Let’s Get Digital: Santa Monica Boxing Studio Takes Classes Online
Illustration by Carolyn Burt.
As people across the country are searching for ways to stay active in quarantine, Santa Monica based fitness studio, BoxUnion, has found a way to bring their classes straight to their community members homes.
When Safer-at-Home protocols were first put into place, the local boxing studio was one of the first to take initiative and began hosting bi-weekly Instagram Live classes taught by their coaches. After seeing the positive response from the “BoxU Fam”, as the community calls themselves, the studio made the shift to their own platform, “BoxUnion Digital.”
The streaming service, which is available as both a website and app, provides a reliable way to view the classes, compared to Instagram Live which often has users experiencing buffering and technical issues due to its surge in popularity.
The studio offers classes in cardio, strength, recovery, and mindset, but it's their signature boxing classes that brings their audience in. The class style is unique compared to other boxing classes. Instead of just throwing the punches, class-goers box to the beat of the music, finding their rhythm as they throw each punch. Aware that many aren’t able to store a punching bag in their home, the studio also offers shadow boxing classes, which mimic the boxing style without needing any equipment.
The structure of each session is set up as similar as it can be to an in-person class. It begins by teaching newcomers the boxer stance and reviewing the six punches. From there it's a mix of learning the combination of the day: a set of different punches laid out by the coach, as well as incorporating body strength and core moves between rounds, such as squats, shoulder taps, and planks.
With the livestream format, coaches are able to maintain the sense of community by periodically checking the chat room to see how members are doing throughout the workout. With this function coaches can continue to highlight important moments in the BoxU Fam, such as wishing happy birthdays, congratulating soon to be graduates on completing their finals, and shouting out new members for making it through their first class.
Being online has also allowed BoxUnion to expand their community outside of Los Angeles, with people from across the globe able to tune in. “After moving out of LA last year, I have been not so subtly begging the team to open a studio in TX and in a selfishly beneficial turn of events, the curse of 2020 has almost forced my dream to be reality - digitally at least” user MaddieGHawn said. “I have not found any other service that feels like you’re genuinely showing up to class and feel seen, heard and supported.”
BoxUnion knows how important their classes are to the community, not just physically but mentally. Founding and Master coach Kyle Shneider communicates this periodically through classes. “We are only as strong as our mindset,” Schneider said during a shadow boxing class.
In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, for the month of May BoxUnion has released a new design of wrist wraps, strips of fabric used to protect the wrists while boxing, with all proceeds being donated to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). In addition, 10 percent of all digital revenue will be donated to NAMI, with BoxUnion matching the donation as well.
While nothing can beat the satisfaction of punching a bag in a class full of peers eager to take on a new challenge, BoxUnion’s box-to-the-beat classes shine in this digital format. They have managed to stay true to their core teaching style that has made boxing an attainable goal to their community.
To learn more about BoxUnion, you can read the Corsair’s article on the studio with Master Coach Kyle Shneider.
