Sharing my review of BODYCOMBAT from Les Mills On Demand. This post isn’t sponsored, but my friends at Les Mills are giving you 30 days free with this link. This is my fave online platform for workouts! There’s so much variety and the instructors are incredible. 

Hi friends! How’s the day going? We’re just taking it easy here and enjoying having the Pilot back home after a 6-day trip. The girls and I have a blast together, but the days can be a little long, especially with the current restrictions. (I took them to Walgreen’s this weekend to pick out some pool toys and it was their first time being in a store this entire time. The were SO PUMPED.) We had an awesome dinner last night and today, we’ll probably hang out with the cousins and go for a swim.

Workout-wise, I feel like I’ve been the most consistent over the past few months than I’ve ever been. I haven’t been able to visit my favorite classes or studios months but I’ve made it a non-negotiable to get in some kind of movement each day for my mental health. Many days, that 30-45 minutes are the only “alone time” (in quotes because sometimes little ones need snacks, water, or something happens) I get until the kiddos are asleep. It breaks up the day and gives me a boost of energy to power through. I’m fortunate the girls are a bit older so they can play, watch a show, or draw/paint while I catch a quick workout, and then I feel engaged and energized for the rest of the day.

Something that has been a game changer, especially over the past few months: Les Mills On Demand. I use it at least 1-2 times a week and it’s so much fun to feel like I’m almost back in that group fitness environment I love so dearly. The instructors’ energy radiates from the screen – it’s tricky to feel high energy when it’s a virtual workout, and they’ve mastered this – and all of the music and instructors are incredible. They have over 1,000 workouts on the platform now, so it’s such a great way to change things up. I know I can press play and get an awesome workout. (My full review of the Les Mills On Demand platform is here!)

I’m a creature of habit and almost always stick to my tried and true Les Mills classes, like BODYPUMP (my #1 fave), BODYATTACK, and GRIT, but lately, I’ve been trying to be more adventurous. I forgot how much I loved BODYCOMBAT and took a fun and fierce 45-minute class this weekend.

If you haven’t tried BODYCOMBAT, here’s what you can expect!

What is BODYCOMBAT?

From the website:

“BODYCOMBAT is a high-energy martial arts-inspired workout that is totally non-contact. Punch and kick your way to fitness and burn up to 740 calories** in a class. No experience needed. Learn moves from Karate, Taekwondo, Boxing, Muay Thai, Capoeira and Kung Fu. Release stress, have a blast and feel like a champ. Bring your best fighter attitude and leave inhibitions at the door.

BODYCOMBAT is available as either a 55, 45 or 30-minute workout. It is also available in some clubs as a virtual workout.”

The movements are explosive and remind me of the beloved Tae Bo classes that got me into fitness, but even better. The exercises are choreographed to the music, which always makes me work a little harder. While they are martial arts-inspired moves, no worries if you don’t have any martial arts or kickboxing experience. They teach you the moves you need to go and the exercises progress during each track.

Here’s what the layout looks like for a 45-minute class:

1. Upper body and lower body warmup

2. Combat 1

3. Power training 1

4. Combat 2

5. Power training 2

6. Combat 3

7. Muay Thai

8. Cooldown

I love that you can see what exercises are featured in each track before you press play. As always, they have modifiers with low-impact variations.

What equipment do I need for BODYCOMBAT?

NADA. This class is bodyweight-only, which is one of the reasons I love it so much. You can do this workout anywhere, which makes it awesome for home workouts and travel.

Why I love it:

– It’s an entirely different type of training —  it’s fun to do something fierce! Leading up to the past few months, the girls rarely saw me exercise, unless I was on the Peloton bike. I’d always catch a workout or hit up the gym while they were at school (and over the summers, while they were at camp). Now, they see me working out pretty much daily, which I’ve realized is a good thing! They’re watching me make my health a priority,  moving for a little while, and then we go on with the day’s adventures. Liv walked in while I was taking BODYCOMBAT and was like, “Wow, mom! You look tough!!” I think it’s awesome for them to see me do a mix of athletic and powerful training mixed in with the more graceful workouts I love so dearly, like dance cardio and barre.

– Coordination. This type of training is excellent for building coordination and promoting brain health. It’s also beneficial to move laterally, since so many exercises involve movement in the frontal plane.

– Stress release. It feels good to punch and kick sometimes.

Cons:

– It can be a little tricky to get the moves on the first try, but after a couple of classes, you’ll absolutely get the hang of it. I recommend doing the best you can and keep moving, and the more you do it, the more intuitive it will become.

If you want to give it a whirl, use my link for 30 days of Les Mills On Demand for freeeeeeeeee.

Have you tried a BODYCOMBAT class? What did you think? What was the first class that got you into group fitness?

xo

Gina