Boxing Therapy

BOXING THERAPY

The California Palms boxing therapy helps patients improve their mental health. Boxing is a combination of both endurance, strength, core, aerobic, and anaerobic exercise. Regular boxing as part of a normal fitness routine will include weight loss and muscle gain. Addiction and alcoholism can create muscular atrophy and malnutrition, which leaves the body weak. Boxing builds muscle, can help the body lose unhealthy weight, and strengthens the heart through cardio exercise. In addition, the body gains power in the legs, core, arms, shoulders, and back. More importantly, boxing is a discipline. Boxing coaches Tom Cordell and Chris Smith encourage a meditative focus for their boxers which increases mindfulness and clarity. As a workout for mind and body, the benefits of boxing are endless.

Integrating Fitness into Everyday Life

Boxing provides a release for pent up frustration and anger. Addiction and alcoholism are rarely solitary experiences but secondary experiences instead. Underneath the substance abuse are often years of suppressed emotional pain which need to be released in healthy ways. Unable to cope with the emotions, addicts and alcoholics turned to drugs and alcohol to provide solace from the pain. Boxing is an opportunity to create, focus, and release pain. Research has found that venting anger verbally is not conducive toward the healing process. Venting actually strengthens resentments and anger rather than dissipate the effect. Anger is an energy as well as an emotion, causing the action-oriented hormones adrenaline and cortisol to be produced. Physical activity is helpful in truly releasing and resolving hidden anger. Boxing is a cathartic discipline during the treatment process.

Healing through Boxing and Exercise

Throwing the arms, ducking, and kicking partner all require keen focus and mindfulness. Injury is easy when the mind is not focusing on alignment, power, and precision. This is a metaphor for life in recovery. Mindfulness and being in the moment is what keeps those in recovery from unsuspecting injury, like being caught off-guard by triggers which could lead to relapse.

PHONE (800) 262-3742 We accept Medicaid insurance from Molina, Paramount, Buckeye and United. We accept Veteran insurance from Tricare, Humana and Triwest. We accept commercial insurance from Anthem, Cigna, and Aetna.