Boot camp for women

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 13/08/2003 (8174 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A St. James resident is blending personal training and fitness instruction in a program designed to inspire women, and help them tone up, lose weight and get fit.

Jason Brown, owner and fitness instructor for Winnipeg Boot Camp, ran his first camp from July 7 to Aug. 1. The seven participants, ages 21 to 40, gathered weekdays at 5:45 a.m. at Assiniboine Park for a challenging one-hour workout.

The second Boot Camp is set for Aug. 18 to Sept. 12.

“I get them going, five days a week for four weeks,” says Brown. “We go non-stop. We are always moving. There is not just one component to our training. We do a variety of things each day.”

Outdoor activities include running, soccer drills, weight training, flexibility and strength exercises, abdominal work, and more.

“We always mix it up,” says Brown. “We work hard, and never have the chance to get bored.”

Brown, 32, is a YMCA fitness instructor who teaches stationary cycling classes at the Downtown Y. He has also earned a personal training certificate in the United States. A lifelong fitness enthusiast, over the years he has enjoyed bodybuilding, running, indoor cycling and playing sports.

“I have always been into fitness,” says Brown. “I like the feeling you get after you have done a workout, the sense of accomplishment, the increase in energy.”

Brown models his program on the Adventure Boot Camp concept, originated in California by John Spencer Ellis. He discovered the program online, and Ellis invited him to come out and participate in it. Brown was hooked, and decided to bring the concept back home.

Most of the ladies in his first camp had not been working out for some time, but by the end of the program, they had lost some weight, toned up, increased their upper body strength and endurance, and were able to run a mile in less time then when they began.

“The goal was to develop fitness as a habit. They had a chance to experience a variety of activities, too,” says Brown. “The biggest obstacle to getting fit can be not being sure how to start. In this program, there is structure, demonstrations and support. It helps them to get off on the right foot and increase their confidence.”

Prior to the start of the program, participants complete a precamp evaluation. Brown takes body composition measurements with a skinfold caliper to determine their body fat percentage. He measures triceps, hips, waist and thighs, and notes their weight. He also ensures there are no medical conditions that would prevent a potential participant from taking part safely.

During the camp, Brown stresses safety and demonstrates each exercise. He also uses two-way radios to keep close tabs on participants during runs.

For now, Winnipeg Boot Camp is a seasonal program.

For further information and to sign up for the next session, visit www.winnipegbootcamp.com or call Brown at 885-5349.