Exercise doesn’t cure Parkinson’s, but research shows that regular exercise improves motor symptoms and quality of life, and early evidence suggests challenging exercise may slow the worsening of motor symptoms.
TogetherWON founder Kristen Nielsen is a certified Parkinson’s Disease Specialist. She builds programs that train the body, brain and balance together, in your home in the Colorado Springs area or online.
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Strength and aerobic work that’s challenging enough to make a difference, progressed safely, to counter smaller, slower movement.
Movement paired with coordination, attention and decision-making, to support the nervous system’s ability to adapt.
Thoughtful, progressive balance practice to improve stability, reduce fall risk and build confidence.
Parkinson’s affects everyone differently, so we match the training to what you notice day to day.
Smaller, slower movements
Exercises that exaggerate step length and arm swing. Some trials suggest amplitude-focused training improves movement, though the evidence is still limited.5,2
Shuffling steps
A steady beat or marks on the floor can help lengthen steps and speed up walking. Brenda’s sessions use music and cones.4
Balance changes
Practice turning, stepping and catching yourself. In the largest review of Parkinson’s exercise, gait and balance training was among the most helpful for motor symptoms.2
Trouble doing two things at once
Walking while talking, counting or carrying something. In a review of 17 trials, dual-task training improved walking speed, stride length and balance.6
Feeling slowed down
In the SPARX trial, newly diagnosed people who exercised at 80–85% of their maximum heart rate held steady on motor symptoms for six months, while a wait-list group got worse.1
Stiffness
Regular stretching and mobility work, which the Parkinson’s Foundation recommends at least 2 to 3 days a week.3
These guidelines, developed with the American College of Sports Medicine, are the target we build toward, starting wherever you are today.
Family and care partners make a real difference in staying consistent. Here are simple ways to help.
Care partners are always welcome at sessions.
Your free consultation covers how Parkinson’s affects you day to day and what you most want to keep doing.
Research shows exercise helps most when it’s challenging and progressive, so we encourage real effort, never exhaustion.
Parkinson’s changes day to day. Your trainer adjusts every session for how your body is responding.
The benefits come from ongoing exercise, so we build a routine you can keep, with support from family where it helps.
One-on-one training starts at $198 a month, month to month, and your first one-hour consultation is free.
“Kristen is a picture of warmth and kindness mixed with knowledge and expertise… This program adjusts to the needs of clients based on injuries and lifestyle changes — it is excellent.”
Client story
Meet Brenda, a former English teacher living with Parkinson’s-type symptoms who shows up strong every time she trains.
Read the story
Body · Brain
Exercise doesn't cure Parkinson's, but research shows consistent, challenging training can slow motor decline and improve strength, balance and confidence.
January 24, 2026 · 3 min read
Brain · Body
Brain-body exercises pair movement with a mental challenge. Try the Rule-Switch March, a simple standing or seated drill for focus and balance.
July 11, 2026 · 3 min read
Brain · Balance
Dual-tasking, or moving while thinking, can get harder with age, but it can be trained. Try three simple exercises that pair walking with a mental task.
August 1, 2026 · 3 min read
Early research suggests it may. In the SPARX trial (JAMA Neurology, 2018), people newly diagnosed with Parkinson’s who did high-intensity treadmill exercise held steady on motor symptoms over six months, while a wait-list group got worse. Larger studies are still needed.
A 2024 Cochrane review of 154 trials found that most types of exercise improve motor symptoms and quality of life, so the best exercise is the one you’ll keep doing.
Kristen is a certified Parkinson’s Disease Specialist, as well as an ACE Certified Personal Trainer, Senior Fitness Specialist, Functional Aging Specialist and Brain Health Trainer, with more than 10 years of experience working with older adults.
Care partners are welcome at every session. They can learn the exercises, help with short daily practice between visits, and follow progress in the TogetherWON app, which makes it easier to stay consistent.
Your first session is free: a one-hour consultation and movement assessment where we learn your goals and build a plan that fits your life.