“The healing power of fitness training is amazing,” said Heritage Personal Trainer Instructor, Carol Stockdale. “Seriously, I’m humbled by what I’m witnessing here.”

The revolutionary Heritage experiment was born when a Heritage Therapeutic Massage instructor, Ron Stephens, who has Parkinson’s himself, approached Stockdale with an idea about serving the Parkinson’s community.

Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system that often impairs the sufferer’s motor skills and speech. The disease belongs to a group of conditions called movement disorders. It is characterized by muscle rigidity, tremor, a slowing of physical movement and, in extreme cases, a complete loss of physical movement. There is no cure, but fitness training can provide some relief from symptoms.

“The value of exercise for Parkinson’s patients cannot be overstated,” said Stephens. “An exercise agenda offers stimulation to the various neurological pathways, increasing the capacity to counteract the progression of symptoms.”

Stephens introduced Stockdale to Jeanne Csuy, an Outreach Coordinator for the National Parkinson’s Foundation. Together, they devised a plan to help local Parkinson’s patients. Every Wednesday, a group of eight Parkinson’s sufferers visits the Heritage Institute Personal Training Lab, and the results so far have been very encouraging.

“We start them off with a complete fitness assessment,” said Stockdale. “From there, we establish goals and the strategies to meet those goals. Sometimes the goals are very rudimentary. One patient simply wanted to be able to stand up straight. The disease constricts and atrophies muscles that most of us take for granted, and this poor man had become permanently hunched over. Our students designed an exercise regimen that gently worked his chest muscles. For week after week, he worked the program. He has been delighted with his progress, and I can’t begin to describe the sense of accomplishment our students feel.”

These special needs clients pose many additional challenges for the students. There’s a high risk of falling. Many of the clients use walkers, and creative approaches can be required in the design of effective exercises. It is, of course, also critical to work with the patient’s physician to ensure safety.

“My husband, Gerald, has had therapy at Heritage for the last three weeks, said Madelaine Deragon. “I have noticed many good changes in his lifestyle. He has been able to put his shoes and socks on by himself. His walking is very much improved with less shuffling of his feet. It takes him less time to get dressed now, and he can get out of his chair by himself. He’s more physically and mentally confident.”

Diana Ross, caregiver of Mr. Jack Johnstone said “Jack looks forward to his weekly therapy to enhance his walking ability with his walker. He has very little mobility. Working with his trainer gives him the courage to tackle every day tasks. Each day, he practices the exercises that the trainers give him. Jack is very fortunate to have the trainers at Heritage, and he wants to strive to be the best he can be.”

The students have found the experience inspiring. Three students – Kendrick Moore, Tiffany Bailey, and Cecilia Colon - have even taken seminars on “Parkinson’s and the Art of Moving” so that they can be more effective in helping these patients.

“I have a new-found respect for my chosen profession,” said Heritage Institute Personal Trainer student, Tiffany Bailey. “These people aren’t coming for body-building or to lose weight. We’re helping them to regain fundamental aspects of their quality of life. I’m going to love my new career!”

Now you’ve landed your first interview. Here’s a handy list of interviewing tips that you may want to review before you meet your prospective employer.

Relax. Many of us feel nervous about a job interview. Interviews can feel like being onstage. If you are concerned about stage-fright, the best way to approach an interview is to keep in mind that it’s just business. It’s like any other business meeting. You are going to have hundreds of business meetings in your life. Like most business meetings, this is about accomplishing a business task. It’s work, pure and simple.

No, you can’t wear shorts. Even if you are interviewing for a job that doesn’t require a suit and tie, you need to remember that you need to make your best possible impression. When an employer interviews you, they want to feel that you have made your best possible effort to impress them.

Do your homework. Do you know what this company does? Do you know what your duties would be? Do you know the name of the person who will be interviewing you? What do you like about this company? What do you like about the position? The more you know about the employer, the more likely it is that you will find a job you can love.

Interview Them. Your mission here is not to get a job. The objective is to figure out if you really want the job and if you are compatible with the employer’s needs. Try to view it as a collaborative effort. You are going to work with the interviewer to determine if this is a good fit for both parties.

Be Confident, but not Cocky. You are well-trained. You are ready for this. You are going to be a tremendous asset for your employer. Remember, though, that you are just getting started. The person interviewing you probably knows more than you and has worked hard to get where he or she is. Show respect. Be confident, enthusiastic, and cheerful without crossing the line into pushy, brash, and arrogant.

They Don’t Need a Lie Detector. If you lie about anything, you will probably be caught. Employers these days have become quite savvy about background checks, and most interviewers are very good at spotting any inconsistencies in your story. It’s just not worth it. Don’t lie.

You Didn’t Need to Be That Honest. You don’t need to share every little detail about your life. The interviewer is not your priest, and you are not in a confessional. You may become friends with the interviewer after you start work, but for now try to stick to business.

Stay Positive. Hated your last job? Let it go. You should make every minute of your interview a positive experience. Introducing negativity of any kind will diminish your chances of being hired. Complaining about your last company, boss, coworkers, compensation, or termination should be avoided at all costs.

Love Your Work. You didn’t choose your profession by accident. You made a conscious choice to acquire expertise in a career field that can make you happy. Let that show. Look the interviewer straight in the eye and let them see how excited you are about this opportunity. Interviewers are looking for people who are enthusiastic about what they do. If you don’t seem interested in the job, why should they be interested in hiring you?

Have Fun. It’s fun to meet new people. It’s fun to take a new step on your career journey. Remember that if you accept this position, you are going to be working with these people every day. So be light-hearted and remember to enjoy the experience.

After you accept the position, be sure to contact your local Heritage Career Services Department and let them know about your success. They have worked extremely hard to help you find your dream job and they will probably be almost as happy as you are.