Come knocking to exercise classes

“We can’t grow the class any further without having the volunteers.”

That’s the message from community recreation and gym coordinator Edee Bolton who oversees exercise classes at the Motueka Recreation Centre to enhance the physical and mental strength of those with Parkinson’s and other neurological diseases.

The year-old Counterpunch Parkinson’s held on Thursdays fluctuates, with 15 registered participants and the month-old Punch 4 Power class on Tuesday has started up to cater for those with Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis and dementia.

Edee says Thursday’s class was previously instructed by Hilary Williams at the Moutere Shed under the name Parky Moves, and while it has a “good list” of volunteers, around nine more would be favoured along with two for the Tuesday class.

“If we had 15 volunteers for 15 participants, that’s kind of what we’re looking for - for volunteers to have that extra role of support for the participants, keeping them safe, but also forming connections and relationships,” she says. “It would then allow me to keep moving through the room, to keep checking technique, and to check in with everyone.

“They need to be fun, supportive, willing to learn, and they don’t need any sort of fitness background, they just need to be a generally good human being.”

Edee says bulking the volunteer numbers could also herald more participants.
She says the “more than regular fitness” classes counteract the challenges people with neurological conditions like Parkinson’s encounter.

“We do balance work for falls prevention, gait work, walking, and the combinations on the [punch] bags is really good for their memory, coordination, as well as giving them that hit of intensity,” she says.

“We’ll play a memory game at the end because memory is impacted or things to work on voice and vocabulary because all those muscles that allow us to talk are impacted as well.”

Motueka man Graham Boyd was diagnosed with Parkinson’s six years ago and has attended the Thursday classes at the recreation centre since World Parkinson’s Day on 11 April.

He says the classes have yielded positive results.

“The class has probably highlighted my weaknesses I can work on like balance and some cognitive skills, that’s probably been the biggest change which has been beneficial for me,” he says.

“Exercise is a key component to Parkinson’s to also prevent the onset of more problems. “People with neurological conditions should come down and participate, it’s good to have connections with others with the same issues.”

Upper Moutere’s Heather Eggers has had Parkinson’s for five years and has also noticed perks through the class.

“I think once you get over the diagnosis, which is a bit of a shock when you first get it, it’s good to have connections with others who have the same issues,” she says.

“The boxing class is good exercise for the brain because it involves following instructions, and stimulating memory is important with Parkinson’s.”

Aspiring volunteers can send a message via the Motueka Recreation Centre Facebook page or contact 03 528 8228.