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Seated Dance for Parkinson's and Seniors: Five Short Dances

Seated Dance for Parkinson's and Seniors: Five Short Dances — video by LNKTV City - Lincoln Nebraska Play · 27:28

Video by LNKTV City - Lincoln Nebraska on YouTube · Open on YouTube

Ruth, a Dance for PD-method teacher, leads seniors and people with Parkinson's through five seated dances: eye-hand coordination, a sun salutation, circle and press, a Spanish foot habanera and a sailor dance from Purcell's Dido and Aeneas. If you have Parkinson's, check with your doctor first.

  • 27 min
  • Beginner
  • Low impact (no jumping)
  • chair
  • Chair dance

Good forHealthy ageingDancing for funFun workouts

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Step by step 14

Tap a time to watch that step in the video.

  1. Set-up: feet flat under your knees, sit a little forward, then breathe in through the nose and out. 2:20
  2. Eye-hand dance: lift a hand and watch it, float it across, then S-wave it up and down, each side. 3:27
  3. Sun salutation, part A: reach up, hands to heart, dive forward, twist each way, then hug and slide up. 6:36
  4. Part B: billow the arms open to a high V and add side bends with shoulder touches. 7:59
  5. Dance both parts of the sun salutation to the music. 9:25
  6. Circle and press: brush crumbs off a table, circle up to a steeple, press, then the back of the hand. 11:11
  7. Second part: fish swim up, water sprinkles down, make a tree, then leaves float down. 12:28
  8. Repeat it pressing to the side and then with both arms, and dance it all through. 13:19
  9. Foot habanera: rise to your toes and roll down as the hands flick up and circle down. 15:49
  10. Part B: lift a knee and stomp out, then walk the toes and heels back in, hands copying the feet. 17:28
  11. Dance the whole foot habanera, then shake out your feet. 18:32
  12. Sailor dance: wide sea legs and strong fists, one up and one down, stretching a leg out each side. 20:03
  13. Lift and drink from an imaginary stein, pull a rope, rise onto your toes, then dance it twice. 20:45
  14. Closing reverence: pass a nod around the circle, then lift the arms and take a bow. 23:40

The steps are a summary in our words, checked against the video — the coach shows every move.

Form cues from the coach

  • Use a sturdy kitchen or dining chair with your feet flat, right under your knees
  • Sit a little forward so your back and arms move freely; sit back if you need support
  • Do just part of a combination, or go slower, if you need to

What it works Whole body

Tap an area for more videos that work it.

Joints it uses light on the joints

  • Shoulders movesS-waves, sun salutation, circle-and-press arms
  • Wrists & hands moveshand flicks, carving circles, presses
  • Upper back movestwists, side bends, seated dives
  • Lower back movesseated dives forward and roll up
  • Hips movesknee lifts, leg stretches out
  • Knees movesknee lifts and stomps
  • Ankles & feet movesrises to the toes, toe and heel walks

Easier option from the coach: Do part of a combination, go slower, or sit back for support

A guide to the joints this video’s moves load, from what the coach does — not medical advice. Some ache is normal; stop if a joint hurts sharply. How joints are rated

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Video by LNKTV City - Lincoln Nebraska; the summary, steps, cues, body areas and joint notes are Notbroken’s, written from what the coach actually does in the video and checked a second time. Warm up first, take the easier options until a move feels easy, and stop if you feel sharp pain, chest pain or dizziness. General instruction, not advice for your body. About & safety