Are you a fan of group fitness? Does exercising in a crowd motivate you and push you to work harder than you typically would? If so, add boot camp fitness classes to your list of must-try workouts.
Boot camp is a military-inspired, high-intensity fitness course designed to increase your cardiovascular capabilities and improve muscle tone. It encompasses a series of heart-pumping, sweat-inducing movements that challenge even the fittest of its members.
Read on to learn the numerous benefits of boot camp, and check your local gyms for a class near you.
1. Muscle Tone
Boot camp is a full-body workout designed to strengthen every muscle in your physique. Though each class is different and provides much variety, you will always have the opportunity to tone your arms, legs, abs, and other pertinent muscle groups. Further, a considerable amount of cardio is exerted in each class, boosting endurance and burning calories. Therefore, many boot camp devotees boast about their new bodies after only a short time of taking classes. Full-body, combination exercise programs produce results much quicker than singular workouts do. Remember that muscle tone is dependent on proper nutrition as well as regular exercise. Providing your body with healthy protein powder, supplements, and pre-workout snacks increases energy and makes for a more efficient, energized workout.
2. Mental Health
One aspect that makes boot camp different from alternative workout classes is the role taken on by the instructor. Because the course format evolved from workouts developed in the military, the instructors treat the participants as such. Mimicking a drill sergeant, instructors hold their students accountable for their actions and push them beyond their limits. While loud yelling may abound, rest assured these leaders are productive and efficient. In addition to challenging the practitioners physically, boot camp instructors mentally condition their class members as well. Positive encouragement from the teachers results in elevated confidence, grit, and fortitude in students.
3. Social Circle
Accountability is one of the most attractive aspects of group fitness. It’s what keeps fitness enthusiasts regularly coming back for more classes. Often when people devise an individual fitness plan, their dedication wanes after a few months. When no one is counting on you to show up at the gym, it is challenging to find the motivation to go.
Boot camps involve a large number of participants, and instructors routinely promote interaction and participation between them. Additionally, class members are often placed in groups, competing against one another during workout challenges and fitness contests. This teamlike environment promotes accountability and encourages social interactions. Not only can you increase your heart rate and burn calories, but you might make a new friend as well!
4. Weight Loss
The primary reason most individuals join a gym is to lose weight. Whether they have a substantial amount of weight to lose or just a few extra pounds, exercise plays a crucial role in maintaining healthy body composition. By alternating between cardio activity and strength training, boot camp keeps your heart rate elevated throughout the class. This exertion heightens your metabolism, burning calories during your workout and long after it is complete. Bonus, some boot camp classes crank up the heat in the room, generating additional calorie loss per workout. Weight loss is as simple as burning more calories than you ingest. Therefore, boot camp is an excellent addition to your weight loss journey.
5. Improved Attitude
As mentioned earlier, exercise is incredibly beneficial to your mental health. Increased activity results in the release of hormones in the brain, known as endorphins. Endorphins are mood-boosting chemicals that naturally elevate energy and promote feelings of well-being. Because boot camp classes are high in intensity and incredibly energetic, the endorphin release experienced after class is even stronger than a less aerobic workout. That said, though it may be challenging and painful at times, boot camp can positively affect many aspects of your life.
Find a Bootcamp Workout
Boot camp is a dynamic workout with endless benefits to both body and mind. You can find a gym that specializes in this type of training, use a pre-written bootcamp workout at home, or make up your own bootcamp style workout on the fly. Whether you are new to the gym or a fitness fanatic, boot camp class provides a healthy, fun workout alternative to each of its members!
Tags: boot camp, bootcamp, Fitness Tips
