So if you know me, you know I’m not really the exercising type. The thought of it makes me stressed. I hate cramps, soreness, and the meaningless exertion of energy. Needless to say, I like fun and engaging exercise more than repetitive boring stuff: I think everyone does. So, let me tell you this story:
I was in an English class, it was a Wednesday morning and I wasn’t paying attention. I was scrolling through Facebook. There I saw an ad that reappeared several times over the past two and a half weeks. It was an advertisement for iLoveKickboxing. Now, I don’t know why Facebook kept suggesting this ad. As I said, I don’t like exercise. With AdSense, there should have been more ads about hair products and clothes. Yet, seeing the advertisement this particular morning awoken a part of me that I was sure had died. The part of me that liked the soreness and enjoyed exercise. So, I suggested to one of my friends that we should sign up. They have a deal going on, $9.99 for 3 classes plus free gloves. We both reasoned that we were doing it for the gloves.
So, now let’s talk about the class. It was exhausting. Given, I obviously hadn’t put in the work to stay in shape, so it felt like a steep hill for me. I had a hard time pacing and breathing. An instructor there, Liz, was with my friend and I through each step as we struggled to adjust. That didn’t stop my soul from trying to leave my body about six times. There was even a point where my leg muscles were trembling so much I couldn’t even stand. The class is an hour long and I felt like just the warm up (fifteen minutes) was enough to count as an entire workout.
Admittedly, it was totally awesome to learn the kicks and punches. Once we got to the bag rounds (wherein you get to punch and kick the bags), the class flew by: 45 minutes felt like 10 tops. After the class, I cooled down surprisingly fast. Now, they tell you when you start, the soreness will hit on the second day after the class. I thought that was silly. The first day I was already sore, but the second day I was insanely sore. I’m talking using my arms to lift my legs onto my bed. I’m talking soreness while brushing my teeth. I walked around like a scarecrow all day. It felt like the workout continued after the class ended.
I went back for the second time later in the week and found I didn’t struggle nearly as much. I didn’t almost pass out and my soul stayed within my body. It was certainly more enjoyable this time since I knew what to expect and took more time pacing and breathing. Again, the workout sped by and I found myself feeling really good. Sweaty, but good.
Now, I would recommend to anyone who has ever considered kickboxing to try out this trial. The staff are very welcoming and acknowledge your goals to help you get the best workout for you. You can do everything at your own pace. Of course, try to keep up, but if you do less reps than the person next to you, no need to feel ashamed. Here’s some things you will need to know if you decide to register for the trial.
1. There will be burpees.
You hate them. I hate them. Nobody likes them. They don’t like us either. They’re an amazing full body workout though, so I’d advise you do a few during warmup.
2. Take a break when you need one.
Thirsty? Get some water. Arms like spaghetti? Shake ’em out. No one will beat you up for taking some time out to breathe. Just get back to it as soon as you can.
3. Drink lots of water and eat a light snack beforehand.
You’ll want to be hydrated because you’re going to sweat. If you’re like me and you get randomly anxious about exercise, you’re going to want to pee before class. A light snack will help keep your blood sugars up. I recommend almonds, a granola bar or even fruit snacks.
That’s it! Have fun future kickboxers!
Photo Credit: Cover; Article photo by Tiyra McLaughlin