In the United States, there are over 1.5 million people who suffer from Parkinson’s Disease. Parkinson’s Disease is a progressive, degenerative disease that causes the brain to stop producing dopamine, which plays a key role in brain-to-muscle communication. There is no cure. Luckily, those with Parkinson’s still have a way to fight this terrible disease, thanks to organizations like Rock Steady Boxing- Albany, and PD Active. Rock Steady Boxing, which has 454 locations all over the country, uses various boxing training regiments as a way to utilize movement to combat the diseased degenerative effects. PD Active is a non-profit based in Berkeley that looks to find and create programs, much like Rock Steady Boxing, that provide support for those who deal with Parkinson’s Disease. Our guests in today’s episode are Daniel Burkhart, trainer at Rock Steady Boxing- Albany, and Judith Lubman, one of the acting board members for PD Active.

Rock Steady Albany: http://bit.ly/2z2NDfO PD Active: http://bit.ly/2zZNBmW

Facebook: http://bit.ly/2igglQe

Getting started

  • How Daniel got involved with Rock Steady
  • Getting certified and trained

PD Active

  • Started 10 years ago
  • Getting people involved
  • Funding

Finding the gym

  • Word of mouth, doctor recommendation
  • Involvement in other programs

Classes

  • Getting participants involved
  • Training: making noise, circuit training, other exercises, rhythm
  • Dancing classes and their similarities to boxing

Parkinson’s in the U.S.

  • 1-300 people in their 60’s are affected
  • Many not diagnosed yet
  • Symptoms

PD Active Programs

  • Dancing
  • Yoga
  • Total classes/ number of volunteers

Awareness

  • Community
  • Increasing popularity
  • Reacting to boxing

Moving Forward

  • Improving comradery
  • Making a difference for people

Challenges

  • Right gym/ owners
  • Finding the right trainer

Certification

  • Process, online courses
  • Volunteering, participating in classes
  • Community involvement

How Parkinson’s impacts your life

  • Family impact
  • Being of service
  • Seeing clients transformation, building their confidence
  • Learning to get up

Contact info/ Wrap up

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