Warm Hearth Village’s Rock Steady Boxing program (RSB) turned 15 in October. The program is specifically designed to improve the physical skills of persons struggling with Parkinson’s.
Warm Hearth fitness director Kenny Harrah brought the program to Warm Hearth Village, and he and his assistants, Marcus Burks are Jessica Robinson, are certified RSB coaches. They have been leading some 30 participants through jumping, squatting, lunging, and other drills aimed at relieving the symptoms of Parkinson’s and strengthening the body as part of the non-contact boxing-based curriculum.
Eight of the Warm Hearth Rock Steady boxers, along with fighters from around the world, joined the celebration via an hour-long Zoom class on Oct. 14.
“Our class jumped, threw punches, dodged punches, kicked, stretched, and sweated for the entire hour,” Robinson said. “At the end, we sang ‘Happy Birthday’ and closed the session with our fists held high, yelling ‘Rock Steady!’”
WHV Fitness uses its resources and practical tools in conjunction with RSB to encourage and enhance fighters’ experience and overall well-being. “It is so rewarding to see this program improve lives. We also offer support groups for anyone with Parkinson’s and for their caregivers,” Robinson said.
Warm Hearth Village is a nonprofit senior living community in Blacksburg that provides a full continuum of living options on its campus and in the home.