Power Up with Piloxing
Celebrity-favorite workout combines boxing and Pilates
Click the photo to read in the zMag.
A group of barefoot women, each wearing pink fingerless gloves, starts moving back and forth in time to the music, reaching and bending their arms and legs to stretch.
Soon, the group transitions into several fast-paced punches before again slowing down into a plié-style move.
Welcome to Piloxing, a workout designed by celebrity trainer Viveca Jensen. Piloxing combines Pilates and boxing into a fast-paced, calorie-busting workout, says Natalie Smiley, owner of N’Spire Fitness and Dance, who first brought Piloxing to Indy last November.
“It blends the power, speed and agility of boxing with the sculpting and flexibility of Pilates, along with some fun and sexy dance moves,” says Smiley, who teaches Piloxing at Indy Dance Academy.
A favorite of celebrities like Vanessa Hudgens, Alexis Bledel and Hilary Duff, Piloxing is available at the Indy Dance Academy at 96th and Meridian streets and 15 to Fit Pilates Studio at 5168 E. 65th St.
Piloxing basics
Piloxing classes are an hour long, with the first 45 minutes devoted to boxing and Pilates moves.
“After you warm up, we go right into the boxing,” Smiley explains. “It’s not kickboxing. It’s all upper body when it comes to the boxing blocks: jabs, punching, twisting the body. You’re getting low and being powerful with movements.”
After a set of boxing moves, the class transitions into a set of slower-paced core-strengthening Pilates moves.
“With the Pilates segments, they’re mostly done on one leg,” Smiley says. “You’re really forced to challenge your balance, and therefore over time, you strengthen your stability.”
A brief cool-down in between the segments can include hip-swaying dance moves, jump-rope movements or jumping jacks.
During the boxing and Pilates portion, class members wear half-pound weighted gloves.
“The weight is on the back of the hand,” Smiley says. “It creates nice resistance on the end of your arm.”
The final 15 minutes are done on a floor mat.
“That’s where we concentrate on the butt and abs and a cool-down period,” Smiley says.
Coming back for more
Patrea Aeschliman, owner of 15 to Fit Pilates Studio, says she likes Piloxing because it helps build strength without the bulk.
“It gets you sweating,” she says. “You get the benefits of Pilates, but you also get cardio. I like that you leave stretched out.”
Smiley says class members mostly have reported improved balance and strength.
“People say they’ve gained a lot of balance and flexibility they think they’ve lost,” she says. “They have better posture.”
Participants also say they gain strength in their feet because Piloxing is done barefoot, Smiley adds. “Strength in the feet is the foundation of the body,” she says. “Everything will follow suit.”
Indianapolis resident Sue MacGill has taken part in Smiley’s Piloxing classes since December.
“It’s a good combination of isometrics and aerobics,” she says. “It’s aerobics, balance… the music helps for sure. When you’re older, you want flexibility and balance.”
Carmel resident Lori Adams, also a Piloxing participant since December, says her plantar fasciitis is gone because of Piloxing.
She also likes the use of gloves.
“It’s not heavy weights, but there’s still resistance,” Adams says.
Info: Take a look at these site for local Piloxing information.
W: Piloxing.com
W: N-Spire.org
W: 15toFit.com
