Power for Parkinson’s Launches New Class in the Hill Country
The weekly Brain & Body class takes place Thursdays at the new library in Spicewood
For an unincorporated area with just a five-digit population, Spicewood, TX has several claims to fame. It’s home to Willie Nelson’s longtime Texas’ residence the Luck Ranch and one of the Hill Country’s most breathtaking swimming holes, Krause Springs – not to mention several destination businesses like Poodie’s Hilltop Roadhouse and Opie’s Barbecue.
It’s now also the location for a weekly Power for Parkinson’s class. Every Thursday, 1pm, at the Lake Travis Community Library West in Spicewood (21209 State Hwy 71). The class begins on October 16.
Power for Parkinson’s offers free symptom-focused group exercise classes for people with Parkinson’s and their care partners. Below we’ll answer the questions about the newest edition to our weekly class schedule.
WHY ADD A CLASS IN SPICEWOOD?
We already serve the Hill Country, west of Austin, with a class in Lakeway (Tuesdays, 1pm, Lake Travis Community LIbrary), which has a dedicated group of participants. We decided to station another class nearby so they would have another opportunity for weekly group exercise. The Parkinson’s Foundation recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous exercise per week. So, between the hourlong Lakeway and Spicewood classes, participants will have the opportunity to get most of their weekly exercise in through PFP classes.
By positioning a class in Spicewood, we’re also increasing access to other communities in the Hill Country, such as Bee Cave, Marble Falls, and Horseshoe Bay, which don’t currently have free, consistent group classes for people with Parkinson’s. Our class is particularly close to the neighborhoods of Bee Creek, Briarcliff, Rough Hollow, and Travis Settlement, plus the Sweetwater and West Cypress Hills developments.
WHO IS TEACHING IT?
The class will be taught by Spicewood resident Polly Caprio, who already instructs PFP’s Lakeway class and leads weekly classes on our popular YouTube channel.
WHAT KIND OF CLASS IS IT?
The Spicewood class will be a seated exercise class, with optional standing portions. It will be a Brain & Body lesson, meaning that there will be cognitive aspects to it, along with exercises to improve balance, gait (walking), strength, cardio, range of motion, posture, and vocal strength. Like all PFP classes, it’ll be fun and interactive.
WHAT IS THE FACILITY LIKE?
The class will take place at the new Lake Travis Community Library West in Spicewood (21209 State Hwy 71) in a spacious, well-lit meeting room that you enter through the back of the parking lot.
The West library is eight miles from Bee Cave, eight miles from Lakeway, and 25 miles from Marble Falls.
HOW DO I GO?
You can just show up. Our classes are free and have no barrier to entry. They are also available to the family and care partners of people with PD. If it’s your first time attending a PFP class, please arrive early so you can fill out a participant profile. You can also pre-fill it here.
