How to Create Your Own Fitness Boot Camp

Hope you're having a great weekend! I've got a guest author today who really know his stuff. Enjoy!


- Jim


How to Create Your Own Fitness Boot Camp


Just about every fitness center and gym seems to offer a version of the trendy boot camp workout these days. Some go with a pseudo-militaristic theme, complete with camouflage gear. Others refer to standard circuit classes as boot camps.


Deciding what type of boot camp workout you want to teach determines where you'll hold it, what equipment you'll need, what exercises you'll introduce to clients and, most importantly, who your target clientele will be.


Choosing a target clientele


If your strength as a trainer lies in postpartum fitness, consider designing a boot camp for new mums. Or perhaps you have athletic experience and are good with team sports. Why not target participants who enjoy higher-intensity, athletic training? Stick with your strengths, and your creativity will follow.


Liability issues


Before starting your boot camp classes, check with your professional liability insurance carrier to make sure that you are covered to teach in a group or outdoor setting and also that the exercises you present are covered under your policy. Know what your class is capable of and monitor class participants closely to minimize the chance of injury.


Boot Camp programming


Design a program that gradually increases in intensity over the length of the course. For example, you wouldn't teach plyometrics on day one, but you shouldn't have to instruct proper crunch form on day 15 either.


Class design


Begin each class as if you were teaching an aerobics class: do light cardiovascular movements, such as running, skipping rope, squat thrusts, etc. Follow the cardiovascular exercise with graduated stretches of the body parts that you plan to train more intensely during that session.


For the rest of the class, I like to alternate intermediate cardio with calisthenics and core conditioning. For instance, my clients do a ¼-mile run in their best effort without completely exhausting them followed by lunges and standing hip abductions before doing martial arts-style abdominal work in a standing position (e.g., hip/torso flexion).


They rest for upwards of 90 seconds and then transition back into 2-5 additional minutes of cardio, followed by drills like pushups, medicine ball tosses and seated abdominal chops. Whatever exercises you decide to teach, keep your programming simple and fun!


Phil A. Lalli is the owner/operator of Sun Fitness Personal Training Studio in Tampa , Florida. To discover the four things you MUST know about running profitable fitness boot camps please visit: http://www.howtoprofitwithbootcamps.com


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"Jim,

Just wanted to give you a quick heads up on the progress I've made with my camps since purchasing your Ultimate Boot Camp Product.


I started in March '06 with about 10 people attending. It's steadily grown over the last 9 months with this month hitting 56 enrolled!!


It was your product that cemented the idea to start my own camps. I had no idea at the time that some initial guidance from the Ultimate BC CD's and some marketing know how would amount to a such a successful business.


I want to thank you for providing that spark that ignited what this year will be a SIX-FIGURE boot camp business!!"


Yours In Health,

Eric Gelder
ChandlerBootCamp.com


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"Hi Jim,

My name is Lyle Johnson, owner of MVP Fitness in St. Louis. I purchased your Boot Camp Start Up Kit and have gotten great results. I have had 44 camp members enroll in MVP Fitness Boot Camp in the first month. Not bad considering I only had 3 clients last year before the Kit!


Currently I am holding three camps; one at a local high school, another in an affluent subdivision and the other one for the St. Louis Cardinals Baseball Organization, which is actually held on the baseball diamond at the brand new Busch Staduim.


I feel great and very confident in the future direction of MVP Fitness and I am looking forward to improving more people's lives by offering more boot camps.


Thanks again! Your Ultimate Boot Camp Start-Up Kit CDs really helped me grow my business!"

Lyle Johnson
MVP Fitness, LLC


http://www.howtoprofitwithbootcamps.com