All the rage at fitness centers around the country, this workout borrows moves from the Thai sport of kickboxing to make participants work up a sweat. A typical hour-long class will take place in the center’s aerobics studio. With everyone facing the mirror, a teacher leads the group through specific punches and kicks, usually to the beat of dance-club music.
The moves are worked into swiftly executed combinations (for example: jab, cross punch, hook, uppercut, front kick). Some teachers mix in a few minutes of jumping rope (often as a warm-up) and conditioning drills reminiscent of high-school gym class (jumping jacks, sideways scooting steps).
What are the benefits?
Although it may seem as if every new exercise trend is hailed as “a full-body workout,” these classes can come pretty close. If you do the punches with
