After about 20 years of being out of college, I decided to go back to school to get my master’s in social work.  This is so I can do more work helping in the Parkinson’s community.  As part of my master’s program, I am currently interning at a low-income senior living facility. We provide social services, case management, and counseling services. One of my learning objectives as part of my internship is to run a group.  Since I have been Jamming for Joy with Yes, And…Exercise! for about a year now, I am convinced that improv can be beneficial for any senior group.  So I connected with Dr. Robert Cochrane, who helped me create an easy curriculum for this population of seniors.  My group is called “Play out loud”.  My group started a couple of weeks ago and I had 3 residents show up to “play” with me.  The day after the first meeting, I received a note from one of the residents who came to “Play out loud”.

When I received the note from the resident, I knew I shifted something in her.  She was committed to coming, even if she would be uncomfortable.  She told me she didn’t Sleep the night before, with nerves keeping her awake.  While in class, she danced like the music was moving her.  When she reached into space and grabbed for something, it was a beautiful tropical fruit from her country.  She let go and was visibly moved by the music and games.  After the class, she asked me about how I got into improv, and I explained my involvement with Jam for Joy and the Parkinson’s community.  She was taken by my story and was so moved by the class we just had.  She told me that she now has homework to do, to “let FUN IN and goof off more!”  She has never been able to let FUN IN as an adult, having many hardships throughout her life.  So, to have the luxury to let go and have fun was something she wanted to take seriously.  The note she wrote me said, “Thank you so much for saving us from our un-functional, unhealthy, seriousness.”   The group went from 3 people in the first week, to her and the two others coming back for week two, with 2 more people!  I hope that word of mouth travels and more people continue to show up. 

This is why I am taking goofing off seriously and will try to incorporate it into all of the work I do as a social worker.  I can’t wait to continue jamming with you.

• written by Rachel S.

Editor’s note: Rachel is a fantastic player and an even better person. We’re thrilled to have her join us on most Tuesdays and occasional Thursdays at the online Jam for Joy. Click here to come play with us.

Originally Published on https://www.yesandexercise.org/

Robert Cochrane, PhD Yes, And...eXercise!

Dr. Robert Cochrane is a graduate of UNLV's Integrated Health Sciences department. He's researching the effect of improvisation and storytelling on Parkinson’s disease. He received grants from the Parkinson's Foundation and support from the Davis Phinney Foundation along the way. He is a popular, unique and high energy Keynote speaker, bringing joy, optimism and practical tools for people in the PD community to thrive today.

He has a background in filmmaking, with the Artisan Entertainment release, The Playaz Court, and two Stephen King-based short films among his credits. His father, Dan, was diagnosed with PD in 2001, which shifted Robert’s artistic lens to health. He made his first documentary, the award-winning Boys of Summer in 2004. There are two follow up films in the series with the fourth film coming in 2023.

He moved his family back to Walnut Creek, CA, where he grew up. He lives there with his beautiful wife, two teenagers who are, indeed, "all that" and is a proud care partner for his amazing parents.