TITLE Boxing Club: Truly a Concept for Everyone
Jennifer Johnson was all too familiar with being sick, having battled cancer most of her life. On the road to recovery, she started boxing, which helped her gain back strength and led her to compete in tennis.When she and her husband, Michael, saw an opportunity to buy a TITLE Boxing Club in Naples, Florida, the pair jumped on it. But, the club had low membership and struggled with brand awareness in the area.
A large portion of the population is made up of snowbirds, people travelling from other parts of the United States to Florida for the warm weather in the winter.“Naples is unique since most people are here temporarily,” Jennifer said. “This means year-round businesses need to get involved in the community in order to be successful.”
The couple also found a large segment of the population in and around Naples has Parkinson’s disease. Jennifer and Michael decided to get involved in the community by offering boxing classes that would help people with the disease function better physically and emotionally.
TITLE Boxing Club Overland Park 119
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Fighting Parkinson’s Disease with Boxing Workouts
In Collier County, Florida, which includes Naples, one of the top 10 leading causes of death is Parkinson’s disease. The disease has no cure and affects 10 million people worldwide. It has varying symptoms and possible invisible symptoms. Some of the most common are tremors, shaking hands, fingers or limbs. In people with Parkinson’s disease, the cells that make dopamine, a hormone that controls pain and movement, are impaired. As the disease progresses, more dopamine-producing brain cells die causing increasing problems with movement.
Exercise is an important part of managing Parkinson’s disease. It has been shown to slow the progression of the disease. Boxing workouts are an ideal outlet for people with the disease since they typically are high intensity and affect the whole body. The workouts help with balance, agility and hand-eye coordination while building strength. Boxing workouts are an outlet for frustration and an opportunity for socializing, too. Because of this, the popularity of the Rock Steady Boxing program has surged among people with Parkinson’s disease. Rock Steady Boxing is a nonprofit organization with a non-contact boxing program designed specifically for people with Parkinson’s disease.
TITLE Boxing Club Overland Park 119
TITLE Boxing Club and Rock Steady Deliver Blows to Parkinson’s Disease
For Jennifer and Michael, offering Rock Steady in their community was an easy decision. But, anyone teaching the program must become Rock Steady certified. Michael and another TITLE Boxing Club trainer enrolled in the 22-hour training program, which teaches trainers how to structure the program to benefit the participants in their clubs.
“The Rock Steady program gives us credibility,” Jennifer said. “No one person with Parkinson’s disease is the same. What we learned with Rock Steady helps us cater to them.”
Jennifer’s club has created a process to help evaluate and place members with Parkinson’s disease in the right level class. First, Jennifer’s TITLE Boxing Club team meets to discuss the member’s current skills and goals. Then, they come in for a free trial class, where trainers assess the member’s ability.
“Choosing the right level is crucial to someone’s success with Rock Steady,” Jennifer said. “The right level gives them encouragement to keep working. They’re in a class with people similar to them and that can really be a confidence booster.”
Some members with early stage Parkinson’s disease attend regular TITLE Boxing Club classes, too. With staff on hand with the proper knowledge, it’s easy to make adjustments and get those members moving and progressing on their fitness journey.
TITLE Boxing Club Overland Park 119
Strengthening Mind and Body
High intensity interval training exercises have been shown to improve the mobility of people with Parkinson’s disease. Rock Steady helps members with skills like posture, lateral moves, balance, and footwork. But, Jennifer said, the Rock Steady class at TITLE Boxing Club is about so much more than the physical aspects.
“We are able to put an hour into someone’s day that gets them out of the house, moving and socializing,” she said. “They’ll talk about different medications and doctors they like or dislike. It’s more than exercise. It’s a support system.”
Jennifer is excited to continue reaching out to her community by providing Rock Steady through her TITLE Boxing Club.
“Seeing such positive results from our members is always rewarding,” she said. “So many people want to help kids and puppies, which is awesome. But for our population, something like this makes more sense.”
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To learn more about becoming a TITLE Boxing Club franchise partner, and making a difference in your community, visit titleboxingclub.com.