10 Benefits to Kickboxing

If you’ve ever wanted to try kickboxing, but you didn’t because you thought it was for professional looking athletes, ripped men, and super strong women, then this blog is for you. You don’t have to be a world class athlete to take up kickboxing. You just have to be willing to try something new and be willing to learn. Those kickboxing experts had to start somewhere, too, right? People of all athletic abilities can benefit from this martial arts inspired workout. Tell the instructor it’s your first class so he or she can give you pointers to help you do your best. You don’t have to be able to throw a perfect punch to try it. In fact, you may learn how to throw a good punch. And, it’s done indoors, so you don’t have to worry about Florida weather getting in the way of your workout.

Still on the fence about trying kickboxing? These 10 benefits may put you over the edge and have you signing up for your first class today!

10 Benefits to Kickboxing

1. Improved muscle tone

    

   Kickboxing tones both your upper and lower body, as well as your core, through punching and kicking the bag.Each time you take a class you will feel stronger.

2. Increased flexibility

   Before starting kickboxing class, stretch for 15 minutes. Not only will this stretching warm up your muscles and improve your flexibility, but the high kicking will also build flexibility, too.

3. Better circulation

   Kickboxing will definitely get your heart rate up. When your heart beats faster, your blood is pumped quicker throughout your body, which increases circulation.

4. Stress Relief

   Have you ever been so stressed that you wanted to hit something? Kickboxing may be the workout for you! Residual stress and anger can be put to good use by punching and kicking the bag, leaving you feeling less stressed and stronger.

5. Full body workout

   Some fitness classes focus on either cardio (think aerobics) or strength training (thing weights). But, kickboxing combines both cardiovascular exercise with resistance training, giving you a full body workout all at the same time.

6. Self Defense

   Kickboxing can teach you tips for self defense. Not only can you learn useful strategies for punching and kicking, but your confidence level will increase as you become stronger.

7. Increase Heart Rate

   Getting your heart rate up during exercise is how you burn fat and calories. Kickboxing is a great exercise to increase your heart rate.

8. Improve balance

   Kicking a bag with one leg while the other is planted firmly on the floor is a great way to strengthen muscles and improve balance and coordination. As your balance improves, you will be able to kick harder and harder.

9. Lose weight

   During a one hour kickboxing workout, you can burn anywhere from 350 to 450 calories. That’s a huge benefit for bariatric patients trying to lose weight after gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, and lap band patients.

10. It’s Fun!

    People love kickboxing mostly because it’s fun. Music will be pumping, you will be punching. It’s a high energy workout that you can do with your significant other (or even the whole family), get stronger, relieve stress, get fit, and lose weight. What could be more fun than that?

The above is offered by Dr. Shillingford, M.D., P.A., a board certified surgeon specializing in advanced laparoscopic and obesity surgery. Dr. Shillingford encourages his gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, and adjustable lap band patients to include exercise into their post bariatric surgery lifestyle. Exercise is key to weight loss, but also for cardiovascular health, mental health, improvements in blood sugar levels, improved sleep habits, and energy levels. Dr. Shillingford’s gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, and lap band patients come from all over Florida, including Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Wellington, Miami, Orlando, Jacksonville, and even as far away as New York, Texas, and Hawaii.