Charlie Aiello hasn’t discovered the fountain of youth, but he figures he’s found the next best thing through the “sweet science.”

The financial advisor with CIBC Wood Gundy in Winnipeg recently completed Fight Club, an ultra-intensive workout and nutrition program run by the Pan Am Boxing Club. Led by Harry Black, a former Canadian middleweight boxing champion, the seven-week program aims to get participants in the best shape of their lives.

As the weeks wore on for Aiello, the frequency and intensity of the workouts increased to the point at which he and his fellow “contenders” were in the gym up to 12 times a week. They were skipping, running stairs, doing pushups, squats and split jumps, flipping tractor tires, hitting heavy bags and doing abdominal exercises they never even knew existed.

At the same time, they switched to a healthier diet and were encouraged to eat five small meals throughout the day.

Although the program was at times gruelling, it was well worth it. Aiello dropped 10 pounds, now tipping the scales at 162 pounds, and he has shaved two-and-a-half inches off his waistline. He’s sleeping better and is more energetic during the day.

“It [has] made me more focused because I have energy and I’m well rested,” he says. “[Being fit] makes a difference.”

Each contender in the program was teamed up with a Pan Am leader, who served as a mentor for the duration of Fight Club. Contenders were also asked to track their workouts and their meals in a journal, all of which had to be signed off by their leader.

Black, who runs his own accounting firm, F.H. Black & Co. , believes people in high-stress jobs perform much better when they are in peak physical shape. But getting in shape is not easy when your days are jammed, the markets are on a roller-coaster and clients are demanding more of your time and attention. But, Black says, you have to make physical fitness a priority, and training like a boxer provides an excellent workout.

“Boxing is a great stress reliever,” Black says. “The release you get from hitting things like the heavy bag can be very therapeutic. It gets you repositioned to get back to the office or go home and deal with your family on a reasonable basis. It cleans the slate.”

A fitness program for adults is as important as physical education classes are for children, Black says. Research has shown that healthy bodies lead to improved attention spans and better marks among pupils. Similar effects are felt by fit adults.

“I definitely feel my ability at work is much improved after all the working out I’ve done,” Aiello says. “You end up [as] a much sharper and attentive worker. [Advisors] need that because they’re making snap decisions, changing clients’ positions and giving advice.”

The last day of Fight Club includes a one-hour “hot” yoga session to give contenders a taste of something different, as well as an idea of how they can diversify their workouts.

Ryann Doucette, co-owner of Moksha Yoga, says yoga can lead to many of the same benefits as boxing but in a different way. It’s a cardiovascular workout because of the heat — which is between 38°C and 40°C in the studio — but there’s also a strong focus on flexibility, strength-building and endurance work.

If you don’t believe her, she says, consider professional athletes such as football’s Miami Dolphins running back Ricky Williams, a long-time proponent of yoga.

“It’s a huge component of his training,” she says. “There’s a lot of upper-body strength, triceps pushups and core strength in yoga. All of the balancing postures are building strength, too. Lots of squats, lunges and sit-ups are things people would recognize from the gym.”

Doucette agrees that a fit body leads not only to an inspired life but to a more efficient worker.

“You’re able to function better,” she says. “The whole practice of yoga is in being present, staying focused on the task at hand. The more you can practice being present, the better you can do your job.”

Boxing clubs can be found in every big city and most offer straight fitness classes, as opposed to just training actual fighters. Aiello says the Fight Club program has changed his life.

“I like the way I feel,” he says. “When you’re feeling weak, beat up and unhealthy, it affects your confidence negatively. I am more confident because I feel better and stronger. ” IE