If the punching bag swings, you need to work on your 'snap back'

Had an interesting last 48 hours filled with many surprises, some of which took their toll. Instead of sitting before this what can so quickly become a ball and chain machine, T pulled me out to the gym. For those of you who live here, you know that this is my coach, Chris. I know: He’s hot. So is his wife, Dana, so back off. (She’s also the kind of woman you want to have among your roster of ‘the girls’.)

They taught me how to throw a punch, properly shadow box, cross skip and do ‘burpies’ (a form of push up that will kill you, if you’re not careful). I was a quick study and I own my own speed-bag because that’s how much I love the workout. For the record, this is not a variation of boxing, but rather the real thing. Watch their workout videos and you’ll understand this isn’t for pansies.

Because of the amount of traveling I’ve done this past year, I wasn’t capable of completing even one session, and so simply stopped. My body is still pissed off with me for making such a decision. With school, I will not be traveling and so I am back at WBK come January.

Tonight was a night I needed the heavy weight bag and it is amazing what can happen to your mind when your body pushes itself to a point of extreme. I will pay it forward for the next three or four days, but I had to do it or risk implosion. By the time I stepped back, a near two hours later, it looked as though I’d stepped into the shower with my clothes on. It's excellent and a little surprising that I lasted two hours, but had to listen when my body told me it was about to give out; I would have thrown up had I pushed myself one millimeter more. It was exactly what I needed; ringing the sweat from my clothes my reward. T stood back and let me ‘run with it’ and then made me hot chocolate.

If you’ve never visited with a punching bag or a skipping rope or a speed bag, I strongly recommend it. It may very well be the best thing your mind and body will meet. Not to mention the fact that it will rip your abs, ass, back and arms to shreds. As a woman, it develops curves in your body the likes of which you’ve never seen. And Chris and Dana would want me to also mention that it heightens your focus and confidence (which it really does…).