Knocking out Parkinson’s

Locals battle for mobility at Rock Steady Boxing Yoakum

  • Lisa Hermes gears up for another punch during the May 4 Rock Steady Boxing Yoakum training session.
    Lisa Hermes gears up for another punch during the May 4 Rock Steady Boxing Yoakum training session.
  • E.J Kubena (left) and Crystal Blakeney (right) chat briefly in between sets.
    E.J Kubena (left) and Crystal Blakeney (right) chat briefly in between sets.
  • Michael Barnett (left) motivates Glen Schulte (right) during exercises on Wednesday, May 4.
    Michael Barnett (left) motivates Glen Schulte (right) during exercises on Wednesday, May 4.
  • Rock Steady Boxing Yoakum provides free training sessions to help individuals with Parkinson’s disease combat their symptoms.
    Rock Steady Boxing Yoakum provides free training sessions to help individuals with Parkinson’s disease combat their symptoms.
  • Rock Steady Boxing Yoakum has helped locals battle the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease for more than five years.
    Rock Steady Boxing Yoakum has helped locals battle the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease for more than five years.

    Nearly every weekday for more than five years, locals strap on their boxing gloves at Yoakum’s First Baptist Church to fight against a disease that threatens their mobility and independence.

     

    Rock Steady Boxing Yoakum provides free training sessions to help individuals with Parkinson’s disease combat their symptoms and connect with a goal-oriented community motivated to improve their quality of life. 

     

    Parkinson’s disease is a chronic and progressive movement disorder that is expected to rise to 1.2 million cases in America by 2030, according to parkinsons.org. Although Parkinson’s disease is more likely in men than women, the number of people diagnosed increases with age, regardless of sex.

     

    The program’s coach and organizer, Crystal Blakeney, embarked on her journey to help those with Parkinson’s improve their conditions in 2016 with former First Baptist Church Pastor Richard Bowden. Since then, the program has become an affiliate of Rock Steady Boxing and offers its service to anybody interested in attending.

     

    “(Rock Steady Boxing has) given me motivation, and Crystal is just inspiring and encouraging. If it weren’t for her, I wouldn’t be where I am right now,” said Lisa Hermes while resting between drills. “Two years ago. I couldn’t walk in a straight line. I had no balance. I was scared to pick up kids. … Now I have a grandbaby, and I can pack her anywhere I want to go. So, it’s been very uplifting and motivating.”

     

    With a background as a physical therapy technician and personal trainer, Blakeney caters the workouts to each participant's capabilities and encourages attendees to exercise at their own pace.

     

    “I’ve got some (participants) that are newly diagnosed, and they’re determined they’re not going to progress as fast as everybody (else). They’re going to exercise harder, they’re going to eat right, and they’re going to do all the steps they need to do to keep from progressing quickly,” said Blakeney. “I have some that have started, and they’ve already progressed. Unfortunately, (Parkinson’s disease will) progress; that’s just the nature of it. If they weren’t doing this, they would progress so much quicker.”

     

    The daily training sessions typically start with participants walking and stretching to prepare their bodies for more intense exercises. Then, Blakeney leads the group through various activities that include boxing, bodyweight exercises, and other techniques designed to combat their symptoms. 

     

    “I would venture to say that most of us here wouldn’t do anything other than what we’re doing on our own (without Rock Steady Boxing),” said Rock Steady participant Randy Lauer. “When it comes to exercise, if you’ve got somebody telling you what to do, you can do it. If you’re left to your own volition to do it yourself, you’re probably going to give up on it.”

    Blakeney thanked First Baptist Church Yoakum for allowing Rock Steady Boxing to use their facility and paying the Rock Steady Boxing affiliate fees. 

     

    Training sessions generally last about one hour and are available every weekday at the First Baptist Church gym. Sessions occur on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at noon; training on Thursday begins at 8 a.m. and Friday at 10 a.m. 

     

    “My Rock Steady Boxing hour is the happiest hour of my day. I can come in with my aches and pains and everything, but when I see (that) they push themselves, it makes me want to quit griping and complaining,” said Blakeney. 

     

    Readers interested in participating or volunteering can find information online at yoakum.rsbaffiliate.com. To reach Rock Steady Boxing Yoakum directly, call (361) 293-8057, email yoakum@rsbaffiliate.com, or visit the gym during training hours at 202 Dunn Street.