It may seem odd or even counter-intuitive to hear that someone with Parkinson’s is spending a lot of time at a boxing gym. Yet that’s exactly what members of the Rock Steady Boxing programs do several times a week at communities managed by The Goodman Group, including Cypress Palms, an assisted living community located on The Palms of Largo campus in Largo, FL.

It's a unique fitness program that creates physical exercise and social bonds to help people with Parkinson's feel stronger, steadier, and more supported. As one participant says, "You can have a great life with Parkinson's."

How Rock Steady Boxing Started

The non-contact, boxing-style fitness program started in 2006 when Scott C. Newman, a state prosecutor from Indianapolis, was diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson’s at age 40. Scott lost muscle control rather quickly, and soon couldn’t even write his own name. At the suggestion of a friend, he went to the gym just to “hit some bags.”

Before long, Scott started feeling better and then he regained the ability to write. He knew he was on to something. He partnered with Kristy Rose Follmer, a professional boxer. Together they created what became Rock Steady Boxing, a unique program that has grown from just six boxers in Indianapolis to over 1,100 affiliates and 3,500 coaches worldwide.

Rock Steady Boxing at The Palms of Largo

"The program is designed specifically for people with Parkinson’s disease," says Leah E., program director and boxing coach at The Palms of Largo, a campus managed by The Goodman Group

The Palms of Largo became the first Rock Steady Boxing affiliate in Florida, as well as the first community managed by The Goodman Group to offer the program. Since then, several communities managed by The Goodman Group have implemented the program, including The Inn on Westport in Sioux Falls, SD, The Commons on Marice in Eagan, MN, and The Lodge at The Lakes at Stillwater in Stillwater, MN.

“It’s non-contact, so it’s boxing training,” Leah explains. "We work on different exercises to help improve balance, hand-eye coordination, improve strength, and help with muscle rigidity.”

Individual Attention

The program has three levels: beginning, intermediate, and advanced.

“It’s a very individualized program because everyone’s physical abilities are different. We have varying class schedules based on where [a participant] is at when they start the program,” Leah says.

Participants can progress from beginning to intermediate to advanced as their skills improve. However, what’s interesting is that many boxers enjoy the company of their first-class level so much that they prefer to stay with that group rather than advance. That shows just how powerful the bonds between participants become.

"Physically, I am in much better shape and mentally sharper too," Steve, a participant at The Palms of Largo, shares. His coach has noticed an attitude change as well: "His shift in attitude not only has helped him here, but especially in life. He's out doing things with his friends. He's an avid golfer and he still golfs."

Finding Support Through Boxing

“Some [participants] don’t want to get promoted because they’ve formed such bonds. The social and camaraderie aspects of this are also crucial to the process,” Leah explains. Because the boxers all have Parkinson’s, they can understand and support each other’s challenges in ways others can’t. 

“We have a questionnaire every six months to see how they’re doing. One of the questions we ask is how important the social aspect of the program is," she explains. "Everyone agrees that’s one of the driving forces that not only helps in the beginning, but keeps them coming back."

"I'm doing things now that I probably would never have thought I could do," says Molly, a participant who has earned the nickname "Mad Molly" for her fierce determination. "We compare a lot of notes. We talk about medications that are working for us. We talk about doctors. It's a great support group."

The Power of Community

To date, Rock Steady Boxing coaches have worked with boxers ranging from their mid-30s to early 90s, showing that it's never too late to fight back against Parkinson's. 

Many Rock Steady Boxing programs at communities managed by The Goodman Group have celebrated significant milestones, including The Inn on Westport, which started in 2017 with over 50 boxers participating in six different classes.

Through exercise, personal connections, and a shared commitment to fighting back, Rock Steady Boxing continues to transform lives and prove that with the right support, Parkinson's doesn't have to define what's possible.