Fighting Parkinson’s in the ring

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 03/12/2018 (2648 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A group of boxers is stepping in the ring to fight Parkinson’s.

U-Turn Parkinson’s, a local organization dedicated to helping people who have the neurodegenerative disease improve their quality of life, offers Rock Steady Boxing — a non-contact, boxing-inspired exercise program.

Volunteers run Rock Steady classes eight times a week.

Boxing has been shown to be an effective way to fight the symptoms of Parkinson’s, which include tremors and balance problems.

“We have a participant that came in and said that when he starts boxing, his tremors stop, and when he stops boxing, his tremors start again,” says Joanne Conway, who leads Rock Steady classes at In This Corner Boxing Fitness Centre on Chevrier Boulevard.

“To me, that’s incredible — that he gets this reprieve from his symptoms while he’s in class.”

The classes are taught by professional trainers and are designed for people of all ages and abilities.

Focusing on overall fitness, strength training, reaction time and balance, a typical workout includes heavy bags and pad work, along with core exercises and circuit weight training.

“They’re not easy workouts,” says Brandt Butt, a former competitive boxer who coaches Rock Steady classes at United Boxing Club in Osborne Village.

Still, participants rise to the challenge.

“I can’t think of a time where someone has come to complain about something, or say that something is too hard,” Butt says. “It’s quite amazing. To see them come in, when they’re dealing with a disease that’s constant, is inspiring.”

Butt and his mother, Sheri Larsen-Celhar, started Counterpunch, a boxing program for people with Parkinson’s, in February 2016.

Within a year, Counterpunch became part of U-Turn Parkinson’s.

Today, Butt and Larsen-Celhar volunteer their time leading classes two days each week.

Participants have seen results that include regaining the ability to play piano and decreasing their medication, Larsen-Celhar says.

“One person was able to sign their child’s birthday card, which he hadn’t been able to do in two years,” she says. “Little things (like) that are huge.”

In addition to the coaches, U-Turn relies on about 30 volunteers to interact with and support participants during class.

“Without volunteers, we wouldn’t be able to offer any of the programming we run for these individuals,” says Karen Velthuys, executive director at U-Turn.

Velthuys is looking for more volunteers. No boxing experience is required — just a warm, friendly, encouraging attitude and the physical ability to participate in class.

Anyone interested can email karen@uturnpd.org.

The classes are a lot of fun, Conway says.

“The participants are working hard, sweating and leaving everything out on the floor, but they’re still able to laugh and have a good time,” she says. “Their attitude is contagious.”

Parkinson’s can be an isolating, depressing disease, but Rock Steady helps people keep loneliness and depression on the ropes.

“My favourite part of coming to the class is seeing all the volunteers and participants talking together, communicating, creating relationships and becoming friends,” Butt says.

Larsen-Celhar agrees. “It’s corny, but you end up seeing so much love in the room,” she says.

“What’s better than that?”

If you know a special volunteer, please contact aaron.epp@gmail.com.