Residents get Howard County to keep Parkinson’s boxing classes

Rock Steady Boxing classes offer a mix of dynamic exercises, bag punching and free-weight lifting. But it’s more than working up a sweat.

It’s about facing Parkinson’s disease head-on.

What began as a group of six boxers exercising in the back room of a finance company in Indianapolis has turned into an international program that helps people with Parkinson’s combat the disease at their gyms and community centers, including in Howard County.

Scott Newman founded Rock Steady Boxing two decades ago after he was diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson’s at age 40. He found that the training helped control his tremors.

But two months ago, the beloved program, which had been courted by the county a few years earlier, almost ended at the hands of the Howard County Office on Aging and Independence.

Sabine Evans, the head coach for Columbia’s Rock Steady program, recently submitted a proposal to continue offering the classes, held weekly at the East Columbia 50+ Center, in the new fiscal year starting July 1, but it was not accepted.

Jacqueline Scott, the county’s director of community resources and services, whose department oversees the Office on Aging and Independence, did not explain why.

Instead, Scott blamed the county’s procurement process — how it secures outside services without mishandling taxpayer dollars — for the cancellation.

The abrupt rejection of the proposal was quickly reversed after surprised residents called, emailed and showed up in person to express their outrage.

Ellicott City resident David Ryan and his wife, Susanne Stahley, discovered the boxing classes two years ago and have attended twice a week ever since.

Stahley, 75, was first diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2009. Her diagnosis has since progressed to Parkinson’s disease dementia.

During class, Stahley is “most like her old self,” said Ryan, who participates alongside his wife. “You can just see her escape.”

Rock Steady Boxing, a non-contact boxing class, focuses on Parkinson’s symptoms — including tremors, stiffness, soft-voice syndrome, and balance and coordination problems — through punching, footwork, resistance exercises and aerobic training, according to the Parkinson’s Foundation.

Benefits of exercising for people with Parkinson’s disease include improvements in gait and balance, sleep, endurance, and flexibility, according to the foundation.

“In advanced Parkinson’s in particular, there’s bouts of paranoia that come about. The classes calm her down,” Ryan said of his wife.

Ryan was shocked when he learned Evans’ classes weren’t approved to continue after June 30. He and Ian Steinberg, whose mother with advanced Parkinson’s also takes the class, went straight to the County Council to advocate for the program.

“I want to be clear this is just not another fitness class. It meets participants where they are physically, mentally and socially. For people with Parkinson’s, it builds strength, confidence, connection and dignity,” Steinberg testified May 7.

The next day, the county reversed itself.

“We’re excited to share some great news: We plan to fully restore the Rock Steady Boxing program by Ms. Evans,” Jamar B. Herry, the county’s deputy chief administrative officer, wrote in a May 8 email.

“The input of our residents plays an important role in the evaluation of our programs and services, and we are appreciative of everyone that took the time to share their perspectives,” Henry wrote.

After reviewing the procurement guidelines, the county determined that Rock Steady Boxing classes would continue to be offered based on the demonstrated community need, Scott said in a statement.

County Council member Liz Walsh said she doesn’t think the classes would be back without residents sounding the alarm, but she said it shouldn’t be on the shoulders of residents — many of whom can’t make it to daytime public hearings.

Evans, the certified Rock Steady Boxing instructor, has offered the classes since the East Columbia 50+ Center opened in 2024.

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball joined one of Evans’ classes a few years back. At the time, he said, “It was profound to see this program help participants build balance, strength, and most importantly confidence. It is vital that we make these kinds of resources available to our community, so that we can enable all our residents to grow and thrive.”

To join the boxing classes, all participants must complete an assessment and receive medical clearance from either their physician or their neurologist, Evans said. The one-time assessment costs $100, and the classes range from $49 to $80 per month, depending on the number of sessions.

As the head coach, Evans handles the assessments, designs the classes, prepares exercise modifications and oversees safety. There are two certified assistant coaches and corner coaches, roles that people like Ryan and Steinberg fill.

Evans has her students count aloud and sing along to songs like ABBA’s “Mamma Mia” and The Marvelettes’ “Please Mr. Postman,” to train their vocal cords. She also focuses on specific exercises to help her students improve their balance, agility, hand-eye coordination, gait, strength and cognitive functioning.

Since its launch, the program has grown steadily, Evans said, adding that due to increasing demand she expanded the classes from two to four sessions a week. She wishes she could add more.

“This isn’t like canceling a chess club, or a Shakespeare reading class, or an art class, as important as those activities are,” Evans said. “We’re talking about a vulnerable population’s health, seniors with Parkinson’s who, in most cases, have lived here in Howard County for decades. I have to protect them as best I can.”