Boxers often mingle during break periods and after classes. Camaraderie is a big part of what brings boxers back for more classes.[/caption]

Rock Steady Boxing coach Marilyn Renken instructs a boxer on weight lifting technique.[/caption]

Rock Steady Boxing coach Jenee Cisne instructs a boxer on punching-bag technique during part of a workout class.[/caption]

A Parkinson’s disease diagnosis can be a scary reality to confront, but a new boxing program at a gym in Cy-Fair seeks to help individuals keep their minds sharp and bodies strong.


Rock Steady Boxing offers contact-free workouts for people who have Parkinson’s, a chronic progressive movement disorder that affects the central nervous system. The program, founded in Indiana, has four gyms in the Greater Houston area, including one on Hwy. 249 in Northwest Houston.


Tiffany Robinson, who launched the gym in Northwest Houston in January, said she first took interest in the concept after it was featured on the longrunning TV show “CBS Sunday Morning.” Her father, Randy Renken, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s around 2015, which she said inspired her to look into how she could help others.


“There’s so much that is unknown about Parkinson’s,” Robinson said. “A lot of people get diagnosed by their doctors and then are just sent back into the world on their own.”


The program is run by four trainers: Robinson, her sister Dawn, her mother Marilyn, and Jenee Cisne, a professional boxer and Robinson's childhood friend.


The classes run for 1 hour and 30 minutes. Many boxers drop in during the course of a month, but Robinson said they have about 15 clients who show up regularly, including an 82-year-old and an 85-year-old.


The program helps with timing, mental sharpness and vocal control, Robinson said, adding the camaraderie helps just as much as anything.


“Our boxers always stick around after classes just to talk and share with each other,” she said. “It gives these people hope to talk to others who are going through the same thing.”


Boxers often attend classes with their loved ones who lend support and are allowed to help with exercises.


“It’s such a godsend to both of us,” said JoAnn Connor, who attends classes with her husband, Ned, who has Parkinson’s. “We had nothing until our doctor mentioned this class. All four of the ladies who run this thing are amazing.”


Although boxers are told to work out at their own pace, Cisne said she still expects a lot out of them. She said her favorite part of the job is watching clients progress.


“We’ve had people show up on their first day who are not able to make it through the entire workout without sitting,” she said. “After a few weeks, they can make it through the entire class. I love seeing their faces and how proud they are for what they can accomplish.”



Class packages


Rock Steady Boxing offers different packages to cater to different schedules:




  • Eight classes per month: $120

  • Saturdays only: $65

  • Unlimited classes per month: $160

  • Unlimited classes per year: $1,700

  • Single class: $20


A typical class


Classes include  a mix of physical and mental exercises:




  • Question of the day to get the mind working

  • Stretches

  • Exercise station*

  • Weight training

  • Boxing with punching bags

  • Cool-down exercises, including leg lifts and more stretches


*Stations vary from class to class. Past stations have ranged from how to get up after a fall to dancing the “Macarena” on Cinco de Mayo.