Many people believe that rehab is all about sitting in groups. Indeed, in some situations, group therapy is undoubtedly an appropriate modality. However, there’s also exercise therapy. For example, were you aware of the health benefits of boxing for people in recovery?
Why Exercise Therapy?
Before discussing the health benefits of boxing, it’s crucial to understand what fitness therapy for addiction treatment accomplishes. Most importantly, exercise is an excellent way of releasing stress. You might have fallen victim to drug abuse just because you lacked proper stress management skills.
As you learn new coping skills in rehab, you still have stress that affects you. Furthermore, there’ll be plenty of stressful events after discharge, too. Starting a regular exercise regimen can make a significant difference in the way you handle them. However, what type of fitness training is right for you?
The Health Benefits of Boxing
Many people have tried going to the gym. Most get bored with the same machines and routines. This is where boxing shakes things up. You start slow, which makes it ideal for muscles that experienced damage due to malnutrition and lack of use.
As you heal from the addiction, your endurance increases. You can up the ante a little. In the process, you build self-esteem and self-confidence. You notice yourself getting stronger and faster.
Besides that, boxing is as much a mental discipline as it is a physical sport. You must focus, learn to anticipate moves, and be in the now. Meditation is frequently an important aspect of boxing training. Nutrition therapy helps you select nutrients that feed your muscles after workouts.
Boxing and Evidence-Based Therapeutic Interventions Connect
It’s fair to say that boxing is one of the few disciplines that seamlessly incorporate holistic and evidence-based modalities. As you progress in the program, boxing lets you apply what you’ve been learning. Therefore, it’s clear that the sport–or any fitness therapy–can’t stand alone in recovery. Examples of essential treatments include:
- Medical detox that helps you to withdraw safely from a drug or alcohol
- Group addiction therapy for addiction education and relapse prevention training
- One-on-one talk therapy that includes for psychotherapy
- Cognitive behavioral therapy which encourages you to undo dysfunctional patterns
- Access to 12 Step meetings for interested program participants
Of course, learning how to box in rehab also serves another purpose. Many people who relapse report that they struggled with boredom. They fell back into old routines that left them too much time with little to do. Boxing can be a new hobby that holds your interest.
Besides that, it increases in intensity as you get better at it. Rather than reaching a plateau as you might with so many other exercise regimens, boxing continues to challenge you. Outside of a rehab center, it also opens the door to connecting with a new peer group. Gyms devoted to the discipline welcome newcomers to the sport and provide support.
Learn more about the health benefits of boxing when inquiring about entering rehab. Treatment specialists at Clear Life Recovery want to answer your questions. Call 866-261-7291 today.
