Somatic Boxing Therapy & Coaching
What to expect if you engage with somatic boxing during therapy:
This is non-contact boxing: using mitts and gloves to engage with the bilateral movements of boxing. The bilateral movement of boxing engages the left-right mind, plus the body’s movement to help engage all parts of self.
This is not an exercise program. First, you will learn breath work and proper form as you punch the mitts. Once you feel comfortable, we will engage in stress and emotional management with the movements to give you tools to process and move through difficult emotions. The third phase uses the bilateral boxing movement to help process memories or disconnected parts that underlie the present reactions.
This is a good fit for clients who are feeling disconnected from their body, struggling with anger/rage or anxiety, or feel like “talk therapy” hasn’t been able to get to the root of the issue. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to ask further questions.
Please contact me to schedule a free initial consultation.
720-295-0616 | Send Email
Benefits of the Boxing Movement
According to the Cleveland Clinic, boxing drills can be a form of moving meditation. “Punching requires intense focus,” Dr. Edwards states, “and the constant movement and HIIT exercises during class leave little time for deep thought.”
Individually, meditation and HIIT offer a range of mental health benefits. Together, they deliver a double punch of rewards. According to a review of 16 studies, the mental health benefits of boxing include:
- A healthy outlet for anger and aggression
- Improved self-esteem and quality of life
- Less stress
- Reduced symptoms of conditions like anxiety and depression
Other research on the benefits of boxing use with counseling
- Benefits of Boxing for Parkinson’s Patients
- Boxing for Anxiety and Depression
- Boxing as an Intervention in Mental Health: A Scoping Review
- The use of boxing during addiction recovery
- Benefits of Bilateral Stimulation
What is Somatic Therapy?
Somatic therapy focuses on connecting the mind and body to heal mental health ailments and increase wellness. Somatic therapy includes interventions such as grounding, boundary development, movement and process, titration, and self-regulation, as well as complementary and alternative movement modalities such as tai chi, therapeutic touch, massage, and yoga.1,2,3,4,5,6,7 This body-centered approach trains people to be more in tune with the physical sensations that manifest as a result of mental health struggles.
Somatic therapy combines psychotherapy techniques such as experiential exploration, talk therapy, dream work, interpretation, and reflection, while integrating interoceptive, kinesthetic, and proprioceptive experience as part of the psyche.5,6 Becoming more mindful of physical sensations assists in the healing process by engaging the reticular arousal system (RAS), the autonomic nervous system (ANS), the limbic system, and the emotional motor system (EMS).6
**This is taken from https://www.choosingtherapy.com/somatic-therapy/ where the corresponding research links are listed.
