Since watching Adriana Lima’s interview on the 2011 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show I’ve been extremely intrigued by her cardio workout of choice: kickboxing.
The supermodel’s found that boxing keeps her body and mind guessing and that there’s something new to learn everyday. According to her feature in Style News, Lima said it’s the best workout you can do and you build up muscles without getting too big. She says you just get lean.
Usually, as women, we think of kickboxing as a sport for man, but in reality it is an amazing workout for us. Kickboxing will firm your butt, give you a smaller waist, toned arms, and a leaner body.
According to an article on livestrong.com kickboxing has an immense amount of health benefits for women both physically and mentally.
The American Fitness Professional and Associates (AFPA) found that kickboxing is a total-body exercise. This means that instead of isolating and working out only certain muscles in your body, your entire body is benefited. The article says “Kickboxing allows for women to strengthen, tone and reduce fat all at the same time.”
AFPA’s website tells us that kickboxing combines an aerobic workout with resistance training. Instead of just running or just lifting weights, you are getting the benefit of both at the same time.
Through total body workouts women increase flexibility, burn calories and improve coordination. Kickboxing also serves as a means of self-defense. Classes often teach kicks, punches, knee-ups and bobbing and weaving, which women may use if ever in need of self-defense.
Mentally, women benefit from kickboxing because it is a form of stress relief. During kickboxing endorphins are released that relieve pain and decrease depression, according to the AFPA.
AFPA’s website also tells us that kickboxing boosts confidence and self-esteem. Overall, exercise helps make you feel better physically but the combination of learning a new sport also makes you feel better mentally. When you learn a new activity and become proficient in it, the confidence can roll over into your social life and your profession.
If any of this has intrigued you AZ Combat Sports offers classes for women in the Phoenix area. If you take classes you can learn the basics and carry on own your own at the gym to keep strengthening your body.
