First the left leg goes in, then back out, then in again. To begin with, it feels easy, much like doing the Hokey Pokey. But five minutes later, I learn that’s just the warm-up. The actual workout commences and the class starts throwing punches: jab, hook, upper cut. I try to channel my inner Bruce Lee, but here it’s just straight punches. “You don’t have to twist your forearms. Keep a neutral wrist,” corrects Mahek Shah, a certified Piloxing trainer from Mumbai. We are at an introductory Piloxing session at Phoenix MarketCity, where a bunch of enthusiasts gather to give this new workout a shot.
Conceptualised by LA-based Viveca Jensen in 2009, Piloxing is a mix of Pilates, boxing and dancing. “It is a fusion fitness programme that delivers a full-body workout, and helps in torching calories, sculpting lean muscles and increasing flexibility,” says Jensen, who practises the original SSP format. All the movements, done in interval-training format, ensure you do enough squats, lunges, leg lifts (while balancing on the opposite leg) to make your legs feel like jelly.
Practised in around 92 countries, it’s got the attention of Hollywood celebrities such as Hilary Duff, Ashley Tisdale, Kirsten Dunst, amongst others. Piloxing came to India in 2015, and now has classes being offered in Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Pune, Delhi and Chennai. It’s done barefoot for better balance and for biofeedback: your feet have so many nerve endings that communicate directly with your brain to help you adjust the way you use your feet. The only equipment required is a pair of weighted Piloxing gloves, each 250 grams. The music in the class is fast-paced and includes EDM and a mix of English and Bollywood chartbusters. “It plays continuously for an hour and we follow a BPM (beats per minute) of 140-145,” says Shah.
Jensen, who has been practising Piloxing for eight years, recommends taking classes two to three times a week. There’s no rule against doing it five times a week, if you are used to some amount of cardio and weight training. The initial hurdles include getting the various exercises right. “The flat back stand in Pilates and staggered stance in boxing are what beginners tend to take time perfecting. Even while punching, they tend to extend their elbows fully. They should be extended 99%,” adds Shah. The small variance can be the difference between a fat-burning session and one that results in an injury. The 45 -minute class is a mix of cardio and strength training, so there’s both calorie burning and muscle building. And even if it’s done at a slow pace, the good thing is it can help you with balance and posture, much like dance does. Plus, you’ll pick up a few dance moves, and we ain’t saying no to that.
(Piloxing classes take place at the following venues in the city — Fitness Paradise, Mylapore, Dimensions Fitness, Alwarpet and WFC, Ashok Nagar.)
