What Are The Mental Health Benefits Of Boxing?
Most people join a boxing class primarily to lose weight and get into shape. But the more you hit the bag, you realize that the benefits of boxing go beyond physical transformation. Over time, you’ll begin to notice its amazing effects on your mental health.
Most people join a boxing class primarily to lose weight and get into shape. But the more you hit the bag, you realize that the benefits of boxing go beyond physical transformation. Over time, you’ll begin to notice its amazing effects on your mental health.
Below are some of them.
Stress Relief
The past year has been very difficult for people all over the world. We were all confronted with a global pandemic that forced us to stay at home, avoid travel and leisure, and in some cases, quit work.
There are many ways to combat stress and one of them is regular exercise. Fitness boxing is a fun and dynamic sport that has been scientifically proven to alleviate stress.
In fact, many mental health professionals encourage people with anxiety and depression to engage in boxing. Some therapists even incorporate it into treatment.
Boxing lifts your mood in many ways. Firstly, it provides a rush of endorphins, a natural mood booster. Boxing classes also help relieve symptoms of anxiety and depression by training your mind to focus on the present moment, instead of the ruminating thoughts and worries.
Confidence Boost
Self-confidence is precious. You need it to be successful in life and to become the person you want to be. You can gain short-term confidence by dressing up, wearing makeup, or spraying a bit of perfume.
But if you’re looking to enhance your confidence over the long term, you should cultivate it from the inside. Doing exercise is one of the best ways to feel good. And when you feel good, you feel more confident.
Normal exercise is great, but combat sports like boxing are even better. With boxing, you learn practical skills to protect and defend yourself if there ever comes a time to.
Resilience
Training on a boxing heavy bag is so intense that sometimes, you’d feel like quitting. But the more you push yourself to your limits, the more you realize that you’re capable of doing greater things. You will be surprised to know what your strength can do.
You will develop the fighter’s mentality, which is to “never stop.” You’ll have this thinking that if you can survive those intense workouts and overcome the pain, you can also get through the tough obstacles outside the gym.
A fighter’s mentality isn’t wishful thinking. It’s a process that involves learning and changing your mental framework.
Sense of Belongingness
Having a social circle can boost your mental health primarily because it increases your sense of belongingness and improves your confidence.
While you certainly want to treasure the friendships you’ve built over the years, it doesn’t hurt to meet new people.
A fitness class is a great venue to socialize with individuals who share your interests and hobbies. Many great and lasting friendships have evolved from fitness classes.
Improved Focus and Concentration
Hitting the punching bag can improve your mental prowess. In particular, it can significantly enhance your concentration. In what way? Through mindfulness.
Boxing as a form of meditation might sound contradicting. When you think about meditating, you picture “stillness” and “peace”, not a strenuous HIIT workout or an explosive punching drill.
However, if you think about how both meditation and boxing work your mind to focus on the present moment, you will be amazed and convinced that they’re the same!
When boxing, you give all your attention to what you are doing. Focus and concentration are critical to surviving intense training sessions. You can’t think of anything else but the present moment.
Thus, boxing is a form of meditation, giving you all the benefits that come with practicing meditation.
Anger Management
We all get angry. It’s how we respond to those unwanted emotions that matter. Boxing provides an outlet for anger. When you find yourself feeling furious about something or someone, hit the bag.
Like magic, it will ease your anger away.
How?
Many things happen when you hit the bag that helps pacify your emotions:
Boxing eases muscle tension. High levels of anger are associated with greater muscle tension and chronic pain.
- Punching helps relieve muscle tension that can collect when you’re experiencing anger and stress.
- It makes you feel better. As mentioned earlier, working on the heavy bag releases endorphins which significantly decrease your stress levels. After a few minutes of a boxing workout, you’ll feel incredibly better and less angry.
- Boxing lets you vent out. If you ever get so angry that you feel like punching someone in the face, punch the bag instead. It’s a safe venue to let the emotions out.
Conclusion
Boxing benefits the mind just as it benefits the body. While it can help you get into shape and look great, there’s more to boxing than meets the eye.
Use it to combat stress, boost your confidence, strengthen your mind, make friends, improve your concentration, and manage unwanted emotions. With boxing, you will be healthier physically and mentally.
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