Ode to the Heavy Bag

My heart is full of loving passion now, 
Your leather sides and swinging chain sing sweet. 
As sweat runs down my face, I hit you, "POW!" 
My glove-clad hands take turns with kicking feet,
And the rhythm of blows is heard a mile.
I grunt, I yell, I punch and spin and turn.
With each and ever round, stronger feelings grow--
I finally begin to see and smile:
My strength, respect, and honor, inner burn...
I can no longer at all deny. I glow.




As I stood on the back porch yesterday, fresh from my post-workout stretching session, I gazed across the expanse of yard as a warm breeze caressed my face and felt truly FIERCE. I had spent the last 45 minutes doing my best impression of Hilary Swank in Million Dollar Baby: dodging, turning, throwing punch combos, I methodically destroyed my black leather opponent.

I started working out with a heavy bag back in the spring and was seriously hooked from the very first day. Now, every time I begin to wrap my hands in the long strips of cream-colored cotton before putting on my gloves, I turn into a different person. I become a stronger, braver, steadier version of myself. With my handy-dandy water bottle, HRM, and iPod, I stride confidently out to the "barn," our glorified shed with an attached open-air dog pen with a slanting tin roof and open wood beams, one of which sports my 100lb heavy bag.

Stepping into the deep shade, I kick up small clouds of brown dirt. Here and there bamboo shoots are fighting their way up through the earthen floor, reaching for the warmth of the sun. I slide my gloves on over the hand wraps and fasten the velcro straps firmly around my wrists. After checking myself out in the reflection of the glass windows in the side of the shed, I walk slowly around the bag, tapping it lightly. I look ready. I feel ready. Let's rumble.

I've read a few books on technique, so I usually start my workout with various drills aimed at improving my coordination, foot movement, and hand speed. After that, I move into timed repetitions of individual punches, kicks, and combinations. Finally, the last 10 minutes of my workout are comprised of an all-out assault on the bag, full on free-style. Those final few minutes are the highlight of my day and are largely responsible for the mental high I ride for hours after my workout and subsequent cool down are over.

My workout yesterday was a mental and physical victory. My body did not want to move at ALL, much less perform an hour-long boxing session! I knew it would help with my physical discomfort, however, and pushed through. I'm really glad I did for a variety of reasons.

First, the exercise really did help my body feel better, and the cramps diminished noticeably.

Second, I burned some serious calories, which gave me some much-needed wiggle-room in my eating for the day.

Third, and most importantly, I took one step closer to becoming the woman I want to be. Standing on the porch after my workout, I felt a stillness in my mind and spirit that I want to learn to hold onto.

One day, I hope the person I am when I strap on those gloves--strong, confident, and brave--will be the person I am all the time. Until that day, I feel like I come just a little closer to achieving that goal with each and every workout.