Cedar City Parkinson's Rock Steady Boxing group invites public to open house at Snap Fitness

Dan Dale and Steven Weiss represented the Cedar City Rock Steady Boxing affiliate during the council's public-comment period on April 9 and invited the community to an open house at Snap Fitness to demonstrate a boxing-based exercise program for people with Parkinson's disease.

Dale said the local program has operated about eight years and partners with Southern Utah University students through SUU's health-scholar programs. He said the group will hold an open house next Tuesday from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Snap Fitness gym in Cedar City; the session will include demonstrations, hands-on equipment such as heavy bags and fit-light drills, and opportunities for community members to learn about participating.

"We're also an affiliate of Rock Steady Boxing," Dale said, noting that Rock Steady Boxing has grown to tens of thousands of members nationally and in several foreign countries. He and other speakers said aggressive, high-intensity exercise — including boxing-style training — can help slow the progression of Parkinson's symptoms when performed frequently and at higher intensity.

Speakers emphasized the program's community and university partnerships. The local program uses SUU student volunteers and said the collaboration benefits students with practical experience while supporting program participants. A councilmember who had attended a prior open house praised the program's impact.

No council action was required or taken on the presentation. The speakers distributed a brochure and encouraged residents and potential volunteers to attend the Snap Fitness event.