Follow along as Beth Dempsey, head coach and Rock Steady Boxing program director, empowers individuals with Parkinson’s to rise to the challenge. This completes the four-part video series featuring The Lakes at Stillwater, located in Stillwater, MN.
How Does Rock Steady Boxing Help People with Parkinson's?
Rock Steady Boxing Certified Coaches teach an exercise program designed to improve quality of life through a non-contact, boxing-style fitness curriculum. Workouts focus on the following:
- Improving mobility and balance: Parkinson's can lead to stiffness and a reduction in mobility. The high-intensity interval training (HIIT) exercises in Rock Steady Boxing classes can help improve flexibility, strength, and balance, making everyday movements easier for participants.
- Enhancing cognitive function: Research suggests that exercise can have a positive impact on cognitive function. Rock Steady Boxing's combination of physical activity, coordination drills, and mental engagement can help slow the cognitive decline associated with Parkinson's.
- Fostering camaraderie and support: One of the unique aspects of Rock Steady Boxing is its supportive community atmosphere. Boxers often form bonds with others facing similar challenges, providing emotional support and motivation to stick with the program.
- Boosting confidence and quality of life: Engaging in regular exercise through Rock Steady Boxing can improve the overall quality of life for individuals with Parkinson's. As boxers see improvements in their strength, mobility, and overall well-being, they often experience a greater sense of independence and satisfaction.
- Adaptability and personalization: Rock Steady Boxing classes are tailored to accommodate individuals at various stages of Parkinson's. Coaches are trained to modify exercises based on each boxer's abilities and limitations, ensuring a safe and effective workout for all.
Coaches that Make Rock Steady Boxing Possible
The underlying goal of Rock Steady Boxing at The Lakes at Stillwater, an affiliate program of Rock Steady Boxing, Inc., is to provide people with the platform to fight back against their diagnosis.
“What we're working toward here is just delaying the disease getting worse,” shares Beth. She says it's also about giving individuals a “community in which they can feel like they're fighting along with their fellow boxers.”
She shares that, “A lot of people, when they get diagnosed with Parkinson's, feel like it's sort of a hopeless road. And so when they come to Rock Steady and we give them some tools to feel better and to live better, they do take some of that control back.”
This sort of empowerment is what makes Rock Steady Boxing, and the coaches who lead it, so impactful.
“I think I do what I do because I believe in this program,” reflects Beth. “I believe that it's working. I believe that it is changing lives.”
Her fellow Rock Steady Boxing participants couldn’t agree more. Boxer Jeff shares, “So she is more than a coach. She's a great friend and mentor.”
Suzann, another steadfast boxer says, “Beth has built such an incredible community here. She's invested in every single one of us with every fiber of her body.”
Through the tireless efforts of Rock Steady Boxing coaches like Beth, participants are equipped with not only physical tools but also a sense of camaraderie and hope. Beth's passion and belief in the program's effectiveness shine through, making a profound impact on the lives of those she coaches. As expressed by boxers like Jeff and Suzann, Beth is more than just a coach; she's a friend and mentor, fostering an environment where everyone feels supported and valued.
