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I woke up feeling completely paralyzed, with my arm muscles aching intensely. It was like something terrible happened to me overnight. I tried a body scan technique, starting from my toes and moving upward, noticing that every sensation was unpleasant. My calves hurt when I wiggled my toes, and my thighs were numb. It felt like my legs were no longer part of my body. Attempting to roll onto my side, I noticed my core muscles seemed missing. My mind was racing—did I accidentally have another baby by C-section in my sleep? Or had someone secretly stolen my organs? As I moved my head, even it hurt.
Then it all came back to me. Despite the initial delay due to shock, my mind recalled the nightmare of the previous day: I had exercised. More precisely, I tried boxing, though I’m not sure of the right term, as I’m not familiar with exercise jargon. I wore boxing gloves and gave it all I had—just as a not-so-fit 42-year-old mom of two would. I was likely among the oldest in the room by two decades, and I had no idea how the others could be so energetic without struggling with a compromised pelvic floor.
Despite not being breathless on my steep driveway or while hiking long distances, activities demanding upper body strength like mountain climbers and burpees render me utterly exhausted. So, why was I exercising? I was at a Kiehl’s press event in Mayfair, where boxing was a part of the program. They had just launched a new product, the Ultra Facial Advanced Repair Barrier Cream, linking the defensive nature of boxing to the cream’s protective qualities. JAB club was quite stylish, reminiscent of New York, with wooden lockers and leather punchbags.
In the boxing session, when the photographer was snapping pictures of others in boxing gloves, I thought it was just for show. I had second thoughts—why did I agree to this when I could have been doing something relaxing? Still, the JAB crew, especially the fit instructor, kept us motivated. The warmup felt like a workout itself, leaving me feeling utterly spent, much like a challenging army course or childbirth process.
But it turned out, despite my exhaustion, the experience was enjoyable. I managed not to embarrass myself and felt invigorated afterward. The session’s intensity left no room for stress or thoughts, unlike spinning or jogging. I’m considering Boxercise instead of full-on boxing since it seems less daunting than “sparring” and “mouth guards.” However, it took five days to recover my upper body movement, so maybe I should stick with cycling.
A big thank you to Kiehl’s for inviting me to their event. Their new barrier cream is a lovely addition, helping skin feel more comfortable and protected. It sits well under makeup and keeps the skin supple all day. You can find it at Kiehl’s for £34 for 50ml.