At first glance, the gym at The Commons on Marice doesn’t look like your typical boxing ring. There’s no roaring crowd, no spotlight, no winner’s belt waiting at the end. Instead, there’s laughter, focused energy, and a group of determined people gloving up to fight something invisible: Parkinson’s disease.
This is Rock Steady Boxing, an affiliate of the global Rock Steady Boxing program with more than 800 locations in 14 countries. Here in Eagan, it’s led by Jeff Rank, whose dedication to the program comes from a deeply personal place.
“In 2008, my grandfather was diagnosed with Parkinson’s,” Jeff recalls. “At the time, I didn’t know much about it. By the time he came home from the hospital, I had to build him a ramp just so he could get inside.” That moment changed everything.
Rank’s Path to Rock Steady Boxing
Jeff sold his share of the family painting business and went back to school, earning a degree in Health Fitness with a focus on special populations. His path eventually led him to Rock Steady Boxing, where he found the perfect combination of movement, science, and compassion.
When he joined The Commons on Marice after the pandemic, classes were still small and mostly virtual. Today, over 60 members gather in person several times a week, forming a tight-knit community built on sweat, support, and shared experience.
“We have three levels of classes,” Jeff explains. “Level one is the most advanced, while level three is for those using mobility aids. Each class is capped at 15 people, so we can really focus on individual progress.”
The workouts are non-contact but intense. Think punching bags, agility ladders, and balance drills that keep participants moving through every plane of motion. Studies suggest that high-effort exercise may slow the progression of Parkinson’s symptoms, helping participants regain strength, coordination, and confidence.
But if you ask Jeff, the most powerful part of Rock Steady Boxing can’t be measured by heart rate or reps. “Parkinson’s can be very isolating,” he says. “It’s hard to talk about what you’re going through. But when you walk through our doors, there’s zero judgment. Everyone here gets it.”
Rock Steady Boxing Members Give Back to Each Other
That sense of giving, not just of time or resources, but of empathy, encouragement, and shared humanity, is what keeps members coming back. They lift each other up on hard days. They celebrate every victory, big or small. And in that circle of care, people rediscover parts of themselves they thought were gone.
“We’ve had members who can golf again, or even go grocery shopping for the first time in years,” Jeff says. “Those are huge milestones. I tell our boxers all the time. They still have their best years ahead of them.”
The Eagan group’s camaraderie stretches far beyond the gym. They’re active in fundraising for national Parkinson’s organizations, raising over $11,000 for the Parkinson’s Foundation walk this past May and more than $26,000 for the American Parkinson’s Disease Association.
Jeff also serves on the board of Patient Research at the University of Minnesota, where he’s the only member without Parkinson’s. “That gives me access to the latest scientific information,” he says. “I can bring that knowledge directly back to our members and make sure what we’re doing reflects the most current research.”
Education, movement, and community are exactly what make Rock Steady Boxing different. New members begin with an assessment, which helps determine the right class level and provides a baseline to track progress over time.
From Hopeless to Finding Hope
“People come in feeling hopeless,” Jeff admits. “They’ve been given medication, and that’s it. But medication only treats symptoms—it doesn’t slow the disease. Exercise can. And when they start seeing improvements, it changes everything.”
Even those facing advanced symptoms or related conditions, such as progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), the same diagnosis as singer Linda Ronstadt, or other movement disorders like Ozzy Osbourne’s form of Parkinsonism, find encouragement here.
Three years in, Jeff has become a trusted resource for doctors throughout the region, who now refer their patients directly to Rock Steady Boxing at The Commons. “Doctors are excited when they hear their patients are boxing,” he says with a smile. “They know it’s helping.”
In the spirit of giving, the members also give back to each other, to the cause, and to themselves. They show up early just to chat, share jokes, and swap stories. The dopamine boost from friendship is just as important as the one that comes from movement.
As Jeff puts it, “Never feel like you’re the only one and there’s nothing you can do. You are stronger than you think. And we’re here to fight alongside you.”
This December, that’s what giving looks like. People who keep showing up, gloves on, ready to fight for one another.
Want to learn more about Jeff and his mission at Rock Steady Boxing? Check out this video on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kduExQ5Wkzc.
Want to try a class? Rock Steady Boxing at The Commons on Marice offers classes for all ability levels. To get started, contact Jeff Rank for a personal assessment and placement in the right class. Call (651) 688-9999 or visit commonsonmarice.org/rock-steady-boxing to learn more.
“When you walk through our doors, there’s zero judgment. Everyone here gets it, and that makes all the difference for those living with Parkinson’s.”