Everyone thought I was crazy, my family thought I was crazy for wanting to box with my injury, but I was curious.
Photo taken by Daniel Xaysongkham
It’s a beautiful thing, that our members are all so extraordinarily unique. Their stories and the tribulations they face are what keep us obsessed with providing them with the absolute best hour of their day. Regardless of body type, disabilities, or injuries, we will find a way for them to take part in the stress relief, the community, and the physical benefits. We understand people have enough fighting against them, which is why we choose to fight WITH them.
If anyone knows a life battle, it’s unbelievably resilient and remarkably positive, Shannon Lee Parra. The mother of two has always been active and played sports, as she grew up working on her family’s ranch, played collegiate level basketball, and participated in Crossfit competitions as a young adult. Her life was forever changed when she underwent a spinal cord injury that resulted in atrophy on her entire left side of her body, several invasive surgeries, 118 days in the hospital, mental trauma, and a neurostimulator implant in her back.
I woke up from that surgery [the neuro transmitter implant] and immediately noticed a difference. I felt regular pain, it had been so long since I felt just regular pain and not excruciating pain. I just started crying.
Thankfully, with the addition of the neurostimulator, Shannon slowly started to get some of her life back. She recounted, “I woke up from that surgery [the neuro transmitter implant] and immediately noticed a difference. I felt regular pain, it had been so long since I felt just regular pain and not excruciating pain. I just started crying”. It would be a long road to recovery but her positive attitude and willingness to work for it would eventually get her there, “I got to walk on the beach again…it still makes me emotional”, she explained as she fought back tears. The following years involved adjusting to life with health complications and the birth of two baby boys, which medical professionals previously told her was impossible.
Her journey to healing both her mind and body eventually led her to TITLE Boxing Club Ice Blocks in Sacramento, California. “Everyone thought I was crazy, my family thought I was crazy for wanting to box with my injury, but I was curious”, Shannon finally walked through the doors after months of wondering what the club entailed. Upon taking her first class, she explained her situation to the trainers, “Even yoga instructors have told me they weren’t comfortable having me in class, so I immediately told TITLE about my back and they said ‘Absolutely, come on in.’”.
I still can’t believe how much this has helped my body, physically and mentally. My body needs this.
The trainers didn’t flinch, besides offering a few modifications to cater to her injury, they treated her as any other member of the TITLE family. Shortly after her first class, Shannon became a regular, “I still can’t believe how much this has helped my body, physically and mentally. My body needs this”. Besides the physical benefits, it was the vibe and community that kept her coming back, “People think you have to look a certain way to box, but no, I walked in and loved seeing so many women, and just amazing people in there”.
All people are deserving of those powerfully therapeutic exhales leaving the body with every blow to the heavy bag, those breathes carrying with them the stresses and problems of life. Maybe it’s one simple nudge, a couple steps, or possibly a huge leap out of your comfort zone, but a few moments of fear are nothing in the grand scheme of things. Shannon explained, “oh I had to leave my comfort zone but, god, you know everything happens for a reason. I found TITLE for a reason”. Thriving or surviving, broken or whole, TITLE’s doors are always open.