Ashley N.
ILKB Philly - Beyond Worthwhile!
Joining and actively taking part in ILoveKickboxing Philly has been one of the best decisions that I have made for my self in a really long time. First off, the fitness element: I say this to every newbie I come across, "the workout will kick your butt, but it will be worth it." The conditioning, bag rounds, and partner drills are physically challenging, but with consistency you actually FEEL yourself continually improving. And even after the first few times, you walk out feeling like a rockstar! Speaking as someone who joined not only to "get fit" or "lose weight," but to regain a lost sense of power, the strength that I've felt walking out of these classes has in itself been valuable! Not to mention that it's way more exciting than running on a treadmill. Also, worth noting, there are truly members of all shapes, sizes, ages, and fitness capabilities in class - instructors are happy to adapt workouts for folks who might need it, and I've never witnessed any shaming or judgment, only encouragement. The supportive element of our ILKB Phamily (yep, at Philly ILKB we call ourselves a Pham), has probably been the greatest draw to keep coming back. Instructors are super encouraging from the moment you walk in the door. They do a great job of working with "first day friends," and keep us all connected, in high spirits, and supportive of one another on our special Facebook group. I've had instructors go above and beyond to personally work with me any time I wanted to revisit or change my goals, navigate challenges, or improve on something, and I'll often chat them up about my good days, my bad days, and the other ongoings in my life. It's beyond meaningful to me that they genuinely care, not just about my fitness improvement, but about what's going on with me holistically. They are incredibly sensitive and aware, and have always been open to my feedback as a member. At this point, they know me well enough to recognize and engage with me on my many quirks =) As a result of the ILKB culture that they create for us members (and you can choose to what extent you want to partake in that), I've gained a really wonderful community of people who want to be their best selves and who hold a positive space for me to be my best self.


