Janet Silvera, Senior Gleaner Writer
From left; Rajeesh Kriplani, Nodishia Deenah and Horace Peterkin of the 'Deenahlites' exercising at the Doctor's Cave Beach in Montego Bay.
WESTERN BUREAU:
The 'new' bodies that are walking out of Richard Deenah's Biokinergo studio in Montego Bay, can rival any model on the runways of New York, Paris or Caribbean Fashion Week.
The creation of these new bodies has generated much excitement in western Jamaica's wellness circles, creating a new buzzword; 'Deenahlites'.
Deenahlites
Among the Deenahlites are the likes of Barnett Estate's Paula Kerr Jarrett, One Stop Caribbean's Dominique Peterkin, Dovecot's Isiaa Madden, Chukka Caribbean Adventures' Paola and John Byles, Déjà Vu's Rajeesh and Neha Kriplani and Delapenha Funeral Directors' Pia and Dale Delapenha. They all have one aim and one destiny: 'A new lease on life'.
"Richard has been the architect of change in my life. It was one year ago when I entered his gym in complete fear of the road ahead, but I have never looked back since," noted a now lean Dominique Peterkin. After having three children, she has lost 45 pounds in nine months.
"I believe the success his clients achieve comes from his ability to get into their minds. We often joke that he is not an occupational therapist, but a psychologist," she added.
Describing Richard Deenah as the force that pushes her, Peterkin, who is not known to be much of an athlete, will test her level of dexterity at the upcoming Wata Rose Hall Triathlon and Wellness Festival in Montego Bay, next month. She will compete in the International Distance Relay on Sunday, October 26, 2008, among the likes of American olympians; Julie Swertel and Laura Bennett and Australian Greg Bennett.
Greatest success story
Leslie Ruel Madden Jr tipped the scale at 297 pounds over 18 months ago. He has since lost 100 lb.
But Richard Deenah's greatest success story to date is Leslie Ruel Madden Jr, who tipped the scale at 297 pounds two years ago.
Looking back, Deenah said, he met Madden, on a squash court. "He had a racquet in his hand and was about to play and I cautioned him not to go on the court. I told him, 'I really don't want to do CPR on you tonight'. I told him he would probably have a heart attack". That night started Junior Madden as he is fondly called, on his road to success at weight loss. "He came to my office the next morning with his wife and an open mind, willing to listen and follow instructions." Madden was walking around with the weight, hypertension and the possibility of diabetes, an illness his late father Leslie Ruel Madden had.
Deenah, recalls the look on Madden's face that first morning when he learnt his actual weight, "On his face was sadness and instant depression."
It took months of not being able to do a two-minute run to participating in the recent dress rehearsal of the Wata Rose Hall Triathlon. This rally race car driver, who was motivated to lose weight so that his car could go faster, has not been back on the track since he started Biokinergo.
"Instead of driving to Negril, he is now riding his bicycle. He has changed his lifestyle completely, while losing 100 pounds and has no signs of high blood pressure," said Richard Deenah.
Richard Deenah
After one year at Biokinergo, mother of three, Dominique Peterkin has lost 42 pounds and has a new lease on life.
Thirty-three-year-old Deenah, did his Undergrad in Physical and Health Education, and his Masters in Occupational Therapy at the University of Toronto, Canada, where his family had migrated years ago.
On his return to Jamaica, his sole intention was to open a physiotherapy clinic in the second city. However, his focus has unintentionally shifted because of the needs of his patients. "People would come in with all sorts of problems, but their underlying problem had to do with their weight, and not necessarily what they were seeking my help with," he explained.
This has led to his popularity in the second city. A popularity he hasn't recognised as he never uses those words to describe himself.
"I was never looking at my success by the number of people I saw, but the successes of the goals set by my patients who have all become my friends," he said.
Along with his wife Nodishia, a kinesiologist, who specialises in movements of how the muscles and bone structure of the body function together; the two plan to make much more than just an impact on health care in the western region.
"Being trained as an occupational therapist, you deal with the cognitive aspect of a person's recovery from various illnesses, what I try to do is a one-on-one service," he told Lifestyle.
Eye-opener
In this service, he goes to the supermarket with his clients, and goes as far as cleaning out their refrigerators at home. "When I go to the supermarket, I don't tell them what to eat, I show them healthy alternatives which is an eye-opener for most."
Developing friendships, he says, is the key to his success with his clients. "I am available to them at all times."
Michelle Rosseau of the 'Deenahlites' going through her stretches.
