By MARIANNE GOLD

With more than 10 gyms in the Provo area, including four Gold's Gym facilities alone, it's no wonder that the phenomenon of group exercise classes is widely prevalent in Utah County.

Every day in Provo, thousands of people, mostly women, heed the advice of doctors, health professionals and trainers as they don their finest workout gear, lace up their sneakers and head to the gym to fulfill their cardio needs through one of the latest classes in the fitness industry.

Kickboxing is one class in particular that is receiving much attention both on a national level in fitness magazines such as "Shape" and "Fitness", and on the local scene through high attendance in classes offered at Orem and Provo gyms.

"Kickboxing is a really fun way to get cardio in," said avid kickboxer Chanel Wright, a senior from Mesa, AZ. "You feel more powerful as a group, and get energy from everyone else in the room."

Exercise classes typically last 60 minutes, which includes a 10-15 minute warm-up, 45 minute high-intensity workout, with a 5 minute cool down with deep stretching to finalize the exercise.

The general philosophy behind the group exercise classes is why run, walk, bike, or hike in the 90+ degree weather when you can work just as hard and get the same heart-healthy benefits in a cooler, high-energy environment indoors?

"Right now it's just so hot outside, and I'd rather be indoors with the air conditioning," recently-certified Gold's Gym kickboxing instructor Megan Bowen said. "It's easier to work out longer, and I usually feel really exhausted after class. It's just as good, if not better, than anything else."

Turbo Kick is all the rage these days, comprised of various rounds cued up to the latest music, choreographed to include combinations, intense intervals, and specific strength and endurance training.

LA Boxing is one facility in particular which offers classes focusing on the technique and form of boxing, burning more calories than a straight cardio class.

Classes at LA Boxing, located on State Street in Orem, include equipment such as a bag, gloves, jump rope, timer and music.

The classes are claimed to burn upwards of 1,600 calories a session, while specifically toning shoulders and forearms as well.

"In our classes you have to put yourself into shock so your body can start burning more calories," said Danny Abbadi, trainer and professional fighter at LA Boxing.

With running, people become unmotivated and burned out. Boxing is different in that essentially you have a personal trainer the whole session, pushing you to the next level, Abbadi said.

"You can always see yourself improving [in boxing]," Abbadi said. "It's hard to see how great you are if you do work out by yourself. In a boxing class you always feel empowered."

He said a common misperception is that boxing is for men only, when in fact over 60% of the gym's members are women. One of the most frequent results of boxing is that of toning muscle and losing fat, two common goals of many women.

While temperatures are rising outside, now might be a good time to give this intense workout a shot, if nothing else to find out what all the ruckus is about.

Other group exercise classes helping people all over the valley trim up for summer include power pump, which is an hour of low-weight, high-repetition sculpting classes, spin, which includes an intense hour on a stationary bike, and step aerobics. Each of these classes blasts just as many, if not more, calories than standard running and many find them more enjoyable.

"Spinning is less weight-baring on my body so it's not as bad on my knees," rising senior Jessy Bailey from Albuquerque, NM said. "I love running, don't get me wrong, but I'd way rather go to a social class with good music for an hour than go running outside by myself.

Cardio and weights are not the only subjects of group exercise classes at local gyms. There has also been a large push lately for the importance of proper rest and relaxation, especially with the busy lives we college students lead. Luckily, many gyms within a few miles of campus offer yoga and pilates classes to help unwind at the beginning or end of a long day.

Yoga especially has become a common practice for college students dealing with high levels of stress.

"I'm sure they could go without it, but I think it's incredibly beneficial," said Alane Daugherty, a kinesiology professor and yoga instructor at Cal Poly.

According to the American College Health Association's national survey, stress has been the primary reason for students' failure within the past six years. Yoga is an effective way to counterbalance the pressure and find balance in the business of life.

"Yoga is so, so useful for eliminating and cutting down stress," Daugherty said. "If students understood how much it would affect their college career, it would be an important and beneficial thing."

So, whether you are in need of an intense cardio workout or simple relaxing at the close of an especially hard day, don't just drive by the local gym as you mock the "meatheads" silently to yourself, stop and try out a class or two because they might be offering exactly what you need.

Copyright Brigham Young University 2 Jul 2008