Fit Factor: Boxing your way to a fitter you

Have you tried boxing? It seems to be a trend lately to use boxing as a way to get fit and learn how to defend yourself at the same time. It also seems like the once male-dominated sport is building up the reputations of amazing female boxers like Laila Ali. Boxing is making an impact on the fitness world, and many gyms offer boxing classes that range from traditional to aerobic-inspired.

I did kickboxing a few years back, but hadn't though much of it until I went to a boxing circuit class last night. It was tough, but really fun. We started off with running -- alternating between jogging, sprinting, running with our knees up and doing cross-overs with our feet. Then we started boxing with partners (one partner had pads, the other punched) and we would alternate between that and running or doing other cardio activity like jumping jacks. I'm fairly sore today, especially in my arms, but hey, no pain no gain. Plus, it was a blast.

Boxing is a great workout, combining total-body strength with cardio, especially if you do a more aerobically-charged class. The class I took was suited for people of average fitness level -- you didn't need to be a marathon runner to participate, but you needed to be able for run for a bit. Boxing is energetic and fast-paced, so it you're looking to relax or clear your mind, you might want to head to a yoga class instead.

Now it's your turn. Have you taken boxing classes? What did you think? If you haven't, would you try it?