Our Journey: From Personal Training to Parkinson’s Gym
In 2006, I began working as a personal trainer and group fitness instructor at a large gym in Wellesley, MA. It was there that I met one of the kindest members of my class, Vicki. She often brought her daughter, Cheryl, to join in—and one day after class, Cheryl approached me with a question that would change both of our lives.
She asked how I became a personal trainer, curious about the process because she was considering a similar path. We stayed in touch over the next few months, and I invited her to help co-lead a class I was running for women looking to lose weight and build self-esteem. The class was a success, and it inspired Cheryl to pursue her Personal Training Certification.
By 2010, both Cheryl and I were dreaming of opening our own gym—and instead of doing it separately, we decided to partner up and opened a gym together in Natick, MA.
About six months after we opened, Cheryl’s husband, Pete, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Although we were already deeply committed to helping others through fitness, we hadn’t yet worked with anyone living with Parkinson’s. That changed when Cheryl and Pete introduced me to Rock Steady Boxing, a fitness program specifically designed to empower people with Parkinson’s. They encouraged me to look into it, and in 2016, Cheryl and I traveled to Indianapolis to become certified Rock Steady Boxing Coaches.
By then, we had moved our gym into a slightly larger space in Natick and began holding Rock Steady classes. Our very first Parkinson’s client was an incredible man with a heart of gold. Tragically, after his diagnosis, his wife left him—saying she couldn’t handle it. That broke our hearts and strengthened our resolve. He was fighting this disease alone—until he found us.
We continued to grow the program, and eventually received an offer to move our gym to a larger, more customized space in Dover, MA. This new location gave us the opportunity to design a facility specifically with Parkinson’s care in mind. While we still offered strength classes and personal training, the heart and soul of our gym became helping people with Parkinson’s live with strength, dignity, and confidence.
The impact of our Rock Steady program only grew. Three of our own members—Trish, Caroline, and Rob—felt so inspired that they became certified coaches themselves. Today, they are an essential part of our team, and their powerful stories are featured on our website.
Then came March 2020. The head of the local health department stopped by and asked us to consider closing temporarily, due to concerns about a new virus—COVID-19. We did. A week later, the entire state shut down.
But the mission didn’t stop. We pivoted quickly, launching live Zoom classes to keep our community moving and connected. The online energy and connection were so powerful that even after we reopened the gym, we continued running virtual classes alongside our in-person sessions. Now, both formats thrive.
Just two weeks ago, we had 54 people working out together—34 in the gym, and 20 online. The energy was electric.
Looking ahead, we’re excited to expand even more: adding classes, creating helpful video content, and continuing to inspire and equip people with Parkinson’s to live with strength, hope, and community.
If you or someone you care about is living with Parkinson’s and could benefit from a supportive team and a strong, welcoming community, we’re here for you.
You’ll find my contact information at the bottom of the website, and there’s also a quick contact form on our Classes page.
Take that first step—reach out. We’d love to connect and walk this journey with you.