A welcoming center on the Peninsula offering movement, community, and meaningful connection for people with Parkinson's and the families who love them.
Peninsula Parkinson's Place was founded on a simple belief: people living with Parkinson's deserve more than medical care alone. They deserve community. Movement. Friendship. The kind of connection that reminds us, on the hard days, that we are not walking this road by ourselves.
Our programs are grounded in research showing that intensive exercise, social engagement, and creative expression can slow disease progression and dramatically improve quality of life. But the science is only half the story. The other half is the friendships, the laughter, and the steady reassurance of a place that knows your name.
Whether you were diagnosed last week or have been on this journey for years — you'll find a place here.
Evidence-based movement programs that adapt to every stage and ability.
A voice for people living with Parkinson's and the families who love them.
The friendships and connection that make the journey lighter.
Proudly serving the Peninsula from our home in Belmont, California.
Classes designed for the Parkinson's community, adaptable, instructor-led with social connection.
Non-contact boxing training built specifically for people with Parkinson's.
Visit Rock Steady Boxing Peninsula →Gentle, instructor-led yoga focused on flexibility, breath, and balance. Chair-based variations available for every posture.
Music-driven movement classes that build coordination, expression, and joy.
Live AccompanimentSlow, intentional movement that builds balance and calms the nervous system.
Over the past two decades, research has made one thing clear: consistent exercise doesn't just ease Parkinson's symptoms, it appears to slow how the disease progresses. Every program at Peninsula Parkinson's Place is built on this evidence.
Just two and a half hours of exercise a week — spread across aerobic activity, strength, balance, and flexibility — has been shown to slow symptom progression and improve quality of life for people with Parkinson's.
Exercise increases levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) — a protein that helps neurons survive and form new connections. BDNF is notably reduced in the brains of people with Parkinson's, and intensive rehabilitation has been shown to raise it back up.
The largest survey of Rock Steady Boxing to date — 1,709 adults with Parkinson's — found that participants had significantly better health-related quality of life and exercise self-efficacy compared to non-participants. Improvements were reported in both motor and non-motor symptoms.
A systematic review of sixteen randomized controlled trials (636 participants) concluded that dance — particularly partnered styles like tango — improves motor severity, balance, and gait. Patients consistently rate it among the most enjoyable interventions, which translates to high adherence.
Slow, intentional movement disciplines have been shown to improve static and dynamic balance — two of the most consequential measures for people with Parkinson's, where falls are a leading cause of injury and loss of independence.
"Interventions providing neuroprotective benefits, such as exercise, could change the course of the disease."
It is inspirational to see first hand the courage and strength that each person shows every class. It gives me the drive to earn my place alongside them and be “Rock Steady, Ready”!
I have found improvement in hand-eye coordination, balance, flexibility, speed and endurance.
No appointment needed. Come during open hours, watch a class or stay for one — there's always a fresh pot of coffee.