Parkinson's Disease
Resource Center
Welcome to your GO TO Resource for Parkinson's Disease in Alabama
Boxing
Non-contact boxing, when performed safely and in the proper setting, can be a fun and beneficial type of exercise. Programs like Rock Steady Boxing and PD Fight Club work exclusively for people with PD. Boxing classes combine many aspects of exercise that are important for people with PD, including aerobic, strengthening, balance/agility, and dual task practice.
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Members of PD Fight Club in Birmingham, Alabama gather several times a week to encourage one another and keep moving! Other Rock Steady classes are also available throughout Alabama.
Boxing, they say, is as much a match of mental agility as it is physical ability. Anyone who has ever trained and stepped into the ring knows this is true. Inner struggle and mental warfare are pervasive themes in boxing. We know boxing is a sport that forces individuals to look deep inside themselves and discover who they are and who they want to be. Some of the world's most famous and greatest boxers of all time have faced not only their relentless opponents, but also themselves.
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We are learning every day that there are ways in which people with PD can enhance their daily quality of life and even build impressive power, strength, flexibility, and speed! By exercising with coaches who know the ropes, you can fight your way out of the corner and start to feel and function better. Boxing works by moving your body in all planes of motion while continuously changing the routine as you progress through the workout. These classes have proven that anyone, at any level of Parkinson's, can actually lessen their symptoms and lead a healthier and happier life as well as minimize depression.
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There are a variety of boxing classes available that are specific to Parkinson's in Alabama. These include Rock Steady and PD Fight Club.
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Rock Steady Boxing
Rock Steady Boxing, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, gives people with Parkinson's disease hope by improving their quality of life through a non-contact boxing fitness curriculum. The mission of Rock Steady Boxing is to equip our affiliates and empower the coaches to improve the quality of life of people with Parkinson's disease through a non-contact, boxing-based fitness curriculum.
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Rock Steady Boxing is the first gym in the country dedicated to the fight against Parkinson's. In our gym, exercises are largely adapted from boxing drills. Boxers condition for optimal agility, speed, muscular endurance, accuracy, hand-eye coordination, footwork, and overall strength to defend against and overcome opponents. At RSB, Parkinson's disease is the opponent. Exercises vary in purpose and form but share one common trait: they are rigorous and intended to extend the perceived capabilities of the participant. Learn more about Rock Steady.
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PD Fight Club
PD Fight Club classes - taught by head coach Martin Juarez and assistant coaches
Dany Egli and Molly Swain - include an exercise program that attacks Parkinson's
at its vulnerable neurological points. While focusing on overall fitness, strength
training, reaction time, and balance. No boxing experience is necessary, and people
of all ages are invited to participate. PD Fight Club boxers range in age from 36-90.
The club provides not only therapeutic exercise and instruction, but also
community support as we fight this disease together. Contact Martin Juarez,
jaurezboxing@yahoo.com, 1.205.370.8992.
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The classes that are available are listed in alphabetical order by city below.
Reach out to a boxing class instructor near you to schedule your assessment
to get started.
