If you’re looking for a change from the gym or perhaps something different to spice up your fitness routine, then ‘boot camp’ training sessions could be just the thing for you.

The name ‘boot camp’ conjures up images of outdoor, military-style fitness training – and that is the format that boot camp training sessions typically follow. Boot camp training is certainly not for the faint-hearted, but advocates are effusive about the fitness benefits and the entire experience, and this style of training is growing in popularity.

• What is ‘boot camp’ training ?
  For boot camp workouts, think ‘group training sessions’, think ‘outdoors’ (whatever the weather and whatever the season!), think ‘fun’ and think ‘challenging’. Sessions are usually held in parks for their open spaces. Groups of approximately 20 people at a time – including both men and women. Sessions usually last for one hour and contain a broad mix of running and bodyweight exercises, which have the aim of providing an all-over body workout.

  In these circuit-training-style sessions outdoors, you can expect to work hard and get hot and sweaty but also enjoy a new dimension to exercising because of the variety that the sessions bring.
• Boot camp training benefits
  By providing a mixture of exercises and cardiovascular training, a good boot camp session will work the heart and lungs and give almost every muscle in your body a workout. Sessions involve a warm-up and cool-down, bodyweight exercises, running, stretching, relays, and exercises with a partner. Training ‘al fresco’ is also invigorating – whether you’re training on a frosty autumn morning or a balmy summer evening – and the team-based theme encourages participants to really put the effort in and achieve results.
• Who is boot camp training suitable for ?
  Boot camp training is suitable for novice exercisers and fitness enthusiasts alike, because individuals will be allowed to work at their own personal level and intensity. Some sessions will also be specifically designed to introduce people to the boot camp concept.

  A good boot camp session will include variations of each exercise to cater for varying abilities, and instructors will select balanced teams so that the competitive element remains fair. If a participant has an injury or is concerned about how challenging the session will be, then it is important to raise any concerns with the instructor at registration.
• What should I bring to a boot camp session ?
  As sessions are all outdoors, you should dress appropriately for the time of year. Ideally, you should layer your clothing so that you can remove outer layers as you warm up. A lightweight waterproof jacket will help keep the wind and rain out in poor weather, and gloves are a must for those early morning winter sessions! Always take a bottle of water to keep hydrated because even in cold conditions you can lose a lot of fluid from breathing out.

  Hydration is even more important in the summer, when you will need to drink throughout your workout. It is also important to eat as soon as possible after your session ends to begin the refuelling and rebuilding process, which will optimise your recovery. Simply pack a snack in your kitbag that travels easily – such as a banana or bagel – which will help to keep your energy levels topped up until you can have a more substantial meal.
• Is boot camp really for me ?
  Only one person – you! – can completely answer that question. But given the increasing popularity of this fitness concept – in spite of its early morning and ‘all weather’ challenges – it’s likely that you’ll be able to fit in easily, as it’s likely there will be other people at the sessions who have similar levels of fitness to you.

  Boot camp gives you the opportunity to break away from a routine of either no exercise or simply going through the motions with your usual session. Add to this mix the motivational qualities of a Bodypro personal trainer, the camaraderie of group training and the refreshing nature of working out next to nature, and you have all the ingredients for a challenging fitness programme that can elevate your fitness to a much higher level than you could achieve alone.

  If you’re still not sure, take a friend along to a sample class near you. In this way you’ll have more fun – and you’ll also have an instant partner for the relays and joint exercises.
• Put the boot in !
  Boot camp training forms the cornerstone of the fitness regimes used by the armed services, who are arguably the all-round fittest group of people in our society. So the training system certainly works! Nothing worthwhile is achieved without effort and hard work – and the popularity of boot camp indicates that with our increasingly sedentary lifestyles, the opportunity to burn off some calories and get a genuine total body workout that leaves you knowing you’ve had a tough session is very appealing. So why not put the boot in yourself and give boot camp fitness a go? You never know – you just might be surprised!

Tuesday 18:00-19:00
Saturday 11:00-12:00
£5 per session
Taking place in a local park.

Thursday 19:00-20:00
£5 per session
All abilities welcome
Meet at Bodypro Personal Training Studio.