What We Do
Here at Box and Balance we use boxing and yoga to help people with physical, intellectual and developmental impairments improve their quality of life through improved motor skills, balance and spatial awareness.
Why Yoga
Yoga requires the ability for stabilisation of the trunk and neck to enable coordination of other limbs. Clients develop the knowledge and selection of multiple yoga poses; learn to plan limb placement and core stabilisation strategies to achieve poses; and achieve improved sequencing, strength and stability of planned movements
Co-ordination Development & Balance
Coordination, Bilateral coordination and balance are all closely linked to a person’s ability to use both sides of the body together in a coordinated way. Better balance and coordination also means an enhanced control over how the body moves.
We rely on props such as rocker and roller boards to improve stability and balance which aids in a stable foundation to better improve control over the body when learning the punch techniques. If you think of boxing being heavily anchored from the lower body we train to improve hips, glutes, core and oblique muscles.
Spatial Awareness
Why Boxing?
Boxing takes the sequencing, strength and stability developed in yoga and adds the additional challenges of speed, timing, coordination and crossing the midline of the body. Clients develop the knowledge and selection of multiple punching techniques and targets; learn to plan balanced footwork, trunk rotation and arm extension strategies; and achieve improved timing, balance, strength and confidence of planned movements.
Crossing The Mid-Line
Crossing the midline is so important on the physical level as well as on the brain level. On the brain level, a lack of midline crossing may indicate that the left and right sides of the brain (hemispheres) are not communicating well together.
We start off small, we use colours and cues to help develop a pattern of learned functionality. We have found colour and texture work best to engage the pattern of movement required to build on this skill.
Motor Skill Development
Benefits
Motor skills, balance and spatial awareness are fundamental aspects of every physical interaction we have with the world. Through practicing our unique blend of boxing and yoga, clients can achieve greater physical confidence, reduced risk of falls, and improved independence with activities of daily living.
Motor Planning & Sequencing
Motor planning and sequencing involves planning and ordering new muscle (motor) actions. It involves generating an idea of what you want to do (ideation), figuring out how you are going to do it (motor planning) and then doing or carrying out what you wanted to do (execution).
Integration of the brain and senses (e.g. touch, movement, vision, hearing) is required for good planning and sequencing. Frequently we find that efficient, effective sequencing of planning and executing movement is not second nature for many of the clients we see.
Broken down, motor planning and sequencing involves 3 parts:
- Formation of ideas and concepts
- Planning
- Execution