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Boxing a big hit, as more women 'take it out on the bag'

Michelle Michelotti was nervous the first time she put on boxing gloves at her gym, Three60Fit in Arlington Heights, and hesitated to hit the bag very hard at first.

But about 10 minutes in, she started hitting and kicking it full force - and she loved it. Now she boxes twice a week or more.

"It feels good. It gets all my anger, frustration and stress out," said Michelotti, 33, of Carol Stream, "and it's a really good cardio workout."

Michelotti is among a growing group of suburban women who have added boxing to their exercise routines. While not a new sport, it's become trendy lately, with celebrities like Gigi Hadad, Karlie Kloss, Jennifer Lopez and Britney Spears using it to stay in shape.

Here in the suburbs, several gyms dedicated solely to boxing have opened recently, while others have expanded their boxing and cardio kickboxing classes. Some combine boxing and self-defense classes.

Besides the full-body workout, suburban women say they like the stress release, confidence-building and empowerment boxing provides. Girls as young as 9, and as old as their mid-60s - some in mother-daughter pairs - box, suburban gym owners say.

Three60Fit owner and trainer Christian Koshaba said he's seeing more women enroll in his coed boxing classes, which burn anywhere from 400-700 calories. His classes, like most others, start with a 10-minute warm-up, followed by 30 minutes of boxing, and then 10 or 15 minutes of core or ab work.

It's not just punching a bag. Sometimes you work one-on-one with a person wearing pads, or jump around a boxing ring, doing upper cuts, cross jabs and kicks. You train to react and move quickly, like a real boxer would.

"It's a great full-body workout … but the biggest benefit to women is the emotional one," Koshaba said. "Sometimes it's just good to strike something without repercussions. Instead of letting life kick us down, we kick back."

Dawn Bray, owner of Title Boxing Club in Naperville, said boxing isn't an easy workout. But that's part of the attraction.

"There's satisfaction with working your butt off for an hour," she said. "Plus, it relieves stress and anxiety that we all deal with. I always say, 'Take it out on the bag, and leave it there on the bag. Then go home and have a great night.'"

Another reason women love it: boxing burns fat, tones stomach and oblique muscles, and gives them a "cut" look.

"You really get tighter and toned in your midsection," Bray said. "Your body is revved up the entire 60 minutes. You're having these bursts of power after each round. It just gets you super strong."

Bray had back problems following a car accident, and boxing helped rebuild her back strength. She's also seen it work wonders for Parkinson's patients, because connecting brain and hand movement is good for their central nervous system, she said.

It's even helped out people suffering from depression.

Elsie Perez, a junior at Wheaton Warrenville South High School, started boxing at age 15 while going through a difficult personal time. When her grandfather - who loved watching boxing on TV - passed away, her dad half-seriously suggested she take up boxing. She signed up for a class at Title Boxing in Naperville, and was immediately hooked. Not only did she lose 20 pounds, but Perez went from being negative and anti-social to outgoing, positive and energized.

"Once I started going to Title, I felt so positive about my body. Like, I felt perfect for once. That I fit in," she said. "Everyone there is like family. Everyone supports each other and the trainers there are amazing. It takes my stress away, but it's also such a good workout. It's such a good way to feel better about yourself."

The female boxers take the sport up a notch at Lake County Athletic and Boxing Club in Libertyville, where they've had a few female Golden Glove winners in the past few years.

Owner and trainer Larry Lentz said his gym is for amateurs, too. All levels benefit from boxing's core and hip workout, which he said improves bone density, heart health, and plyometrics (also known as jump training) speed.

"I train everyone the same. I train all the females like they're going to fight," Lentz said.

"Any fitness club has boxing, but I'm different because I have 90-plus fights here. We train real stuff. That makes it more unique," he said. "You don't have to take punches … but if you want to get fit, you can get fit. And (the women) always end up walking taller, and having more confidence."

Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.comJessi Bergman of Palatine works on a heavy bag during a boxing class at Three60Fit in Arlington Heights Wednesday. Boxing has become a trendy exercise for women in the Chicago suburbs.
Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.comMichelle Michelotti of Carol Stream works at Three60Fit in Arlington Heights Wednesday. Boxing has become a trendy exercise for women in the Chicago suburbs.
Elsie Perez, boxing at Title Boxing in Naperville.
Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.comOwner/trainer Christian Koshaba, right, works with Heidi Hollins of Arlington Heights during a boxing class at Three60Fit in Arlington Heights Wednesday. Boxing has become a trendy exercise for women in the Chicago suburbs.

Boxing for women

<b>Three60Fit</b>569 W. Golf Road, Arlington Heights, (847) 767-7423 three60fit.training/

<b>Title Boxing Naperville</b>1212 S. Naper Blvd., Suite 121 (at Naperville 75th and Naper Boulevard) (630) 904-1212 naperville-naper.titleboxingclub.com/ Other Title Boxing locations are in Buffalo Grove, Schaumburg, and Chicago.

<b>Lake County Athletic & Boxing Club</b>Located in the Libertyville Sports Complex, 1950 N. U.S. Highway 45 (847) 345-5666 www.toughmanbootcamp.com/

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