Recovery Kickboxing Benefits
Kickboxing is a form of exercise and discipline that has built in recovery assets.
Lifestyle change
Change in lifestyle is vital when a person is trying to overcome addiction. Recovering addicts face great obstacles in filling voids and having to change friends and environments that are negative triggers. Kickboxing becomes a positive source of support and self-discipline, while replacing bad habits with healthy ones.
Empowerment
When an addict is in the grips of his or her active addiction, feelings of worthlessness, guilt, and shame are overwhelming. Kickboxing helps bring feelings of empowerment over one's own body and actions. This is reinforced when surrounded by a community of friends with shared goals.
Innate Mood Elevation
Some studies are now showing what it is about exercise that helps in the struggle with addiction. Exercise stimulates endorphins, which are neurochemicals that help stabilize our mood. These neurochemicals are depleted, or unbalanced in addicts, which leaves these individuals with negative thoughts to go along with their actions, leading them into a destructive downward cycle... This is the real science behind why you'll feel a new energy and joy after a Smash Hit recovery class.
Motivation (Rank System)
Recovery Kickboxing has a built in Rank Reward System. From the moment you begin, a goal is set before you- achieving the black rank. Each rank is an achievable short term goal. Reaching short term goals will eventually bring about long-term success. Kickboxing rank certificates are reminders of how much you've learned and provide a reward when you reach a new level of knowledge and understanding.
Sense of Belonging
During active addiction, we felt the need to isolate and hide from healthy people who are not feeding our addictions. The training environment plays a significant role in motivating each student to reach success. Students have a common bond and practice together in small groups. Being surrounded by others who are also struggling and working toward success reassures us that we're not alone and gives us a sense of community. Having a source of positive peer pressure is a great switch from the negative peer pressure associated with substance abuse.
Steps in the right direction
With any form of therapy it is unrealistic to expect instant results, especially when the problem has been growing over time. Recovery must start the same way the addiction did, by taking the first step. One of the reasons why Kickboxing is beneficial is because it encourages self-improvement one step at a time. The Black Rank is not earned overnight; it will take months of dedication and hard work. Transformation through Kickboxing forces us to be patient, with ourselves and the world around us.
Committing to change
Stepping onto the floor ready for the first lesson is a commitment to change. No one can go through the exercises without it effecting both the body and mind. The blocks, strikes, kicks, stances, and all the movements are thorough and complex. Mastering the techniques requires a change of perspective, moving and thinking in new ways. During the process, we become more aware of our current physical condition and the potential of our future.
Increasing self esteem
The changes one goes through are not just physical. Addiction happens to people from all walks of life, but particularly those with low self-esteem. Self-value can sometimes only be seen after accomplishing something. Performing the same explosive moves just like Chuck Norris or Jet Li might feel like flight of the imagination, but it is not. It will take practice and perseverance, but anyone can do it. Doing something that once seemed impossible is an incredible self-esteem booster.
Lifestyle change
Change in lifestyle is vital when a person is trying to overcome addiction. Recovering addicts face great obstacles in filling voids and having to change friends and environments that are negative triggers. Kickboxing becomes a positive source of support and self-discipline, while replacing bad habits with healthy ones.
Empowerment
When an addict is in the grips of his or her active addiction, feelings of worthlessness, guilt, and shame are overwhelming. Kickboxing helps bring feelings of empowerment over one's own body and actions. This is reinforced when surrounded by a community of friends with shared goals.
Innate Mood Elevation
Some studies are now showing what it is about exercise that helps in the struggle with addiction. Exercise stimulates endorphins, which are neurochemicals that help stabilize our mood. These neurochemicals are depleted, or unbalanced in addicts, which leaves these individuals with negative thoughts to go along with their actions, leading them into a destructive downward cycle... This is the real science behind why you'll feel a new energy and joy after a Smash Hit recovery class.
Motivation (Rank System)
Recovery Kickboxing has a built in Rank Reward System. From the moment you begin, a goal is set before you- achieving the black rank. Each rank is an achievable short term goal. Reaching short term goals will eventually bring about long-term success. Kickboxing rank certificates are reminders of how much you've learned and provide a reward when you reach a new level of knowledge and understanding.
Sense of Belonging
During active addiction, we felt the need to isolate and hide from healthy people who are not feeding our addictions. The training environment plays a significant role in motivating each student to reach success. Students have a common bond and practice together in small groups. Being surrounded by others who are also struggling and working toward success reassures us that we're not alone and gives us a sense of community. Having a source of positive peer pressure is a great switch from the negative peer pressure associated with substance abuse.
Steps in the right direction
With any form of therapy it is unrealistic to expect instant results, especially when the problem has been growing over time. Recovery must start the same way the addiction did, by taking the first step. One of the reasons why Kickboxing is beneficial is because it encourages self-improvement one step at a time. The Black Rank is not earned overnight; it will take months of dedication and hard work. Transformation through Kickboxing forces us to be patient, with ourselves and the world around us.
Committing to change
Stepping onto the floor ready for the first lesson is a commitment to change. No one can go through the exercises without it effecting both the body and mind. The blocks, strikes, kicks, stances, and all the movements are thorough and complex. Mastering the techniques requires a change of perspective, moving and thinking in new ways. During the process, we become more aware of our current physical condition and the potential of our future.
Increasing self esteem
The changes one goes through are not just physical. Addiction happens to people from all walks of life, but particularly those with low self-esteem. Self-value can sometimes only be seen after accomplishing something. Performing the same explosive moves just like Chuck Norris or Jet Li might feel like flight of the imagination, but it is not. It will take practice and perseverance, but anyone can do it. Doing something that once seemed impossible is an incredible self-esteem booster.