Level Up with Level Red Boxing Virtual Workouts

Jessica Hunter

Be honest with yourself. Am I following this Instagram fitness model to be taught the finer nuances of exercise form and technique? Or "am I just watching this person because they're hot?" Matt Pribonic, vice president of Erie's Level Red Boxing and iRock Fitness, doesn't blame you — he just wants you to be more self-aware.

While "personality" may be a consideration in who you virtually work out with, it should not be the primary determinant. Level Red Boxing's Virtual Workouts favor "real people" over demigod(esse)s and "high energy displays that make you feel like you're right in the class." 

That's not to say that the instructors ("motivators") won't appear fit or attractive to you — it's just that you won't have time to gawk because these workouts are non-stop. 

How to access

Go to levelredboxing.com, click on "Virtual Workouts," and register for free if you are within a five mile radius of Erie, Pittsburgh, Buffalo (N.Y.), or Cary (N.C.) — all cities that host a physical Level Red location. The initial duration of the offer was to be two weeks, but it was graciously extended. 

What you'll need

Nothing necessarily, as Pribonic's aim was to create a series that could be performed "at any household with no equipment." Periodically, you'll have the option to incorporate items like hand weights, kettlebells, and medicine balls to "level up" the movements — or up the challenge, in other words. Of these, the hand weights are most recommended, as the boxing portions will feel an awful lot like flailing until you get the form down. The hand weights simulate the heft of boxing gloves — which of course you'll earn if you sign up for Level Red's live classes once they resume (green = 1 class; yellow = 100 classes; red = 200 classes). 

What you'll do

A whole lot in a very short expanse of time. To be as authentic as possible, there were no pauses in the filming, because there are little to no pauses in the workouts themselves. Pribonic himself is featured in each one of the sessions, good-naturedly sadistic as he gives the demonstrating motivator as hard a time as possible, ensuring they're maximizing their effort. "Aren't you glad I'm not in your living room?" he quips as he applies just the slightest bit of pressure to his already laboring employee.

The 30-minute workouts consist of three main elements — one or more HIIT (high intensity interval training) sessions, a trio of three-minute boxing rounds, and core exercises as a "cooldown" — and I use that term relatively lightly, because you're very likely to be on the struggle bus by that stage. The individual movements, as well as their arrangement, varies with each new workout uploaded daily. 

If by chance you still have anything left in the tank, there are bonus workouts available in which you'll more fully utilize the optional equipment mentioned earlier — such as kettlebells, medicine balls, or TRX resistance bands (20 percent off through an exclusive online offer). The partnership with TRX is a prime example of the affirmation this series has received from "industry key players," according to Pribonic. You will sweat and you will feel these workouts — in a good way.

And if you hope to chisel away at a "personality" of your own during quarantine, that is precisely what you want. 

Sometimes it seems there's an edge to Matt Swanseger's "personality," others the mirror seems to indicate it's more well-rounded. Regardless, he's flexing on some emails at mswanseger@eriereader.com