Danielle Barrett first picked up boxing 10 years ago as an outlet for the stresses of caregiving for her mother, who had Parkinson’s disease.
Now, she’s the head coach of a boxing fitness program for seniors with Parkinson’s, the first of its kind in East San Diego County.
“What a way for me to give back to that community,” she said.
Barrett was already a boxing coach when she learned about Rock Steady Boxing, a noncontact program designed specifically for people with Parkinson’s.
She discovered it too late for her own mother, who was already bedridden.
“This could have been life-changing for her,” Barrett said.
The program’s high-intensity rhythmic exercises have been shown to help slow the progression of symptoms like tremors, rigidity and balance problems.
Rock Steady Boxing is an international nonprofit with more than 800 affiliate locations, including seven others in San Diego County.
Wise Owl Fit in Santee is the first gym in East County to host the program, which launched there in June. Barrett said enrollment has grown through referrals from doctors and members.
Connie Tenorio is one of the boxers in the program and has a background in martial arts and kickboxing.
“Since they diagnosed me with Parkinson’s, this program made me feel useful, like I can still punch,” she said. “Plus it gave me exercise, so it made me feel normal.”
The class is intense. Parkinson’s is a degenerative brain disorder without a cure, and exercise can help people slow the progress of the disease.
Barrett puts the boxers through all kinds of drills and circuits, focusing on speed, balance, and large movements.
Throughout the hour-long class, Barrett calls out encouragement, gives each boxer individual attention, and keeps the workout fun.
Kelly Johnson, the wife of one of the boxers in the class, said her husband benefits not only from the physical exercise but also from the social connection and camaraderie.
She said Barrett has created an environment that feels safe and nonjudgmental.
“Everyone’s at different levels, everyone has different challenges,” she said. “We’re just all here trying to make the best out of it.”
The Rock Steady Boxing class has become a community for people and families dealing with Parkinson’s, aligning with the vision Karl Burris had when he opened Wise Owl Fit in March.
Wise Owl Fit is a group fitness gym for adults 55 and older, a project Burris has been developing for years since he became a physical therapist.
He believes older adults need to train like athletes in an environment that pushes them to improve their fitness.
“We’re waking up to the fact that we’re significantly underloading older adults,” he said.
Burris wants to help older people recognize their own physical abilities and challenge themselves not only to maintain their health but to become stronger.
Burris learned about Rock Steady Boxing when he was in school for physical therapy, and the program aligned perfectly with his mission for the gym.
Now, Burris and Barrett are focused on reaching more people in the community and getting the word out.
“All the neurologists that see seniors with Parkinson’s know about this program,” Barrett said. “They just don’t know that we’re here.”
