Most forms of exercise come with physical and mental benefits, and boxing is no exception. It’s training for your brain, potentially boosting your mood and self-confidence at the same time. There’s a reason humans have been enjoying this sport throughout our history.
Boxing is one of the simplest forms of exercise. It may generally involve gloves and rings, but all you really need is your own fists and something or someone to punch. That’s why it has been around for so long, evolving through various forms, although we definitely recommend sticking to the version with modern safety regulations. This is a sport with a high rate of head injuries, and those injuries will not help your mental health.
We live in a stressful world, and if we don’t find an outlet for that stress, it can build up and cause all kinds of health problems. Boxing is a way to release that tension in a controlled setting, venting all the anger and frustration without causing any serious injury to ourselves or others. Hopefully, that will also lead to a good night’s sleep. You’ll also receive that endorphin boost that is characteristic of many forms of exercise, elevating your mood and alleviating at least some of the symptoms of depression.
The more you train in boxing, the more in control you feel over your body and eventually your life more generally. The breathing techniques that you practice in the ring are similar to the ones used to master anxiety in other settings. This combines to help build your self-confidence. Instead of being buffeted by the outside forces in the world, you will take command of your own thoughts and actions and will be aware of your own power.
Many of the skills you develop in the boxing ring can be transferred to the outside world. When you box, you have to take in a lot of information very quickly, then process it so you know how to react. This can improve neuroplasticity, or the brain’s ability to adapt. Your concentration, your awareness of your surroundings and your working memory will all have to improve, which can make school or work a lot easier.
Get down to a boxing gym, build powerful social connections with other members, and you could soon be experiencing the stress-relieving, endorphin-boosting, confidence-building effects of this sport for yourself.
