Every year when we make a New Year’s resolution, it seems that most of us end up giving up on them. A common resolution that most of us make is to be healthier, and that includes eating healthier and working out more or joining a gym. For some of us though, joining a gym doesn’t seem like the best option.

Gyms can be crowded with people, and sometimes you might get the feeling that someone is watching you and judging you when you work out. Truthfully, you're not the only person who feels this way; a lot of people I have talked to, have told me this is why they don’t like gyms, and I myself had that exact thought process when I first started working out. This thought process is a major contribution to why people give up on their resolution to work out more.

If you want to be stronger than those excuses though, and you want to be healthier this year, kickboxing is a great workout to help you keep that resolution.

I started my kickboxing experience a few months ago, when my work friends signed up for a deal with CKO Kickboxing where they got a month-long membership as part of a Halloween deal the gym was having. They then told me about a deal where I could take three classes for a very affordable price and I would get a pair of kickboxing gloves for free called the "triple play." I had always been curious and wanted to try kickboxing, so I decided to sign up and find out for myself what the workout was like.

At the first class I attended I learned that punching and kicking a punching bag is a lot harder than it looks. Kickboxing involves different types of punches and kicks, i.e. jabs, crosses, uppercuts, hooks, roundhouse kicks, front kicks, etc. When I took my first class I had no idea how to do any of those, but thankfully the instructors were able to show me some of the basics when I showed up for the class ten minutes early.

The class itself was not all punching and kicking the bag though. Classes are generally an hour long; occasionally there is an early morning class that runs for 45 minutes or a class that runs for 90 minutes, and the classes incorporate other exercise moves such as push-ups, jogging, sit-ups, burpees, etc. Also, each trainer does not use the same pattern of combinations or the same warmup and cool down exercises, so while there will always be some repetition in the workout itself, it will never be the same thing. It really is a full-body workout. I enjoyed it so much that as soon as the next holiday deal came around, I signed up for a membership.

As I continued attending the classes, I was learning that physical health benefits was not all kickboxing had to offer. In addition to the helping you tone your body, lose weight, and gain muscle, kickboxing is also great for your mental health. You’ve probably heard it said that exercise is a great stress reliever; kickboxing has proven to be a great stress reliever. When you’re punching, and kicking the bag with a real fighter’s techniques, it really feels like your beating up all the negative factors that exist in your life.

For me personally, I enjoy this because it makes me feeling stronger than every stressful thing in my life and that has helped me build my confidence. It also keeps me feel motivated to continue improving, which I know feel I do every time I go to another class.

Kickboxing has not only made me feel stronger and healtheir, but has also made me feel better about myself as a person.

So, if you’re looking for a way to get into shape in 2017, and you’re looking for a fun and hardcore workout, let kickboxing kick you into shape.