When Paul first arrived at Rock Steady Boxing class at The Commons on Marice in Eagan, MN, a community managed by The Goodman Group, he relied on a four-wheel walker for support. For longer distances, he needed a wheelchair. 

Now? He moves through his boxing workouts independently, throwing punches with determination.

"I have a strange belief that you cannot only delay Parkinson's, but you can actually get better by doing the whole Rock Steady program," Paul shares.

A Turning Point 

Paul's journey to Rock Steady Boxing began during a time of change. 

After experiencing rapid physical changes that required him to use mobility aids, Paul and his family sought answers at Mayo Clinic. There, he met with a neurologist who specialized in movement disorders.

"In discussing the Rock Steady programs, she said this is the only thing that they have found to slow down the progression of Parkinson's," Paul remembers. "So get going."

This was Paul's call to action. He joined Rock Steady Boxing, ready to embrace this opportunity.

The Rewarding Work of Getting Better

Paul's commitment to the program meant showing up regularly.

"After a workout, I felt muscles that were sore that I didn't even know I had," Paul admits. "But then I'd pop up after that and feel good about it."

His Rock Steady Boxing coach, Jeff, tailored exercises to meet Paul where he was while pushing him to reach new goals. The program's combination of boxing drills, strength training and balance work addressed multiple areas of Paul's fitness and mobility needs.

"Jeff has been great in terms of my journey to improving and getting better," Paul says. "He's encouraging, he's knowledgeable about everything and works with each person to address the things that they need to do to get better."

Measuring Progress in Milestones

Over time, Paul moved from his four-wheel walker to an aluminum walker, then to walking sticks. Eventually, he reached his goal of completing entire Rock Steady Boxing classes on his own.

"Within a few months, he made quite a bit of progress," Jeff observes. "When you see him today, he doesn't use an assistive device for walking and you would never even know that he had any previous mobility concerns."

Since starting Rock Steady Boxing, Paul has lost 24 pounds. 

"I'm not doing this as a weight loss program, but it's for sure been a side benefit," Paul says.

A New Way of Life

Today, Paul attends Rock Steady Boxing five days a week between The Commons and The Lakes at Stillwater, communities managed by The Goodman Group. His dedication reflects both his commitment to physical fitness and his philosophy about living well with Parkinson's.

"My motto is there's no going back," Paul states firmly. "I certainly want to maintain and continue improving from where I am now."

The program has transformed more than Paul's physical abilities. He describes improvements that touch every aspect of his life.

"It has improved me physically, mentally and certainly emotionally in terms of how I'm feeling about myself," Paul reflects. "That is a great feeling of accomplishment and leads to a better life."

Advice for Others

For those considering Rock Steady Boxing or facing similar mobility opportunities, Paul says, "Get started right away. Give it as much time as you possibly can."

The best time to start is now. The path forward begins with taking that first step and embracing the possibilities ahead.

Paul's story demonstrates that a Parkinson's diagnosis can be the beginning of a journey toward improvement. 

Through Rock Steady Boxing, he learned that progress is possible with hard work, strong guidance and the right program.