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Zev is a boxing champion, a boxing teacher, and a really great guy! During his interview, I felt as if I had struck gold; soft and gentle, yet with a hard core that commands respect! So as of two weeks ago, Zev gives a "Boxing for Parkinson" group at our Wednesday Men's program. The guys love it!
Boxing is an excellent form of exercise for people with Parkinson. In addition to being a great cardio-vascular workout, boxing strengthens balance and agility. And the men enjoy punching out their frustrations, as they literally -- and I mean literally - battle the disease.
But thanks to our boxing class, I also discovered a hidden gem: Rex, the aide who accompanies Eliot to our program. Rex is one of those people who stays in the background, never says a word, so I was a bit surprised when, last Monday, he asked to speak with me.
"Debbie," he began. "It's about the boxing class..."
I braced myself, assuming that he was about to give me some criticism.
Instead he continued in his soft, melodious voice, "Well, ah..." he blushed "I'm a boxer. In the Philippines, I was a boxing champion. And since I work with Eliot, I learned all about boxing for Parkinson."
Huh? You cannot imagine how many hours I spent on the phone until I found Zev. And the treasure was in my backyard the entire time!
And to make a story short, that, my dear friends, is why Tikvah for Parkinson now has two boxing instructors, working together, as a team, to fight Parkinson.
One punch at a time.
