How Boxing Can Help You Level Up Your Exercise Routine
By Pamela Foster
Boxing has come a long way in recent years. It’s no longer just for the Rocky Balboas of the world. Professional fighters who threw knockout punches and drew blood from their opponents.
Luckily, this combat sport has become a popular exercise choice for both men and women. Classes often involve punching bags, foot drills, and killer playlists. Boxing is a great choice if you wish to blow off steam and lower stress levels. It’s also a great high-intensity workout to balance out other forms of wellness, such as mindfulness and yoga.
Boxing has plenty of physical, mental, emotional, and even social benefits. In this article, we’ll discuss many of them, and by the end, you may just decide to give a boxing class a try!
These Are The Top 12 Benefits of Boxing
Did you know boxing is a great complementary workout to your current exercise routine? In fact, adding this activity to your repertoire can help you uplevel your current exercise routine.
Whether it’s running, yoga, pilates, track, tennis, or bowling – boxing can help you perform better. How? Let’s find out…
- Stronger core & stability
A strong core is needed to throw punches and stabilize your footwork. You’ll no doubt strengthen your core by practicing boxing regularly. You’ll also need to work out your core to excel at boxing. Plank pose will be your friend!
- Better endurance
Boxing is a tough workout! It’s non-stop and intense, so you’ll inevitably increase your endurance and stamina if you stick with it.
- Increased hand-eye coordination
Those drills, punching combinations, and one-pointed focus will eventually lead to better hand-eye coordination and muscle memory, so your punches are laser-targeted.
- Upper body strength
A stronger core and punching drills help you develop upper body strength in ways many other workouts don’t. Boxing helps tone arm and shoulder muscles. The result is actually whole-body strength.
- Healthier heart
What are the keys to a healthier heart? Keeping your heart rate up, constant movement, and oxygenation to the lungs. Boxing provides you with an opportunity to experience all of these. It’s the ultimate heart health workout with the added benefit of sculpting your upper body.
- Lower stress levels
Ever heard the phrase “punch it out”? Boxing allows you to get all your stresses and frustrations out on the punching bag. The result? Lowered stress levels and stress hormones. It perfectly complements other stress management options, such as yoga and meditation.
- Brighter mood
The result of lowered stress levels and high-intensity aerobic exercise is better mood balance. Because boxing provides relief from pent-up frustrations and aggressions, a better mood is just inevitable if you’re consistent. Sleeping well to recover, staying hydrated, and eating well will also help you feel better. It’s a multi-pronged approach here.
- Deeper sleep
Lower stress and better mood often lead to deeper sleep. Boxing helps tire your body so it can recover at night. Want an extra boost to enjoy even deeper sleep? Make sure you fully recover after a boxing session by doing yoga or deep belly breathing.
- More self-confidence
If you’re consistent, all that punching and sparring will leave you with sculpted, more tones arms and the confidence to match. Of course, you’ll feel good, but also look good and enjoy owning your enhanced physique.
- Increased weight loss
Boxing is a high-intensity workout that burns calories at rates similar to other high-intensity aerobic exercises like jogging and the elliptical machine. Because you’re also working muscle, it adds extra oomph, too.
- Better balance
Thanks to its synchronized footwork drills and constant movement, boxing has been shown to improve balance and stability. But you’ve got to be consistent to reap the full benefits.
- Lower blood pressure
Boxing and other high-intensity activities have been shown to positively affect your blood pressure. Lower blood pressure is a sign of good health. Higher blood pressure increases your risk for heart attack and stroke. Want to keep your blood pressure low for longer? Make sure you recover well after a boxing session. Slow, deep, belly breathing will also do the trick.
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