Why boxing should be your fall fitness obsession

There was a time when the only way a woman could get into boxing was as a scantilyclad ring girl. Thankfully, that’s no longer the case. Supermodels have taken over the sport, with the likes of Karlie Kloss, Adriana Lima, Elsa Hosk and Gigi Hadidall making the sportpart of their workout.

“Girls are really interested in these new classes that don’t involve direct contact or fighting between the participants, while really allowing them to blow off steam,” says boxing coach Steven Denize, who works at CMG Sports Club. “In hitting the punching bag, they use their own energy against themselves. And there’s no danger of them being struck in the face.”

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Far from being a sport for those with a violent streak, boxing, is, according to Denize, “a fun and playful way to unwind.“ And with the trend gaining momentum, womendon’t have to brave prison-like gyms to find a place to spar, with regular and high-end fitness clubs now starting to offer boxing classes.

Indeed, the boxing ring has never looked so glamorous. In Paris, celebrity gym L’Usine has introduced a brand new course calledTrain Like a Model fora Rocky-styleworkout.

“We start with 15 minutes of skipping at different levels of intensity to warm up and work on cardio,” explains coach Steve Rupaire, who leads the class. “The second part of the session is mostly about learning the techniques of boxing and muscle strengthening.”

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“It’s a good way to get rid of stress, and to acknowledge your strength and improve self-confidence and focus,” Rupaire says.

You might say, it’s the only workout that packs a healthy punch.

What are the benefits?

You’ll burn about 650in an hour-long session, according toRupaire. This full-body workout improves your endurance and lung capacity, as well as core stability.

By alternating strengthening exercises and cardio, “it’s the ideal way to sculpt the body and stay fit,” says Steven Denize. In a bag session, the top of the body works a lot, including those problematictriceps.In shifting your weight from side to side, you’re activating the hamstrings, while the abs are engaged for resistance and in maintaining balance, especially the lateral obliques, which sculpt a thinner waist.

How long before I see the results?

If you are willing to give it a go,your performance will improvein just a few lessons. “To see the results on your body, you need one to three months, depending on how hard you try and how often you practice. Personally, I would recommend a minimum of twice a week,” says Denize.