photos by Bracken Mayo
It’s now the season to bring your workout routine indoors, and one of the best ways to do this is to try one of the exercises most rapidly growing in popularity: boxing.
Title Boxing Club offers a “full-body boxing workout that changes your body, clears your mind and completely engages your spirit,” according to its website. “Our signature workout utilizes the fundamentals of a true boxer’s workout—including proper heavy bag training—to strengthen and tone your arms, legs, back, core, stamina and your confidence.”
Kyndon Oakes opened the Murfreesboro location of Title Boxing in December 2017. Oakes was previously a trainer at the Cool Springs franchise. He ultimately built a relationship with the owner of the one in Nashville, who helped give him this great opportunity at the Murfreesboro gym.
Walking into the facility I felt the energy and excitement along with geniality and confidence from the staff, qualities likely to help ease any intimidation or first-time jitters newcomers may have. Kelsey Gordon, manager and trainer, warmly greeted me and assisted me with joining in on a group class. Title’s large group workout room, located near Embassy Suites just off of Medical Center Parkway, has over 30 punching bags. Once I started boxing and kicking the punching bag in front of me, and noticing everyone else around me focused on their own bag and technique, I zoned in and went with the flow. Music was playing in the background while trainers walked around the room, making sure everyone was fine and following instructions to the exercises.
Will you sweat? Yes, but water breaks are given throughout the exercise sets. The conditioning and self-defense skills one can gain from boxing training are why over 170 Title Boxing clubs have opened across the country, six of them in Middle Tennessee.
Kelsey Gordon, manager and trainer
“Nothing worth having comes easy,” says Oakes, who motivates clients from the get-go. He demonstrates how learning to throw and land punches, kicks and combinations with proper technique translates into weight loss, all while having a good time.
Gordon advises to take it “one day at a time” and furthermore asks everyone to reflect upon this question daily: “How do I change today, because it is going to affect tomorrow?” That change comes from developing discipline and consciously thinking about your daily choices before going to the gym. This consciousness will cause the client to come in the session with a different mindset, knowing that paying attention to the routine and their body is imperative; leave everything at the door and enjoy yourself.
It’s kind of like having an out-of-body experience that takes your mind off of other things temporarily. The proof is in the pudding, as an old saying goes, which simply means come by and experience Title Boxing, and the results it offers, for yourself. The gym offers seven trainers who also provide one-on-one personal training services, and provides monthly events for members and the community. Recently, Title presented a “Rock n’ Rumble” night, which included a DJ, blacked-out lights and a live band.
Stay tuned for a one-year anniversary celebration in December 2018.
Morning workouts begin as early as 5:30 a.m., showers are available onsite and Title offers weekend classes as well. The first visit to a Title Boxing group workout session is free. Call 615-904-6540 for more information on how to take advantage of your first free visit.
“This fitness journey is long, and it doesn’t stop,” explains Kelsey. “It’s a forever-long journey.” This is something well worth remembering this Christmas season and repeating all throughout the year.
For more information on Title Boxing, visit titleboxingclub.com.
