A trainer smiles with two older adults riding stationary bikes in a fitness studio

Parkinson’s Fitness

Strength. Balance. Hope. At the Y, movement is powerful medicine. Our Parkinson’s Fitness program helps individuals improve strength, balance, flexibility, and overall quality of life.

ABOUT PEDALING FOR PARKINSON'S™

At the Y, movement is powerful medicine. Our Parkinson’s Fitness program helps individuals improve strength, balance, flexibility, and overall quality of life.

Pedaling for Parkinson’s™, powered by the Davis Phinney Foundation, is a research-backed indoor cycling program that helps people living with Parkinson’s improve mobility, ease symptoms, and find strength in community.

Each class follows a proven format: a warm-up, 30-40 minutes of cycling at a challenging yet safe pace, and a cooldown. Practiced consistently, this routine has been shown to significantly reduce Parkinson’s symptoms.

Guided by specially trained instructors and supported by research from the Cleveland Clinic, Pedaling for Parkinson’s inspires participants to pedal with purpose, gain confidence, and celebrate every victory, on the bike and beyond.

Indoor cycling class raising their arms in celebration with the Pedaling for Parkinsons logo

BEFORE YOU RIDE START YOUR JOURNEY WITH CONFIDENCE

Adults riding stationary bikes in a group indoor cycling spin class

The Research

For more than 17 years, Dr. Jay Alberts and his team have studied how high-cadence, high-intensity aerobic cycling, often called forced exercise, impacts people with Parkinson’s. Their findings consistently show that this type of exercise improves motor function and overall quality of life, reinforcing what many participants experience firsthand.

Instructor guiding older adults through an indoor cycling class on stationary bikes

Keep Moving. Keep Thriving.

Pedal for Parkinson’s is a supportive, high-energy cycling program designed to help individuals living with Parkinson’s improve strength, balance, and overall well-being.

  • Cost: $25 for members | $40 for non-members
  • Location: Platte County Community Center South

Join us to pedal, strengthen, and connect with others on the same journey!

Smiling adults riding stationary bikes in a sunlit cycling class

Participant Requirements

Pedaling for Parkinson’s may not be the right fit for everyone living with Parkinson’s. Please consult your doctor or healthcare team before beginning any new exercise program.

For your first class, consider arriving 10-15 minutes early to connect with your instructor. They can answer questions and make sure you’re set up to participate safely.

To take part, you should be able to:

  • Safely get on and off a stationary bike
  • Secure your feet in or on the pedals
  • Maintain a safe and comfortable riding position for the duration of the class
Cycling class participants stretch their shoulders while seated on stationary bikes

Pedal with Purpose. Progress with Every Ride.

  • Frequency: 3 times per week
  • Duration: 30+ minutes per session
  • Cadence: 75+ RPMs (or “uncomfortably fast” if 75 isn’t achievable), reached through steady riding or interval training
  • Adaptable for All: Classes are designed to meet a variety of ability levels and stages of Parkinson’s