Choosing to Rise: my morning with Rock Steady Boxing

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to photograph two Rock Steady Boxing classes hosted by Safe at Home Physical Therapy.

When I arrived, I expected to document a fitness class — people working through drills, throwing punches, and moving through a structured workout. But what I witnessed was something much more meaningful.

The room was full of energy, encouragement, and camaraderie. Participants greeted one another, checked in between exercises, and celebrated small victories throughout the class. There was laughter mixed with determination, and a clear sense that everyone present was invested not only in their own progress but in the success of the people around them.

Rock Steady Boxing is a program designed for individuals living with Parkinson’s disease. The workouts are rigorous and purposeful, designed to improve strength, balance, and coordination. But beyond the physical benefits, the classes offer something equally powerful: community.

On the wall of the gym there’s a phrase painted in bold letters: “Choose to rise.”

Throughout the session, it became clear that the people participating in these classes embody that message every day. Living with Parkinson’s brings real and ongoing challenges, yet each person had made the decision to show up — to move their bodies, challenge themselves, and support one another.

And they didn’t just rise. They did burpees.

There was something deeply inspiring about witnessing that moment — a room full of people pushing through a difficult exercise, laughing, encouraging each other, and refusing to be defined by limitations.

Moments like these remind me why I value documentary photography so deeply. The camera allows us to capture resilience in real time: not as an abstract idea, but as a lived experience. It shows up in determination, in shared effort, and in the decision to keep going.

I’m grateful that my work gives me access to spaces like this — rooms where people are choosing courage, connection, and perseverance, every single day.

And sometimes, resilience looks like boxing gloves and burpees.

To learn more about these classes, visit http://safeathomept.com/about