Twitter
Facebook
StumbleUpon
LinkedIn
Digg
Technorati
Pilates exercise has an amazing ability to be morphed. First there was Yogalates (yoga and Pilates), then Cardiolates (rebounding and Pilates), Aqualates (swimming and Pilates), and Spinnalates (spinning and Pilates). The latest addition to this ever-growing group is Piloxing, a mixture of Pilates and boxing. Though it sounds like a childhood disease, Piloxing is storming into the fitness industry.
Created by Swedish fitness expert Viveca Jensen, Piloxing is geared for women and strives to make them "sleek, sexy, and powerful" all in one workout. The special one-pound gloves are worn for the whole workout and deliver exhausted and toned arms. The powerful moves of a boxer combined with the balance, core control and lengthening aspect of Pilates and dance makes for a slightly kinetic but thorough class.
Celebrities are flocking to Piloxing classes and this is no surprise. It's tough and gets results. But they keep coming back for Viveca. She is vivacious and energetic and is known for watching the form of every single client in her class. The individual attention she gives pays off. Her classes are always full. She genuinely has a lot of fun and that energy feeds off onto her clients. Now there is a Piloxing DVD so you can box, dance and tone at home.
So it's a fun and challenging workout, but is it really a good combination?
The short, harsh movements of boxing (think jab, uppercut) really contradict the long flowing quality of Pilates and dance. Yes, we all wear different hats during the day. As women we need to be simultaneously strong and soft, but do I really want to be punching and shuffling one minute and doing my plies and tendues the next? Is it a great idea or just confusing?
One look at Viveca and you know she walks the walk. She is a contradiction in looks: part boxer, part dancer. But this is exactly what she is striving for. Strong well defined arms and the balance and leanness of a Pilates-doing dancer. She's got it and by the looks of it, her clients got it too. Simply put, Piloxing works. It's a well-rounded, fun class and most of all, it gets the results you want and delivers what it promises.
Susannah Marchese is a personal fitness trainer with FitOrbit.
