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 Chartered Physiotherapist Maria Lewis & Sally Tawhai driven by a passion to help people live healthier, more empowered lives through movement and education.
Maria’s background is in rehabilitation, and her journey into Parkinson’s-specific exercise began when Sally shared a story that deeply resonated. A patient with a recent Parkinson’s diagnosis had asked, “Is there anything I can do?”- after being told by their consultant to simply take medication and wait. That question sparked something in Maria & Sally. She had recently begun exploring the role of exercise in managing Parkinson’s and realised how vital it was to offer more than just a passive treatment approach. Sally’s expertise lies in Musculoskeletal /Sports Physiotherapy and Exercise. Together they set about building a service tailored to the exercise needs of people with Parkinson’s
This led to a breakthrough: creating flexible, accessible Parkinson’s exercise programmes that people could follow at their own pace, from home. From this idea, Reach Your Peak evolved into a supportive online platform that empowers people with Parkinson’s to become their own exercise experts.
Since then, the platform has grown significantly. Milestones include the launch of the Reach Your Peak app, a feature on BBC Breakfast, and the development of a CIMSPA-accredited course to train exercise professionals in Parkinson’s-specific exercise.
At the heart of everything we do is a simple belief: knowledge and movement are the keys to living well with Parkinson’s.
Maria Lewis
Maria Lewis is a physiotherapist specialising in Parkinson’s disease with 10 years of experience working exclusively with people with Parkinson’s. She is co-founder of Reach Your Peak, a physiotherapy-led online exercise community dedicated to empowering people with Parkinson’s to live their best lives. As an educator and clinician, she is lead contributor to the CIMSPA accredited Pro Parkinson’s course, playing a key role in bridging the gap between theory and practice. She equips physiotherapists and healthcare professionals with the confidence and practical skills to use exercise as a powerful tool in treating people with Parkinson’s in their communities.
She is also one of the founding members of Parkinson’s UK Excellence Network Exercise Hub, a network of over 600 healthcare and exercise professionals who together seek to champion physical activity and exercise for Parkinson’s.
Maria is Vice Chair of the Welsh Board of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) which gives her the opportunity to ensure rehabilitation is always on the Government’s agenda.
Rachel Rutley
Rachel is a specialist physiotherapist who has focused her extensive career on helping people with Neurological conditions maximise their function. She developed her skills in treating people living with Parkinson’s over 10 years ago and has developed an in depth understanding the impact of Parkinson’s for individuals and how to apply appropriate techniques and strategies to help them. She has developed extensive expertise in prescribing exercise for people with Parkinson’s, working with individuals and running exercise classes for Parkinson’s groups.
Rachel has also taught courses for qualified physiotherapists on exercise prescription for people living with Parkinson’s. Rachel started working as a Physiotherapy lecturer at the University of Keele in 2020 and has an Advanced Physiotherapy master’s degree, which focused on the challenges people with Parkinson’s experience with their feet as a result of foot dystonia. Rachel brings her extensive clinical and research knowledge to her role in Reach Your Peak.
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