As a mental health sufferer, I used to punch concrete walls to let off steam; now, I find boxing helps relieve some of that negative energy.
Recently, ex-footballer Rio Ferdinand announced his decision to become boxing professionally at the age of 38.
Like many other sportsmen, such as ex-footballer Leon Mc Kenzie and ex England cricket captain Freddy Flintoff, boxing helps release some of those inner demons within mental health sufferers.
Prince Harry also recently spoke of turning to boxing after the death of his mother, Princess Diana.
The prince said that when his mother died, he wanted to punch someone. As a result of this, he took up boxing.
It’s not just men taking up boxing; it’s becoming more popular with women as well.
I once went to a boxercise class, and I loved it.
I now do HIIT sessions twice a week, and the classes always include lots of running and boxing.
Boxing with my trainer is my favourite exercise, and I’m always encouraged to hit harder.
It’s great to be able to get all of that negative energy and thoughts into several punches as you hit the boxing pads.
According to an article in the Telegraph, Boxing burns more calories than any other sport, with a whopping 800 calories burning away per hour.
Fitness benefits include:
By taking up boxing, you can burn as much as 500 calories a session and increase your muscle tone, build strong bones and Ligaments, increase your Cardiovascular, muscle endurance, core stability, and improve your upper body strength.
Boxing is an excellent way to keep fit.
An article on the Netdoctor says that assistant psychologist Felicity Gibbons from London recently started boxing classes to help those who suffer from depression and anxiety. Here, she shares her motivating story.
“Boxing is making me more confident and providing a space to de-stress. It has made me much fitter and healthier generally. I’m now motivated to run to maintain my fitness, and I am stronger and more toned. It has improved my sleep and made me more conscious of eating healthily and taking care of my body.
Let us know what helps your mental health in the comments below, or join in the discussions on our social media channels.