Why ONE MORE ROUND Boxing?

5 benefits that answer the question, WHY TRY ONE MORE ROUND BOXING?

The importance of exercise in our active lifestyles today is becoming more and more important. People are learning how exercise is not only physical, but it has a huge impact on our emotional wellbeing, our mindset, stress levels, health and so much more. But how do you choose what is right for you when there is a myriad of programs, gyms, YouTube videos, weight machines, free weights and more out there to choose from?

And do I choose lifting weights, cardio, functional training, group fitness classes or do my own thing because there’s just so much to choose from? All of these come into question when dipping your toes in the fitness realm.One way to train all of the above is with a Boxing Style Workout. And I don’t mean going to a boxing gym where you actually learn and train for competing in the ring. There are specific gyms and trainers that excel in that. If that is what you want, ask around your town, you are sure to hear the same few names of reputable coaches who can take you where you want to go.

What I am talking about is Boxing for Fitness purposes. Boxing where you learn a lot of the same technique, moves and training that fighters do, minus the actual hitting others part.

But are there any real benefits to Boxing for Fitness that may outweigh or challenge just hitting the gym in a traditional way? ABSOLUTLEY YES! A boxing workout is designed to work every muscle in the body, toning and sculpting muscles and increasing endurance, all while working on agility and hand-eye coordination. Boxing is the original High Intensity Interval Training (commonly seen as HIIT) style workout combining the benefits of some of the most popular programs all in one. From jabs, crosses, hooks, focus mitts, hitting targets, conditioning stations to jumping rope and more, boxing workouts challenge the entire body.

Boxing is one of the most effective, concise ways to get in shape and maintain your physical health. And it’s a lot of fun too.

Some of the basic benefits to a boxing workout are:

1. Variety of Cardio with a Major Calorie Burn
   -Enhanced cardiovascular health
   Cardio is the basis of boxing. You will rarely stop moving during a boxing workout, except for 30-60 seconds in between rounds. You will be blasting calories and improving your cardiovascular fitness level while punching your heart out. (See the pun there?) Cardiovascular strength has many health benefits including but not limited to a boost in energy levels, sleep and even in sharpness of mind. And let’s be perfectly honest, for the most part basic cardio can be mundane and even boring at times. In a boxing workout you won’t even realize how much cardio you are actually getting because your mind will be so preoccupied with everything you’re doing and learning. It’s good to shake it up.
2. Muscle Toning, Sculpting and Gain
   -Improved total body strength
   -Better Body Composition
   While cardio may be the basis of boxing, have you ever seen a boxer who isn’t sculpted and strong? Nope, neither have I. Even though you are not lifting weights, you are strength training by hitting the bags. As you hit the bag your muscles react quickly, engaging muscles from your upper body, lower body and core all at once. The resistance from the heavy bags and focus mitts promotes muscle growth in the shoulder, back and chest as well as the energy applied in each punch works to increase power and speed. During a typical 1-hour workout you will throw hundreds of punches. Plus, other strength training exercises are weaved into the workout. Because boxing perfectly combines muscle-building strength training moves and calorie-busting bouts of cardio, it’s the perfect way to improve body composition on a whole. Variety of Cardio with a Major Calorie Burn.
3. Stress Relief
   Take it out and leave it all on the bag! Holding in stress and pent up aggression can impact our health over time. Exercise has stress relieving effects as it triggers a release of the feel-good hormone, dopamine and releases endorphins. When it comes to boxing, many find relief from life’s stresses by releasing pent up aggression through a constructive outlet – because after all, it is frowned upon to punch someone in the face. There is an empowering release when you take out your frustrations on a punching bag. Secondly you are cycling between rounds of high intensity and recovery throughout the workout, leaving little time to focus on what is stressing you out in life.
4. Boost in Confidence
   Who wouldn’t feel more confident and empowered knowing how to throw a good right hook in the event that you need to?
   But seriously, according to the American Psychological Association (APA), there’s usually an instant mood-enhancing effect about five minutes after you start a sweat sesh. The APA reports that, when done consistently, exercise helps reduce long-term feelings of depression and anxiety, and in turn, can help you maintain a healthy sense of self-confidence. LIVESTRONG reports that just 30 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise is more than enough to trigger the release of beta-endorphins, which are the chemicals that lower stress and anxiety, and increase feelings of well-being. Additionally a 2000 study published in the International Journal of Sport Psychology found that regular physical activity was a highly effective way of building self-confidence for people who stuck to a consistent workout routine for six months.
   With all of this in mind, just imagine the shifts in self-confidence that you might experience after months or years of hitting the bag.
5. Better Hand-Eye Coordination Improving Focus and Balance
   There is no going through the motions of lifting or mindlessly doing cardio in a boxing workout. It engages your brain, makes you react, move and hit, all causing you to think and think fast. Learning combinations, footwork, hitting heavy bags, hitting speed bag or focus mitts with a partner all challenge your brain to see the target, react to the target and hit the target testing your mental focus to help improve brain health.
   Hand-eye coordination also plays an important part in a person’s gross and fine motor skills which become important in aging as balance and coordination can become comprised.
   The APA reports that, when done consistently, exercise helps reduce long-term feelings of depression and anxiety, and in turn, can help you maintain a healthy sense of self-confidence.

Whether you are looking to build your fitness, lose weight, gain confidence, ditch some stress or just want to try something new, as you can see, exercisers at any level can benefit and improve their fitness by adding a boxing workout or two into their routine. The above 5 benefits can help breakup exercise boredom you might encounter during your fitness journey.

Isn’t it time you try out a class and see for yourself how fun, motivating and rewarding it really is?