Preferred or Prescribed 1/1 PT

~ Our Programs ~

ROCK STEADY BOXING

(Our Core Program)

  • Nationally recognized fitness program with >900 chapters nationwide
  • Designed by and for Parkinson’s patients
  • Exercising with non-contact boxing improves balance, agility, speed, eye-hand coordination and overall conditioning
  • And it’s not all boxing all the time

Rockin’ Steady ‘N’ Rollin’ Easy Music Therapy

  • A program to help you physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially through active and receptive music expression
  • Learn and practice the elements of music and the impacts of each on our overall wellness

Healing Through Art

  • In association with Annapolis Arts Alliance, a specially designed art therapy program of two hours of creative immersion
  • Paint, relax, and tap into the joy of making art with no experience required

Hear Me Now! Voice Fitness

  • Voice exercises and education for clear speech and communication.
  • Discuss voice, communication strategies, and swallowing in PD
  • Learn to speak louder and clearer and maintain a strong voice at home

EMF Parkinson’s Support Group

  • For the entire EMF Community, an opportunity to come together, openly discuss isssues, challenges, victories, tips, and learning
  • Listen to expert guest speakers on array of pertinent subjects

Compassionate Conversations

  • Support Group adjunct workshops adapted from Compassionate Listening
  • Learn how and when to have tough PD talks with friends and relations

ROCK STEADY BOXING

  • Nationally recognized physical fitness program
  • Designed by and for Parkinson’s patients
  • >900 chapters across the country
  • Exercising with non-contact boxing improves balance, agility, speed, eye-hand coordination and overall conditioning
  • And it’s not all boxing all the time

ROCKIN’ STEADY ‘n’ ROLLIN’ EASY MUSIC THERAPY

  • A flexible program designed to help you physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially through active and receptive music expression
  • Learn and practice the elements of music and the impacts of each on our overall wellness
  • Classes to be formed as demand warrants

GIVE ‘n’ TAKE IT EASY COMPASSIONATE LISTENING AND CAREGIVER SUPPORT

  • A one-of-a-kind program under development by Ms. Amalia Phillips, MA, and certified Compassionate Listening project leader
  • Learn about the positive impacts of compassionate listening and how and when to use techniques to open up or diffuse dialogs among caregivers, patients, and other support teams

HEALING THROUGH ART

  • In association with Annapolis Arts Alliance
  • A specially designed art therapy program
  • Two hours of creative immersion
  • Paint, relax, and tap into the joy of making art
  • Absolutely no experience required or necessary

ROCK STEADY BOXING

You're Not Alone

Mindful Of Limitations As You Do Your Best To Be Your Best Through Specially Designed Fitness Exercises

  • Nationally recognized physical fitness program
  • Designed by and for Parkinson’s patients
  • >900 chapters across the country
  • Exercising with non-contact boxing improves balance, agility, speed, eye-hand coordination and overall conditioning

And it’s not all boxing all the time!

Physical Fitness

Samples of Numerous and Varied

Cardio:

  • Warm-up, rowing, stationary bike elliptical trainer, indoor/outdoor short distance jogging
  • Various one/two leg activities on balance devices

Agility-

  • Footwork – forward/back–side/side–in/out of 4 box square
  • Basketball (hand), soccer ball (foot) dribbles through cones

Flexibility-

  • Stretching hamstrings, quads, and calves and upper and lower back

Eye-hand coordination–

  • Boxing-heavy/speed bags/dummy/paddles

Core Strength–

  • Quad stretches, push-ups, sit-ups, “superman-banana”, “bicycles”, I, Y, and T pulls on resistance band

Dexterity-

  • Washers on posts/rings on poles, pyramids, ball and spoon relays

Mental Sharpness

Samples of Numerous and Varied

Memory:

  • Tracking multiple steps in all exercises, various word and number puzzles

Acuity-

  • Switching channels while performing physical exercises, e.g., speed bag, count by numbers right hand, letters left hand
  • Name animals or countries or states, e.g., while punching heavy bag

Awareness/Mindfulness–

  • Overall objective of combining physical and mental tasks is to help you perform functional movements of everyday life, be aware your surroundings and limitations, e.g., sense falling? How to recover balance or break fall, get up

ROCKIN’ STEADY ‘n’ ROLLIN’ EASY MUSIC THERAPY

You're Not Alone

Enhance Your Overall Well-being Through Music

  • A flexible program designed to help you physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially through active and receptive music expression

Join others as you enjoy learning and feeling the impacts of making music on healing and overall mental and physical health.

GIVE ‘n’ TAKE IT EASY CAREGIVER SUPPORT & Compassionate Listening

You're Not Alone

Difficult times, struggling and  questioning our way is part of the shared human experience. Compassionate Listening is a practice to help handle challenging situations when you feel most vulnerable or reactive. In our compassionate Listening gatherings we join together to :

Quiet the mind to be fully present

Develop the Fair Witness (working with Judgment) – Cultivate a process of meta observation

Notice what is happening in your mind, emotions, body and spirit

Suspend judgment; contain triggers; listen fully to another person’s story and perspective

Experience and communicate empathy, gratitude, forgiveness and perspective

Take responsibility for your actions; set and hold boundaries

Learn the language of healing: listen and speak from the heart

People who join our sessions benefit by practicing compassionate listening and experiencing being fully heard. Hearing how others struggle with similar issues often dissolves feelings of having to go through trying times all alone. There is something magical about connecting with people who share similar values of healing and bringing compassion to light, starting with our inner world.

Five 90 minutes long Compassionate Listening gatherings of eight to twelve people are held twice per month, currently scheduled for first and third Wednesdays of month  beginning at 11am.

HEALING THROUGH ART

You're Not Alone

Take A Healing Journey Through Art

Join Annapolis Arts Alliance Artists as they guide you in the production of your own work of art

  • Experience two hours of creative immersion
  • Use acrylic paints, stamps, and fish form cutouts to design your own under the sea artwork
  • Creative expression is encouraged in your chance to paint, relax, and tap into the joy of making art
  • No previous art experience is necessary
  • All supplies are provided
let’s talk

IN ALLIANCE WITH

COMING TO EMF IN SPRING, 2024!

Successfully launched in Spring 2024

HEAR ME NOW!
VOICE FITNESS

You're Not Alone

JOIN HEAR ME NOW! VOICE FITNESS GROUP 

  • A 1-hour program of voice exercise, education, and discussion focused on clear speech and communication.
  • Discussion includes topics such as voice, communication strategies, and swallowing in PD.
  • Learn to speak louder and clearer and learn tips for maintaining your strong voice at home.
  • This program incorporates evidence-based speech therapy techniques and is run by Lauren Mowbray, certified speech-language pathologist and provider of SPEAK OUT voice therapy.
  • Strengthen or maintain your voice in a fun group environment, appropriate for various levels. 
let’s talk

EMF’S OWN PARKINSON’S SUPPORT GROUP

You're Not Alone

  • Support groups have been shown to help people to manage challenges, including health issues, by providing opportunities to share feelings and coping strategies and learn more about treatments and other resources.
  • The group is open to members, their families/care partners, and members of the community.
  • There is no charge for this program.

 

Florence McAlvanah, BA, and BS and MS, in Nursing, a boxer in the Monday, Wednesday, Friday class and an EMF board member, leads this program. 

Courageous Parkinson’s Conversations

You're Not Alone

Difficult times, struggling and  questioning our way is part of the shared human experience. Compassionate Parkinson’s Conversatioins is adapted from a full Cpmpassionate Listening, a full practice to help handle challenging situations when you feel most vulnerable or reactive. In our compassionate Parkinson’s Conversations, we incorporate some elemnts of Compassionate Listening  like learning about:

Timing – when to initiate a serious conversation

Rehearsal – put yourself in the other position

Develop the Fair Witness (working with Judgment)

Suspend judgment; contain triggers; listen fully to another person’s story and perspective

Experience and communicate empathy, gratitude, forgiveness and perspective

Learn the language of healing: listen and speak from the heart.

We plan to introduce sessions aimed at fostering compassionate interactions, and offer new ways for people with movement challenges, their families and caregivers, to develop life changing communication skills. 

Engaging in regular meetings help us sustain compassion with the support of others and enhance our self-compassion journey. Come on out and join in..

Testimonials

I started the Rock Steady Boxing program almost a year and a half ago, and it has definitely made an impact on my quality of life. I am noticeably stronger in my arms and legs, I am more flexible, and I'm in better shape overall. The workouts are varied, interesting, and challenging. The instructors are fun and encouraging. And I very much enjoy the other participants. I look forward to going! I would highly recommend the program!
Betsy J.
I love this class! Everyone is so welcoming and encouraging. I've never liked group exercise classes in the past, they always felt too competitive. This is so supportive and accepting. David is the right mix of teacher, coach, therapist and cheerleader for all of us. So glad I found this!
Wendy G.
An outstanding program that helps build confidence and provides hope with measurable progress.
Ron C.
The new space [is] a better setting. David Fletcher is a strong leader who is responsive and supportive, modifying the exercises to the abilities of each user. I am eager to attend sessions.
Louise S.
I was reluctant to sign up for Rock Steady Boxing initially, due to disappointing results from previous exercise classes. But RSB turned out to be more then an exercise class, and it is one of the highlights of my week. The 1 1/2 hour sessions combine boxing with stretching, cardio, and cognition exercises. The focus of the work out changes every week. I was hoping classes would be challenging and they are. Instructors are great. I feel RSB is just as important to my physical and mental health as my medications. RSB has changed my life for the better.
Bob U.
This class has increased my husband's enthusiasm for life. [Founder, CEO & Head Coach] David Fletcher’s passion motivates the class to achieve their best outcomes. I love hearing about the creative activities he guides the class through. Each one stimulates the mind, body, and heart. As a family, we are grateful for RSB, it is the best medicine we’ve found!
Kristy U.
We are fortunate to have RSB in Annapolis. Really appreciate David’s and Assistants’ efforts to provide imaginative and challenging workouts every week.
R.U.
David does a great job; great variety of exercises.
D.P
If you or someone you know has Parkinson’s Disease (or if you’re interested in supporting an organization doing great work for people who do) please check out this phenomenal studio which is really an all-encompassing community for people with Parkinson’s. I have been in communication with the owner David Fletcher, DPT and just got the chance to observe a class and learn all about Rock Steady Boxing in general and about what David does at his Annapolis studio Empower Motivation Fitness specifically. I have a client who can’t speak more highly of him and now I know why. The studio has 1-1 assessments, 3 levels of classes for physical fitness and cognition, speech classes (which are often overlooked, but are incredibly important for people with Parkinson’s!!), support groups and social events and the program incorporates music in a research-based, therapeutic way too. Parkinson’s stinks, but there Are many things you can do to fight back against the disease and to improve your quality of life if you have it. EMF is one big way you could do that. I swear I don’t work for David nor am I being paid to help him get his name out there. I just think his programs are incredible and the community he’s created needs to be found and supported by even more people!
E.F.
I tell everyone that this program has changed my life for the better, in so many ways. My neurologist asked me what I was doing because clearly I was beating the odds by holding steady and in some areas actually improving! In class we work on strength, balance, speed, flexibility, mental acuity, and on and on, which is all so important as we age, but especially for people with PD. Because David is so experienced and knowledgeable, I believe that I am always safe and that the exercises are good for me. He pushes me to do better, but never over the edge so that I would hurt myself. In addition to the physical and mental improvements, my life has improved in other ways too. I have a real community, who I care about and I know cares about me. We support each other, learn from each other, and truly get each other in ways that I think people without PD could never really understand. No matter how poorly I'm feeling (physically or emotionally) when I walk into class, I always leave feeling happy and energized. It is truly life changing.
S.G.
Program is well run and exceptional to advance skills of patients. PT staff is exceptional and kind. Assistant instructors Delia, Sally and David do a good job.
P.K
This is a wonderful program; I look forward to every class. David is awesome!!
A.S.
David’s attention to the physical abilities of participants and his penchant for modifying exercising to accommodate the abilities (disabilities) is commendable.
L.W.
Of special note is the instructor attention to individual participants [?]
J.H.
Sally, one of the instructor helpers has a great positive attitude and you can see how much she cares.
Anon
In fighting PD, it's important to get out of the house, to be with supportive people to both give and receive comfort, and essential to exercise both mind and body. I've been covering all these bases for over 6 years at EMF to my complete satisfaction. Adding the newly available support programs of Art, Music, Voice Fitness, and Support Group, all headed up by practitioners of their arts and sciences, has helped stem the advance of PD as well. I will continue to enjoy classes with David and his team and my classmates.
D.C.
I am very satisfied with the program. I don’t have any suggestions on how to improve it.
B.B.
I have seen a big improvement of my strength and balance. And I have lots of new friends. We take care of each other!
D.T.
Sally brightens my day wither enthusiasm + I am amazed at how much the program has helped me and I am able to do more activities than before I started the program. The instructors knowhow to push you with out discouraging you.
P.L.

Easy Reading By & About

Empower Motivation Fitness - logo - Health, Support against Movement restrictions

May 2025

TO: Rock Steady Boxing Participants

RE: Monthly Participation Fee Guidelines and Available Options

Dear RSB Community Members,

We’d like to clarify our fee structure and share the options available to support your participation in our program.

Standard Monthly Fee: $150 This fee covers the number of RSB classes you wish to attend throughout the month. Whether you attend our Monday/Wednesday/Friday sessions or Tuesday/Thursday classes—or both—the choice is yours. You have full flexibility to attend as many or as few classes as your schedule and needs allow.

Drop-In Rate: $40 per class We offer a single-class option primarily for visitors trying our program or those needing very short-term access. This is not designed as an ongoing alternative to monthly membership.

Special Circumstances Only our CEO, David Fletcher, has the authority to approve exceptions to our standard fee structure in unique situations.

Scholarship Opportunities We’re pleased to announce a limited scholarship grant program for qualifying participants. If the monthly fee presents a hardship for you—or if you know someone who wishes to join but has cost concerns—please pick up an “Application for EMF Scholarship Grant for RSB” in the gym. Submit completed applications to David Fletcher, who will convene the Scholarship Application Review Committee for evaluation.

Our Mission Please keep in mind that EMF/RSB operates as a nonprofit organization with a singular focus: supporting individuals living with Parkinson’s disease. We exist to serve our community, not to generate profit.

Questions or Concerns? Any EMF board member would be pleased to discuss these policies with you. Don’t hesitate to reach out—we’re here to help.

With warm regards,

The EMF Board of Directors

Empower Motivation Fitness - logo - Health, Support against Movement restrictions

Empower Motivation Fitness

2024 West Street, Suite 101

Annapolis, MD 21401

November 8, 2023

For Immediate Release

The David Junkins Endowment Fund for EMF supports the work of Empower Motivation Fitness (EMF), a 501(c)3 not for profit organization, by providing a strong underpinning for its operations in reaching patients suffering from Parkinson’s and other movement disorders and impairments with life changing programs.  Named after Founding Board Member the late David Junkins, a Parkinson’s sufferer who worked earnestly to help others facing movement impairment, the fund was established in in early October of 2023 after a three week fund-raising effort.

The need is vast in Anne Arundel County alone.  By World Health Organization projections, the county has approximately 3500 people afflicted with Parkinson’s.  2000 of those get some sort of care from a physician or physical therapist (including EMF), leaving approximately 1500 with no regular help in addressing their disease/symptoms.  The majority of these come from underserved communities within the County.

People with movement disorders have a variety of conditions and needs and no one program can meet all of those.  However, an organization dedicated to providing access to multiple therapies for those facing illness and impairment, plus providing support and encouragement to caregivers, under one umbrella can make a real difference for those affected by movement disorders.

The ultimate goal of The David Junkins Endowment Fund for EMF is to build up enough resources to provide for the day to day operations of a fully staffed multi-disciplinary organization reaching 250 movement impaired clients able to afford programs, and another 250 movement impaired people currently being untreated due to financial hardship.

With adjunct professionals offering a variety of programs and complete subscriptions to those programs, ultimately a bigger space specifically designed to treat 500 people plus caregivers is envisioned and the endowment will provide the financial base for making land acquisition and building a state-of-the-art facility possible.

We have partnered with the Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County to establish this fund and already we have secured $32,000.00 in donations.  But this is just the first step of an initial goal of $5,000,000.00 in Endowment Funds needed so that we can serve the needy and the hurting.

You are the friend we need in our efforts, whether it be through donating monthly or yearly, or designating The David Junkins Endowment Fund for EMF in your legacy planning.   Please generously include us in your planned giving for 2024.

For more information or to make a donation:           https://www.cfaac.org/EMF

Read about our Health and Fitness Program

The Empower Motivation Fitness Scholarship Grants

Empower Motivation Fitness (EMF) is pleased to offer a limited number of Scholarship Grants to

people suffering from Parkinson’s. These grants are designed to fully or partially cover the Program

Service Fees for clients wishing to join the Rock Steady Boxing (RSB) program of classes.

Categories of Assistance

• Assessment Fee Coverage Grant – One-time grant of $75.00 for the required assessment of

any new grant applicant wishing to participate in RSB.

• Full Grant – $1,800.00 annually, paid in 12 monthly increments of $150.00 to be used to meet

the service fees charged by EMF for the RSB program.

• Half Grant – $900.00 annually, paid in 12 monthly increments of $75.00, covering one half of

the service fees for participating in the RSB program one class per week.

Criteria for Receiving Scholarship Assistance

• Completion of the grant application with specific request amount. The application must be

hand delivered at a pre-arranged interview with EMF, not e-mailed or sent through USPS.

• Demonstrated financial need following the State and Federal Poverty Guidelines.

Documentation of need may be provided by 2024 IRS Tax Return or letter from bank stating

annual income, letter of acceptance into any State of Maryland program of aid (such as SNAP

benefits), or pay stub from place of employment, etc. Clients over the age of 60 who can show

medical expenses of $8000.00 or more above insurance coverage may also apply.

• Corroborating request/approval from physician for RSB services.

• The grant is considered income by the IRS and subject to tax. Consult your tax professional

regarding state and federal tax implications.

Download the Application Form
Empower Motivation Fitness - logo - Health, Support against Movement restrictions

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