M3 Knockout: A Two-in-One Explosive Workout at Studio K-O

I read an article that said that even those who regularly workout at a gym, and do basic gym routines with machines, will still have a hard time rock climbing because they’d be using a whole new set of muscles. This article was written to encourage people to rock climb, obviously, but it got me thinking about something else: should we switch up our fitness routines so that we’re utilizing and strengthening different muscles? In short, yes.

There are so many different types of fitness classes – yoga, pilates, aerobics and so on – that focus on different goals, so why not try something new and challenge yourself every once in while. We got the chance to join a M3 Knockout class at Studio K-O and let me tell you, I think I almost died, but my body felt amazing afterwards.

We started this workout with 30 minutes of the Lagree Fitness Method. This method combines strength, endurance, cardio, balance, core and flexibility training in each and every move. The machine you work on looks very cool, and uses spring resistance which allows for peak muscle contraction while reducing the stress on the joints and the connective tissue. The movements are slow, and repetitive, and you definitely feel the burn around your core area.

Next was 30-minutes of Studio K-O’s authentic box-fit training. I spoke to Master Trainer DJ before class, who has 15 years of experience and has become a leader in the Canadian boxing community and an authority on box-fit programming, and he mentioned that their focus is not to train the next Muhammad Ali, but instead to use continuous punching and speed rounds for an intense cardio burn-out. The key word here is speed – this was an explosive, intense, class with punching, push-ups, sit-ups and all kinds of drills. If you weren’t sweating before, this class will have you in puddles.

PREPARE YOURSELF! PRE-WORKOUT SUGGESTIONS:

You’re going to need the right gear to get you through this workout. Make sure you’re wearing breathable clothes because YOU ARE GOING TO SWEAT. The Skechers Burst is probably the most comfortable shoe I’ve ever worn and it has air-cooled memory foam. That’s right, no stinky sneakers! They’re an athletic high top training sneaker with interwoven, nearly seamless design, with a unique flat knit mesh fabric.

It’s also key to eat healthier, and lighter, on days that you’ll be participating in intense workout classes. Kombucha is made by fermenting the kombucha culture aka SCOBY (symbiotic culture of yeast and bacteria) in a sweet, caffeinated tea. The SCOBY metabolizes both the caffeine and sugar in the tea, and after fermenting for up to 30 days produces an array of healthful acids and living enzymes in the tea. Some benefits of this drink are digestive aid, liver cleansing, increase energy level, improved pH balance which results in mental clarity and so on. Check out Tonica Kombucha if you’d like to try it out (they even have a DIY kit!). Their drinks are 100% raw, organic and natural with only 45 calories per bottle.