There's something awe-inspiring about rows and rows of punching bags mixed with the smell of sweaty boxing gloves. I came with a friend for my first ever boxing/conditioning class, and boy did I get a workout!
If you're new, the first class is always free - just bring $5 for a pair of hand wraps (in a variety of colors!). You can borrow a pair of communal boxing gloves and set yourself up in front of a punching bag. Remember that the gloves are COMMUNAL, so they're not the nicest smelling things. However, I was assured that they Lysol wipe them down as best as they can in between uses. After filling out a check-in form, one of the staff members wrapped my hands and showed me the basic punches.
The class itself consisted of cardio, strength, and 30 minutes of boxing with the heavy bag. A water bottle is highly suggested, as you do get breaks in between rounds. If you're one that waterfall sweats, you might want to bring a small towel. And if you don't like lying on the ground for core exercises, bring a yoga mat. There's a lot of jumping during the workout, so it might not be the best option if you can't do high-impact exercises.
Most of the clientele the evening I went were young adult to middle aged women, with a few men in the mix. Everyone was pretty nice but did their own thing. This was absolutely preferable to me because I'm pretty sure I looked like the court jester for the first 30 minutes of the class (and probably the last 30), but I definitely felt the workout for the next few days. Our instructor was fast-talking since most of the attendees were repeats, and it was kind of hard to see her through the grid of bags, but you can pick up the movements by watching others around you and there's no flack given if you don't do everything perfectly or have to modify a move for your comfort level.
If this gym were closer and not so $$, I'd probably come here at least a few times a month. Definitely something to check out for people wanting to up their fitness game and try something different!