Float Like a Butterfly, Box Like a College Student
I’ve always been one to get workouts in by playing sports.
Practice was basically my priority for my entire life. When I started college, I felt completely lost in the gym. I needed a high intensity sweat-sesh along with a coach to keep me motivated every step of the way. During the confusion, I stumbled upon boxing. Here are a few of my go-to boxing gyms to help you box like a college student.
First, I started out in my hometown, Raleigh, North Carolina, at a gym called TITLE Boxing Club. The fast-paced sessions (packed with a warm-up, eight rounds of boxing, and a cool-down) were perfect for retired high school athletes: quick, stamina-building, and motivating. I’ve never boxed before so I was petrified and had no clue what to expect walking into my first class. I had no reason to worry; the staff was extremely nice and made sure I knew the magnitude of the class before it started.
TITLE
After many years of classes, TITLE is basically my second home. There isn’t a TITLE gym in Auburn, but I thought it was important enough to touch on because of the several locations around the rest of the country for all you “out-of-staters” like myself. As I said before, the class consists of a warm-up, cool-down, and eight rounds of boxing in between. Each round includes several combinations to throw on your personal bag. The workout will require a lot of stamina, but it’s super fun and totally worth it!
Note: I have not been to, but have heard, that Rockstar Kick-Boxing is very similar.
KageFit
KageFit, located in Opelika, has a very similar layout as TITLE. This includes a warm-up, cool-down, and boxing rounds in between. Each person gets their own boxing bag, however, there are other fitness components incorporated as well. In between rounds, there are many different workouts (like burpees, crunches, kettlebell training, etc.). The environment is in more of a ring than a specialized workout club, but it’s still a great workout.
9Round Fitness
9Round is located on South College Street and is a 30-minute kickboxing workout. It’s perfect for people on the go who want to squeeze in a workout throughout their busy day. Their nine-round workout puts less emphasis on boxing and more on the actual exercise. There are nine stations that constantly rotate every three minutes, so there is always a chance to jump in. Lucky for you, no class reservations are required. Each round focuses on a different area of the body, some with the bag and some without. nine-round is a great option for those who are not as familiar with boxing and want a more typical workout class.
Boxing has improved my life completely. Not only does it make me stronger, it’s also incredibly enjoyable. It reminds me of my old sports practice workouts instead of an actual weight-involving workout. Let me tell you, it’s a great way to get out that aggression or stress. You can literally punch out all of your anxiety, what’s better than that? I highly recommend boxing classes if a typical gym environment isn’t totally for you!
Let us know if you try any of these places out and which one is your favorite!
Be Well, Auburn.
Photography: Nikki M.
