Is boot camp right for you?
According to Todd Durkin, owner of Fitness Quest 10 in San Diego and a national boot camp instructor, a camp is right for you if:
1. It’s taught at an appropriate level for your current condition.
2. The instructor is certified and capable of working with any conditions that you may have.
3. The times work with your schedule. For example, many boot camp programs are in the early morning. If you know you will not make those times, make sure there are evening options also.
4. You can try it one time first before signing up for a long commitment. This will tell you if you like the instructor’s motivational style, the intensity of the class, etc.
5. The program investment fits within your budget.
Questions to ask
before signing up
1. Does your class cater tp different levels?
2. Do you travel all over the place or stay in one general area?
3. How long have you been teaching boot camp?
4. How many people do you typically have in a class or a program?
5. Do you have to sign up for a minimal commitment or is it “pay as you go?”
6. How many days per week do you conduct boot camp?
7. What if I can’t complete a task, drill or exercise?
8. Are there shower facilities present?
9. Is it inside or outside?
10. Does bad weather interfere with boot camp?
11. How do you monitor progress?
12. Are you certified? Are you CPR-certified? Do you carry a cell phone on you in case of an emergency?
13. What happens if I travel for a week and miss a week of your program? Do you have a refund policy?
14. How long is each class?
15. Do you provide nutritional information in conjunction with your exercise program?
Full-time boot camps
Many gyms and fitness facilities offer “boot camp” classes along with other programming. Here are a few full-time boot camp operations:
Genesis Fitness Camps,
Genesisfitnesscamps.com, 303-837-1234
Boot Camp of the Rockies, BCOR.net, 303-494-4242
Adventure Boot Camp,
bootcampfinder.com, 720-339-7059 (Denver); 720-987-7732 (Centennial/
Aurora); 719-331-1361 (Colorado Springs); 303-805-4504 (Parker)
Be Strong Fitness, bestrongfitness.com, 720-280-1600
Want to try it
on your own?
Check out the book and DVD, “The Official Five Star Fitness Boot Camp Workout,” (Hatherleight Press, $16.95) with six weeks of workouts for men and women, at several different levels.
