Hobbies and Dystonia

[onmom]

I wanted to maybe start something a little silly and light. I'm just curious what others do for a hobby? Does your dystonia affect how you do your hobby? How have you overcome obstacles so you can still enjoy your favourite hobby?

[onmom]

I'll start...my family it totally addicted to geocaching. We are planning a trip to South Carolina this Christmas, and intend on getting a bunch of geocaching in. I find that the exercise and fresh air makes me less aware of my cd. And of course the thrill of the hunt, and trying to piece together hints makes my brain focus on something else.

I also love reading, and my hubby and I are slogging our way through the Grey's Anatomy seasons (we don't have cable or satellite, so DVDs are great).

[Jenn]

Good topic :P

I used to run track, write, play trumpet and sax, sing, and draw (charcoal) I have difficulties doing all of these things now.

I have found some activities to replace these things such as yoga for track, and modeling and photography for drawing. I am using dragon naturally speaking to keep up with my writing.

I dont do much musical things anymore. My hand makes it difficult to play, and my slight dysphonia makes singing difficult.

I do miss high jumping though.. With a passion. Perhaps I'll do it again one day. :P

[onmom]

Funny...I just quit our local concert band this past spring. I played clarinet. If it wasn't for the discomfort I had when playing, and making sure to mention it to the neuro, I'm not sure I would have been diagnosed. I'm hoping to get back, but if not, then I can still enjoy going to the concerts.

[hopeful]

Hi everyone! Before dystonia I loved to remake and style furniture from garage sales. Can't do that now to much sanding and such. I love to paint birds I was able to do a painting today . Sometimes I can't if my tremor is acting up or my hands freeze in a fixed position. My hubby has been making bird houses for me to decorate it's fun to come up w/ different styles I did a chicken coop one flying lessons w/ airplane etc. I was always doing something or another. Still not working it's driving me crazy . Doing these little crafts help.
LOVE&PEACE hopeful

[onmom]

I would love to see pictures!

[beka]

Thanks for this new great topic. I think more often than not , about all we dwell on, is Life with dystonia...Or Rather living for dystonia which is quite easy to do...

beka

[Lene]

I stopped my hobby of singing it started to affect the back of my head/neck,its a shame because I did it well. It took years to become perfected especially acapella singing. I am thinking of another one to pass the time away. Any ideas are appreciated.. Lene

[kdorff]

onmom-
If you are interested in going back, depending on exactly how your dystonia presents, you might consider the FHRED (See here.) It's made to take the weight of the clarinet off the player and might even allow you a little bit of extra support.
-Kat

[beka]

I will add to this discussion as well as thanksgiving nears this week.

Recently I began riding horses, something that would surprise many of you; it even amazes me. But I have read about therapeutic horse back riding. Over the summer, ( 2009 ) since I can no longer ride a bicycle, I figured that a better option might be to give things a try on a four-legged beast. Luckily for me, the decision to do so, came easily as I had been a horse lover since age 13, constantly asking my parents for a horse , specifically a Palomino, for my birthday ( still waiting !). But the asking has returned to my mothers' horror. Beth, a former writer at Newsweek ( x 20 years ) and close friend owns a 16.2 hand tall German horse and has been been teaching me so-called " centered riding " to aid in my balance the past few months. Helps to have a natural seat on the horse ! But , why not try a sport that would seem impossible for a disabled person. Simply said, because YOU CAN DO IT ! A horse does not care what disorder you have, nor do they laugh about the way you look, act or move. A few handy treats on hand always do help. They give unconditional love and can sense your fears, emotions better than a two legged person sometimes can. So, GO OUT there and Give a Favorite HOBBY a try.

Therapeutic horseback riding(also known as Equine Assisted Activity or Adaptive Riding) is equine-based therapy used to improve the balance, coordination, focus, independence, confidence, motor and social skills. Therapeutic riding is beneficial to children and adults who present with any of a wide range of cognitive, physical, and emotional conditions. Equine assisted therapy is the second most popular equestrian activity in North America.

Therapeutic riding programs should be delivered by a certified instructor after assessment by a physiotherapist. In an Equine Assisted Activities program, a certified or specially trained riding instructor teaches a person with a disability how to ride a horse. However, the environment of the horse can provide more than just riding skills. The programs which offer the equine environment to people with disabilities can teach companionship, responsibility, leadership, vocational, educational skills as well as offer competition venues in the different horse disciplines. Riding a horse provides a unique and often profound recreational or leisure activity for many people. There are many sports which people who have disabilities can participate in for enhancing their lives which offer social and physical fitness as addressed in the Special Olympic programs for people with a cognitive disability. There are hundreds of programs around the world as well as many organizations dedicated to the various forms of horse riding or horse care which address many other disabilities and may not have a cognitive disability.

The student who interacts with their horse may extend this to others and to form meaningful relationships with people. Building a relationship with an animal is very rewarding in many aspects; for a person with an emotional, social or psychological disability, the trust and loyalty of an animal demonstrates to the student how important they are and then they may extend these attributes to personal relationships. Horses also help people feel in control of their situation because there is a direct correlation between action and reaction. To learn how to care for and ride a horse, a student must also be able to communicate efficiently with the horse and the instructor. In this way, riding is a very social activity, but is less daunting to people who are uncomfortable in social situations. However, the experience of riding a horse is very different. Riding helps to empower people and enables them to connect on a personal level. The sometimes unpredictable nature of animals and situations also creates a real-life environment in which students will be able to confront fears and make adjustments to situations beyond their control.

Links to learn more :

www.narha.org

www.americanequestrian.com/therapy.htm

www.strides.org

More pics can be found at http://www.facebook.com/inbox/?drop&ref=mb#/profile.php?v=photo....

( Copyright. C4D. 2009-10. http"www.care4dystonia.org )

beka