There are new members working hard in the Training Room every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon, since The Becoming Center in Ambler, PA, launched Rock Steady Boxing Training this spring.
Men and women diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease can join The Becoming Center to participate in weekly Rock Steady Boxing Training classes as a way to combat effects of PD. The training improves overall fitness by developing strength, agility, balance.
Rock Steady Boxing helps Parkinson’s patients to move more easily and more safely, while improving posture, gait, flexibility, and resistance to injury.
According to Anthony Byers, Director of The Becoming Center, “RSB training is an effective training method that benefits people at all stages of Parkinson’s Disease, including those who have been just diagnosed and those who have lived with the debilitation of the disease for decades.”
After warming up by doing floor stretching exercises on Yoga mats, the participants start walking gently and normally, then taking “monster steps” marching, lifting each leg while stretching out an opposite arm for balance. They take turns moving throughout the various stations in the room, each working on honing balance, agility, and endurance, while developing fitness and self-confidence.
According to Donna, a newer member of the class, “These are good activities to practice because they involve multi-dimensional movements in multiple planes, not only moving forward and backward.”
They practice coordinated movements with their footwork by standing with ‘Soft knees, soft hips” as Anthony explains. “Keeping joints slightly bent while standing in one spot and then moving side to side, or by crawling forward and backward on yoga mats.”
While completing drill repetitions of exercises lasting two minutes each, during which time rhythmic music plays while Anthony calls out, “Let’s roll, come on, one, two, breathe, one, two, breathe deeply, step into it with balance, that’s it, now let’s switch, time to switch stations.”
Donna moves to peddling the bike, while Lenore boxes with Anthony, and Ris rides the bike, executing a routine of 30 second sprints of faster and slower cycling. Anna pulls elastic bands attached to a door handle while seated in a chair for resistance training, while Marie does the Tabata double rope workout guided by Madeleine Byrne, Director of Community Life for Artman, encouraging her.
Both Anthony and Madeleine are certified Rock Steady Boxing Trainers.
Training Helps Loosen Muscles and Develops Flexibility
Clarissa, or “Ris” as she is known, is a retired scientist who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s two years ago when she was 69 years of age. Prior to joining the class at the Becoming Center, she attended classes at a YMCA further away from her home.
“A friend of mine is a member of The Becoming Center, taking aquatic classes. This spring, she mentioned that The Becoming Center offered Rock Steady Boxing Training. At the same time, I saw an advertisement for the training in The Ambler Gazette and signed up immediately. The exercises loosen me up. Getting in and out of the car is exhausting, so one of the exercises I work on here involves transitioning up and down from a seated position.”
Training Convenient for Area Residents in Bluebell, Ambler, Glenside, Ft. Washington Areas
Like Ris, Marie joined Rock Steady at The Becoming Center as soon as the training was offered this spring. She was diagnosed seven years ago and has been in Rock Steady Boxing classes elsewhere for several years.
She claims, “I am overjoyed that the classes are close to my home. I was driving downtown to do the training, but The Becoming Center is much more convenient to my home. I feel much better physically and emotionally when I work out. My husband asks why I can’t just do the exercises at home by myself. The lively music and energy of being with other people doing the training workouts is motivational and has helped me to feel stronger, more balanced, and more confident in my body. The camaraderie with others in the classes provides a big emotional boost.”
Rock Steady Boxing Reduces Muscle Stiffness and Improves Balance While Developing Capacity
Lenore, age 77, agrees, saying, “It is helpful to exercise with others and The Becoming Center is only a 1.5 miles from my home. RSB helps reduce muscle stiffness while improving my balance. I enjoy the music because it keeps my rhythm and pace going. ”
Two newer students, Anna and Terry, also learned about the training in the Ambler Gazette. Anna has dealt with Parkinson’s for seven years and says she finds The Becoming Center classes enjoyable because “each instructor presents the routines a little differently, in changing sequences, which keeps it interesting.”
Although the participants are in different stages of the disease, and each has invested a different length of time in the Rock Steady Boxing Program, all agree that they feel looser, more agile, and more confident in their bodies. And, they are emotionally uplifted by attending the class.
