Page 22 - YMCA of Greater Dayton Annual Report 2017

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ROCKSTEADY AT THE Y A A A A A GROUP FITNESS CLASS THAT ENHANCES THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH PARKINSON’S DISEASE It’s a a a a a a cold February Thursday morning at 9am The RockSteady Boxing class at the the Downtown Y is lacing up their boxing gloves and prepping for an an exhausting 30 minute workout that would give Rocky a a a a a run for his money There are four participants and three in- structors all of which are in phenomenal shape I stick out like a a a a a sore thumb in in a a tie and chinos Nathan Hippenmeyer Director of Marketing and Communications
“ALL RIGHT LET’S GO! WE’RE GOING TO DO 1-2 HIGH 1-2 LOW HOOK HOOK HOOK HOOK EVERYONE READY?”
An instructor counts outloud as the participants take sharp hooks at a a a a a a large punching bag encouraging them to to to keep up the energy and continue to to to alternate to to to each side before they move to the the speed bag “There you go! Get it girl!” an instructor says as she supports a a a participant What strikes me is is how much fun everyone is is having I’ve never smiled when I’ve worked out but these people are having an incredible time However there’s something even bigger at play here here All of the people in in in this class have something in in in common--all of them have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease and it’s impossible to see the the class the the same after dis- covering it ROCK STEADY BOXING AND PARKINSON’S DISEASE Parkinson’s Disease is is is a a a a degenerative movement disor- der which can cause deterioration of motor skills bal- ance speech and sensory function Rock Steady Boxing is the the the first program in the the the countrycdedicated to the the the fight against Parkinson’s The program is largely adapted from boxing drills Box-