Category: Boxing

  • Four Tips for Better Workouts

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    So you’ve decided you want to work out, but some days you’re just not feeling it. Here are a few tips that I have come up for clients to help them reach their goals and have a good workout, every time.

    Motivate Yourself. Figure out why you want to work out. Do you want to tone up or slim down? Are you feeling groggy all the time? Are you getting amped up for that 10K you planned on running this spring? Or maybe you just want to be healthier. Whatever your reason is, make sure you have a clear and attainable goal to work toward. It’s important to know what you want your end result to be and when you get there, celebrate!

    Set the Mood. You can’t have a good workout if you’re not feeling it. So make a playlist of the best songs that pump you up. Get athletic shoes that make you feel good or wear something that you can really move in. Having the appropriate clothing that allows you to feel comfortable and not self-conscious in is just as important as putting forth effort. If you look good, you’ll feel good and if you feel good, you’ll work harder.

    Plan. Having a plan of action for when you get to the gym is always a good idea. It’ll give you a path and a goal to work toward for that day and when you’re halfway through, you’ll be able to see what you’ve accomplished. Bring a small notebook with your exercises jotted down or make a note in your phone. And just because you have a plan doesn’t mean you can’t go above and beyond it too!

    Push Yourself, Trust Yourself. Everyone has an edge. It’s important to approach your limit without going too far. Pushing through one last set or running an extra two minutes can make all the difference and set the tone for how you feel post-workout. Being able to know your limits and push yourself a little further each time will make you feel like a champ without spiraling you into an injury.

  • No Excuses: Holiday Workouts Should Be Good, Not Evil

     

    Photo Courtesy of Pixabay.
    Photo Courtesy of Pixabay.

    This is the time of the year when everyone is stressed. There are lines everywhere, people are pushy and forget getting to a place on time with no traffic! One of the best ways to help keep your cool during the holidays is to make time for a workout. While many of my clients want to cancel their sessions during this time of year, I strongly encourage them to reschedule or stick with it. Working out is one of the best ways to relieve stress during the busy holiday season.

    Missing a workout can make you feel guilty. However, that’s not the only reason you might feel bad. Working out helps pump up your endorphins and creates a natural, good feeling during your workout and after. So when you are feeling a little down or stressed, get up and get moving.

    In addition to creating a natural good mood, working out helps to clear your mind. Whenever I have a big decision to make or I am searching for answers, I step into the gym and let my mind rest and my body work. Once I’ve sweat it out, I can usually walk out of the gym with a definitive answer. Like magic, everything becomes a little more clear.

    And while the holidays are filled with cookies, cakes and pie, you’ll need the workout to feel better about your body. I’ll admit it, we all indulge during the holidays, including personal trainers. I have a secret soft spot for pumpkin pie piled high with whipped cream. But if you stop your workouts, it makes it ten times harder to get back into the swing of things once you return to your normal life and routine.

    I know it’s not fun. I know it’s tough to make the time. But do it. Your body will thank you.

  • Boxing: My Escape

    Sometimes it comes to me. It may only last a minute or two and then it’s gone as fast as it came to me. It’s clarity. It’s that feeling of stillness in my mind while my body is still moving. And for those moments, I have peace and everything else goes away. It’s just me, my gloves and the bag. It’s why I box. It’s what I strive for. The thumping of my gloves colliding with the bag drowns out all of the noise inside my head and calms the chaos around me and nothing else matters.

    The truth is — I needed boxing. When I slipped my hands into my first pair of gloves, it just felt right. I found solace in the gym. It’s my place to forget about everywhere I’ve been and everything I’ve been through. Now I work as a personal trainer with the hopes that I can help others find clarity. I teach my clients how to reach their goals using techniques I have applied throughout my whole life. The consistency of practice and routine and building muscle memories can bring you peace.

    In addition to relieving stress, my boxing workouts began toning my body —and I loved the results.

    Boxing can burn up to 1,000 calories in one hour and help build endurance for other athletic activities like running and high-intensity training. As muscle strength increases, the body begins to tone up and become defined.

    A great boxing workout can be done in a group, with a friend or a trainer. I’m working each and every day to help others realize how amazing this fitness routine is and how it can change lives, because it surely changed mine.