QUEENSBURY — At 5:15 p.m. Friday, Dana Moraci and her group of girls gathered together for their happy hour.
But they weren’t knocking back cocktails. They were knocking down punching bags.
iLoveKickboxing, Moraci’s new business that opened Oct. 23, is a fully equipped kickboxing studio at 820 state Route 9, in Northway Plaza near Panera Bread.
ILKB is a fitness kickboxing franchise that Moraci bought into. The programs are high-intensity interval training, which features intense bursts of exercise followed by short periods of rest. Classes meet throughout the week Monday through Saturday, and now, three classes are 50 percent off ($19.99) and include free gloves.
The schedule can be found online or on their Facebook page at iLoveKickboxing — Queensbury.
Prior to opening the gym, Moraci was an ILKB member in Clifton Park for two years.
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"Kickboxing is the best form of exercise," she said.
Moraci explained that the classes, which are co-ed, are tailored to people’s fitness levels and needs. She starts with a warm up and stretching, followed by kickboxing moves and techniques.
“The first fifteen minutes are intense ... people usually want to kill me,” Moraci said, laughing.
Jogging, squats, burpees, push-ups and abdominal work are part of the program.
About 350 people have come through the door since the business opened, Moraci estimates. Many, like Hayley Leclaire, 24, and her mom Kelly, 53, from Hudson Falls, have become regulars.
“I’ve done workout classes before and I usually get bored or uninterested ... but not here,” Hayley said.
“There’s loud music playing and it’s high energy ... When I leave, everything is sore,” she said getting ready for her class Friday night.
Both noted that since they’ve started they’ve both noticed increased flexibility.
“I love it,” Kelly said.
“And everyone is so welcoming,” she added.
For more information, visit or call the gym at 518-831-5379.
You can reach Callie Ginter at 742-3238 or cginter@poststar.com. Follow her on Twitter @ callieginter_ps