BODY & SOUL

From: OneWorldLive.com  

Exercise Boot Camps   Written by Mara Cook 

When most of us hear the word “boot camp”, we envision Richard Gere in An Officer and Gentleman getting screamed at by Lou Gossett, Jr.  Well, thanks to an exercise trend that is sweeping the nation, the term boot camp is getting a fresh image.  This fitness alternative combines obstacle courses, conditioning stations and the shouts of a supportive, but assertive, drill sergeant disguised as a “personal trainer.”  The concept behind this hybrid form of exercise is concentrating on high intensity, strength and endurance. 

Many trainers also like the idea of taking workouts out of the gym and into the great outdoors. The boot camp I checked out lacked the element of the screaming drill sergeant (not that I’m complaining).  Instead, the trainer, Mike Diamond, focused more on using motivating, encouraging words.  And for me, getting out of bed at 5:30am was all about encouragement. I met up with Mike and his "Mind and Body Boot campers" at a neighborhood park at 6:00 a.m.  At 6:03, we started out for a mile and a half run around the perimeter of the park. 

Because they are all on different levels of training, everyone sets their own different pace, which Mike supports.  “The fact that these people are here and pushing themselves gets them one step closer to their goal. One of the participants said to me,  “Mike, I’ve learned the secret to this bootcamp: It’s showing up”. And the people that do show up all have different backgrounds.  Two of the women, Amy and Joni, were original members of the “princess boot camp”.  Don’t let the name fool you:  It was just as intense -- they just met later in the morning.  “People are capable of more than they realize.  Part of the key to this workout is giving people confidence to do it.  Once they see that they can run, or do sit-ups, they push themselves to a new level.” 

Half way through the run, the people in the lead stopped to let the stragglers catch up.  We didn’t get a rest though;  this is a bootcamp after all!  While we waited we did jumping jacks.  After the run, we grabbed our water and a folding chair, and hit the pavement.  Using the folding chairs for support, we did step-ups, dips and lunges.  Sitting on the chairs we used dumbbells to do curls and presses.  While we were doing this, other people in the park shouted out “keep it up, you’re doing great!” or “do one more!”  At the end we had a much deserved cool-down stretch. If you’re like me, and need to have someone motivate you to exercise, I totally recommend you to find a boot camp in your area.  The other “recruits” were very supportive of each other’s success.