back to
boot camp
Left, left… left, right, left… get on the fitness bandwagon and head back to boot camp
If you've ever been up early in the morning,
you will have noticed the slightly unnerving sight
of groups exercising on parks and benches all over
town.
It looks like hard work, and it is.
The question is - are boot camps the best thing
since Jane Fonda donned her leotard or just another
fitness fad?
Choosing your
boot camp
Any fitness activity has
some risk, but by using
a service offered by a
Registered Exercise
Professional you can be
assured your instructor
knows their stuff.
• If you are new, choose a
programme that has ten or
less people in it to ensure
your trainer can give you
the support you need.
• Talk to the trainer prior
to signing up to make sure
their training style is the
right fit for you.
What exactly is a boot camp?
The images the word 'boot camp' conjures up for many of us are of military based
operations with drill sergeants and far too many push-ups. While the original boot
camps were military style operations, as time has passed there are many more civilian
style formats that cater for all fitness levels, with instructors that are more about
supporting you rather than making you suffer.
What is involved?
Just as each gym or class is different, so too is boot camp. A good boot camp will
offer cardiovascular fitness as well as strength and flexibility gains. It's an all over,
medium to high intensity workout. Many exercises use bodyweight or the natural
terrain (if the boot camp is near some stairs there's a good chance you'll be climbing
them). It's more like a personal training session than a group fitness regime.
Is it for me?
While exercise is for everyone, to truly enjoy a boot camp you'll need to be keen to
get sweaty and possibly dirty and be happy working out in a public place.
• The outdoor setting is great for those who don't like to work in a traditional fitness
setting.
• The 4-6 week block means you can focus in the short term, although to maintain
your results you'll need to keep working out in the long term.
• Outdoors means wet weather too, not for the faint hearted on a cold and windy
morning, although boot camp devotees claim this is half the fun.
• A full on boot camp is hard work; those who haven't exercised for a while may
struggle with the intensity.
• Boot camps are usually held VERY early in the morning or after work; while the
thought of waking at 5 to workout frightens many of us, it's a great way to get it out the
way before heading to the office for a day's sitting.
Julz Darroch
www.reps.co.nz
"Are boot camps the best thing since Jane Fonda
donned her leotard or just another fitness fad?"
www.h e rmagaz in e .co.n z | 69
