Boxing is the new fitness trend that has people kicking and punching in gyms across New York City. With boxing studios popping up more than ever, how do you choose the one that works for you? Whether you care more about budget, the space, or the perks, these gyms will guarantee you get your sweat on.
DogPound
Gym
If you spend equal time reading celebrity news and squatting, you’ll recognize DogPound as the preferred gym of many Victoria’s Secret and runway models. Get runway-ready yourself at an hour-long class packed with jump-roping, punches, and drills.
From bag work to stretches, iLoveKickboxing.com packs a lot into its 60-minute kickboxing class, welcoming all levels and also covering nutrition tips. Need another reason to join? iLoveKickboxing pairs first-timers with a personal trainer who coaches them throughout the class.
At $26 a class, Work Train Fight, or WTF for short, is one of New York City’s best, brawniest deals. Choose from private, semi-private, or group classes at this approachable (WTF enforces a “strict no-asshole policy”) gym. More perks: free gloves and towels.
With its neon signage and graffitied walls, Overthrow Boxing resembles a punk bar more than a popular boxing gym. Don’t be fooled by the gritty exterior though: after shadowboxing and bag-punching in the 45-minute Boxing Burnout Class, fighters can refresh with Malin + Goetz bath products in Overthrow’s restrooms.
Let New York City’s feisty energy fuel you at the aptly-named Everybody Fights. The gym’s “BAGS” classes, whose variations center on everything from technique to kickboxing to music, challenge your inner fighter to 50 minutes of boxing combos. Stay in fighting shape between classes by utilizing Everybody Fights’ gym equipment before and after sessions.
Find your balance at Box + Flow, a gym marrying boxing and yoga in one 55-minute session. Those looking for an exercise in intimacy will appreciate this spot’s small classes (which deliver a big payoff of plenty of personal attention) and their individualized touch – different instructors pack in more yoga or boxing based on their own discretion.
UFC, short for Ultimate Fighting Championship, is where New York’s serious—and serious-about-learning—boxers go to sweat. You’ll do just that at the gym’s 50-minute class, combining bag work and core and cardio exercises. For aspiring heavyweights, there’s UFC’s fighting bootcamps and MMA classes.
