WORK IT OUT

Team ELLE tests the latest workouts and gives you an honest verdict. This month: Bodyism Ballet Boxing

WHAT IS IT? A fusion of ‘gentle’ ballet and ballet HIIT (pliés, jumping jetés) with boxing and kick-boxing moves. Ballet and boxing? It does work, and it’s all the rage in Los Angeles. HOW MUCH DOES IT COST? Membership at Bodyism is £110 a month, which includes four classes; additional classes from £30. HOW DOES IT WORK? After a full-body stretch with a roller, you’ll do ‘ballet boxing shuffles’, which involve pliés and relevés (going on your tiptoes) with a band around your shins for resistance, combined with boxing-stance box shuffles and jabs, hooks and uppercuts. Your hips will be on fire after this, in a good way. WHAT DOES IT DO? Sculpts your body with the ballet moves while building strength via the more intense HIIT elements. The combinations also help to improve flexibility. DO YOU NEED TO BE SUPER FIT TO DO IT? No, but the small, pulsing moves will make you sweat. You do need to be mildly coordinated, especially when you put together foot taps and uppercuts. Otherwise you may actually punch the person next to you.

IS IT ENJOYABLE? Yes. I liked the stretching between the more intense moves, so no morning-after-HIIT ache.

ON A SCALE OF ONE TO 10, HOW HARD IS IT? Seven – the moves are simple, so you quickly get the gist.

BEST THING ABOUT IT? The Berry Burn shot (acai, pomegranate, sprouted brown rice, other super-ingredients) they give you beforehand helps boost energy and burn fat. AND THE WORST? The music didn’t work with the workout. WOULD YOU DO IT AGAIN? Yes – if I took a packed lunch to work for life to pay for the Bodyism membership. For more information, go to bodyism.com

‘YOU DO NEED TO BE MILDLY COORDINATED OR YOU MAY PUNCH THE PERSON NEXT TO YOU’