At a stage when many settle into longtime hobbies and established routines, the Richardson Senior Center encourages residents to try new things and find renewed energy. Tuesday mornings, senior exercisers learn boxing fundamentals during the hour-long class. Participants throw punches, duck and step with boxing gloves and mitts.
Instructor Tristan Ellison, a former USA Boxing amateur fighter, shares his love of the sport with exercisers. Ellison channels his past experience both as a boxer and a nurse to tailor programs to differing physical levels. He enjoys keeping senior citizens feeling vital.
Kathy Godwin and her husband Craig participate faithfully in the class.
“We love it,” Kathy said. “It’s good for people our age for balance and memory and exercise. Tristan’s goal is to keep us mobile from this age going up so we’re less likely to be in a walker or wheelchair. We get the exercise benefits now, but long-term, we’re going to have even more benefits.”
Alan Kirkpatrick said the boxing class offers a valuable addition to his workout routine.
“I like the upper body exercise,” he said. “I love feeling worn out; it makes me feel like I’ve gotten a good workout.”
Ellison works with seniors of varying skill levels. Whether it’s completely unmodified workouts or pushups against the wall and boxing from a chair, each person can exercise according to his or her ability.
“For anyone who walks in the door, I will find a way to make them capable of doing what we’re doing in the class. We get creative,” Ellison said. “I talk to them like friends.”
While Ellison keeps skill levels in mind, he does not change the basics.
“I’m not teaching my seniors anything I wouldn’t teach my fighters. They’re learning the real skills of boxing,” he said.
One of the main takeaways for seniors is to keep exercising, Ellison said. Participants grow in balance, endurance, agility, strength and hand-eye coordination.
“The older you get, the more you should be moving,” Ellison said. “The biggest skills of a boxer are being able to think and endure. Yet, it’s a thrill. I haven’t met anyone yet in the class who hasn’t had fun.”
Visit www.cor.net/seniorcenter.
