For the Caregivers: What to Expect When You Come With Them

This one's for the spouses, partners, sons, daughters, and friends who show up. The people who drive, who wait, who keep track of the appointments and the medications and the hard days. If you love someone living with Parkinson's, I want you to know that Rise & Strike is for you too — not just for them.

Here's what to expect when you come with them.

You don't have to sit in the car

A lot of caregivers are used to dropping someone off and waiting. You don't have to do that here. You're welcome to come in and stay for the whole class. Pull up a chair, watch, cheer, take a video if you want one. Or — and a lot of people are surprised how much they like this — lace up and train right alongside them.

You'd be surprised how many caregivers end up on the bag next to the person they came with. The hour goes faster when you're moving too, and there's something different about being in it together instead of watching from the sidelines.

You'll meet people who get it

One of the best things about that room is who's in it. You're going to meet other spouses and family members walking the same road you are. People who understand the good days and the hard ones without you having to explain any of it.

You don't have to put on a brave face here. You don't have to translate what your life looks like. You can just be part of it. Sometimes the most valuable thing about the hour isn't the workout at all — it's standing next to someone who's a few years ahead of you and realizing you're not doing this alone.

What the class actually looks like

If you've never seen it, here's the shape of it. We warm up easy, then move through footwork, mitt work with a coach, and rounds on the heavy bag, with balance and coordination drills mixed in. It's non-contact from start to finish — nobody spars, nobody gets hit. Your person punches mitts and bags, never another person, and nobody punches them.

Everyone goes at their own pace. If your loved one needs to sit and rest, they sit and rest, and nobody blinks. The coach adjusts every drill to fit the person in front of them. So if you're worried about them being pushed too hard or embarrassed for not keeping up — don't be. That's not how this works.

We end every class in a community circle, coming together as a group to check in and share a laugh. Stick around for that part. It's usually where the good stuff happens.

How you can help without hovering

The best thing you can do is be present and let them own it. Celebrate the rounds they finish. Notice the days they show up even when it was hard to. You know better than anyone what it took for them to get in the car this morning.

And take care of yourself too. If you want to train, train. If you want to sit and just breathe for an hour while someone else does the coaching, do that. Both are completely fine.

A note on the medical side

I'm a coach, not a doctor, and I'll never pretend otherwise. If you have questions about whether this is a good fit for your person's situation, that's a great conversation to have with their doctor. We're always happy for you to bring any guidance from their care team into class with you.

Come see it for yourself

The first class is free — for them and for you to come watch or try. Bring them, come with them, and see how the room feels from the inside. Call (951) 337-3781 or fill out the form on our site.

We show up. We work hard. We support each other. We rise together. That includes you.