Nonpro t
BY RYAN REYNOLDS
A Rock Steady boxer practices a punch.
Bailey Murphy, a physical therapist at Tomball Sports Medicine and a Rock Steady boxing coach, leads a punching drill Dec. 2.
PHOTOS BY DANICA LLOYD COMMUNITY IMPACT
Rock Steady Boxing Coach Marilyn Renken leads instruction during a class on Dec. 2.
Parkinson’s patients ght back at Rock Steady Boxing
Janice Culpepper was heading toward retire- ment when she received a life-changing diagnosis. The school teacher was dealing with hip issues when she was told she had Parkinson’s disease, a movement disorder of the nervous system, accord- ing to the Mayo Clinic. Looking to manage her symptoms, Culpepper joined Rock Steady Boxing’s North Houston chapter in 2017, a local program that helps people with Parkinson’s. “My journey has been not nearly, I don’t think, as di cult as it would have been had I not found this group,” Culpepper said. “I’ve met so many friends that have become good friends.” The backstory The camaraderie of Rock Steady Boxing drew Culpepper and over 100 others to Coach Marilyn Renken. Inspired by her ex-husband’s Parkinson’s diagnosis, Renken helped establish a Rock Steady Boxing a liate locally. “When my ex-husband was diagnosed ... the doctor said to him, ‘You’ve got Parkinson’s. Go home and think about it, and I’ll see you in six months,’” Renken said. “[Rock Steady Boxing] gave people hope, something to ght for and someone to ght with.” Founded in Indianapolis in 2006, the non-con- tact boxing program has more than 800 a liate locations worldwide, including seven in Houston and the surrounding suburbs.
How it works Only people with Parkinson’s can participate in Rock Steady Boxing, which meets for classes three times a week for personalized training. “The whole point of Rock Steady Boxing is developing long, lean muscles—not short, tight ones,” Renken said. “We try to reach every muscle in the body because every muscle is a ected by Parkinson’s, and it shrinks.” The boxing classes aim to improve balance, coordination, strength and overall tness through stretching and various exercises adapted from boxing drills. In their own words Culpepper, a seven-year member of Rock Steady Boxing, said the classes have allowed her to keep doing what she loves. “Exercise is a big part of keeping the symptoms at bay,” Culpepper said. “I do the things I want to do. I have not cut back.” John Anderson, one of Rock Steady Boxing’s newest members, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in May and said he has already seen improvements in his balance, coordination and speech. “I was really nervous when I was rst diag- nosed,” Anderson said. “My balance is a lot better. I feel more positive about my outlook just from going to this class, being around other people with the disease and seeing how they’ve been able to function.”
A Rock Steady boxer hits a punching dummy.
Coach Marilyn Renken leads a stretching session Dec. 2.
N. ELDRIDGE PKWY.
249
LOUETTA RD.
N
Double Dragon Martial Arts Center, 12111 Louetta Road, Houston Facebook: Rock Steady Boxing North Houston
25
TOMBALL MAGNOLIA EDITION
Powered by FlippingBook