• Beginners are welcome (and by beginners I mean people like myself who have never even strapped on a pair of boxing gloves in their lives)

• All the equipment you need is provided (gloves, etc.)- That said I would highly recommend buying your own pair of hand wraps.

• If you have never wrapped your hands before ask for some help – trust me you don’t want to not have your hands protected properly

• The 1hour and 15 minute boxing class is an intense workout which will leave you dripping with sweat

• The class includes a lot of skipping rope intervals which may be painful but are definitely a good cardio workout

• Arm and leg strengthening exercises are included in this workout

• You will get to do some bagwork which is great for working out some frustrations

• The classes I have taken have great music

• To get the full Center Ring experience take a class with the owner, Wayne Bourque, who is a former Canadian champion

• It truly is an all round good workout

Boxing classes are offered daily at Centre Ring throughout the week, so check out their website for more details. Cost is around $20 for the class and you go drop-in. I have taken a number of Saturday classes there and each time I go I wish I went more often. Would probably help me get rid of some frustrations!

I often find that when I start dating someone I end up eating more. I think this has something to do with a lot of dates being centred around food and us going out to dinner which in turn leads to less time for working out. So, sometimes I like to mix things up by doing some fitness-y type dates that allow me to spend time with the person I’m with and fit in some exercise. 

What could you do in Toronto?

1. Take a boxing class at Centre Ring in Davisville — the 60 minute boxing classes are intense and accessible for all fitness levels. The classes include a cardio warm up, strengthening exercises and bag work. I would advise that first dates don’t attempt this class as who really wants to go head to head on a punchbag on the first date? Much better for couples who have been together for a while.
    
2. Rent a pair of bicycles at CyclePath Toronto and head over to the Don Valley Trail for a bike ride which ends up in a romantic picnic. Recommended picnic park: Edward Gardens. 
    
3. Show off your silly side and do something that probably none of your friends have ever done by taking a flying trapeze drop-in class at the Toronto School of Circus Arts. Classes are around $25 per person.
    
4. Register for a learn to climb package at Rock Oasis on Bathurst and Front Street. You’ll get a good workout and learn how to build trust with your partner.
    
5. And finally because I am a runner at heart I would suggest that you and your significant other sign up for a running clinic and train for a race together! You’ll get to spend a lot of time together working towards a common goal and spend time together.

When encountering martial arts, most people think of karate or taekwondo, where boys and girls proudly sport their white gis and colourful belts. Or they’ll remember their favourite Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan or Jet Li movie (Chuck Norris and Jean Claude Van Damme will also suffice).What they might not realize though is that martial arts are an excellent way to get into great shape and ultimately live a better life.

That was the main reason why over the last year and a half I’ve been training in Muay Thai, a combative martial art known as “The Art of Eight Limbs.” Also called Thai Kickboxing, Muay Thai practitioners use their hands, elbows, shins and knees as their weapons. If you saw the movie Ong Bak, you have a good idea of how devastating Muay Thai can be!

I train at Old School Muay Thai and we recently moved to a new location near Richmond and Duncan. While some of us want to try out our skills in the ring, the fitness benefits of Muay Thai are undeniable. Here’s a sample workout that I recently did:

• 30 minute run, about 5 km
• 10 minutes of skipping rope, with 15-second intervals of speed rope every 45 to 90 seconds
• 5 minute stretch, from head to toes
• 45 minutes of plyometric and calisthenic exercises, including:
  • 80 pushups
  • 120 situps/crunches/ab workouts
  • 80 squats and lunges
  • jumping jacks, knee tucks, bunny hops, burpees etc.
• 10 minutes of shadow boxing
• 40 minutes of hitting pads, bags, sparring and other technique exercises

Using a quick online calculator, that workout apparently puts me at a total of about 1500 calories burned… and I try to train at least 3-4 times a week. It’s pretty common knowledge that dedication to any fitness regiment will garner results in time, but I was still pretty amazed to see my belly shrink, extra fat disappear, increased endurance and better muscle definition. I know I’ve got a ways to go before eliminating the beer belly I so diligently worked on during my college years, but I’m confident that Muay Thai will help me do it.

Our gym is great for all skill levels, and particularly for beginners. There are a number of senior students (myself included!) who will help tune your technique and provide motivation during the grueling exercises. We have an all beginners class on Tuesday evenings, while Mondays and Wednesdays are mixed classes. Check out the website for the full schedule

One final word: don’t be intimidated! The first time I tried out Muay Thai, my entire body was sore for a couple days, but I knew I needed more. I get an adrenaline rush every class, and there’s something very satisfying about hitting a punching bag… especially after a long and stressful day in the office!

This entry was written by a friend and former colleague of mine.

If you have any specific questions for him please contact him at:

@deependzen (Twitter)