If you have found this article, then this is a sign that you should try something new this week! Shake up your usual workout routine and take a new class - how about women’s boxing? Female boxing classes are an amazing opportunity to meet new people, work on your fitness level, and also enjoy additional benefits such as improving agility, speed, and coordination. With classes that focus on overall fitness and skill, not just punching, you don’t need to be the aggressive self-defence type to get the most out of this sport.
So, grab your Lazuli Leggings, pack a sports bra, fill your water bottle, and head down to your nearest boxing gym to take your first women’s boxing starter class.
What is Female Boxing?
Boxing is a very popular sport for both men and women, with a history dating back to the 1800s despite numerous countries banning it for women. As of 2012, it has been an Olympic sport and its popularity has only grown, with gyms offering classes just for women across the UK and USA.
In a female boxing class, you will burn a lot of calories and tone all your muscle groups, not just your arms. Rather than jumping straight into the ring (although if that’s your goal, you can certainly train for it), you will work on exercises that build core strength, agility, and coordination.
In boxing, it’s not just about learning to punch the hardest. To box, you also need the stamina to last numerous rounds, intense focus on your opponent, quick reflexes to dodge blows, and general body strength to both give and receive punches. Even if you never step into the ring, boxing classes will train you in all these areas.
Ultimately, women’s boxing hits cardio, strength training, stamina and agility all in one go.
4 Great Reasons to Take Women’s Boxing Classes
Women’s boxing classes should be a safe space to work on your fitness levels. You can find classes available for different abilities and strength levels, and possibly even body weights. No matter what class you choose to take, these are the key advantages of jumping in.
1. Confidence and Achievement
Like with all self-defence classes, the skills you will learn when practising female boxing can help to boost your confidence in the wider world. Strength goes a long way, but with training in agility and stamina, as well as predicting an opponent's moves, you will feel a lot more confident in your ability to defend yourself outside the gym.
There is also a great sense of achievement when you master the boxing exercises that are taught in your class. Plus an even greater sense of achievement if you decide to enter the ring and face another boxer.
2. Improve Coordination
When we hit the gym, we usually focus on one area of the body at a time, whether it’s leg day, core day, or time to work on those glutes. Boxing exercises, however, train you to use your entire body simultaneously.
Footwork is an important part of boxing. Training with side steps, lunges, bobbing and weaving, keeps you on your toes and thinking about your feet. At the same time, your arms are engaged to defend or throw punches.
Boxing also trains you to keep your core tight and engaged. Altogether, this trains your body to move as one coordinated muscle group. And of course, you will be working on your reflexes too.
3. Work on Speed and Agility
Rather than standing static while you lift weights, or running on a treadmill as fast as you can, boxing combines both. This allows you to stay strong while moving and, again, trains your whole body.
Agility is also something that boxing teaches as well as flexibility. Sure, it’s not going to be as stretchy as a yoga retreat, but it will still teach you to move your body around, dodging blows and finding the right position to strike.
You won’t end up as slow and large as a heavyweight boxer and you will still fit into your flattering Lazuli activewear!
4. Increase Stamina
You aren’t just working to punch harder but defend and attack for longer. Boxing exercises are designed to increase your stamina and you will likely find that you are on your feet, working out hard for the full 30-minute female boxing session.
Increasing your stamina can help you with running, yoga, and any other type of workout you do between boxing classes. Stamina and focus are key to boxing well and are so applicable to many other areas of everyday life.
Remember to stay hydrated and eat a post-workout snack to keep your energy up! We recommend a mix of complex carbs and proteins to help replenish energy and build core strength.
5. Whole-Body Workout
Finally, the last great benefit of taking a boxing class is that it naturally tones up your entire body from your head to your toes. You will be focusing on correct form and maintaining strength and integrity as you work out. Keeping your core tight, engaging your thighs as you move, keeping your arms up and punching strong - it hits every muscle group.
Cardio is also part of a boxing fitness class, whether it is a classic jump rope exercise or a circuit designed by the boxing instructor. Don’t underestimate just how many calories you will burn during a class - female boxing is high-intensity!
If you enjoy women’s boxing classes or just want to show off your workout in Lazuli Label activewear, we would love to see your photos and videos on TikTok and Instagram.