Meet Donnella Andraos of Los Angeles / OC

Today we’d like to introduce you to Donnella Andraos.

Donnella, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I AM Movement is a woman-owned, mother-daughter business in Irvine, California. We’re a gym for seniors and adults with special needs that uses fitness and friendship to create community. Three factors led to its launch.

First, I was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer when I was forty-eight. It’s a rare and aggressive form of cancer with a high mortality rate. I wanted to be strong for my family. My husband had his hands full since he had recently started his own business. My eldest daughter was about to start college, my other daughter was learning to drive, and my son was only seven. I was determined that my kids wouldn’t remember me as a mopey mommy if I didn’t make it, so I started kickboxing because I had heard martial arts were good for the mind and body. It was a struggle at first, but it helped me combat chemo brain and reclaim my life. After regaining my strength, I started Muay Thai, a form of boxing that includes elbows, knees, and kicks. Ka-pow!

Second, my eldest daughter, Timorei, was a dance major and business minor in college. While in school, she volunteered in the special needs community. Her involvement began in high school when we joined Assisteens, the Assistance League’s mother-daughter auxiliary program. Assisteens’ mission is to get students actively involved in community service and build leadership skills.

Timorei co-chaired the Super Sisters philanthropy. She was responsible for organizing monthly get-togethers for high schoolers and young women with special needs. Many of the participants had autism or MS, but there were other diagnoses. One participant had progeria, a condition that causes a person to age rapidly. Timorei organized restaurant outings, bowling parties, craft days, and so much more. She chaired Super Sisters during her sophomore, junior, and senior years of high school. I believe her love of dance and the time she spent in the special needs community helped shape her career goal: she wanted to open a wellness center.

The third factor that contributed to our AM Movement vision was my father-in-law, AKA Timorei’s grandpa. He had severe dementia and lost interest in doing anything. Since he was a former amateur boxer in Africa, I started searching for a boxing program that might entice him to get moving again. That’s when I stumbled upon a 60 Minutes story by journalist Lesley Stahl about the Rock Steady Boxing program that her husband used to help manage his Parkinson’s disease. Given my boxing experience, I was fascinated by the segment and shared the link with my family.

You don’t have to be psychic to know what happened next. It was our aha moment! I could help my daughter turn her dream into reality by partnering with her to open a gym for people with special needs. There are plenty of programs for kids, but few for adults, so we wanted to focus on this underserved population.

This would be a win for me as well, since I was forced to retire early because my chemo cocktails messed with my vision. After all, it’s hard to write when you can’t see what you’ve written. Now I could put my marketing minor to use, work with my daughter, box, help others, and stop being stir-crazy. Oddly enough, Timorei was already certified in DanceAbility, an improvisational dance program for people of all abilities and mobilities. Once we connected the dots, our interpretation was simple: I AM Movement was meant to be!

Our epiphany was the kickoff. We drafted our business plan and took it to the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) for feedback. This is an agency that mentors entrepreneurs. After they accepted us as clients, we both became certified Rock Steady Boxing coaches in 2018, found a location, and prepped for opening day.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
When we presented our business plan to the Small Business Development Center (SBDC), we received positive feedback and support. They liked the concept and thought the niche market had a lot of potential. Our mentor told us there was nothing like what we were pitching in Orange County. After we completed the business registration process, our mentor introduced us to a real estate broker who helped us find our location. He was a great help, but it was a long process; it took about a year to find the right location.

We wanted I AM Movement to be in Irvine with easy freeway access. We also needed a large space to accommodate a boxing room with a ring, a dance studio, and a Pilates room. We wanted a community area where people could chat and play games, with a give-and-take library for sharing books and a mini resource center for community information. We finally found a spot, signed the lease, and started moving our gear in. Friends and family helped us organize the place because they believed in I AM Movement’s mission. It became a fun (and exhausting) group project.

We invested a substantial amount of sweat equity into getting I AM Movement set up. Then something we never anticipated happened: the California COVID-19 lockdown was announced the week we were scheduled to open. We thought we were doomed. We didn’t have a single client because we weren’t permitted to open. Our target markets were considered among those most at risk, so that was a double whammy for us. We had a five-year lease, no money coming in, monthly bills, and no light at the end of the tunnel. We were treading water, trying to stay afloat and figure out our next steps. Luckily, the SBDC was still available to guide us. Since our business hadn’t generated any income yet, I AM Movement didn’t qualify for most grants. The only one we received was a small grant from the City. Eek!

But then the calls and emails started coming in. People with Parkinson’s disease (PD) were desperate to exercise. Why? Because studies suggest that targeted exercise that challenges PD symptoms helps slow their progression, enabling people to live fuller lives longer. So, we put on our thinking caps, pivoted our business model, and launched virtual boxing classes for people with PD on July 13 (AKA “Be Your Own Hero Day” in Chase’s Calendar of Events). We had to get creative, using soup cans for weights and sofa pillows as medicine balls. It wasn’t in our business plan, but it worked.

After a few months, we realized the PD boxing classes were essential. So, in December 2020, we started offering distanced and masked workouts onsite. We had taped squares on the floor and assigned one to each participant. Boxers were told which part of their square to stand in to maintain proper distance. For example, boxers might start in the top-left corner for one drill, then move to the bottom-right side for the next. Everyone had their own set of equipment since sharing wasn’t an option. Buying extra equipment was another unexpected expense, but we didn’t have a choice. Funds budgeted for marketing and hiring help had to be reassigned to cover monthly business costs and COVID safety gear, such as sanitizing spray backpacks.

Fast-forward to 2026. We’ve survived! We’re still in new-business mode because of the pandemic, but we’re growing. I AM Movement is well-known in the Orange County PD community and is now an approved vendor for the Orange County and Inland Empire Regional Centers. PD doctors refer patients to us because of the specialized exercise program we offer. We’ve also partnered with USC and Stanbridge University, providing fieldwork and volunteer opportunities for physical and occupational therapy students.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I AM Movement is all about inclusion. We’re that club that no one ever wanted to join, but if they have special needs, they’re happy they found us.

Our Rock Steady Boxing class for people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) is our largest program. These active classes are 90 minutes long and incorporate modified boxing moves to focus on posture, balance, and weight shifts. Other fun and quirky drills are added to the mix to help improve cognition, memory recall, multitasking, hand-eye coordination, finger dexterity, voice activation, fall prevention, and gait. Boxers are encouraged to BE LOUD, chug water, and give it their all. Stations are modified to make activities more challenging for those who need it or adjusted to accommodate a health condition or injury. Boxers roll in and out of the ring because they need to be able to safely roll in and out of bed. Added bonus—once they roll into the ring, they get to smack the focus mitts! Punching the coach is everyone’s favorite thing to do.

I AM Movement also offers private sessions for adults with autism. In addition to adaptive boxing, we incorporate activities of daily living. These vary from boxer to boxer based on their caregivers’ requests. Some of the skills we’ve focused on include making choices, speaking in complete sentences, asking questions, spelling, doing math, assisting others, learning their parents’ phone numbers and then calling them, multitasking, and more.

In 2027, we plan to roll out our seated tap dancing, DanceAbility, and Zumba Gold classes. This will give seniors and adults with special needs the opportunity to get their groove on in a safe and caring environment.

I AM Movement is very involved in the local PD community. We do mini boxing demonstrations at the Parkinson’s Foundation’s annual “Moving Day” event. Coach Timi’s enthusiasm is contagious, which gets the crowd moving. I AM Movement also participates in Parkinson’s Orange County’s “Jump Start” and “Mid-Stride” events. These seminars target different stages along one’s PD journey, providing useful information and resources. At the annual SoCal Ride for Parkinson’s, coaches man a booth while the boxers walk and bike the route. All proceeds from this event benefit the Michael J. Fox Foundation, and we’re proud to be a part of it.

At the gym, we host a monthly care partner meeting on the second Tuesday of each month for people caring for loved ones or clients on their PD and/or dementia journey. Caregivers are pillars of strength who also need to take care of themselves to remain strong. I applaud group leader Phyllis for all that she does. Besides the support group, I AM Movement also hosts a variety of free seminars that are open to the public. Past topics include DBS (deep brain stimulation) treatment, hand/eye/body coordination, voice activation, “Ask the Neurologist,” home safety, and more.

Timorei and I wear many hats running the business. Luckily, our husbands help when they can, but they both have careers of their own. Timorei’s husband, Blue, is a certified Rock Steady Boxing coach too. He also offers donation-based boxing classes for people in the hospitality industry so they can de-stress before dealing with the public.

My hubby (AKA Timorei’s pop), Michael, has his own business. Luckily, it’s nearby, so he’s our emergency tech guy and handyman. I guess you could say this makes I AM Movement a true family affair.

Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
I know I could get hooked on podcasts, but I don’t have the time right now. Work keeps me hopping. Future me will be addicted, I’m sure. As for apps, I play two daily: Word Wow and NYT Games. I consider them my electronic chill pills that I pop throughout the day.

Hands down, my favorite books are anything by Stephen King, Ayn Rand, Thomas Thompson, and the Harry Potter series. I know these seem dated. The thing is, I devoured books before my eyes became traitors. Now it’s more frustrating than enjoyable to attempt reading. I’m not throwing a pity party, just explaining the why. As for e-books, they aren’t my thing.

That said, another book that comes to mind is a 1978 travel book by English author Eric Newby titled The Big Red Train Ride. It’s a true story about the author’s experience riding the Trans-Siberian Express. I guess you could say this book changed my life. I know—you think I’m dramatic, but I’m not…this time. I’ll explain.

Back in 1988, I backpacked through the South Pacific, Asia, Africa, and Europe. During my travels, someone told me about this book. I love trains and was intrigued by the Russian travel angle, so I read it. I was captivated, and it compelled me to figure out a way to ride that train. I know you’re probably thinking, “Just go online and buy a ticket.” But at the time, the only way Americans could visit Russia was with a tour group. Keep in mind, I was backpacking. Technology like cell phones and the internet were still in their infancy, so booking this trip was not easy. American Express offices around the world were my mailboxes. When I was in South Africa, I wrote to a travel agency in London that organized Trans-Siberian train trips. It took a couple of months to book it, given the snail-mail process. Once my journey was confirmed, I headed to Helsinki, Finland, to catch the train to Moscow.

When I met the “tour” group, I realized I was the only chick. I assumed I’d meet some other women travelers and buddy up with them. That’s how it usually works when you’re traveling solo. Oh well. We spent a couple of days in Moscow before heading to Yaroslavsky Station to board the train. Although the group was given a Moscow travel itinerary at the hotel, we were told we could do our own thing…shhh! That’s all I needed to know. Backpackers like to wing it. Most of the people in the group were traveling on their own. Michael and I paired up and explored Moscow together. He was an interesting guy from Zimbabwe.

The next day, it was time to board the Trans-Siberian/Trans-Mongolian Express and head to Beijing. This was a six-night train ride. Because we weren’t Russian, we weren’t allowed to leave the station platform when the train stopped for passengers. That was a l-o-n-g time on a train, so our group made the most of it. We ate every meal together and partied every night in one of the compartments. They were a fun and friendly bunch.

Once we arrived in China, we were free to roam. At the time, China had only been open to Westerners for five years. Michael and I decided to buddy up again and backpack through the country…

…Now it’s 2026, and we’re still together and have three kids. Kids—they’re a different type of adventure. If it weren’t for the book The Big Red Train Ride, we would never have met. That’s why it’s on my favorite books list and why I call Michael my forever souvenir.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://iam-movement.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iammovement_irvine
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iammovementirvine
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/i-am-movement
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@iammovement8940
• Other: https://nextdoor.com/pages/i-am-movement-irvine-irvine-ca