Meaghan Baron, 30, joined a postnatal boot camp last summer to tone up with friends after the birth of her son. "I was looking for a way to get in shape while getting the baby out of the house," says Meaghan, who lives in Toronto. "I increased my cardio endurance, met some great moms and got inspired to get back on track." Best of all, the boot camp was held at a park near her home and she didn't have to bring any equipment. Boot camps are booming, promising an intensive, exhilarating workout. Here's what they have to offer, and how to choose one that meets your needs.
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The benefits
Boot camps combine cardio and strength training through exercises such as squats, push-ups, lunges, calf raises, planks and jumping jacks. Bonus: You can burn 300 to 500 calories an hour in a boot camp. Judi Haig- Tullio, a group exercise instructor in Toronto, adds, "People aren't competing with each other in the gym mirror." Instead, she says, participants "see other people succeeding," which can be very motivational.
Find the right camp
You can choose from introductory, postnatal, senior, cancer-survivor and vacation boot camps – and the list goes on. Some boot camps are held in local parks, others in community centres or private gyms. How do you find one? Ask neighbours, friends and co-workers or try an online search for programs in your area. Expect to pay between $100 and $350 for a 10- to 12-week program.
The best boot camp for you is a class that suits your fitness goals and is taught by an instructor who has the experience – and flexibility – to meet them. "The instructor will make or break the class," says Darlene Buan- Basit, a Toronto-based chiropractor and certified fitness expert.
Page 1 of 2 – On page 2, find a list of health precautions to be mindful of before beginning a fitness program such as boot camp.
