Pilates with a punch
Piloxing. You read it right - Pilates meets boxing meets dance in the latest workout shaping up to dominate the indoor training scene.
Piloxing mastermind, US Pilates trainer Viveca Jensen, developed the workout after noticing a demand from her clients for more cardio-intensive, calorie-burning workouts - and a desire for a lean and lithe body. She was constantly being asked by clients how they could get the two.
"Since both Pilates and boxing work from the core, they complement each other perfectly," Ms Jensen explains.
"I also incorporated dance in the program to tie the two disciplines together and give people a chance to shake it out and have some fun."
Piloxing is the perfect fit, she says, because it combines the best of all three disciplines. The strengthening and lengthening of muscles plus improved posture and core strength that Pilates offers is paired with the muscle endurance, tone, definition and cardiovascular benefits of boxing. The dancing makes it fun - with the added benefit of fusing the two unlikely workouts together.
Ms Jensen says the combination of boxing's high-intensity, interval training cardio work with slower movements based on Pilates principles is what sets Piloxing apart from other exercise classes.
It is estimated a Piloxing class can burn between 2100kJ and 3700kJ in the hour-long session.
"People love the feeling of strength and power when throwing jabs - but also the feeling of control and focus with the Pilates principles," she says.
"To maintain balance and throw punches throughout the class, all your muscles have to work in unison."
Andrea Zencich, director of Zen Pilates, attended Piloxing teacher training in California last year and brought the fitness craze to Perth, teaching it at her Mt Lawley studio. Australian teacher training for the course begins next month.
Ms Zencich says the workout offers the best of all the very different elements of each technique.
"I find boxing a great stress relief and it's a change to my regular Pilates training," Ms Zencich says. "Classes are done to music too, which is fun."
Ms Jensen says Piloxing is popular because it gets results - physically and emotionally.
"Every time I hear stories about women who have gained confidence and strength they didn't have prior to coming to Piloxing, I'm reminded why I created this program," she tells Mind+Body.
"When I have people tell me how they're feeling after they take Piloxing, I know I've done my work."
