HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (McClatchy-Tribune Information Services) -- Glenn Burgeson of Bluffton has suffered from Parkinson's disease for 20 years. A brain disorder, Parkinson's disease can cause shaking, rigidity, slow movement and difficulty with balance.

But Burgeson has found something that has helped him cope with the disease -- yoga. He and his wife, Mary Ann, coordinators of the Hilton Head Island Parkinson's Support Group, started taking yoga classes about two years ago.

The couple, along with other members of their support group, attend a special yoga class designed for people who suffer from Parkinson's disease and other movement disorders. Yoga instructor Bonnie Phillips teaches the class the first, second and fourth Tuesdays of the month at Jiva Yoga Center on Hilton Head.

Phillips said studies have shown that body movement is beneficial to people who suffer from Parkinson's disease. She said yoga not only reduces stress but helps with flexibility, motion and body awareness -- all important for people with Parkinson's. Phillips said the only requirement to take her class is that participants must be able to get upstairs to the yoga center.

She said yoga poses are meant to be very gentle and that nothing should be painful. Aside from the stretching and movement, yoga also relaxes the mind and helps people get away from their daily problems. That's why caregivers are welcome to join in the classes, too.

Glenn said the stretches he does during the classes have helped him with flexibility and balance. He said Phillips makes it easy for everyone to do yoga, no matter what their level of flexibility. He said it's a peaceful exercise and he looks forward to going each week. In fact, he enjoys it so much, he even practices a little on his own time.

"I do some of the stretches at home, and if it weren't for the classes, I wouldn't know how to do those," Glenn said.

Copyright (C) 2009, The Island Packet, Hilton Head Island, S.C.