For Banyan & Nomad Clients and Their Families
🧠 Concept 1: Bigger Is Better – Why Movement Size Matters
If you have Parkinson’s, you may have noticed your movements becoming smaller or slower over time. Walking, reaching, or even standing up might feel “normal” to you—but to others, it may look too short, too slow, or too stiff.
LSVT BIG helps you move bigger on purpose. Why?
- Bigger steps, bigger reaches, and bigger posture fight against slowness and stiffness.
- Research shows that when you move bigger, you also move faster and more naturally.
- Bigger doesn’t mean “exaggerated.” It means functional: walking with longer steps, standing taller, balancing more steadily.
We’ll teach you simple cues so you can remind yourself to move bigger anytime, anywhere—even outside therapy. Over time, this one powerful focus makes everyday life easier, from walking across the room to buttoning a shirt.
🧠 Concept 2: Resetting Your Internal Compass
Parkinson’s doesn’t just change how you move—it changes how you feel movement. Small steps may feel “normal” to you, and when you first try moving bigger, it may feel strange or “too much.”
That’s where recalibration comes in.
- With practice, feedback, and repetition, your brain begins to learn what normal movement should feel like.
- You might feel like you’re “overdoing it,” but in reality, you’re moving the way your body needs.
- Over time, those bigger movements begin to feel natural, automatic, and right.
At Banyan & Nomad, we use tools like mirrors, video, and encouragement (“That was your best step yet!”) to help you see and feel your progress. Whether you’re doing this for yourself or helping a loved one, the goal is the same: make bigger movement feel comfortable—and make it stick.
🧠 Concept 3: Effort Matters – Push Beyond Parkinson’s
Parkinson’s slows everything down—including effort. That’s why this program asks you to give high effort in every session.
- Effort wakes up your brain and builds new connections.
- Effort helps you break free from sluggish patterns.
- Effort keeps you engaged and aware of how movement feels.
This isn’t about straining or pushing past pain. It’s about focused, purposeful effort—learning how to give your best in a safe way. With each practice, effort is the bridge between knowing what to do and actually doing it every day.
🧠 Concept 4: Effort Matters – Structure Brings Results
LSVT BIG isn’t just “a bunch of exercises.” It’s a carefully structured program proven by research.
- 4 sessions per week, for 4 weeks straight – the dose that works best.
- Each session mixes repetition, real-world tasks, and practice under different conditions (like fatigue or medication changes).
- Parkinson’s makes it harder to hold onto new skills, so the structure gives you the extra practice you need to make progress last.
This plan builds momentum quickly. By committing to the structure, you’ll see changes sooner and carry them into everyday life.
🧠 Concept 5: Track Your Progress – See the Change
Sometimes you may not notice progress right away—but the numbers tell the story.
That’s why we measure things like:
- How long your steps are.
- How far you can reach.
- How long you can balance.
These measurements show you that change is happening, even on days you feel stuck. For caregivers, they provide reassurance. For you, they build motivation and confidence. We want you not only to move better—but also to see the proof that you’re moving better.
Banyan & Nomad Toolbox 