Jim Wheaton says he’s noticed improvements in his physical health from once-a-week exercise classes for those afflicted with Parkinson's disease.

The class is led by physical therapist and Parkinson's expert Stuart Blatt, who donates his time to help those with Parkinson's and others with disabilities.

"Exercise helps, very definitely," said Wheaton, who coordinates the class and has had Parkinson's disease for the past 14 years. "Exercise stimulates a natural production of dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that is most often lost with people who have Parkinson's disease."

The weekly class is just one component of the Ann Arbor Parkinson Support Group, a monthly club that focuses on three "Es": education, exercise, and enjoyment.

Residents John and Judy Waller lead the group and say they know first-hand that living with Parkinson's disease isn't easy. John Waller was diagnosed with Parkinson's nine years ago, at age 58.

"This is a club that you don't choose to join," Judy Waller said. "Nobody wants this disease, but we are living life. We have things we have to deal with every day with this illness, but life is there. The flowers are blooming, the birds are singing, and we laugh. We are adamant that people get out there and enjoy life as long as they can."

Parkinson's disease is a progressive and incurable neurodegenerative brain disorder of unknown causes. It effects movement, and to some extent, cognitive ability.

"Our first goal is education because we want to be educated as much as possible,” Judy Waller said. “The more you know about your illness, the more it will help you to deal with it so much better."

The group has guest speakers, which recently included a neurophychologist and a speech therapist.

"The speech therapist, for example, was helpful in that Parkinson's people often don't know that they are talking softer, so she was able to give us a lot of insight into speaking," Judy Waller said. "Through voice therapy they learn to speak louder and work with muscle movement as well."

The exercise class began just over a year ago. Wheaton, who also works out four days a week elsewhere, said he has seen improvements in his own disease.

"A few years ago I started stumbling more and I'd fall flat on my face," Wheaton said. "I could be standing still trying to move forward, and my head would move forward and my feet wouldn't. Now with the exercise that I do, if I start to fall I can catch myself in the pushup position about 4 inches before I hit the floor. I consider that a big plus from smashing up my nose."

Judy Waller said other participants have reported similar results. The class, which usually numbers around 20, focuses on core work and flexibility.

The final "E" the support group focuses on is enjoyment. "It's tough because every day of our lives we are dealing with illness," Judy Waller said. "So one of the things we like to do is have fun. We do social activities once a month, and we've done lots of neat things."

Recently, the group went to the Purple Rose Theater in Chelsea, and took a docent tour of an art museum.

The group also meets for lunch one Sunday a month.

"What we’re trying to do in our support group is give ourselves the best quality of life while we have Parkinson's," Judy Waller said.

The Ann Arbor Parkinson Support Group meets on the second Sunday of the month at 1:30 p.m. at the Women's Health Center at St. Joseph's Hospital, 5320 Elliott Drive in classroom 1 on the second floor. For more information, contact John or Judy Waller at 734-662-9784 or johnwaller@aol.com.

The free Adaptive Exercise Class meets every Thursday from 3-4 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 1432 Washtenaw in Ann Arbor. For more information, call Jim Wheaton at 734-665-4088.

Pam Gossiaux is a freelance writer for AnnArbor.com. Reach the news desk at news@annarbor.com or 734-623-2530.