JEN-AN’S WORKOUT
heat tries out Jen-an’s favourite boxing class, and finds out why she’s swapped planking for punching
In a recent interview, Jennifer Aniston couldn’t stop raving about her new workout. A life-long yoga devotee, Jen has swapped downward dogs for boxing and has been training at Santa Monica’s Gloveworx under former heavyweight champ Leyon Azubuike.
“I have this trainer named Leyon, who I believe hung the moon,” she gushed. “It’s the longest workout I’ve actually stayed with consistently other than yoga. There’s something about the mental aspect of boxing, the drills – your brain has to work, you’re not just sitting on a bike. It’s amazing. You get a mental release of all this crap you’re taking into your ears and eyes every day, and have little fantasy moments imagining who you’re punching,” she says. Hmmm, we wonder who that could be?
But the love is mutual, with Leyon praising the 49-year-old star for her dedication. “She’s very diligent,” he’s said. “She is ready to work out hard, every single time she hits the gym. Whether it be a 45-minute session, whether it be a two-hour session, she’s always ready to go… and that makes my job a little bit easier.”
So, why has boxing got Jen so buzzed? According to Leyon, the secret lies in the variety of the training, which blitzes every body part and keeps you on your toes – sometimes literally. “It’s very interactive, and the best part about the boxing, specifically, is that it’s infinitely progressive,” he explains. “You’re learning something new every single time you put on a pair of gloves.”
And you don’t need to be a wannabe Nicola Adams, either. Gloveworx, like many specialist boxing gyms that are popping up all over the world, teaches clients in a class environment, where you’ll find yourself doing a mix of strength conditioning, cardio and core work. Leyon says, “Your arms will burn, your legs will burn, your core is always engaged and it’s just as much mental as physical.” Ding-ding!