Non-contact boxing for people with Parkinson's, in Niagara
Fight back.
Parkinson's takes movement away a little at a time. This program takes it back the same way. One round, one class, one week at a time.
No boxing experience needed. Most people arrive having never worn gloves.
Every class adapts to your stage, from newly diagnosed to seated.
Nobody gets hit. Contact is with pads and bags only.
Our mission
To fight the progression of Parkinson's disease through exercise and community.
"Parkinson's doesn't take a day off, so neither do we."
We're in our tenth year at White Oaks. We started with eight boxers. On a good day there are more than forty of us in the room.
This website is designed to communicate with those living with Parkinson's and their support groups.
We will share with this community the latest developments from groups such as Rock Steady Boxing International, the Michael J. Fox Foundation, the Davis Phinney Foundation, Parkinson Canada and other groups working to help those living with Parkinson's and their caregivers.
What actually happens
An hour of the things Parkinson's makes hard.
The Rock Steady method borrows the training boxers use and points it directly at Parkinson's symptoms. It is a workout, not a sparring session. The only thing you hit is a bag or a coach's mitt. Three classes a week is what the research supports, and it's what we run.
Big movement
Amplitude training pushes back against the small, shuffling movements Parkinson's pulls you toward. Longer strides. Fuller reaches. Louder voices.
Rhythm and timing
Combinations on a count rebuild motor planning and sequencing, the part of movement that stops feeling automatic.
Two things at once
Dual-task drills, like counting out loud while moving, train the brain-body link you need for real life: walking and talking, carrying and turning.
Balance and strength
Footwork, core work and stability training to build confidence on your feet and lower the fear of falling.
There are always at least three trainers on the floor, and for most of the year we have university and college co-op students working alongside them.
What the research shows
Exercise is recognised as an important part of managing Parkinson's alongside medication. Trials of high-intensity exercise report improvements in motor symptoms, mobility and quality of life. That's what this program is for. Not a cure, but moving better, standing steadier, and feeling more like yourself.
Sena et al., high-intensity training and motor symptoms in Parkinson's, a review of 15 randomised trials (PLoS ONE, 2023)
Start here
Come and try it first. No charge.
The best way to know whether this is for you is to join a class or two as a guest. No cost, no commitment. If it fits, here's what happens next.
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Book an introductory session
Call Mario at 905-321-7006, email mtoffolo@whiteoaksresort.com, or send the form at the bottom of this page. Sit in on a class or two and see how it feels.
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Do an assessment
A one-time assessment sets your level and gives us a baseline to track changes over time. It's also how we learn your symptoms and how they'll affect what you do in class. Repeated once a year at no charge.
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Get your doctor's release
You will also need to get a doctor's release, but it is not required to get started. No doctor has ever said no to the program.
Where it's needed for safety, we ask that a care partner comes along with the boxer.
Schedule & fees
Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Year round.
Classes run all year. The only day we take off is Christmas Day. You do not need to be a White Oaks member to join.
| Day | Session | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 1:00 to 2:00 pm | 1 hour |
| Wednesday | 1:00 to 2:00 pm | 1 hour |
| Friday | 1:00 to 2:00 pm | 1 hour |
Fees
| Cost | |
|---|---|
| Club member, monthly | $100 |
| Non-member, monthly | $140 |
| Single drop-in session | $20 |
| Assessment (one-time) | $50 |
253 Taylor Road, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON, L0S 1J0
Parking is free, and the facility is accessible.
In the room
This is what a Wednesday looks like.
Boxers, coaches and co-op students at The Club. Mitts, bags, straps and a lot of noise.
Your corner
In boxing, your corner is the people who keep you in the fight.
The training is half of it. The other half is a room full of people who understand exactly what your Tuesday was like without you having to explain it. Ten years in, we're an extended family.
Bring your partner
Spouses and partners are welcome to train alongside you. Ask about partner rates. We find working out with a partner brings benefits of its own. Family are welcome to stay and watch, or help out.
Can't get in?
There's an online class you can join from home. It started during Covid and it's still running, for holidays, weather, or weeks when getting to the club isn't possible. In person is the better workout and everyone knows it, but the door stays open either way. Ask us about joining online.
Niagara Parkinson's Support Group
A separate, affiliated group running support meetings, education sessions and referrals across the region. Different organisation, same community. We point people to each other.
News and research
What we're reading.
The organisations doing the research, funding and advocacy work. Worth a look if you are newly diagnosed, or if you want to know what is coming.
- Rock Steady Boxing International ↗The parent organisation, the method, and the affiliate network worldwide.
- The Michael J. Fox Foundation ↗The largest non-profit funder of Parkinson's research, plus practical guides for living with PD.
- Davis Phinney Foundation ↗Focused on living well today, with exercise, self-care and the Every Victory Counts manual.
- Parkinson Canada ↗National advocacy, research funding and Canadian support services.
Contact
Tell us where you're at.
You don't need a diagnosis date, a referral, or a fitness level to get in touch. Call, email, or send the form, and ask about sitting in on a class.
This form emails Mario Toffolo, who runs the program. Please don't include medical records or anything you wouldn't put in an ordinary email. Email is not a secure channel. If you'd rather talk, call 905-321-7006.