How Boxing became my passion
April 17th, 2020
Work Out to Your Passions
Or your passions won’t work out.
When I was in school, some of the other kids would mock my thick, muscular body. I was born athletic, but it wasn’t trendy or cool for girls to have lean, rippling muscles. They would laugh and call me ‘Mike Tyson’ until I learned to protect myself by hiding the parts of me I loved. I covered up my legs, arms, and hips in shame.
But I am ashamed no longer. I am proud of my body, proud of my looks, and proud beyond words of my power and strength. If I could speak to that little girl, I would raise her chin up and look her in the eye. I would smile and say, “You are beautiful. You are fierce. And you will never back down.”
It is easy to follow the trends in fitness and listen to the voices of others. But only one voice matters for your life and fitness: yours. Every person is on their own journey of discovery; I write today to share mine in the hopes that it inspires others. You may be young or old. You may be muscular or slender. You may be a boy or a girl. It doesn’t matter; my story is for all.
Listen for your calling.
I had always been interested in boxing. Scrapping and fighting seemed such a natural part of life for the boys around me, but never for me. I felt curious. How did it feel to throw a punch? I watched their powerful arms and listened to the fleshy smack of fists on mats and gloves and skin. I wanted to train to fight; I wasn’t scared.
In 2013, I finally went to the gym. I was still in Paris at the time, and I was the only woman at the boxing club. Several men tried to dissuade me, nudging me by pointing out how much it might hurt. But I was undeterred. I felt focused. Hungry. Week after week, I trained consistently, never missing even a single class.
My coach was a tough guy. Even when we didn’t have protective gear, he would sometimes throw real punches at us. We learned to be wary and alert. We learned to be quick. I worked hard to prove myself and to earn his respect, and eventually I was taken on as a team member. They stopped seeing me as a woman, and instead saw me as a fighter. My passion burned hot. I felt the fire in my belly.
Roll with the punches.
Obviously I am not a professional, competitive boxer today for many reasons. Listening to my calling didn’t lead me to a career in the sport. A couple of years into my training, I received incredible news: I was going to be a mother.
Expecting a child was an incredible joy, but it meant giving up the sport I had come to love. No more punches, no more practice. I knew even post-pregnancy that finding the routine and dedication needed to train would be almost impossible. And as long as I continued any type of medication, I would never be allowed in the ring. It felt like just as quickly as I’d found the fire, the whole dream went up in smoke.
But the French have a saying you have heard before: c’est la vie. I wouldn’t trade my beautiful baby for the world, and I refused to walk away from something that gave me such pure, unbridled joy. If I couldn’t see a future in the ring, I thought, perhaps I could find one ringside. When life hits you and knocks you down, you get back up. I decided to become a coach.
Combining my passions and paying it forward.
Cynics will sometimes say, “Those who can, do; those who can’t, teach.” What they mean is not everyone can be elite in a sport or in their calling; but don’t ever underestimate the passion and work that goes into teaching!
I love being a trainer in boxing. I love it. Not only is it good for my fitness, but it is a constant challenge to improve myself, to hone technique, and to expand my knowledge. I have to be SO GOOD, in fact, that I can observe others, identify their mistakes, help them to improve, and devise a plan for them to do so. But those things are just qualifications. They aren’t the passion at the heart of what I do.
My success comes when I can help someone else tap into the beauty of what boxing means to them. And it’s personal for everyone I meet. For some it just helps to ease the tension or sadness of our stressful lives. To some, boxing is an art, like dancing, with twists and fades and rhythm. It is a natural extension of our bodies’ movements, from the breath in our lungs to the beat of our hearts. And for others, like me, it is about the challenge, the fight, and the spirit of it all.
In any case, whatever brings them to my class, the boxing itself is about camaraderie. It is about taking the individual efforts, the sweat and pain, and channeling it with a partner. It is the big picture about how we work together to fuel each other.
Find what fuels you.
I began by saying “listen for your calling.” That may be easier said than done, but it is the most important thing there is. Your health and wellbeing – your body – rely on you finding the fitness regimen that is best for you. And if you can actually find something that sparks true joy, it will become part of your life and something you yearn to do, not something you have to do.
I was a born artist – dancing, twisting, and moving around. I was a born fighter, too, with muscles and a body that got me called ‘Mike Tyson’ in school. And I am a born teacher, too. I live to help others discover something in themselves. That’s why I teach boxing and yoga, why I design fashion, and why I share my stories like this.
Don’t let the trend workouts define your calling. And don’t let the opinions of others push you in a direction that doesn’t feel right. Practice what brings you freedom. When you feel an inkling of happiness, move towards that. Like blowing on a little spark, gently, you can ignite a true flame. Listen to your body, follow the joy, and you will take steps towards happiness and fulfillment.
If you are inspired to try boxing, I would love to connect. If you have a story of your own, I would love to hear it; you can post in the comments section or send me a message. We are all here for a reason – if you don’t know yours, find it.
Beside practicing this discipline that really fit me since i am young, I would like to share this article with you to show you the vertue of adding boxing to your fitness workout routine.
https://www.shape.com/fitness/workouts/8-reasons-you-need-punch-your-workout-routine
Have a wonderful day and see you next week! :)