By Derek Schlennstedt
A Ferntree gully woman who was a child abuse victim has turned trauma into triumph after using boxing to build her shattered confidence.
After her own experiences Donna Lyon-Hensler is now helping other survivors of childhood trauma and sexual abuse overcome their self-doubt through an eight week writing and boxing workshop.
“I am a survivor of child sexual abuse and boxing has been an incredible way for me to reclaim my body as a site of power, rather than shame and denial,” she said.
The multi-modal workshop series is designed to help women who have experienced sexual abuse and trauma find a connection to their mind and spirit through weekly transformative writing and boxing workshops.
The workshop is centered on generative writing and then releasing the “hidden stories” of abuse survivors through the body, and through the physical sport of boxing.
Ms Lyon-Hensler said the writing aspect of the program can help stimulate women who have experienced trauma to unleash their pent up energy.
“It became this incredible empowering base for me to start to physicalize and tap into some of the trauma,” Ms Hensler said.
“Trauma in sexual abuse in particular can be hidden and because there is so much shame surrounding the memories I was interested in what would happen if you got women to tell their stories but then be able physicalize the emotion through boxing,”she said.
“It may be an opportunity to get fit, learn new skills and lose weight … whatever your motivation, come with an open mind, a pen and a notebook.”
“For me I have found boxing and writing incredibly healing and empowering and I just want to share that with other women.” Cost for the eight week workshop is $80 and the workshop start Saturday 2 February, from 2pm to 4pm at Fitlife Ferntree Gully.
For more information visit https://leftwritehook.wordpress.com/
