Photo courtesy of 9Round
9Round’s new trend in high intensity fitness gives you a lot of “pop pop pop.” That’s the sound coming from high impact boxing/kickboxing. Clients of all fitness levels can expect to get their heart rates thrumming as 9Round’s trainers take them through a circuit workout with nine stations. This workout is a 30-minute marriage of boxing, strength training, and high intensity cardio. The Kirkwood–Des Peres location, which opened this month, is a hip relic from past, with black and white boxing motifs on the walls and the stations, and no extra embellishment.
Local franchise owner April Porter (314-392-9305, 9round.com/stl), a former attorney by trade with the heart a competitive dancer, operates four 9Round gyms in the metro area. Becoming a lawyer full time did not take away her life-long love affair with fitness and dance. Porter continued to coach while working until it became too much; then she got a certification in Zumba to keep ties to fitness. Through Zumba, she found a local boot camp. The instructor became her fitness messiah, inspiring her to leave the corporate world like and run a gym, like he had.
From Zumba, she made her way to boxing. Although it might seem like an unusual leap, to Porter, it makes perfect sense. “Boxing is just like a dance,” she says, “and as a dancer I have an eye and feel for body placement in space.”
What sets your gym and its concept apart from others?
Our clients love the 30 minute format. It’s intense, and they all get results. The other big attraction is there are no class times. The circuit format allows anyone to jump into a workout every 3 minutes.
If you had to come up with a catch phrase for 9round, what would it be?
We actually asked our members. We came up with “Get in, get fit and get addicted!”
What is your favorite exercise and why?
I love the round kick. It takes a lot of practice to master because the kicker must be aware of the position of legs, hips, shoulders, arms, and head from initiating the kick through setting the kicking leg on the ground to finish. As the kick is delivered, every muscle in the body is engaged. It's a killer!
What moves do you feel impacts exercisers the most?
I find that most people need to strengthen their cores. A strong core helps balance and posture, prevents and improves back issues, and, of course, creates a slimmer look that most are striving to achieve.
What is a signature cardio move that gets hearts pumping?
Hand pads. The trainer works a punching combo by holding hand pads for the member to punch. It is fun for the member and the trainer—and it really takes the workout to the next level.
What moves do you feel are a necessity for just about all people, and why?
Planks for core strength. Side kicks for hip flexibility and balance. Hooks for all muscles in the back and core, plus triceps and biceps. Hand pads for great cardio, full-body resistance, and fun!
The Pulse, SLM’s new fitness blog series, seeks to inform readers about the best and brightest in the fitness business. The goal: to help guide you to great workout spots, whether picturesque parks, sweaty gyms, or martial-arts studios.
Writer Brian Byrd runs Train 4 Life Studio, located at 4255 Laclede in the Central West End. A father of three, he enjoys "talking about training, food, and consistency, as well as spreading the word about all the cool venues and people in St. Louis who do what I do.”
