At Your Beat the dance company based in London, run a lot of classes for people who want to get into dance and get fit at the same time. They have recently opened a new pop-up studio at White Space in Leicester square with classes running every Saturday and Sunday, from 9am till 10pm. A lot of their popular classes are on the schedule, including Boxbeat.
So what exactly is Boxbeat? According to AYB, this high-intensity full body workout consists of non-stop rhythmic cardio combined with boxing elements and it will send your feel-good endorphins soaring!
I went along to see if I could really get my sweat on and actually enjoy it. I have to say, I didn’t really know what to expect out of the class. I’ve never been a dancer, so I was feeling a little self conscious and nervous. I arrived at the studio on a Sunday afternoon, a bag of nerves but fully ready to throw myself into the mix.
The lovely receptionist handed me a pair of wraps for my hands and before I could talk myself out of doing this, it was go time.
Our instructor, the lovely Vivien turned the music up and it was time to move. It was high energy from the beginning, lots of travelling combos, punches and kicks. The intensity stayed consistent, with relief coming in the form of a squat or plank. I never in a million years thought I’d be happy to do a plank, but after the circuits Vivien put us through, I most certainly was.
There is something about this class that was quite motivating and liberating at the same time. The music is high energy and keeps you going. You are working out to some upbeat music with the incorporated dance moves so you feel like you’re learning some moves you could show off on the dance floor on a Friday night. You have floor to ceiling mirrors in front of you so you can see yourself and also correct your form for some of the moves.
Vivien had a great energy throughout and I’ve got to say it was quite infectious.
As fun as it all was, I really felt like I got a full balanced body workout. We switched from kicks, jabs and punches to work the upper body, to squats and lunges for the lower body then finished off with some planks, pushups and situps. Every single part of the body got worked. At the end of the session, we had a very sexy dance inspired cooldown that had me feeling myself and thinking I was Beyonce. Ther was a lot of swaying and hip dips, that were a welcome relief after all that intensity.
I really enjoyed all the goodies the studio has all around for guests to help themselves to. From Moma, Primal Pantry bars to Rosemary water, there were a lot of healthy snacks available. I especially loved the Rosemary water to rehydrate with afterwards.
Feeling fab after a sweaty session!
Can’t leave a workout without a sweaty selfie!
All the exciting goodies including Primal Pantry bars, Moma and Rosemary Water.
Biggest Takeaway
As challenging as it was, this was also the most fun I’ve had in a long time. I felt so empowered from being in a room with some awesome ladies who are just there to work on themselves.
I caught up with Vivien after class to get her input on why she thinks Boxbeat is such a great workout.
“Our entire ethos here at AYB is about movement and doing what feels good. Our workouts cater to all levels, from beginners to advanced.
We are 100% zero judgement or competition. It’s about connecting with yourself, feeling the movement and letting your body do what it does naturally. We want you to have sweat in the most fun way and know that everything starts with how you feel. If you are in the zone and having a good time, your body and mind benefit from it.”
This is the type of class you partake in if your ready to learn some fun moves whilst also being pushed a little bit past your comfort zone. My one piece of advise would be to listen to your body and don’t be afraid to stop, modify some moves and take a little breather inbetween if you need to.
There were a couple of times I had to do the modified plank on my knees or stop a little longer to catch my breath.
Final Thoughts
You will definitely feel the effects of this one the next day, so I’d say make sure you fuel your body properly afterwards and maybe treat yourself to a nice relaxing bath before bed.
Overall, I highly recommend this one. I say come as you are, do what you can, just move and enjoy yourself. Will I be going back for more? The answer is 100% heck yes.
More Information
Who’s it for: Anyone with an open mind and a willingness to move
Where is it: White Space, Leicester Square
When: Every Saturday and Sunday
How much: Single classes from £10
Website: www.atyourbeat.com
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