| Just about every fitness center and gym seems | | | | chance of injury. |
| to offer a version of the trendy boot camp | | | | Boot Camp programming |
| workout these days. Some go with a | | | | Design a program that gradually increases in |
| pseudo-militaristic theme, complete with | | | | intensity over the length of the course. For |
| camouflage gear. Others refer to standard circuit | | | | example, you wouldn't teach plyometrics on day |
| classes as boot camps. | | | | one, but you shouldn't have to instruct proper |
| Deciding what type of boot camp workout you | | | | crunch form on day 15 either. |
| want to teach determines where you'll hold it, | | | | Class design |
| what equipment you'll need, what exercises you'll | | | | Begin each class as if you were teaching an |
| introduce to clients and, most importantly, who | | | | aerobics class: do light cardiovascular movements, |
| your target clientele will be. | | | | such as running, skipping rope, squat thrusts, etc. |
| Choosing a target clientele | | | | Follow the cardiovascular exercise with graduated |
| If your strength as a trainer lies in postpartum | | | | stretches of the body parts that you plan to train |
| fitness, consider designing a boot camp for new | | | | more intensely during that session. |
| mums. Or perhaps you have athletic experience | | | | For the rest of the class, I like to alternate |
| and are good with team sports. Why not target | | | | intermediate cardio with calisthenics and core |
| participants who enjoy higher-intensity, athletic | | | | conditioning. For instance, my clients do a |
| training? Stick with your strengths, and your | | | | ¼-mile run in their best effort without |
| creativity will follow. | | | | completely exhausting them followed by lunges |
| Liability issues | | | | and standing hip abductions before doing martial |
| Before starting your boot camp classes, check | | | | arts-style abdominal work in a standing position |
| with your professional liability insurance carrier to | | | | (e.g., hip/torso flexion). They rest for upwards of |
| make sure that you are covered to teach in a | | | | 90 seconds and then transition back into 2-5 |
| group or outdoor setting and also that the | | | | additional minutes of cardio, followed by drills like |
| exercises you present are covered under your | | | | pushups, medicine ball tosses and seated |
| policy. Know what your class is capable of and | | | | abdominal chops. Whatever exercises you decide |
| monitor class participants closely to minimize the | | | | to teach, keep your programming simple and fun! |