Want to try a different form of exercise? Give Tae Bo a go!

By Maximilian Williams, Bond University Journalism Student

Certified Tae Bo instructor Neri Holladay held a free introductory class at Hope Church in an effort to keep Varsity residents in shape.

Tae Bo, which was invented by famed American athlete and actor Billy Blanks, combines elements of Tae Kwon Do, boxing and dance.

Nerida Holladay said she trained with Mr Blanks himself in order to become an official instructor.

“You‘ve got the discipline of the Martial Arts … the groove of the dance … and also … the focus of the boxing,” she said.

“So it makes a pretty fun workout and pretty challenging [one] too.”

Regular class attendee Nick Phipps said the most rewarding part of the classes was the relationships that could be built through exercising together.

“I‘ve always liked pushing myself physically to the limit and Tae Bo‘s pretty good for that,” he said.

Mrs Holladay said she was drawn to Tae Bo because other types of exercise weren‘t as satisfying.

“I was going to the gym and … lost a bit of weight but I was getting really bored, you know, jogging on the treadmill,” she said.

“[In] a lot of the classes … there wasn’t a lot of instruction … sort of just throwing your arms up everywhere.”

After she found Tae Bo, Mrs Holladay said she lost 20 kg because of how much she loved it.

She said she now enjoyed seeing that same passion in her students.
“It’s really rewarding for me to watch someone push themselves and see how far they can go with something and when they finally get it, it’s awesome.”

Regular Tae Bo classes run at Hope Church at 6am on Tuesdays and 9.30am on Saturdays.

Classes are also held at Varsity College at 6pm on Wednesdays.

Mrs Holladay said for those wanting to try Tae Bo, the first class was free!