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After having three kids, I found myself in an unrecognizable and uncomfortable body. I love my three bundles of joy more than life itself, but the unwelcome addition of 30 pounds on my 5’3” frame? Not so much. I was ready to get healthy, but nothing from spinning to Zumba kept my interest. I would drudge through long, boring workouts while thinking about everything I could have (and should have) been doing at home. Feeling like a fitness failure, I was certain I was the problem. Then, just as I was about to throw in the towel, I saw a commercial for a local gym.
The ad included women and men of all ages with boxing gloves strapped on their hands, punching heavy bags under black and red lights to loud hip-hop music. It looked like something I would want to do on a Friday night with my girlfriends. I grabbed my sister, and we hit a Saturday morning class together, and that was it — I finally found my fitness love. Bodyroc Fitlab in Connecticut advertises its classes as fitness with a club vibe and that’s exactly what they deliver. I couldn’t wait to go back. I was hooked.
I lost body fat, gained muscle and started to like my reflection in the mirror. That was my initial motivation, but I kept showing up because I loved what I was doing. I loved the way boxing class calmed my mind and engaged my athleticism. I loved “dancing with the bag” (as the instructors would say) while Ludacris blared from the speaker. I was there to get fit, but more compelling, I was there to have fun! And I have been having fun boxing ever since — nearly every day for the past six years.
Boxing is taking the fitness world by storm and you don’t have to look far to find a studio that offers heavy bag boxing, cardio kickboxing or even the real-live action of sparring in a ring. James “Mooka” Barnes, first-degree black belt and owner of MMA Barn in Connecticut, confirms that boxing is indeed growing in popularity. “It is a great workout that challenges your mental capacity while pushing your physical limits,” he says, “If you’re looking to push your physical limits and mental capacity, build some muscle, break a sweat, laugh while being challenged, and forget all outside problems for at least one hour, boxing is for you.”
Here are some of the ways fitness boxing may appeal to you:
It’s a Full Body — and Mind — Workout
Boxing classes offer a full body workout, complete with cardiovascular and strength training, and your mind gets a workout, too. Boxing sharpens hand-eye coordination and requires mental strategy, precision and the execution of a variety of punch combinations. It improves balance and agility, cognitive processing and reaction time. Barnes notes one of the most rewarding parts of coaching athletes is observing the moments when the light goes off: “I watch [students] in the beginning as they are trying to remember and figure out the combination. The confusion and stress are written all over their faces, but then, by the end of the class, they hit that combination and I see nothing but joy and confidence.”
It’s Healing
Having a bad day? Angry with your spouse, boss or the world at large? Feeling restless? Well, let me tell you, there is nothing like hitting a bag as hard as you can to make that aggression and frustration disappear. It’s a great outlet for bottled-up emotions and is also known to heal more serious health issues. “I know people who suffer from depression who report marked improvement after boxing,” says Barnes. “They come to class and immediately feel better because of the outlet and release that boxing offers.” He also notes that Muhammad Ali (aka “The Greatest”) and others who suffer from Parkinson’s Disease use boxing to treat cognitive issues and increase overall mobility. Boxing is also being used in treatment plans for people with ADHD and those in addiction recovery.
It’s a Sport
“It’s not a street brawl,” Barnes elaborates. “There are combinations. There are set-ups. There are rules. There are restrictions. There are paddings and time limits, and in the end, [even among opponents] there’s camaraderie.” If competition is your thing, you can hop in the ring and spar (box another person using only gentle punches) or work your way up to a real boxing match. Like any sport, it takes years of training and preparation to compete, but the opportunity exists for women and men of all ages.
It's a Personal Challenge
Boxing will never get old and there is always a new goal on the horizon. Barnes says beginners start by learning the punches, adding footwork and tackling mitt work (when a trainer uses mitts to present targets to a boxer). If and when they want to progress to the next level, they can try sparring, where they “will be challenged to implement all the skills they have learned without freaking out.” In boxing, there is always a challenge around the corner. If you’re brave enough to take it on, Barnes believes it’s guaranteed you “will [learn] something valuable about yourself” with every new challenge.
See you in the ring!
Have any of you tried boxing? Let us know in the comments below.
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