Get fit and have fun with piloxing

What is Piloxing?

CENTERVILLE — An enjoyable cardio workout can be a tall order.

“We all need to do cardio but, for most people, it’s their least favorite form of exercise,” said Kathy Anderson of My Pilates Studio. “People are looking for something that will give them cardio benefits without the pounding their body takes running.”

Anderson can relate. A longtime dancer and fitness enthusiast, there are few types of exercise that the 60-year-old hasn’t tried herself.

“I have an elliptical looking at me right now, but I’m just not motivated because it’s not fun.”

Cardio benefits run the gamut from burning calories to boosting productivity and increasing energy to improving heart health.

For those looking to burn fat, build muscle and have fun doing it, Anderson recently introduced Piloxing at her Centerville fitness studio. Think Pilates meets boxing and add in some dance.

Intrigued?

Piloxing basics

Piloxing was developed by a former professional dancer and master Pilates instructor Viveca Jensen who founded the Piloxing Academy in Los Angeles in 2009. The program has since traveled the globe as there are now trained instructors across the country and around the world.

Piloxing was designed to burn maximum calories, build lean muscle and increase stamina by blending Pilates, boxing and dance — each already popular fitness trends individually.

According to the Pilates Foundation, an estimated 12 million people worldwide practice Pilates, an exercise method designed to elongate, strengthen and restore the body to balance. Likewise, boxing, kickboxing and Tae Bo have many enthusiasts. And fitness dance programs like Zumba and Jazzercise have a strong following. But, how do you combine all three?

“Pilates is a kinder, gentler way to move the body so, at first, it might not seem like a fit,” Anderson said. “But it’s not kickboxing, it’s working out with weighted gloves, which provides a good upper body workout and gets the heart pumping.”

The upbeat music and integration of dance add some fun to the one-hour workout.

“And you don’t need to be a dancer to take the class,” Anderson said. “We just know that dance movement works. Anybody can do it.”

Something for everyone

It wasn’t long after taking her first Piloxing class that Melissa Vance was posting via social media that she had “found her new favorite class.”

The 47-year-old Centerville woman had found a good fit with the new class.

“It definitely has what I need from a cardio aspect,” Vance said. “I was having fun and accomplishing something.”

Breaking a sweat is a given, but the fat burning paired with toning is well worth the effort and, even, the soreness according to Vance.

“My metabolism has slowed down a little as I’ve gotten older so I need a cardio component,” she said. “But I’ve never been a runner and when I’ve gone to the gym and gotten on the treadmill or elliptical, I always feel like I’m looking at my watch — I can’t wait till I’m done.”

And despite having had neck surgery and being bothered by a torn meniscus, Vance had no problems with Piloxing.

“I didn’t have anything I needed to modify,” she said.

If modifications do need to be made, that isn’t a problem.

“Some of the movements can be challenging, but we can make it work for all of our clients,” Anderson said. “A lot of it is in the presentation and the expertise of the instructor.”

Anderson speaks from experience as she has, likewise, been plagued by some nagging injuries.

“I loved Zumba but, as fun as it was, I realized I couldn’t do it and have a healthy body,” she said. “I like the way with this that I can stay fit, have fun and not hurt myself.”

My Pilates Studio in Centerville (http://mypilatesstudiodayton.com) is one of several Miami Valley fitness facilities that offers Piloxing. For a list of Piloxing instructors by state visit http://piloxing.com.