Cardinal Rules of GEM:
Everybody MOVES, Everybody TALKS,
Everybody has FUN!
Anyone can participate
We are athletes, NOT patients!
GEM is an exercise program designed to combat the effects of Parkinson disease for Savannah/Chatham-area people and their caregiver. The activities are designed to enhance and improve muscular strength, and endurance, coordination, agility, flexibility, speed work, and voice command.
Michael Cohen, Olympic Coach and 1980 Olympian in Weightlifting, manager of the Anderson Cohen weightlifting center, was contacted by Dr. Alice Gerber, the executive director of the Savannah Parkinson’s Support Group. Gerber told Cohen about a program called Rock Steady Boxing, which is based in Indianapolis and helps Parkinson’s patients live out active lifestyles through boxing. Scott C. Newman, the man who started Rock Steady, found that boxing created an improvement in his health, agility and energy.
Cohen researched the program and thought with the resources available to him at Anderson-Cohen, he could create his own program, which he called GEM.
Cohen took a trial class of about 20 patients and ran them through his six-week Level 1 course, which they completed March 31. Now they’re on to Level 2. Word has gotten out about the program. Another wave of participants is getting ready to start Level 1, and Cohen said he has classes completely booked for months ahead.
Early on, Cohen decided his program didn’t need to be limited to boxing.
“It all started with boxing,” he said. “I didn’t like its one-dimensionality. I needed them to understand other things. I’m big on variety.”
Through simple, repetitive exercises, the brain can re-establish connection with nerves affected by the disease, he said. Level 1 introduced patients to basic exercise movements and was mostly pretty simple with just one chief goal in mind: for the patients to know they can do it.
The program is as much for the spouses and caretakers as it is for the patients. Once the disease progresses, there’s very little the patients can do on their own, and daily life can become exhausting for the caregiver. This program allows the caregiver to participate not only in the exercises, but socially with other caregivers. It works on skills involving balance, strength, agility, sitting and standing, and being able to get up from a fall.
GEM classes are held at the Anderson - Cohen Weightlifting Center (7232 Varnedoe Drive, Savannah, GA 31406)
Class Schedule:
M/W/F 10:45 am and 11:30 am - GEM Class
T/TH 11:00 AM
Class Contact - Rebecca Heyward (912) 398-7611
Sheryl Cohen (912) 658-4676
Michael Cohen, Olympic Coach and 1980 Olympian in Weightlifting, manager of the Anderson Cohen weightlifting center, was contacted by Dr. Alice Gerber, the executive director of the Savannah Parkinson’s Support Group. Gerber told Cohen about a program called Rock Steady Boxing, which is based in Indianapolis and helps Parkinson’s patients live out active lifestyles through boxing. Scott C. Newman, the man who started Rock Steady, found that boxing created an improvement in his health, agility and energy.
Cohen researched the program and thought with the resources available to him at Anderson-Cohen, he could create his own program, which he called GEM.
Cohen took a trial class of about 20 patients and ran them through his six-week Level 1 course, which they completed March 31. Now they’re on to Level 2. Word has gotten out about the program. Another wave of participants is getting ready to start Level 1, and Cohen said he has classes completely booked for months ahead.
Early on, Cohen decided his program didn’t need to be limited to boxing.
“It all started with boxing,” he said. “I didn’t like its one-dimensionality. I needed them to understand other things. I’m big on variety.”
Through simple, repetitive exercises, the brain can re-establish connection with nerves affected by the disease, he said. Level 1 introduced patients to basic exercise movements and was mostly pretty simple with just one chief goal in mind: for the patients to know they can do it.
The program is as much for the spouses and caretakers as it is for the patients. Once the disease progresses, there’s very little the patients can do on their own, and daily life can become exhausting for the caregiver. This program allows the caregiver to participate not only in the exercises, but socially with other caregivers. It works on skills involving balance, strength, agility, sitting and standing, and being able to get up from a fall.
GEM classes are held at the Anderson - Cohen Weightlifting Center (7232 Varnedoe Drive, Savannah, GA 31406)
Class Schedule:
M/W/F 10:45 am and 11:30 am - GEM Class
T/TH 11:00 AM
Class Contact - Rebecca Heyward (912) 398-7611
Sheryl Cohen (912) 658-4676
Meet the Founders of GEM
Michael Cohen
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Dr. Alice Gerber
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In 1980, Marx Gerber, a well-known Savannah businessman, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. His wife, Dr. Alice Gerber, searched for services throughout the Savannah area, but found none. Community leaders joined forces with Alice and created the Savannah Parkinson Support Group (SPSG).
In December 2015, Alice Gerber watched a television segment featuring an exercise program shown to slow the progression of the disease for people diagnosed with Parkinson Disease.
SPSG contacted Michael Cohen, Olympian, Olympic and Paralympic coach, professor and executive director of Team Savannah. He created a new exercise program for those with Movement Disorders especially Parkinson's in order to meet a need in our community. This program has been featured in several news stories and was the top presenter in the World Parkinson's Congress. Armstrong University has been instrumental in program support and documentation of the program research.
Presented at the 2016 World Parkinson’s Congress • Initial Scientific research completed in June by Armstrong State University • Initial test group of 16 athletes expanded to 375+ in the Savannah, Ga area alone
In December 2015, Alice Gerber watched a television segment featuring an exercise program shown to slow the progression of the disease for people diagnosed with Parkinson Disease.
SPSG contacted Michael Cohen, Olympian, Olympic and Paralympic coach, professor and executive director of Team Savannah. He created a new exercise program for those with Movement Disorders especially Parkinson's in order to meet a need in our community. This program has been featured in several news stories and was the top presenter in the World Parkinson's Congress. Armstrong University has been instrumental in program support and documentation of the program research.
Presented at the 2016 World Parkinson’s Congress • Initial Scientific research completed in June by Armstrong State University • Initial test group of 16 athletes expanded to 375+ in the Savannah, Ga area alone
