Shirley Waterhouse
Photos by Mike Waterhouse
In May 2016 Wally Sagui, a Rock Steady Boxing Certified Coach, started this program at Robson Ranch with a vision to help our residents fight the fight against Parkinson’s disease. The group has grown to 12 Parkinson’s boxers and meets every Tuesday and Thursday at noon until 1:00 p.m. in the gym. Volunteers are present to help participants and range from spouses to resident friends who want to help people battling with Parkinson’s have a safe, challenging and fun workout!
Rock Steady’s philosophy is to intervene as soon as possible, ideally at diagnosis, as a means of empowering the individual at the moment they feel most vulnerable. The mission of Rock Steady Boxing is to maximize the mental, emotional and physical potential of people with Parkinson’s disease throughout their lives. The program helps them emphasize the enhancements possible to their quality of life and ability to perform and enjoy activities of daily living. This is accomplished through an intensive and rigorous regimen and plan of exercise delivered in a welcoming, professional and supportive environment.
From time to time he brings in accomplished boxers to help with the class. This past week the class was privileged to have Ed Weicher as a guest instructor. Ed was a two-time Eastern Collegiate Boxing Champ, USAF Academy Boxing Coach for 38 years and the USA Boxing Team Coach at the Pan Am Games for two years. He brought Rio Olympic game pins, posters and jerseys for the class participants.
When his schedule permits, our own Robson resident Johnny Blecher volunteers time as well. He is a two-time USAF Academy Boxing Champion, a member of the Air Force Boxing Team for one year and retired from the USAF after 28 years.
Wally Sagui is a Licensed Massage Therapist, NASM Personal Trainer, certified from the Cooper Institute in Biomechanics and also Corrective Exercises for Injury Prevention, TRX Qualified Level 1, as well as a Certified Rock Steady Boxing for Parkinson’s Coach. He has been volunteering his time at Robson for years and is well respected among all of us.
Please call, text or email Wally Sagui at 940-465-1008, [email protected] with any questions he may help you with.