| Boot camps, as a form of outdoor fitness, are | | | | motivation required for any type of exercise |
| catching on fast amongst the health-conscious | | | | routine. Usually, retired navy or army |
| these days. Increasing numbers of people are | | | | personnel run these fitness boot camps, using |
| opting for working out in an outdoor fitness | | | | their military experience to design the |
| b-camp, rather than exercising indoors at | | | | routines. Some of these b-camps are specially |
| home or at the gym. | | | | designed for specific groups of people such |
| | | | as older people, women, and children of |
| Boot camps offer exercises that are | | | | various age groups. |
| power-packed and challenging, which last | | | | |
| about an hour each session. One of the | | | | Classes begin with warm-up exercises like |
| reasons for the increasing popularity of | | | | stretching, limbering, on-the-spot jogging, |
| these exercise boot camps is getting a full | | | | or a slow run around a track, to get the |
| body workout within a relatively short period | | | | blood circulation going. After the warm-ups, |
| of time per session. Classes are held about 3 | | | | more intensive exercises like rigorous |
| to 4 days a week, usually on alternate days. | | | | running, body strengthening exercises like |
| The classes are designed to provide a | | | | sit-ups, push-ups, jumping jacks, squats, |
| demanding workout that strengthens the upper | | | | bear crawling, which is moving on hands and |
| and the lower body, cardiovascular fitness, | | | | feet, high-intensity on-the-spot jogging, and |
| and core body functions. | | | | so on are attempted. |
| | | | |
| Although they are based on boot camps that | | | | Generally people exercise in groups, under |
| are conducted in the military, these outdoor | | | | the guidance of an instructor and sometimes |
| fitness b-camps are not about enforcing | | | | alternating sets of exercises amongst |
| discipline, using the usual stringent methods | | | | themselves as a respite against monotony. The |
| applied in military b-camps, or prison | | | | exercises increase in intensity and |
| b-camps. Rather, they are designed to instill | | | | difficulty levels as the class progresses. |
| a healthy regimen that has the potential of | | | | Regardless of what kind of shape they may be |
| lasting a life time. This does not mean that | | | | in when they begin, usually, as the course |
| fitness b-camps are not as demanding | | | | progresses, people begin experiencing weight |
| physically as military b-camps. They use | | | | loss, they find themselves feeling fitter, |
| similar techniques of training, utilizing | | | | stronger and healthier, and there is a |
| similar equipment, designed to improve | | | | reduction in the body fat ratio. |
| stamina, strength, and overall conditioning | | | | |
| of the body. | | | | But these boot camps are not only about |
| | | | reducing weight and increasing fitness. They |
| Fitness boot camps are usually located away | | | | are also designed to improve vitality and |
| from crowded places, like within or near | | | | enhance self confidence. Activities like |
| wooded areas, on beaches or in parks. This is | | | | hiking and trekking over tough terrain, |
| because research has proven that exercising | | | | rock-climbing, and rafting in rough waters |
| outdoors can provide additional benefits, | | | | are organized regularly which encourage |
| such as enhancing the mood, which is | | | | people to push themselves to the limits of |
| important for maintaining the long-term | | | | their physical capabilities. |