Class action

Men's Fitness, March, 1999 by P. Myatt Murphy

Learn how the five hottest exercise classes at your gym can improve your training

What is it about exercise classes that makes men flee from them like politicians from responsibility? Even if you realize their importance in your quest for overall fitness, all the hype, overly amped instructors and confusing names can make it hard to decipher what class you're actually enrolling in, let alone what you stand to gain.

The main reason guys avoid these classes is the ratio of women to men. "A typical aerobics class is between 90 and 100 percent female," says Laurie Hennessy, fitness coordinator at Bodies in Motion in Encino, California. "All that estrogen can be an incentive for some [men], but it's intimidating for most."

To spare you time and possible public humiliation, we examined five of the most popular exercise classes around and rated them by what they have to offer the ardent gym-goer. "All of these programs may have a place in a man's exercise regime at one time or another," says Tim Ryan, boxing coordinator at Bodies in Motion. "It all depends on his specific short- and long-term goals."

With our help - and a few stringent hours of your own trying each class on for size - you can decide which one is worth your time and effort without squandering dollars or dignity. (Most gyms offer these sorts of hour-long classes as part of your membership.) We even went so far as counting leotards to see how outnumbered you can expect to be (see the "babe factor" percentages). Hey, somebody's got to do it.

The classes

Boxing (aka Executive Boxing, Boxerobics, Boxercise, Aerobox): Expect an abbreviated version of what an amateur or pro boxer would normally be put through, minus the contact. The first half of the class typically focuses on standard exercises from the sweet science, switching from skipping rope to push-ups to a few ab exercises (sometimes involving a medicine ball). The second half is more hands-on, hands-up. You'll throw all the basic punches with either hand (jab, cross, hook and uppercut), then combinations of each to up the intensity. Some classes utilize shadowboxing; others feature bag work and focus mitts (baseball-like gloves without pockets). Most, however, keep the punches in the air and off any live opponent.

Pros:

* Best at isolating and defining upper-body muscles

* Alleviates stress

* Twisting action from punching hits the love handles harder than normal

* Requires concentration to learn combinations and hand positioning

Cons:

* Lower body is largely ignored

* May aggravate lower-back problems due to torso rotation during punching

* Abundance of unqualified boxing instructors can lead to injury

* Requires concentration to]earn combinations and hand positioning

Expense factor:

* Gloves ($50 to $80): Trust us, you don't want to stick your paws into a sweaty pair of boxing gloves.

* Handwraps ($3 to $5): These protect all the small bones in your hands and wrists.

Babe factor: 40 percent

Calories burned per class: 500

Kickboxing (aka kickbox aerobics, Karobics, tae bo): Expect the four basic punches from boxing in addition to at least three martial arts kicks: the front kick, side kick and roundhouse kick. Don't worry if you can't get your leg above your ass. There are no spinning wheel-kicks required, although some classes do use air shields and focus mitts so you can make some contact.

In between all the martial madness are push-ups, sit-ups and body-weight lunges. However, if you're looking for a belt, you've come to the wrong place. Although these classes are sometimes taught by real instructors, the sessions are aimed at the fit-conscious, not the fighting-inclined.

Pros:

* Develops and improves balance

* Enhances coordination between upper and lower body

* Kicking is a much more masculine way to tighten glutes than Butt Blaster

* Punches, kicks and body-weight exercises provide comprehensive workout

Cons:

* Improper instruction can lead to serious injuries, including groin tears, knee strains and dislocated digits

* Requires even more concentration than boxing

* Because workload usually favors kicking, upper-body tone may not develop as well as with boxing

Expense factor:

* Gloves ($50 to $80)

* Handwraps ($3 to $5)

Babe factor: 50 percent

Calories burned per class: 700

Indoor cycling (aka RoadRacers, Spinning): Expect anywhere from a dozen to three dozen bikes, all facing an instructor who's miked for sound and screaming like a cat !in season. From there, you'll be commanded to speed up, slow down, crank up the resistance and sometimes get up out of your seat as you pedal your way to hell. Some overzealous teachers even go so far as to turn the lights out and ride by candlelight for the full Dante-esque effect.

Pros:

* Sturdier than regular stationary bicycles, allowing you to shift your body so you can work your legs from both sides

* A no-brainer activity - just pedal

* Gives you control over your workout - you can cruise or turn it up a notch

* Hits the inner and outer thighs and glutes

Cons:

* Exclusively a lower-body workout

* Stationary exercise will drive hyperkinetic guys crazy