Rock Steady Boxing Alton continues growth helping those with PD Senior Services Plus
10 February 2020
Active Lifestyles
Special to Active Lifestyles
ALTON — When Senior Services Plus (SSP) Inc. became affiliated to Rock Steady Boxing, a program known to help people with Parkinson’s disease (PD), began humbly in 2015, adding to an array of services already offered by the nonprofit senior center. Rock Steady Boxing (RSB) began with only two members and two SSP classes a week that took place in a group fitness room, located in a repurposed elementary school. The equipment was scarce, comprised of a few used 50-pound bags, some worn gloves, folding chairs, a beach ball and swimming pool noodles. “RSB is great exercise for people with PD,” boxer Don Joehl, 86, said. “There is tremendous benefit to the class, but remember to fight every day.” But the most creative boxing equipment used then was a row of foam golf balls hanging from the ceiling, whimsically nicknamed “cat toys.” These cost effective, moving targets were soft, lightweight enough to be struck with bare hands and bounced around a lot, challenging the boxers to coordinate their strikes. The “cat toys,” as the class dubbed them, and keeping the beach ball flying in the air, became class members’ favorite drills. And with that kind of continued creativity, faithful membership who swore by the efficacy of the class and a driven staff, the Rock Steady program began to grow. Then in early 2017, the program was in limbo when SSP’s only certified instructors took employment elsewhere. SSP Chief Executive Officer John Becker, in his determina-
Photos for Active Lifestyles
Rock Steady Boxing (RSB) Alton Assistant Coach Mark VandeHey, left, works with RSB class member, boxer Don Joehl, 86, at SSP Wellness.
tion to keep the program running, commissioned a previous assistant, Dustin Heiser, to earn certification in Indianapolis and become the program’s new head coach. Now, Heiser has taught Rock Steady Boxing classes four times per week for more than three years — in addition to being the SSP Wellness full-time wellness coordinator. With a wide range of experience in training people of different ages and levels of fitness, Heiser still attests that coaching Rock Steady Boxing is always the best time of the day. “Rock Steady Boxing is my favorite hour of my day,” said
Heiser, RSB head coach and SSP wellness coordinator. “I have seen people, who start out as strangers, come together like family and work hard together to the maximum of their capabilities. “I’ve never been around a group that is so inspiring.” Joehl’s wife, Marilyn, agreed. “I notice the positive effects when (Don) attends,” she said, “especially in his attitude. “The class has a huge amount of camaraderie, socialization and community for caregivers and boxers,” said Marilyn Joehl, who’s an RSB Alton cornerman. “You’re not alone!” In January of last year Rock
Steady Boxing Alton and the SSP Wellness Center improved immensely with the all-new construction of a state-of-theart fitness center. In stark contrast to the old elementary school classroom, the new facility is 10,000 square feet with more than 100 new pieces of fitness equipment, including an indoor walking track, free weights, pin-loaded machines, cardio equipment and a 2,200-square-foot group fitness classroom. The group fitness classroom was equipped with brand new TITLE boxing equipment especially for the Rock Steady program. The equipment includes 130-pound Thai punching bags, adjustable speed bags, double end bags, weighted gloves, agility ladders, hurdles and much more. The classroom also stores cardio equipment, such as new Keiser spin bikes, which boxers use to warm up or for intervals during workouts. A Century Body Opponent Bag, called BOB, that sports a Rock Steady Alton T-shirt, provides boxers with a bag for targeted strikes. In addition to the Rock Steady classes, members meet up for group cardio sessions or strength training sessions. Some of the boxers plan together and take part in some of SSP’s other group fitness classes offered in the wellness center. Along with Rock Steady Boxing, more than 50 other group fitness classes take place each week at SSP Wellness. Those classes include tai chi, yoga, Zumba, spinning, kettlebell, chair exercise, circuit training, weekend boot camp and more. Rock Steady Alton now offers two different levels of classes four times per week, including two mixed-level classes per month. The pair of mixed-level classes are
