By Claire Gendron
This week, I tried some new at-home workouts and found a few I loved. I started to incorporate boxing into my workout schedule this winter and early spring; I loved the environment and energy of the class, and I always felt great after. However, after taking a break when the studio closed, I realized how much I missed that kind of workout. I signed up for Title Boxing Club’s On-Demand membership and started a free, 30-day trial. I did Michael’s Intermediate “Boxing 30” class, which consisted of a cardio warm-up, three boxing rounds, and a core circuit. Although the online classes are shorter, I was able to do this in my room without any equipment, and I was sweating after the warm-up. I thought the instructor was great and, although there were fewer boxing rounds (the in-person ones have 9 to 12 instead of 3), I was pleasantly surprised at how similar it was to the classes I had previously gone to. And I was VERY sore the next day.
I’d also highly recommend @rocamoons Sculpt & Flow. It’s accessible from her Instagram page (divided into two live videos) or on her YouTube channel. This 28-minute workout is slightly more focused on the “sculpt” aspect and only requires light weights. This is a perfect alternative to a traditional yoga class if you’re looking for something a little more upbeat, or if you want something targeted more towards strength/toning. It starts with a warm-up flow and stretch, leading into a quicker-paced flow that incorporates weights and cardio exercises, and ends with an ab circuit. I really liked how smooth the transitions between exercises were, and Mona’s energetic personality made the workout entertaining and enjoyable.
I mentioned the Nike Training Club app last week, and I did their “Head to Toe Meltdown” workout this morning. This workout is slightly longer than the others, averaging around 45 minutes (including the warm-up and cool-down). It’s composed of multiple high intensity, body-weight circuits intended to improve endurance and conditioning. The length of each exercise decreases as the circuit progresses, and there are 2 to 4 exercises in each. It went by a lot quicker than I anticipated since each exercise was 60 seconds or less, and the rest periods were just long enough for me to control my breath without losing momentum. I liked how this one didn’t require any equipment, and I didn’t need much more space than my mat. I broke a good sweat, and I definitely felt like I got a good, full-body workout by the time it was done. I’d recommend this workout to someone who likes quick-paced exercises and would suggest going for a short walk after to let your body cool-down and recover.
