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Sioux Falls, S.D. (April 24, 2024) – Rock Steady Boxing at The Inn on Westport, an affiliate program of Rock Steady Boxing, Inc., celebrated their seventh anniversary of fighting back against Parkinson’s on Tuesday, April 23 from 3:00 – 5:30 p.m. Boxers, families, volunteers and guests celebrated this milestone with boxer testimonials, a Rock Steady Boxing class, demonstrations, and gym tours led by the boxers.

“It’s been humbling and rewarding to work with these fighters the past seven years. We have fighters who are in better shape now than when they were first diagnosed with Parkinson’s,” said Rock Steady Boxing Program Director Lisa Howard. “This is a testament to our program, but also to their tenacity and fighting spirits.”

Rock Steady Boxing enables individuals with Parkinson’s to fight their disease by providing non-contact, boxing-style fitness programs that are designed to improve quality of life, sense of efficacy and self-worth. Boxing classes are taught by Rock Steady Boxing Certified Coaches and include an exercise program that attacks Parkinson’s at its vulnerable neurological points. The program focuses on overall fitness, strength training, reaction time and balance, HIIT, and circuit training. Rock Steady Boxing classes may benefit anyone at any level of Parkinson’s and may lessen their symptoms and lead to a healthier, happier life.

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive, degenerative neurological disease that has no cure and touches nearly one million people in the United States alone. While a cure has yet to be found, there are several ways to treat and slow the effects of the disease. Recent studies suggest that intense exercise programs may be “neuro-protective”, actually working to delay the progression of symptoms.

Rock Steady Boxing at The Inn on Westport was the second boxing gym opened at a community managed by The Goodman Group and the first Rock Steady Boxing affiliate in the state of South Dakota. Opening in April 2017, Rock Steady Boxing Program Director Lisa Howard started with two classes and 12 boxers and has grown the program to over 50 boxers in six different classes. Residents at The Inn on Westport can access these classes for free and individuals living with Parkinson’s in the Sioux Falls community are able to attend classes for a monthly fee.

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