A twice-weekly health program being held at Olds’ Community Learning Campus (CLC) is proving to be beneficial in many ways, say participants.
The Parkinson’s Kickboxing Class involves numerous physical exercises, including non-contact shadow boxing and coordination drills with the instructor. The classes currently run Mondays and Wednesdays.
Didsbury’s Shirley Dorin, 86, says the classes are certainly worthwhile to her.
“It’s extremely helpful to me,” said Dorin. “It makes your brain work to control your hands, which doesn’t come as automatically as it did once.
“It makes me feel more flexible. It’s satisfying when you get the gloves on and you can actually respond to the different positions. It makes you feel like you’re more in shape. And it can take out frustration too.”
Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disease that affects the patient’s movements.
The classes started in Olds in 2018 and are put on by the CLC. Olds College also assists financially.
Fellow participant Laurie Thompson, from Olds, says the classes are proving to be very beneficial.
“I’ve seen a real improvement in my balance and my coordination,” said Thompson. “Things like walking are easier for me when I’ve been doing the class. Walking sometimes can be hard. I have a lot of good things to say about the class.”
Instructor Courteney Rivait explained that the classes focus on exercising the body and the brain.
“We make sure to always do our dominant and non-dominant sides, that way we are signalling from both sides of the brain,” said Rivait, who took special training to conduct the classes.
“Parkinson’s is a neurological disorder, so that way we are working both sides of the brain. We are making sure we are using both sides and are firing across from both sides.”
The classes are good for people with Parkinson’s, as well as other ailments such as MS and ALS, she said.
Anyone interested in joining the classes can register at the front desk of the CLC fitness centre in the Ralph Klein Centre, located on the south side of Olds College off Highway 2A.
