With a grant from Hawaii Parkinson’s Association, the Maui Family YMCA will purchase equipment to launch its first-ever Parkinson’s program for noncontact group boxing fitness classes on Oct 7.

Classes will be held on Mondays from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and Thursdays from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Maui Family YMCA, 250 Kanaloa Ave.

The program will be led by a certified Rock Steady Boxing instructor.

“We are always excited to start new programs that focus on providing an environment and a community to provide support,” said Seth Abdallah, community health director.

The Maui YMCA Boxing for Parkinson’s is a chronic-disease management program. Parkinson’s disease is a disorder of the central nervous system that causes problems with mobility, movement, muscle control and balance.

Certified instructors lead routines based on boxing techniques, but in a noncontact boxing program designed to alleviate symptoms specific to Parkinson’s disease.

To learn more about Maui YMCA and its programs, visit mauiymca.org or contact Community Health Director Abdallah at seth.abdallah@mauiymca.org.