I’ve recently started running an outdoor boot camp session
each week with a mixed ability group. Our first few sessions have been a huge
success with good attendance and amazing feedback. On the whole, the weather has
been on our side and the guys and girls who’ve come along have thrown
themselves into everything I’ve asked of them.
I suppose that one major consideration when marketing and
planning ‘boot camp’ sessions is just how hardcore to go. To some, the name of
the exercise class itself conjures up visions of military-style obstacle
courses, which might feel very intimidating for some. But I reckon we’ve hit
upon a perfect blend of challenging bodyweight work and the use of equipment
such as:
- Tyres
- Ropes
- Kettlebells
- Dumbbells
- Balls
- Cones
- Resistance bands
I absolutely love planning and delivering these workouts and
it’s great to meet loads of new people who I wouldn’t necessarily have pleasure
of working with had I not taken my business away from the gym for one day a week.
And exercising outdoors is just brilliant, particularly in a
group. Here are my top 4 reasons for trying to plug more outdoor exercise into
your routine:
Vitamin D
Most of us have heard of vitamin D. It’s a vital
and nutrient in optimising bone health, modulating immune function and reducing
inflammation. The sad thing is that a HUGE portion of us are deficient in this
vitamin because of our poor diet and sedentary lifestyles. One very simple way
of getting your body to synthesise its own vitamin D is to get your skin in the
sun for 20 minutes every day. Our Saturday morning boot camp will, as long as
the weather behaves itself, give you more than enough.
Mental Well-Being
Studies have shown that exercising
outdoors promotes feelings of increased energy, revitalisation and positive
engagement. Read more about these findings in this Science Daily article. For
those who struggle to commit to exercise, these mental benefits might just be
what you need to make the new habit stick. A study from Canada confirms this in
older women.
Space
As an instructor it’s great to train a group outside
because of the options it gives me because of the space that’s available. We
all know how claustrophobic and cramped it can feel when working out in a busy
gym. There’s no such problem at boot camp!
An Ever-Changing Environment
From one day to the next, the
gym will never change. The weights machines will track along the same
pre-determined path, the mats you use to perform your core exercises will
continue to provide a familiar soft and comfortable support for your lower back,
and the treadmills will never let you do anything but walk or run in the same
direction. This is all well and good. But what about real life? Do we always move
in straight lines? Should we always prioritise comfort over function? The
simple answer is NO. Training outdoors provides an opportunity for your body to
practice adjusting to changes in terrain, temperature and a whole host of other
inconsistent factors.
Here are some images of the team having fun in the wind,
rain and sun…
For information about joining our boot camp, please get in touch via peteyardley.hf@hotmail.co.uk

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