The notion of boxing may seem a little intimidating to the average woman looking to get in shape for her big day. But you don’t actually have to get in the ring in order to take advantage of the workout that helps boxers prepare to win a belt. In fact, it’s a lot more basic than you might imagine.
While you could certainly try to sign up with a trainer at a boxing gym, most of them are looking to train pros that they can promote (which is probably a few levels above what you’re looking for). And you can always check out your local gym, but you’re a lot more likely to find kickboxing classes than their more staid brethren.
Your last option for professional help may be to hire a personal trainer, but the truth is you can do a lot of this workout on your own, with no aid whatsoever. By finding a standard boxing workout routine online (and tailoring it to your needs), you can have the slim and toned body you want well before the bells ring and you walk down the aisle. Here are a few components you should include.
- Cardio. This is a bigger part of boxing than you may imagine and luckily, it doesn’t require any equipment whatsoever. The majority of boxers engage in both jogging and jumping rope (although you don’t actually need a rope to reap the benefits of this exercise). So if you’re a little unsure about some other components of the boxing workout, at least get started with the cardio so you can start shedding pounds in preparation to get cut.
- Strength training/conditioning. This is the other side of the cardio coin. Losing weight will only get you so far and then you need to start toning your muscles. This means push-ups, pull-ups, squats, crunches, and so on. And the only one you can’t do without equipment is the pull-ups (for which you’ll need a sturdy bar). So again, this part of the workout is feasible for anyone. And you’ll be amazed by how fast you start to see results in some of your biggest problems areas like your underarms, back, and belly.
- Punching. If you think that this type of exercise dominates the boxing equipment workout routine, you would be right. Punching is what it’s all about and you need to make sure you’re doing it right so that you avoid injury and get maximum results. To that end, you’ll either need a trainer who knows what he’s doing or you’ll have to go online and search for videos. If you’re not sure about the free fare, purchase a training DVD. You want to make sure you get it right.
- Bag work. Once you get into the groove, you should think about adding some boxing equipment to your regimen. A punching bag is a good start, and you can usually get heavy bags that rest on a base rather than hanging from your ceiling (and potentially causing damage). You may also want a speed bag to get that added emphasis on the tricep area (which is often a trouble zone for women).
- Using a partner. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. At some point, you’ll want to try out your sweet moves with a moving target (to get some footwork going), so see if you can get a bridesmaid or your soon-to-be husband on board to wear the mitts and take some hits. If you’re a good sport, you might trade places and help your partner train as well.
