About Shelley
Hi, I’m Shelley — and I’m really glad you’re here.
For most of my life, helping people has been at the center of everything I do. I spent 35 years as a pharmacist, listening to patients, answering questions, and trying to help people navigate complicated health journeys — often during some of the hardest seasons of their lives.
But long before Empowered with Parkinson’s existed, health became personal for me.
When Health Became More Than a Job
I’ve always been active, even while raising two boys and working full-time. Like many moms, I squeezed movement in where I could — walks, workout videos, gym classes, and whatever fit into a busy life filled with sports practices, games, and long days on the road.
Everything changed when my dad passed away from a heart attack in 2006, when I was 40 years old.
Not long after, my mom passed as well. Around that same time, I learned that I was born with a rare heart defect. That news shifted how I viewed my body, my health, and my future.
I realized something important:
I couldn’t control my genetics — but I could control how I cared for myself.
So I made a decision to take my health seriously — not through extremes or restriction, but through consistency, balance, and daily movement. Because of the habits I built, I was able to delay the heart surgery I now need by 17 years.
That experience changed me forever.
Why Parkinson’s Matters So Deeply to Me
Parkinson’s has been part of my life for decades.
I watched my grandfather live with tremors.
I watched my mother live with Parkinson’s — her posture change, her movement slow, and her body respond to medication side effects like dyskinesia.
I saw firsthand how Parkinson’s affects more than just the body — it impacts confidence, independence, and identity.
As a pharmacist, I understood the medications.
As a daughter and granddaughter, I understood the emotional toll.
And as a fitness instructor, I saw something powerful:
Movement can change how people feel — physically and emotionally.
That’s where everything came together.
The Philosophy Behind Empowered with Parkinson’s
I don’t believe in perfection.
I don’t believe in “no pain, no gain.”
And I don’t believe people with Parkinson’s need to be pushed — they need to be supported.
What I do believe in:
- Daily movement, even on hard days
- Consistency over intensity
- Balance, not restriction
- Meeting people where they are
- Building confidence one small win at a time
Movement doesn’t have to be long or complicated to be effective. It just has to be intentional and consistent.
That’s the heart behind Get Moving with Parkinson’s and everything I teach.
More Than a Program — A Community
Empowered with Parkinson’s is more than workout videos.
It’s a space where:
- You’re not rushed
- You’re not judged
- You’re not doing this alone
Inside, you’ll find movement that supports balance, strength, posture, coordination, and confidence — along with education, encouragement, and monthly support calls where we connect as real people navigating real life with Parkinson’s.
I also continue to support members using my pharmacy background — helping with medication timing, understanding “on” and “off” periods, and finding the best windows for movement.
A Little More About Me
I’m a mom to two grown sons and a proud grandmother (“Gemma”) who loves taking walks, staying active with my grandkids, and modeling healthy habits for the next generation.
Movement has always been part of my life — not because I had to, but because it allows me to show up fully for the people I love.
Today, I’m retired from pharmacy and fully devoted to this work — helping people with Parkinson’s move safely, confidently, and with purpose.
If You’re Here…
If you’re living with Parkinson’s — or caring for someone who is — I want you to know this:
You are still capable of so much.
You are not broken.
And you are not alone.
I’d be honored to support you on your journey.
