Goodbye Parkinson's, Hello life!: The Gyro–Kinetic Method for Eliminating Symptoms and Reclaiming Your Good Health

I am a 77 year old male and was diagnosed with Parkinson's in July 2015, but had some symptoms for maybe a year prior to that. On receiving the book nearly a month ago, I started to experiment with the exercises and have finally organised a regular programme using them and have now completed seven consecutive days on it. So I have done seven slots of 40 minutes in duration on the exercises that I feel are most useful to me. This is in line with Alex's recomendation in the chapter on " how to use this book". I may have to schedule a rest day in the programme at some future date, but at the moment I'm planning on making it a regular fixture in my daily life and review my progress again in three months time. Meanwhile there is no doubt about the refreshing benefits the exercises immediately have. I also have asthma, COPD and a heart rhythm condition, so I "run out of puff" quite quickly doing the free dancing exercises. When that happens I just stop for a rest and restart the exercises when I have recovered. I keep a strict watch on the time that elapses by using a timer. When I stop for a rest, I pause the timer too. I like the idea of using music to support the exercises, but to begin with my sense of rhythm had deserted me and I had trouble lifting my feet off the floor let alone doning anything in time with the music. But I persisted and now I am starting to flow into the music quite a bit more easily. I mostly use tracks from "A Swinging Safari" (an oldie, but a goodie) to do my free dancing to. I think that you really do have to be a Parkinson's Warrior to get the best out of the book, so you have to keep asking yourself to "keep at it". Good luck everyone and in my country (New Zealand) they say Kia Kaha, Be strong!!

Book Review for AmazonGoodbye Parkinson's, Hello Life! is a down to earth, easy to read, practical book that gives the reader a different perception approaching life with PD. While most books on PD emphasize the degenerative aspects of the condition, this book is a box of tools, a treasure that will raise the patient's self confidence, his awarness of his body, and provide demonstrations of new techniques.The reader will finish the book feeling encouraged, empowered, energised and more free. He will feel happier and more independent. He might also state that he feels "more normal". He might become determined to change his life.The motivation earned by reading this book will help him overcome the daily challenges of PD and will help him become a warrior.

As I explained, I found the ‘hard sell’ of the book difficult but I was taken in by the innocent and tentative video clip by his publisher, Michael Wiese pursuing gentle exercises developed while he was intensely engaged with Kerten’s program and set in his stunning garden on the Cornwall coast. Wiese confesses that he has got rid of 40% to 60% of his symptoms but in a kind of mindful, calm and appreciative manner. I had to revisit Kerten’s book and while still being put off by his absolute claims and doctrinaire manner, began to bypass the grand claims and look at his actual practice fundamental elements of which are covered skilfully and which I and some friends plan to trial.Since he did his sessions with Kerten through whom he reports his new life, he knows his healing is not complete but it is still very present. He tries not to be caught up in and worried about small PD symptoms which come and go but to pursue an embodied, ‘awake,’ appreciative and connected life. He knows that he will still have off and on days but that his exercise regime seems to maximise on days and lessen the impact of off days.I felt attracted to a program which would build on his ideas and practices derived largely from Alex Kerten’s approach and in our conversations, it looked like some of my friends had a kind of synchronicity about a free flowing approach to exercises. This approach invited embodied awakeness, flexibility and strength and were preparatory to a musical movement session where participants could be invited to move freely according to the rhythm of different music keeping in mind Alex’s pointers about feet, hands, body and of course the conducting of an imaginary audience which Michael had already demonstrated in his exercise video

Give it a try. The worst that can happen is you are out a few bucks. This combination of movement, music, and awareness may change your life. I saw the changes this program made in Michael Wiese. Accepting the reality of this program may be difficult for many people. If they’ve bought into the fatalism around any brain disease, the promises of this book may sound false, even fraudulent. When a Canadian friend developed PD I bought the book for him. He refused to open it. I saw it work for Michael Wiese. I suspect it will work for many others.

The author has given me a whole new perspective on how to manage PD symptoms. I no longer feel like a victim but a person in charge of my health. The techniques that the author prescribes to minimize symptoms are very powerful, and yet, very simple to implement. This is one of the best books I have read regarding Parkinson’s disease because the author demonstrates how proper breathing, dancing, singing, and music are just some of the remedies to minimize Parkinson symptoms. I feel that I am on the road to recovery by practicing these techniques every day. Thank you Alex Kerten For sharing your techniques and writing this book.

Not a great book, it was okay. Not sure I'll ever re-read this.

This book gave me back my life, it’s as if I’m with Alex narrating the truth of my life. You decide on the next move, your truth and the reality. He made me realize that it’s good to be ambitious but also learn to listen to your body. The psychology of health is being able to listen to your body & know when to stop. It’s worth every penny