August 18, 2026
Our speaker today was Lynn Kallay. Lynn is the Healthy Living Director, a Certified Personal Trainer, and Group Exercise Instructor at the Lake County YMCA. Her passion lies in being one of the Head Coaches of a fairly new program called Rock Steady Boxing. Rock Steady Boxing is a program designed for anyone diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. It is a non-contact boxing program specifically for people diagnosed with PD. The program at the Lake County YMCA began on April1, 2025. A GREAT April's Fools prank, except it's not a prank at all! It is a beneficial program with a scientifically based curriculum to help people with Parkinson's Disease.
Lynn Kallay, Rock Steady Head Coach at the Lake County YMCA.
A man named Scott Newman was diagnosed in 2006 with early on-set Parkinson's Disease at the age of 40. He was determined to fight this muscle ravaging, balance taking, and cruel disease. He began training with a golden glove boxer Vince Perez. His training helped him with his symptoms and the program soon gained national attention. One day someone asked Scott how he was feeling and he replied "Rock steady". 20 years later it is still going strong and named Rock Steady Boxing. Rock Steady now has 800 affiliates and is in 14 countries, Lake County YMCA being the first and only certified Rock Steady Boxing in the area.
The program is proven to improve agility, balance, coordination, and physical fitness of the participants. A research study done in 2025 showed marked improvement of PD patients in social life, depression, anxiety, fatigue, falling, and overall improved mood after participating in a Rock Steady Boxing program. Most patients number one concern is balance and the fear of falling, so the program focuses on strength and balance.
Here's a video of testimonials of people who participate in the Rock Steady Boxing program at the Lake County YMCA. https://youtu.be/W8DDAZD5Aao?si=ExhofINMGTmXGLOG
If you or anyone you know has been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease Lynn would like you to tell them about the program offered at the Lake County YMCA. She would also like anyone to visit and see the program.
Our next meeting is August 25, 2026 in the barn at the Lake County History Center. Our speaker will be Stu Lucker, business meeting.