About Reach Your Peak - Exercise for Parkinson's
Our Philosophy
At Reach Your Peak, we are dedicated to transforming lives through the power of exercise. Specialising in Parkinson’s-specific exercise programmes, we empower people living with Parkinson's to take control of their symptoms, improve their mobility, and build confidence. We believe that exercise is medicine. Whether you’re just starting out or already an experienced exerciser, we’re here to support you every step of the way.
Our Mission
Our mission is to empower people with Parkinson’s to live their best lives through education, movement, and community. By making exercise accessible, flexible, and Parkinson’s-specific, we aim to provide the tools and support needed to build confidence, improve health, and embrace life to its fullest.
Our Story
From Frustration to Inspiration: How Reach Your Peak Was Born
Reach Your Peak was founded in 2016 by Physiotherapists Maria Lewis & Sally Tawhai. Both passionate about helping people live healthier lives. Maria specialised in rehabilitation, while Sally’s expertise was in musculoskeletal and sports physiotherapy. Sally has been seeing a patient for help with a neck problem who had a recent Parkinson’s diagnosis. She has been told by her consultant "take these tablets and come back when it gets worse". The patient asked Sally, “Is there anything I can do?”Sally felt frustrated that she didn’t have an answer. She turned to Maria, who had just been exploring courses on exercise as a treatment for Parkinson’s. Inspired, Maria completed her training, and together they began running a small in-person exercise class for people with Parkinson’s. While the class was a success, Maria and Sally quickly realised that one session a week wasn’t enough to meet the recommended exercise prescription. They also saw that Parkinson’s symptoms can fluctuate, making it difficult for participants to commit to a fixed time each day. This led to a breakthrough: creating flexible, accessible programmes that people could follow at their own time and pace from home. From this idea, Reach Your Peak was born - a platform that brings together a supportive online community of people living with Parkinson’s and empowers them to become their own exercise experts.
Over the years, we’ve achieved key milestones, including the launch of our app, a feature on BBC Breakfast, and the development of a CIMSPA-accredited course to train exercise professionals in Parkinson’s-specific exercise.
Every step of our journey has been guided by our belief that knowledge and movement are the keys to living well with Parkinson’s.
