Perfecting a solid upper cut and working on fast footwork may seem like unusual ways for seniors to stay fit, but boxing for exercise is a proven option for strengthening and conditioning the entire body at any age. When taught in a group setting, participants throw lots of air punches – combined with bodyweight exercises and a bit of speed training – and the results are both fun and effective.
The Village’s Well-Being Program strives to stay fresh and inspiring for people at all fitness levels, and the already dynamic class lineup has a knockout addition in the form of Butterfield Boxing sessions. University of Arkansas’ highly trained and enormously respected Dr. Ed Mink has joined the fitness team to teach these brand-new classes.
Dr. Mink has promoted and taught wellness for more than 30 years. He practices and is an advocate for Mindful Movement, a program focused on tapping into inner peace, positive mindset and self-healing. Also an Aikido instructor and yoga practitioner, Dr. Mink brings a lifetime of experience and unmatched enthusiasm to his classes. His engaging, interactive and experiential techniques introduce participants to empowering boxing drills, incorporating a blend of soft and dynamic moves designed to improve balance and coordination while building strength and endurance.
Benefits from Boxing as Exercise
• By increasing heart rate, blood flow, and lung capacity, boxing helps improve cardio vascular health and reduces risk of heart disease and stroke.
• Total-body boxing workouts can increase strength and muscle mass, leading to better mobility, balance and coordination that can all become problematic with age.
• The speed and intensity of boxing workouts can start out slow and increase as stamina and dexterity improve. Participants are fully in control of how much they choose to push themselves.
• Even boxing with an imaginary opponent improves hand-eye coordination and may actually improve ongoing alertness.
• Boxing can help increase bone density over time, lowering the risk of osteoporosis.
• Thousands of Parkinson’s patients regularly participate in boxing training to help manage the disease, routinely experiencing improvement in overall function and quality of life.
• Brain sharpening and better mental health are surprising outcomes from boxing workouts. Learning good form and technique forces the brain to stay a step ahead of the body, and the neuroprotective effect can decrease age-related cognitive decline. At the same time, boxing can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression while it increases self-confidence and self-esteem – all of which adds up to a one-two punch for feeling good.
Butterfield Boxing classes meet each Wednesday and Friday at 9:30 a.m. in the Convocation Room.
Questions? Contact Director of Well-Being Jennifer Neill at jneill@btvillage.org or text (479) 313-4097.
