Amy van Weelderen is a part-time cornerwoman and a full-time realist.
When her husband Floris was diagnosed with Parkinson鈥檚 disease four years ago, the pair faced a life-altering, sink-or-swim scenario.
They both chose the latter.
鈥淚 look at it as though something like this is going to happen to all of us as we age 鈥� maybe it鈥檚 cancer for some, in our case it鈥檚 Parkinson鈥檚,鈥� she said. 鈥淓ven the healthiest person can have severe back pain. The key is how you deal with it.鈥�
Floris is dealing with 鈥渋t鈥� through a new method of Parkinson鈥檚 therapy that entails perseverance through punching. Last month the couple enrolled in classes at Rock Steady Boxing, a program run out of Seacity Fitness on Howe Street.
While there is no physical, person-to-person punching like in traditional boxing, the Rock Steady modus operandi targets speed, focus, balance, hand-eye coordination and other factors that are directly affected by Parkinson鈥檚.
Each 60-minute session includes stretching, cardio, circuit training, pounding on a heavy bag and weight training. Participants in the 麻豆传媒映画program, one of only four in Canada, range in age between their 40s and 80s.
But before the sweating starts, the group gathers for an introduction and some cheer.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a good ice breaker and it helps to build camaraderie among the participants,鈥� said Allie Saks, an occupational therapist who leads the 麻豆传媒映画classes. 鈥淎 lot of our clients can be socially isolated or embarrassed to go out in public and do something like this because of their symptoms. This is a really nice way for our participants to make connections and fight that collective fight with others who are going through the same thing that they are.鈥�
Floris鈥� fight with Parkinson鈥檚 began four years ago, when he was 46. Having previously served in the military for 24 years, he relies on the type of iron-clad resiliency that was hammered home over those decades when it comes to improving his lot in life.
鈥淚 set goals and see them through,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 like to say you either lead, follow or get out of the way. There isn鈥檛 really an alternative.鈥�
Floris had previously been enrolled in CrossFit programs and the Israeli martial art known as Krav Maga.听 While he still works full time, the long days behind a desk, coupled with his condition, left him sedentary.
Ironically enough, it was time in front of the boob tube that led Floris down his current path.听 Last fall he and Amy saw a profile on Rock Steady on 60 Minutes and contacted the company鈥檚 headquarters in Indianapolis, Ind. They were then put in touch with Saks, whose motivation to begin teaching the courses also came from the same 60 Minutes 别辫颈蝉辞诲别.听
Floris has been sweating it out since the beginning of June, and both he and Amy have seen a marked difference 鈥� particularly between the ears.
鈥淩ock Steady isn鈥檛 just about improving your physical ability,鈥� Floris said. 鈥淢any people fall into depression when they are diagnosed with Parkinson鈥檚, but my brain feels good after a workout. I feel focused.鈥�
鈥淚 see a change in his attitude,鈥� Amy added. 鈥淚t鈥檚 definitely been uplifting for his spirit.鈥�
As his cornerwoman, Amy helps with everything from the tangible 鈥� putting on Floris鈥� gloves, wiping down sweat and helping with equipment set up 鈥� to being a de facto spokesperson and cheerleader.
鈥淭his is not a wussy class 鈥� regardless of your physical or cognitive ability, this is extremely demanding,鈥� she said. 鈥淣obody goes in there with an attitude and nobody cares about what you can or can鈥檛 do. That鈥檚 the number one thing for everyone 鈥� there are no alternate plans for people with Parkinson鈥檚, so I鈥檓 there to help in any way I can. It鈥檚 as simple as that.鈥�
Rock Steady Boxing costs $25 per class, or $200 for a 10 class pass.
For more info, email [email protected] or visit facebook.com/rocksteadyboxingvancouver.
