WE ARE SCOTT HANLEY INSPIRATIONALLY MOVING ON HIS OWN PATH TO TAME PARKINSON'S
Scott Hanley · February 12, 2025
Interview with Scott Hanley
Podcast: We Are Superman
February 12, 2025 · 1 hr 35 min
I love when people don’t accept the status quo from the medical field. One disease where there is no known cure, and not much is known about its cause or treatments for it, is Parkinson’s an uncurable neurological disease. So Scott Hanley of Belfast, Northern Ireland chose a…
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About Scott Hanley
Public Speaker and Thought Leader, Redefining Resilience and Thriving Through Challenge
95% Symptom-free after three months of CrossFitBritish Army Officer Former officer and resilience coachBBC & Fox News Parkinson’s recovery story featuredResilience coach Corporate leadership work
Scott Hanley is a remarkable advocate for resilience, mindset, and functional health—an advocacy grounded in a powerful story of personal growth and change. Diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2017, Scott faced debilitating symptoms, including muscle rigidity, tremors, and severe sleep disturbances. Refusing to accept a progressive decline, he took an unconventional approach, combining high-intensity physical and cognitive exercises to “train his brain” and reclaim control. Through CrossFit, Scott found a program that paired physical intensity with cognitive challenge, allowing him to regain 95% of his function—an outcome that continues to astonish his neurologists. His journey reflects a commitment to thrive, despite adversity, using resilience and innovation.
Scott’s experience as a former British Army officer further strengthens his message of mental toughness and discipline. Bringing this expertise into the corporate arena, he now works with business leaders to cultivate habits that support both physical and mental performance. Drawing parallels between personal transformation and career success, Scott emphasizes mindset, functional fitness, and sustainable wellness as essential strategies to thrive in high-stress environments. He works directly with executives and teams, sharing insights from his own journey and teaching resilience-based techniques that empower them to lead with energy, focus, and a renewed commitment to health.
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I love when people don’t accept the status quo from the medical field. One disease where there is no known cure, and not much is known about its cause or treatments for it, is Parkinson’s an uncurable neurological disease. SoScott Hanleyof Belfast, Northern Ireland chose a different path to dealing with getting diagnosed with it, and as a result believes he has reduced his symptoms by 95%! Repeat, 95%! That’s simply unheard of. He didn’t do anything magic, take any banned substances, or sell his soul to the Devil. Parkinson’s patients are usually instructed to engage their minds more. Scott added to this advice with some very commonsense approaches, including tweaking his nutrition and moving his body. But Scott reasoned that just doing cardio would actually be more mind-numbing, so this former Royal Army soldier engaged in short-burst exercises, which he could easily do during the lockdown of the pandemic. This eventually led him to a CrossFit gym in Belfast, where he found a community to engage with and where he has become an inspirational participant. Scott has found the CrossFit workouts have continued to keep his mind and body strong and moving, so much so that for a couple of years, many in the gym weren’t even aware of his Parkinson’s. Scott’s experiences have given him a unique perspective into resilience, and he shares his story, which might motivate anyone to also find their own solutions when facing a tough medical diagnosis.
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