Why boxing?
Our window of tolerance is the regular state of being during which we can optimally function. When inside our window of tolerance, we are able to emotionally self-regulate. Even if something challenging happens, we can stay grounded, open, curious and flexible. We can remain in the present moment and respond accordingly. Physically, we have steady breathing, a regular heart rate, and loose muscles.
When we face a traumatic experience, we may move outside of our window of tolerance (to hyperarousal or hypoarousal). When we go into hyperarousal we feel overwhelmed, stressed, angry, irritable and hypervigilant. In contrast, we can sometimes go into hypoarousal which can show up as symptoms of depression and feelings of hopelessness and shame. We become withdrawn from others.
Ideally, you want to maintain yourself within your window of tolerance as often as possible so that you can respond optimally to various situations. Unfortunately, what happens to a lot of us, particularly those of us who have experienced trauma throughout our life, is that our mind/bodies move out of that window of tolerance when presented with even minor life stressors because our brain can't tell the difference between extreme and minor stress.
Boxing is actually a form of meditation and one way to practice staying within your window of tolerance.
Sessions are held weekly at EMPOWERMENT Behavioral Health and are run by personal trainer Earvin Johnson who also completed training in understanding trauma in order to modify all aspects of the group training to be trauma-informed.
Sessions are completely FREE to all individuals currently involved in therapy at EMPOWERMENT Behavioral Health (either in the office or in school-based). Studies have shown that adding trauma-informed boxing to traditional therapy improves the time in which individuals begin healing from trauma.
All equipment (bags, hand wraps, gloves, and water) are provided for everyone involved.
* Please ask your therapist for more details *