Boxing with Alec–October Meeting Notes

Alec Langstein was our guest speaker at our October 12 meeting. He is a personal trainer who works exclusively with people with Parkinson’s disease. His passion and enthusiasm for what he does and the people he works with is both energizing and inspiring!

Alec owns and runs the Virginia Rock Steady Boxing locations in Tysons and Sterling, and also provides in-home personal training. In addition, he’s created a Virtual Parkinson’s Video Library (a non-profit) categorized by levels, symptom specific workouts, and class length so that anyone can get a Parkinson’s specific workout in for free.

Rock Steady Boxing, Alec told us, works on balance, hand/eye coordination, strength, focus, reaction time, footwork, and speed, things that people with Parkinson’s often have problems with. All of these can be addressed in one workout! The benefits of Rock Steady Boxing include overall improved fitness, fewer tremors, better balance, and improved coordination. Classes also offer social support along with a non-contact intense workout.

According to Alec, Rock Steady Boxing can slow down and can even reverse the progression of Parkinson’s symptoms, adding that people who come to class consistently get the best results.

Who can participate in Rock Steady Boxing? Alec is currently working with both men and women ranging in age from 41 to 86. New participants don’t need any experience and exercises can be modified for individual abilities. He shared the story of a 68 year old man he worked with who was living in an assisted living facility because of his risk of falling. After months of working with Alec, the man’s balance and coordination had so improved, he was no longer considered a falling risk, he didn’t need his walker, and was able to move back home. He is now driving again!

Located on Tyco Road (by the Tesla dealer), the Tyson’s location offers in-person Rock Steady Boxing group classes on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm. The Sterling (Loudoun) location has in-person group classes on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10:00 am to 11:00 am. Two other offerings are a Women’s Only in-person class on Sunday at 10:00 am in Tyson’s and Zoom classes on Tuesday and Thursday from 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm. Alec estimates about 15-20 people participate in the three-day-a-week in-person classes (40% women, 60% men); Wednesday classes are always smaller. The all-women’s class averages 5-10 participants. For those who prefer, Alec offers personal training in the privacy of their home. Location, pricing, and contact information can all be found here.

Through his non-profit My Parkinson’s Gym, Alec offers high-quality video workouts and a weekly Zoom class on Wednesday at 8:30. Both exercise options are free. Information and class offerings here.

Alec can be found on Instagram @the-pd-coach and can be reached at 571-730-8553. Full contact information through the links above.

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