Introducing the Suzy Turner Internship!

 

We are proud and honored to present The Suzy Turner Internship!

This intership has been set up to honor Rock Steady Boxing SC’s great friend and volunteer, Suzy Turner. This intership is a paid internship for an applicant who desires to learn more about Rock Steady Boxing SC and the impact it has on fighting Parkinson’s disease.

When Rock Steady Boxing started in Costa Mesa Suzy Turner started volunteering every week bringing along her passion and joy to all of our athletes. This past January ovarian cancer took our beautiful Suzy away.

Suzy had a special way of connecting with people. With a huge smile on her face she played, she laughed and she made you feel important. She gave every ounce of herself to the athletes both in and out of the ring.

Suzy loved the program and volunteered until the very end. After her passing it became apparent that Suzy’s presence would always be felt in the gym where she dedicated so many hours.

An internship has been set in place to be given to an intern who embodies Suzy’s love and hope for the program.

This recipient needs to have passion for the program, experience in the field of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, or Exercise therapy and plans to work with Rock Steady Boxing in the future.

Our first Suzy Turner internship recipient is Andrew Deming!

Andrew Deming is the first recipient of the Suzy Turner Internship.

Andrew graduated from Biola University (2015) with a degree in Kinesiology and plans to further his education by doing post graduate work and becoming a PTA.

As a certified Personal Trainer Andy believes in exercise therapy as a way to help a person overcome limitations set by a disease such as Parkinson’s.

We are excited to have Andy as our first Internship recipient!

 

For more information on Rock Steady Boxing SC, how to apply for the Suzy Turner Internship, please contact Anne Adams at anne@rocksteadyboxingsc.com.

NEW CLASS STARTING MAY 26!

We are excited to be adding a NEW CLASS! This new class will begin on May 26 and will be held on Mondays and Wednesdays, 1:00pm-2:30pm. For more information or to join this new class, please call Anne: (949) 370-0607.

We are always looking for great volunteers interested in helping us with class. Please let us know if you are interested in becoming a volunteer!

People With Parkinson’s Disease Battle Symptoms Through Boxing

Check out our news coverage on CBS2! *Original video and article posted on CBS Los Angeles

COSTA MESA (CBSLA.com) — People with Parkinson’s diseaseare battling their symptoms with a right hook.

Jennifer Parkinson, a Thousand Oaks mom, was diagnosed with the neurodegenerative disorder at 32. It caused her hands to shake, her body to freeze, and she became so fatigued, it cost her a nursing job and her marriage.

“I was just looking at the beginning of my career, raising my children, having this life that I always wanted. This completely turned upside down,” she said.

Eight years later, the 40-year-old said boxing saved her life.

“It teaches me to push myself both mentally and physically, and I could push myself beyond those limits,” said Parkinson.

Parkinson trains at Rock Steady Boxing of Costa Mesa, which was launched by Anne Adams three months ago.

Adams said she watched boxing change her father’s life after he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. She said she was so inspired, she started a branch in Southern California.

“They found that the forced intense exercise actually starts to remake dopamine,” Adams said.

Dopamine is the brain chemical that affects movements. Although boxing doesn’t reverse the symptoms of Parkinson’s, it “rebuilds a little bit of dopamine,” said Adams.

Doug Spence was diagnosed with Parkinson’s four years ago. In the three months since he started the program, he said he can walk better, talk better and even run.

“It’s changed my life,” he said. “When you’re married, you worry about being a burden to your spouse, and it makes it a little easier to know that I’m doing what I can do and it’s helping.”

Spence’s wife, Cathy, agreed.

“The person before boxing compared to the person now is night and day,” she said.

Rock Steady Boxing Launches in Southern California with Support of Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini

Fighting back against the crippling effects of Parkinson’s, Rock Steady Boxing launches in Orange County with the full endorsement of Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini. The former WBA Lightweight Champion states, “I believe in the Rock Steady Boxing method in the fight against Parkinson’s because I know it works.”

Rock Steady Boxing is Orange County’s newest and most exciting program that uses boxing-inspired fitness training and related exercises to slow the advancement of Parkinson’s disease. Participants range from 30 to 90 years old and work out in a highly energized, team-oriented environment. As a boxing great, “Boom Boom” Mancini understands first-hand how powerful boxing training can be for people affected with movement disorders. In the following interview, “Boom Boom” speaks out about the health benefits of boxing and just how effective this program is for those battling Parkinson’s.

Q & A with Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini by Anne Adams, CPT & Rock Steady Boxing SC Coach

Q: How would you classify boxing as an exercise?

Boom Boom: Boxing is a core work out, if there was ever such a word. Boxing is the one sport that uses upper body and lower body muscles simultaneously. The hardest thing in sports is to move your hands and feet together. That’s why boxing has a certain grace to it – it’s a beautiful sport to watch.

Q: How do you think boxing helps with movement disorders?

Boom Boom: First of all, fighting is about muscle memory. When you move, when you associate how to throw a punch, it’s all about muscle memory… There’s that term – “he’s a ‘thinking fighter.” There’s no such word as a “thinking fighter.” Because fighters aren’t taught to think – they’re taught to react. And you have to react in milliseconds. And again, that’s muscle memory.

Q: How does the body involve the brain in boxing?

Boom Boom: We’re trained to anticipate the punch before it comes. We know by the way a guy moves with his hands or the way he twitches his shoulder what’s coming next, and we’re able to get out of the way of it. And yet, even when some fighters have had brain injuries, and some brain damage, they’re still able to move. Now, the neurological message doesn’t get to the brain as fast, but they still do it. Their body still has that transmitter, even if it’s a little slower, telling them to move their head, to bend their body a certain way. It’s actually very fascinating, the mind of a fighter, and how the mind and the body work.

Q: Do you see how Rock Steady Boxing works to help people with Parkinson’s?

Boom Boom: Absolutely. I’ve seen it, where guys have been in wheelchairs, and they’ll go to the gym and hit the bag. They still have movement, and they push the punches out, and they even move their heads side to side like a fighter. Again, it’s the one sport that uses the upper body and lower body simultaneously. Even if you’re sitting, you’re moving, and your legs are twitching, and the muscles are contracting at certain ways you move. So, it’s a complete work out – not only physically, but mentally and emotionally.

Q: Yes, in fact, we are seeing that the Rock Steady Boxers are also feeling much better mentally. Can this be attributed to the boxing work out?

Boom Boom: You know, they tell you, “Go hit a bag, that’ll get all of your frustrations out.” And it does. You go hit that bag until you can’t stand up, til you’re completely exhausted of any motion or of any thought process. You’re just exhausted. And then when you sit back and relax, you have a clear head. [Boxing] allows oxygen coming to the brain on a physical level, but on a mental and emotional level, your mind is open and clear to receiving new thoughts, and hopefully positive thoughts. And that’s a wonderful feeling – to be clear.

Q: We would love to have you stop by the gym during one of our classes. Is that something you would do?

Boom Boom: I would really like to – I will definitely try!

For more information about Rock Steady Boxing Southern California, please visit www.RockSteadyBoxingSC.com, or contact Anne Adams at (949) 370-0607 / Anne@RockSteadyBoxingSC.com.

Rock Steady Boxing Comes to Southern California!

The Rock Steady Boxing program is designed to address idiopathic and atypical Parkinson’s Disease. Research, medical studies and Rock Steady Boxing’s years of experience suggest consistent truths:

1. Regular exercise improves symptoms
2. Diversity of exercises is encouraged
3. Exercise should be done at a high level of intensity
4. Finding something you enjoy is critical to long term commitment

History of Rock Steady Boxing

Rock Steady Boxing, an Indiana-based gym founded to provide an effective form of physical exercise to people living with Parkinson’s Disease, has come to Southern California!

The History of Rock Steady Boxing

Rock Steady Boxing, the first and only boxing program of its kind in the country, was founded in 2006 by former Marion County Prosecutor, Scott C. Newman who is living with Parkinson’s.

The seed for what would eventually become Rock Steady Boxing Foundation was planted when Newman began intense, one-on-one, boxing training just a few years after he was diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson’s at the ago of 40. Newman witnessed the dramatic improvement in his physical health, agility and daily functioning through the intense and high energy workouts. Newman’s quality of life improved dramatically in a short time due to his fighting back against Parkinson’s disease. Private donations and a personal passion to help others living with Parkinson’s allowed Newman to open a small gym and boxing ring in a donated corner of a corporate employee gym as Rock Steady’s first home.

Kristy Rose Follmar, a former world champion professional boxer, was hired (and remains today) as the head trainer. Kristy made invaluable contributions to build the Rock Steady program during its infancy. Her professional experience as a boxer and fitness trainer, along with her infectious enthusiasm for helping those with Parkinson’s, continues to help the program steadily grow.
Christine Timberlake joined Rock Steady as a certified trainer in 2008. Her roll as a carepartner for over 11 years to her husband (Tom), exceptional athletic ability and outstanding leadership skills added tremendous value to the Rock Steady team. Her ability to relate to and nurture the carepartners of Rock Steady Boxers and fundraising capabilities are vital components to the overall mission.

As word of this unique program spread and the demand for the classes increased, Rock Steady created training programs to meet the fitness levels at all stages of Parkinson’s – from the newly diagnosed to those who had been living with it for decades plus. Not only did boxing training offer an appropriately challenging workout, it was also fun! Rock Steady Boxers found a place where inside and outside the ring they could form friendships with others who truly understood what it was like to live with Parkinson’s disease. Male or female, young or old, they spoke the same language and shared the same daily challenges.

In early 2010 Rock Steady recognized that it needed a larger facility and a permanent home for the program. Working with Amy DiStaulo, an Indianapolis nonprofit and business development consultant, they earnestly worked to build a dynamic and diverse board of directors and seek grant funding to build a dedicated facility for Rock Steady Boxing.

The generous support of Impact 100 Greater Indianapolis through a highly competitive $100,000 “Impact Grant” and a partnership with Peak Performance Fitness Center allowed Rock Steady to build their own boxing gym that was officially dedicated on February 19, 2011. The Impact 100 grant allowed Rock Steady to increase the number of classes it offered and increase outreach to those with Parkinson’s and doctors who could make referrals early in a patient’s diagnosis to stave off progression.

Joyce Johnson joined Rock Steady as Executive Director in Spring 2011. Johnson is the former ED for Starfish Initiative, an Indianapolis-based nonprofit that mentors teenagers from low-income families and provides college access support programs to encourage and prepare students for continuing their education beyond high school.

Rock Steady Boxing’s mission and message are simple: If you are living with Parkinson’s, you are not alone. Our boxers may not win titles or trophies, but they are all champions in the Rock Steady Boxing ring.

Rock Steady has developed “Rock Steady Training Camp” – a three day training seminar that teaches other trainers how to use the Rock Steady method. Through this method, we have been able to start our very own Rock Steady Boxing – Southern California.

Please call Anne Adams at (949) 370-0607 for more information on our Southern California program.