{"id":327912,"date":"2025-12-04T20:24:08","date_gmt":"2025-12-04T20:24:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/327912\/"},"modified":"2025-12-04T20:24:08","modified_gmt":"2025-12-04T20:24:08","slug":"boxing-crew-helps-parkinsons-patients-fight-back","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/327912\/","title":{"rendered":"Boxing Crew Helps Parkinson\u2019s Patients Fight Back"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\"Rock<\/a><\/p>\n

Rock Steady co-owners Lisa Oliver and Yvette Israel<\/p>\n

For people living with Parkinson\u2019s disease, Rock Steady Boxing VC\/LA offers a path toward improved mobility \u2014and a renewed sense of hope. What began as a small operation in Thousand Oaks has grown into a four-location program, with a fifth gym scheduled to open in March 2026. Each site offers a scientifically backed, non-contact boxing regimen designed to help combat the disorder\u2019s debilitating symptoms.\n<\/p>\n

The program grew out of a personal story. After co-owner Lisa Oliver learned that a friend diagnosed with Parkinson\u2019s had experienced significant improvements in gait, balance and cognition through the Rock Steady method in Indianapolis, she shared the information with now-business partner Yvette Israel.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we saw what this method could do, we knew we had to bring it home,\u201d said Israel, a Newbury Park resident with an extensive background in movement, fitness and business. \u201cWe saw lives change right before our eyes.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

In 2014, Oliver took a team of coaches and physical therapists to be certified at Rock Steady Boxing headquarters in Indianapolis. Soon after, classes launched in Newbury Park. Demand was immediate and the program quickly expanded. It now operates in Calabasas, Westlake Village and Camarillo, with a virtual Zoom option as well. The Thousand Oaks location is set to reopen in March with new evening and weekend classes designed for people with young-onset Parkinson\u2019s disease.\n<\/p>\n

The Rock Steady method is a high-intensity workout considered \u201cneuroprotective,\u201d helping delay the onset of new symptoms and slow disease progression.\n<\/p>\n

The program is open to anyone with Parkinson\u2019s and their families.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cWhether someone is physically fit or uses a walker or a wheelchair, they will benefit from our boxing-inspired group classes,\u201d Oliver said. Participants who attend two to three classes a week often see significant improvements.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cOur members fight Parkinson\u2019s in the gym and thrive through ongoing support from their fighting family,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

The program targets balance, posture, walking, speech, flexibility, strength, mental focus, mood, movement speed and sleep. Many participants report reduced symptoms and, in some cases, partial reversal.\n<\/p>\n

Owners say the program also helps lift \u201cdiagnosis depression\u201d by providing a safe, encouraging space and reframing a Parkinson\u2019s diagnosis as something people can actively fight. \u201cWe want to empower our members to fight back, to realize they can and will continue to live the life they imagined for themselves and their families,\u201d Israel said.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cOur goal is to give them health, happiness and, most importantly, hope.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

Rock Steady Boxing VC\/LA is supported by partnerships with the Parkinson\u2019s Foundation, UCLA Health and the Michael J. Fox Foundation. Doctors and neurologists refer patients regularly, citing \u201cdramatic improvements\u201d with consistent participation.\n<\/p>\n

The program offers free orientation, assessment and a trial class to remove barriers for newcomers.\n<\/p>\n

Beyond fitness, the organization builds community through support groups\u2014some on Zoom\u2014for people with Parkinson\u2019s and their caregivers.\n<\/p>\n

Social events include an annual \u201cFighting Family Picnic\u201d that draws up to 150 people, a monthly club with weekend courses on topics such as fall prevention and dance, and activities including pickleball and \u201cCaregiver Time- Outs.\u201d These gatherings emphasize that fighting Parkinson\u2019s is a collective effort.\n<\/p>\n

For more information, call Rock Steady Boxing VC\/LA at (805) 814-6333 or (805) 558-6020, or visit rocksteadyboxingvcla.com. Locations are 5727 Las Virgenes Road, Calabasas; 2360 Townsgate Road, Westlake Village; and 161 Plaza La Vista, Camarillo. The Thousand Oaks gym will reopen in March on Moorpark Road.\n\t\t<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Rock Steady co-owners Lisa Oliver and Yvette Israel For people living with Parkinson\u2019s disease, Rock Steady Boxing VC\/LA…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":327913,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[571],"tags":[64,63,802,85],"class_list":{"0":"post-327912","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-boxing","8":"tag-au","9":"tag-australia","10":"tag-boxing","11":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/327912","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=327912"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/327912\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/327913"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=327912"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=327912"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=327912"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}