Morning Boxing and PoleFit – step out of your comfort zone

Having been a trainer for many years and focusing mainly on the gym when training my own body, I know how important it is to step out of your comfort zone every now and then and surprise your body with a new training style. In addition, it brings variety and excitement to training. That's why I wanted to challenge myself a little and get out of my comfort zone, so I signed up for Reval's new classes - Morning Boxing and PoleFitSo how did I cope and what emotions did the lessons evoke?

Although I'm more of a morning person and I like to wake up earlier, I prefer to work out during the day or even in the evening. Morning Boxing starts at 8 in the morning... (internal conversation with myself - am I really going to try this workout, it's sooooo early, can I even "get" myself to workout so early?). Okay, pack your bag and let's go try it.

We were greeted in the hall by a smiling and energetic coach, Markko Moisar. The workout started with jumping rope. “Help!!!!” I wanted to scream. I haven’t jumped rope in five years and at first it took a while for my arms and legs to understand how to work together. To my surprise, I was able to jump it for ten minutes with short breaks. Then we took dumbbells and started practicing punches. If you’ve been used to using your right hand all your life, it seems very illogical to start everything with your left hand. It was very difficult for me to understand that all punches start with the left hand and when you kick with your left foot, your left hand provides the momentum and vice versa. Defying the “logic” of my body, I managed to do it with great difficulty. By that moment, my face was already quite beet red and sweat was dripping down my face.

MorningBoxing coach Markko Moisar

In the second half of the training we used a punching bag, which I really liked. I've been secretly interested in it since I was a child. I have to admit that although the punches were enjoyable for me, the kicks were quite painful. In my opinion, there are two possibilities here - either I simply didn't know how to kick technically, or my legs are very, very bony.

In fact, the workout was really awesome overall and wasn't as hard as I feared. It was a bit tiring, but nothing bone-breaking. I would definitely recommend trying this workout, especially for those who think they can't workout in the morning. You can do it, and it feels great when you prove to yourself that you can do things you never thought you could do.

By the evening of the same day and the day after tennis, it was clear that my body had stepped out of its comfort zone and my muscles were a little sore. But this workout gave me energy for several days!

MorningBoxing coach Markko Moisar

Another exercise that has actually caught my eye for quite some time is pole dance or PoleFit. Well, who wouldn't love to watch those bodies move around the pole. Simply wonderful and enviable. I booked a place for a class with Coach Ruth Rauba and I'm excited. The only thing that made me a little skeptical is that my hands always start sweating like crazy during training and how I'm going to stay on the pole. I talked to the coach and he recommended liquid magnesium to help me stay on the pole. Professional dancers also use it to strengthen their grip, because even though this pole dance looks very graceful and flowing, it's actually a decent workout that requires effort from the whole body.

PoleFit trainer Ruth Rauba

PoleFit class starts with a warm-up to get the muscles and joints moving properly. It turns out that my hypermobility and false ballerina legs come in handy in this workout, because in order to look beautiful on the pole, you need to stretch yourself long. The first exercise was climbing up the pole, which didn't turn out to be very difficult for me. The only thing that bothered me a little while doing this exercise was that the pole was spinning too fast. But the trainer helped me tighten the threads of the pole more, and then I was able to move on to more complex elements.

Then we started practicing the elements of sitting on the pole. Just one word – AIII. There’s no denying it, it was painful. If you’ve never done anything like this before, your skin will get tender pretty quickly. While I was still able to sit on the pole, it seemed impossible to let go of my hands from the pole while sitting. Okay, so I pulled myself together again and after several attempts I managed it! I looked at myself in the mirror and felt a slight sense of pride in myself.

After the “sitting break”, my thighs were already quite sore and I was sure that tomorrow I would find one or more bruises on my legs. Fortunately, the training plan is structured in such a way that after practicing elements with a load directed at the legs, the focus is on the arms and this way you can give the sore spots a little rest. Next, we did a position like Martini. In the Martini position, it is very important that the buttocks rest against the pole. In theory, I understand, but in practice – well, it doesn’t work. Cry or laugh, it doesn’t work, but if the buttocks don’t rest against the pole, you can’t let go of your hands. After a long struggle with both legs, I finally got my buttocks against the pole and into the position.

Me on the left and coach Ruth Rauba on the right

As you can see from the picture, the stretch was still pretty bad the first time. And I really wanted to improve my position, but by the time I took the picture, my kneecaps had already called it quits.. It's okay, not everything has to be perfect the first time. What counts is the performance. As the cherry on the cake, we also tried to combine climbing and sitting on the pole, and as if one more day of self-improvement wasn't enough, I managed to do that too. It felt pretty good.

The PoleFit workout was a pretty big challenge for me, and my whole body showed it the next day. My ribs were sore, my abs were sore, and as I had already guessed, I had small bruises on my thighs and kneecaps. But the workout itself was so awesome and so energizing that it was totally worth it. If you're having doubts and thinking that you don't know if you'll dare to try it, go for it. Not everything may come out perfect the first time, but those who practice will succeed. Every subsequent workout comes out better. Anyway, I definitely want to go to PoleFit again! Finally, a little tip and recommendation for all those who have a navel wrinkle – just as long-distance runners patch their nipples before a marathon, you could do the same with your navel wrinkle before a PoleFit workout. Put on a patch and (post)dance!