Teaching Teen Boys Body Awareness for Emotional Regulation Through Boxing

At Geelong Boxing Club, we are committed to more than just physical training. We are creating a space where young men learn essential emotional regulation skills through movement.

Child and adolescent mental health practitioner Lena Moxon and head coach Steve Moxon work collaboratively to integrate structured emotional regulation support into our boxing sessions, ensuring that teen boys develop both physical and mental resilience.

Emotional regulation isn’t just about talking, it’s about movement, awareness, and control. That’s why we integrate body scanning into our training, teaching teens how to tune into their bodies to manage stress, frustration, and anxiety in real time.

Why Does This Matter?

Young men are often taught to "push through" discomfort or suppress emotions rather than understand and process them.

We believe boxing provides the perfect avenue to engage them in emotional regulation in a way that feels natural and relevant. By embedding these practices into structured sessions, we help them develop greater self awareness, focus, and control inside and outside the ring.

What Is Body Scanning?

Body scanning is a simple practice that helps young people check in with their physical state, identify tension, and release unnecessary stress. Rather than treating it like meditation (which might not always resonate), we tie it directly to movement and performance.

How We Integrate Body Scanning into Boxing Training

We don’t sit them down for long mindfulness sessions. Instead, we make body scanning a natural part of the session, quick, active, and practical.

1️⃣ The Phone Check-In Analogy

Before introducing body scanning, we make it relatable.

🔹 “We check our phones all the time, battery levels, notifications, glitches. Our bodies work the same way.”

🗣 Prompt: “Close your eyes or look down. Where’s your battery level today? What’s tight? What feels off? That’s your body sending notifications. Let’s clear them.”

Why it works: It normalises self check ins in a language they understand.

2️⃣ The Stance & Breath Check (Before Training)

Boxing requires fluidity and control. We integrate a quick body scan before every session to build this awareness.

🗣 Prompt: “Feet grounded? Knees slightly bent? Shoulders loose? Jaw unclenched? Take a deep breath, let tension drop as you exhale.”

Why it works: It reinforces strong, efficient movement and prevents unnecessary tension.

3️⃣ Shake it Off & Reset (Between Rounds)

Frustration and fatigue lead to stiffness. Between drills, we use body scanning to reset and stay sharp.

🗣 Prompt: “Check your hands, are you gripping too tight? Roll your shoulders. Take a deep breath. Stay loose, stay fast.”

Why it works: It keeps them moving with control instead of tension.

4️⃣ Cool Down & Recovery (Post-Training)

After training, tension lingers. We end sessions with a quick head-to-toe scan to release tightness.

🗣 Prompt: “Where are you still holding tightness? Breathe into it. As you exhale, let it go.”

Why it works: It improves recovery and reinforces self awareness.

Why This Approach Works for Emotional Regulation

✅ Physical First, Emotional Follows
Boys engage best when learning through movement, not lectures.

✅ No “Soft” Language
We frame emotional regulation in ways that feel relevant, not forced.

✅ In the Moment Awareness
They learn to recognise stress signals before they escalate.

✅ Applies Beyond Boxing
The same skills help in school, social settings, and daily life.

At Geelong Boxing Club, we’re equipping young men with the tools to navigate their emotions, manage stress, and develop self-control in and out of the ring.

This is more than boxing. It’s about helping teens regulate, reset, and reconnect to the moment in front of them.