Palmerston North gym ‘changing lives’ through support and exercise

Boxing may be the foundation of the Snap Back Boxing gym, but the focus is community and helping people.

In addition to running the usual boxing and fitness classes, the Palmerston North gym offers classes for troubled youth, special education students, new moms, and men’s health.

It also works to raise awareness of mental health and suicide, and has held fight nights raising money for the cause.

The gym held an open house this past weekend to show the community what they did, including the newly equipped equipment room where they offered classes.

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The gym’s director, Filipo Saua, said that boxing was only a small part of their job and that they dealt with all aspects of life.

He said they worked to build people’s well-being and mental health because they saw a lot of people dealing with problems.

“Well-being is quite important. We recognized that there was a need for the community to reach out on different levels to help our community.

“We start with our youth and we are building the community. There are different services that we provide to build our community.”

He said the at-risk youth program helped build their self-esteem and they saw “kids changing their lives.”

“We went over the rules, the core values, the safe aspects of being here, the respect.

“We talk about getting better in life, about the goals you achieve from there until you leave, making decisions, choosing the right thing.”

A girl who started working with them had problems with violence.

“Her mother said it was the first time she had seen her daughter smile in six months.”

There was also a program to teach self defense to young women and a free class for people with Parkinson’s disease.

They did a shoulder-to-shoulder course for the men to talk to each other and get help if they needed it, because Saua said the men generally kept apart.

Saua’s daughter-in-law, Courtney, was the special education coach.

She also worked for HealthCare NZ and a few months ago decided to run fitness classes for children with special educational needs, who attended classes during the day.

“Many of them said that there are no opportunities for them after school or at school because everything is ordinary. We have created a space for them to be themselves.”

The classes were sensory, without loud noises and fun for the children.

She said when some kids came in they were nervous but their confidence and fitness increased.

“They look forward to it, they come and dance with One Direction and they really enjoy it.”

She said that they were taking care of all the needs and were creating opportunities for people.

Courtney’s husband, Jerry, was the main mentor for their at-risk youth program, who were referred to the gym, where they were reminded that it was a safe space.

Jerry said that once the youngsters realized what the training could do, they grew to love it.

“We see a lot of confidence growing in them and in their physical form. Because they have been raised on a difficult path, we try to help them and guide them back to the right path.”

He said they learned discipline and how to focus on something positive, which led to a big change.

“Respect is the biggest thing we try to drill into them. Respect yourself, respect those around you, because boxing demands respect.”

Joe Salisbury, Manawatū’s tactical prevention manager, said the police had a strong association with the gym team.

“We have previously collaborated on various rangatahi-related initiatives and are always impressed with how the Snapback team engages with youth and serves as positive role models in our community.”