Tonight I signed up for a 10 week intensive kick-boxing course at this totally hardcore gym whose commercials have always terrified me. Trainers screaming into the camera: “ARE YOU READY TO WORK?” etc. But I am so so ready for this, ready for SOMEthing anyway – I had my orientation tonight, and I loved the vibe of the gym. It’s bare bones, with boxing bags hanging everywhere, cement ceilings, nothing aesthetic or soft – and I don’t know … it appealed to me. It appealed way more than the elliptical, I’ll tell you that. I also saw a man punching a bag who could conceivably be my future husband. A blurpy boxer? Wearing a red bandana round his head? Bring it on. I meet with my trainer on Wednesday night to set up my program, based on my age, weight, body fat, whatever … and then it will begin.
Scared! Psyched!
Dear God, what HAVE you done??
Kick-boxing Sheila. Can’t wait to hear about THIS.
I bought gloves, I’m ready. I had to get on a scale in front of one of those scary guys in the commercial, and face the music. But it’s that fear of embarrassment sometimes that keeps me from really pushing myself, or committing to something unknown and scary. i watched a class and it looks HARD but it looks like a tooootal blast. Guys, girls, there was a wee pregnant woman punching a bag, there was an old guy kicking his bag … it was a good mix. But lots of great bodies, too – to motivate me.
I’m doing it with a friend of mine so we can really support each other.
ahhhhhhh!!!!!
You were just desperate for some non-Dean blog fodder, weren’t you.
Paul
I promise it will be one of the funnest choices of your life. The great thing about kickboxing (among other fighting sports…ahem) is that the violence is in no way gratuitious. It is necessary. Kick ass, Sheila. I know you will.
Okay, I thought “gratuitious” was a word. Flog me now.
you rock girl!!!
This is genius.
GENIUS!
I think you’ll have a blast! Kickboxing is an excellent work out. And way more fun than an elliptical. See you this weekend! :)
Aah, Christ. Now I have a friend who is a black belt and another who is a freakin’ KICKBOXER!! I’m a freaking kindergarten teacher! How will I defend myself against you two??!!?!?
I promise not to give you a disease by round-housing you in the ass. I promise!!
Maybe you like the gym because it gives off some kind of “Rocky” vibe?
I’ve toyed with the idea of kickboxing…my university used to offer an aqua-kickboxing class, which just sounded too cool for me (unfortunately the time conflicted with a class-time for me, then the teacher left). (Aqua kickboxing…I suppose some people will scoff at that, but you never know when you might need to beat up a shark or a frogman).
I had a friend who took kickboxing when we were in grad school – she really got into fantastic shape from the class. And she could kick the ass of anyone who disagreed with her thesis.
Thanks, Sheila. You’re a true friend! Ha ha!!!
Awesome. I think you’re going to find bag work to be fantastically fun and stress-relieving.
Good luck training, and have a great time! Remember – pain is just weakness leaving the body! ;-)
ricki – wow, aqua kickboxing!! Sounds like so much fun!
I think I did like the gym because it had a no-fussiness to it. A Rocky-esque vibe, indeed. Just a bunch of people kicking the SHIT out of their bags … with the trainer shouting, blowing the whistle, giving orders … it really appealed to me.
But it didn’t feel like a body builder’s gym – which is too intimidating for me right now. There were all body types in the class I watched and that works for me.
Dan –
I think having a trainer is going to be key for me. Because I know I would stop before I needed to stop … or I would THINK I was pushing myself to the limit … but the trainer is there to say, “One more round …” or whatever.
I used to be a good trainer for myself in my years when I was running. I always was able to push myself another mile – one more mile, one more mile … but I’m so out of that mode now, I need a good kick in the ass from someone who knows what he or she is doing.
How cool is that? Congratulations on making yourself do it! Hell, you might even inspire me to get off my arse and start working out.
;-)
Sheila! This is so awesome….can’t wait to hear all about it….I think it’s going to be a perfect physical outlet for you! Did you ever wind up watching Napoleon Dynamite in its entirety? There is hilarious scene where Napoleon’s brother demands that Napoleon “tow” him into town (Napoleon on a bike, the brother trailing behind on a rope on his skateborad) to attend an orientation/trial class with a kickboxer (Rex)he saw on TV commercials. The kickboxer dude is hilarious…screaming motivational insults at a class of meek, eager beavers. he is wearing these parachute pants with an American flag pattern (“Take a look at what I’m wearing, people. Do you think anybody wants a roundhouse kick to the face…while I’m wearin’these bad boys?”)
and there is a big picture of his masculine-looking buffed out wife, Starla, on the wall(“Do you think anyone thinks I’m a failure when I go home to Starla at night”). It’s a priceless scene…..
That’s it, Allison–first, there was Rex-Kwan-Do; get ready for RED-Kwan-Do!
Red-Qwan-Do…hahahahahah. That is hsyterical…wish I’d thought of it.