When I first relocated to the bustling city, I joined a gym to maintain my weightlifting routine. However, I quickly found myself attending weekly boxing classes to not only enhance my cardio and muscle strength but also to try something new. Surprisingly, the most significant benefit I experienced had nothing to do with my physical appearance.
Contrary to the chaotic portrayal of boxing in movies and TV, FightCamp trainer Aaron Swenson explains that the sport is meditative due to the high level of focus it demands. As you concentrate on each punch and movement, you’re forced to switch off the outside world and momentarily escape your daily stressors. There’s simply no room for daydreaming or mental to-do lists during a boxing workout.
Boxing doesn’t only increase concentration during the workout, but it also sharpens your focus afterward, leaving less time for nagging thoughts. Swenson explains that controlling your hand speed, footwork, and head movement requires mental focus, resulting in heightened alertness and attentiveness for hours after your workout.
Interestingly, I discovered that even short 15-20 minute boxing sessions at home provided the same mood boost as a full 50-minute class. Swenson highlights that this is the beauty of boxing: even brief sessions can prove beneficial.
Aside from the concentration aspect, I also appreciated how boxing helped me release pent-up nerves. Rumble Boxing co-founder Noah Neiman explains that boxing is not only cathartic for blowing off steam, but it also improves our innate fight response, making us project power and confidence.
Seven years after my first boxing class, I’ve revisited the sport thanks to the fitness industry’s evolution. Now, I don’t need a gym membership or class schedule; I can practice boxing at home with FightCamp. Although I appreciate the community aspect of in-person group fitness, I find that at-home boxing allows me to focus even more on myself and the task at hand, without the distractions of comparing myself to others.
FightCamp encourages members to “train like a fighter,” which involves boxing two to three times a week, complemented by strength training and recovery sessions. As a result, I’ve incorporated boxing into my routine to supplement my days off from Orangetheory Fitness.
Now, whenever I feel stress creeping back in, I know I can always rely on my boxing bag waiting for me at home. As Neiman says, “When [the endorphins and emotional benefits of boxing] do wear off, you can just ball up your fists for another knuckle therapy session anytime you want.”
