With the hard fast driving beat of a technoesque song in the background, the students lift their arms and stretch their legs.
What follows is a routine of quick kicks and fast punches, with the students wearing a look of intense focus.
Welcome to tae boxing, taught by Deborah McCormack, a health and fitness instructor at BC. Along with pilates and yoga, McCormack encourages students to take care of their flexibility, strength and cardiovascular needs.
“Tae boxing takes moves from basic martial arts for an intense cardio workout we put together with music,” McCormack said.
The class is usually full, and students find the workout a challenge.
“In the beginning I was exhausted, but it’s getting a little easier,” Vicki Hepokoski said. She took the class for credit, but ended up enjoying it.
McCormack said that tae boxing is a good workout for several reasons.
“People can go at their own pace. The music is high driving. You are going to sweat.
“We tend to work out at a pretty intense level, a good cardiovascular level,” she added.
Monica Ricardo also took the class for credit, but ended up liking it, and the music.
“It makes you forget that you are tired,” she said.
McCormack is certified in turbo kickboxing.
“Acting was my first career. I moved into the fitness field 20 years ago.
“The last 15 years I have been teaching full-time different forms of physical fitness.”
McCormack has been at BC for about seven years, and she started with the shape-up class.
She also has her own studio in town, Mind-Body Exercise Studio. It has been in its present northeast location two and a half years, and McCormack teaches yoga, tai-chi and pilates.
Between those fitness workouts and tae boxing, she wouldn’t want to give up any of them.
“You need everything. If I had to give up tae boxing I could. I wouldn’t want to. I could walk.”
McCormack uses music from Powder Blue Productions, which is just for instructors.
They use a mix of music hip-hop and techno.
“The music gives you a rhythm,” said Hepokoski.
McCormack’s favorite thing about teaching the class is the feeling of accomplishment students feel when finished.
“You have to work at it.”