Boxing Class helps with Parkinson’s Disease

There’s a new fitness class in town designed to improve the quality of life of people with Parkinson’s Disease. It’s called rock steady boxing.

The program has been around for several years, but this is the first one in Idaho. It’s been going for a couple of months now.

Scott Kent works up a good sweat in the non-contact boxing class. He says it is amazing where he is now compared to a year and a half ago when he was diagnosed with Parkinsons ‘ s Disease.

“It progressed really bad to where I couldn’t do anything, ” Kent said. ” I had to have my wife do everything for me. I had no balance. I couldn’t knock on doors. I couldn’t clap my hands. I had to have her bathe me.”

But Kent is a fighter, so he started doing some weightlifting which helped. He says this class makes him feel even better.

“”I had a lot of people wonder, ‘what’s going on.? What’s your secret? Why are you able to move again?’ I tell them boxing and it’s just fun. I never in the world pictured myself with boxing gloves on.”

Those are the kinds of stories certified personal trainer Sandi Gordon loves to hear. When she first learned about rock steady boxing, she was excited about it and became certified to teach it.

“The University of Indiana and Purdue University have done a lot of research and found that the rock steady method helps to reduce the symptoms of people with Parkinson’s disease, ” Gordon said. ” This is not theory. It’s fact. It’s actually working It’s been proven in many different places and I just couldn’t wait to get it started here.”

Scott Criddle is just starting the class, but he’s looked looked into the studies that show why it works so well.

Don Johnson said it’s made a difference in his life.

“I’m an avid skier and last year I couldn’t ski, and this year I’ve been able to get back up on the slopes,” Johnson said.

C riddle has high hopes for what this class will do for him. He knows it will be taxing but it beats the alternative.

“You just melt, ” Criddle said. ” You just sit in a corner and shake and that’s not what I want to do.”

“This gives folks hope, Gordon said. ” They’re lives are changing. They can make a difference in their own lives without taking medication. They can change their future.”

There’s more room in this class and they’ll add more if needed. You can call Sandi Gordon at Apple Athletic at 208-529-8600 for more information on the class.