. Relatives and carers are welcome to watch or join in.

The exercise classes have been designed to challenge many of the problem areas associated with Parkinson’s, including balance, muscle strength and coordination. BH Live Active’s instructors have been specially trained to deliver classes for anyone living with a neurological condition.

Parkinson’s UK has awarded BH Live £1,500 from its Physical Activity Grants programme to run the classes. The organisation’s recent research shows that participating in regular high-intensity exercise can have a positive impact on the health of neurons. Research by Yale has shown that HIIT can slow down the neurodegenerative process of Parkinson’s and make the dopaminergic system grow healthier.

Other benefits of regular physical activity can include increased confidence, better cognitive function and improved wellbeing, such as better sleep, reduced anxiety and fatigue.

Viv Galpin, health and wellbeing manager for BH Live, says: “Parkinson’s can affect people in many different ways, but we aim to help people manage and, in some cases, reduce the impact of their symptoms.

“We also hope that the new sessions will allow more people living locally to meet others who are sharing the same experience of living with Parkinson’s and allow them to get active in a fun and engaging way.”

Roma Hashim, physical activity grants manager at Parkinson’s UK, says: “Our Physical Activity Grant funding and training for exercise professionals is helping more groups to deliver Parkinson’s-specific sessions for local communities and we hope that more people in Bournemouth and the surrounding areas will be able to get involved.”