BOXING bags, battle ropes, kettle bells, slam balls.

When you walk into Maroochydore's newest gym Hiitboxx 35, it's all action as trainers guide members through a 35-minute high-intensity interval training (HIIT) program.

It's a tad different to the yoga classes that Buddina yogis may know owner Paul Vercoe for.

The single dad and former co-owner of Zenko Yoga opened his newest venture on Tuesday, welcoming new members with a fast-paced, interval workout involving 14 stations and two-minute exercises with 30 second breaks between.

"About a year ago I was down in Brisbane staying with a friend and had a vivid night of dreaming and scheming," Mr Vercoe said.

"I said to my mate in the morning, 'I think I'm going to start a functional gym, with boxing and HIIT'."

His classes start with a salute to the sun, and balance and flexibility are central outcomes of his circuits. His training was cardio-intensive, good for weight loss and great for emotional balance, he said.

"Even though it's a pretty intense 35-minute workout, they'll notice they might feel down when they arrive and feel up when they leave," he said.

"It's a massive release of endorphins, so that always makes you feel good."

It took a while to get his head around his options, Mr Vercoe said, but after researching costs of opening a franchise and taking on another brand, he decided to start his own.

It would cost upwards of $150,000 just to buy into an existing brand such as CrossFit or F45, while Mr Vercoe was able to start his for $35,000. 

"I figured I could do it much leaner," he said.

"I haven't got fancy TVs with people demonstrating exercises but I have personal trainers to walk you through."

He had a "minimum viable product" he said, and would develop it and grow it as his following grew.

Boxing was becoming increasingly popular among women, he said, citing the huge Instagram following of Victoria's Secret models and other celebrities who describe it as their favourite form of workout.

Mr Vercoe quit the corporate "rat race" a decade ago after working with General Motors Holden. He has taught yoga for six years, running his own yoga businesses first in Melbourne then in Buddina.

He was confident a gym that tied together HIIT with functional training, boxing and plyometrics (jump training) would go well on the Sunshine Coast.

Find Hiitboxx 35 next to Anytime Fitness on Kingsford-Smith Pde, Maroochydore and on Facebook here.