Southwest Florida's Health and Wellness Magazine Health and Wellness Articles
John Cullen knew something was wrong. He’s always been an avid athlete, but while training for a race through the Pyrenees
mountains, his right side became consistently weaker. After getting multiple opinions, he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Instead of folding in the towel and overprotecting his body, he took on a much more defensive attitude.
John said, “I think for some people when they get diagnosed with Parkinson’s, they’re devastated, they might think their life is over. But my attitude was ‘bring it,’ ‘let’s go,’ ‘I’m ready to take you on.’ I’m not going to give up until I have to. I will die fighting.”
With this warrior-mind attitude and perseverance, John has been able to fight back against his daily battle with Parkinson’s. John was an avid cyclist but started to notice his right foot was dragging more. Flash forward, five years from his diagnosis, and at the age of 62, John has improved his stamina and muscle strength by powerlifting. He was never a powerlifter before but believes that the resistance and firing of neurons in his brain and body have helped him stave off major hurdles from the disease thus far.
Living in Sanibel, FL, John hired a personal trainer from Iron DNA to help him learn and to master powerlifting. John’s trainer has him focus on deadlifts, squats, and bench presses with heavyweights.
At this point, his repetitions are with weight up to 465 pounds. He also does regular cardiovascular exercise.
John is gaining notoriety from athletes, patients with Parkinson’s, and medical professionals, as they are gaining interest in his regime. DNA Films is currently in production, filming a documentary on John.
“It has changed my life. You’re going to have issues with balance. You’re going to have issues getting out of a chair. Heavyweight training taught me there was some other way to battle Parkinson’s that was actually effective for me.” John explained.
“I put 300 pounds on my back; there’s an immediate reaction to my central nervous system. There’s a high awareness. When you put that kind of weight on your body, you’ve got to be ready for it. It alerts my entire body that I need to be ready. I think it’s that process that’s working for me.”
Parkinson’s disease is a highly progressive disease. The fact that John is holding it back and fighting against it so well is encouraging to others faced with Parkinson’s and other neurological disorders.
More about the fitness Professionals that work with John.
IRON DNA
Whether you are trying to tone up for an event, get lean for a competition or grow muscle mass, trainers must customize plans tailored to each client, and at Iron DNA, they specialize in just that. They partner with their clients to create the body and fitness goals desired. What sets them apart is their experience level. They teach their clients how to reach goals and how to maintain them.
You will not just move from machine to machine
Iron DNA understands their responsibility as trainers by creating a customized and personal workout plan for each client. Clients do everything from cardio to traditional weight training to multi-joint movements, skilled movements and moves that involve multiple muscle groups.
Personal Training
Their Personal Training program teaches clients how to safely practice techniques and embrace stability, strength and power through the fundamentals of Functional Fitness. Clients learn everything from basic body weight movements to Olympic and Power lifts.
Clients use the following: weights, barbells, TRX, ViPR, Rip trainer, resistance bands, bosu, dyna discs and much more. Your body is an amazing machine capable of more than you’ve imagined.
Iron DNA offers:
• BootCamp
• CrossFit Ironstable
• Cardio
• Power Lifting
• Resistance Training
• Cryotherapy
Iron DNA trainers believe in spending quality time with each person, ensuring they are moving safely through their techniques. To accommodate this, personal training can be 1-on-1 or in a group setting with up to 5 people. This gives the trainer a chance to see any muscle imbalances or assess past injuries that need to be corrected or improved upon.
At Iron DNA you will never be left on your own to do tedious machine motions or rep counts. You will learn solid principles of exercise that will guide you on your fitness journey.
Iron DNA is more than just a gym—to learn more, visit us at irondnafitness.com, or call 239-288-6574 or stop by.
Iron DNA
1900 Trailwinds Drive
Fort Myers, FL 33907
239-288-6574
www.irondnafitness.com
