At Round for Round Boxing & Fitness Studio in Freeport, Faith O’Hare-Dunphy, 15, has been joining a group of young people for workout drills, boxing lessons, and strength training as part of the Nassau County Police Activity League Boxing Non-Contact Training.
Faith chose purple boxing gloves to practice jabs, uppercuts, and hooks. And to finish strong, each participant takes turns flipping a heavy tire across the mat while the others cheer and shout words of encouragement.
“I like doing the tire because it’s heavy,” Faith said.
Marjorie Guerrier, a Direct Support Professional at the Children’s Residential Program (CRP), goes with Faith to her boxing lessons every week. “She enjoys it. She loves it,” Marjorie said.
“We start out with a mobility warm up, getting the arms moving, and a little bit of stretching,” said Thomas Himmelberg, Round for Round Boxing & Fitness Instructor.
Strength, agility, and perseverance are tested from the very start after warming up, as everyone stands in a circle tossing a weighted medicine ball.
“That involved eye-hand coordination,” Thomas said. “Then I set up a circuit designed for coordination and hand-foot work.”
The circuit training equipment included a trampoline, a balance trainer, and a flat agility ladder to work up the energy to hit the punching bags. Each participant spends two minutes at each station.
“It’s a way to work on stamina, as well as coordination and agility,” Thomas said.
“One thing I really try to imbue in students is that idea of pushing through,” Thomas said. “Even when you’re tired, or under stress, you can continue to produce proper skill. Getting rid of that idea of quitting… You power through, you go bell to bell.”
It’s also essential to have movement every day, Thomas said.
Fitness and health are central to recreation at the CRP, and we are proud of Faith for growing stronger every day!
