Move More Monday: Turbo Kickboxing

While my purpose for Move More Mondays is to try new things, turbo kickboxing is, in fact, something that I have done before. I started kickboxing a few years ago with a work friend. Back then, I didn’t really know what I was doing, nor was I as spunky and happy to be exercising as I am today. After about a month of weekly classes, I stopped going because I felt too uncomfortable jumping around with strangers, not really knowing how to do most of the moves.

But, once I began training others, my love for fitness grew. I started trying out classes so that I could recommend them to my clients. Before you knew it, I grew to love turbo kick! I don’t do the class every single week, but I throw in a class to my workout routine whenever I feel like it.

This morning was special, though. My sister, Emily has been trying to find her niche in the workout world. She works out enough to maintain her health, but she has yet to find a passion to keep her motivated. I suggested that she try out a few of the classes at our gym, since they are free! She agreed and her and I have been taking classes together for about a week now.

This Move More Mondays is not so much about my first experience. Today I want to talk about my sister’s experience with her first turbo kick class & how awesome it was to help her find her passion!

Emily and I had taken spin before (another on of my favorite classes) but she wasn’t feeling it. I knew that she would love kickboxing for the stress relieving powers it brings and the dance-esque workout! Emily has always loved dance, so it was cool to see her get into the routines this morning!

When the class first began, I encouraged Em to have fun with it and not to focus too much on the routines. At first it can get very confusing, trying to figure out when to jab and when to do a round house kick. However, in my opinion, if you just keep moving everything will be okay!

That’s exactly what Emily did! She got into it right away, which is something I haven’t seen her do in awhile! She had lost her love of fitness and exercise, and I am pretty sure taking this class will help her get it back!

I knew that my sister had fallen in love when, right after the class ended, she asked if we could go again on Wednesday. Ladies and Gentlemen, we have a winner! Here are a few things about the class itself that I recommend taking into consideration:

1. There is no equipment necessary- Turbo Kickboxing doesn’t involve punching bags or boxing gloves. It is all about shadow boxing, or just punching and kicking the air. It is very low impact, except for some plyometric/jumping exercises that are incorporated into the routines. The cool thing about the classes is that you can modify each move to how you see fit!
2. Don’t take yourself too seriously- if you walk past a group exercise room while there is a Turbo Kick class in session, it is pretty clear to see that most people do not know what they are doing. Everyone is kicking at different times, punching with the wrong arm, and even pausing because they got lost in the routine. But that’s okay! The point of the class isn’t to become an Olympic boxing champion; it is to have fun and get an awesome cardio workout in! If you feel as though you look silly, remember that everyone else does too- that’s the point! Take the class knowing that you will get your wiggles out and have a chance to have fun with the workout.
3. Give it all you’ve got- If you take Turbo Kick and are hesitant about your punches/kicks, you won’t get a very good workout. I have seen people take the class and finish it without even sweating, while others sweat within the first 5 minutes (ahem-me). No matter how “good” at boxing you are, just put your heart into the workout and try your best!
4. Research the Moves Beforehand: It helps if you YouTube proper punches and kicks before you go into a class. There are four basic punches that the class usually consists of: Jabs, Crosses, Hooks, and Upper Cuts. Search for these on YouTube to check out how to perform them. That way, once you take the class, you will at least have a basic understanding of what to do! (Also, stay tuned for Wednesday Workouts- I will be showing you guys how to do each punch if you want to learn!)

So, if you are looking for a change in your boring workout routine, I highly recommend a visit to your local gym to see if they offer Turbo Kickboxing. It’s fun, gets out aggression, and will leave you feeling sweaty and happier then ever!

See you all tomorrow~Kay