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WHIP YOUR
BOOTCAMP INTO SHAPE!
The combination of fresh air, a social environment and a well-planned workout can be a
recipe for training and business success, writes personal trainer Theresa Prior.
tarting your own outdoor group
fitness business or bootcamp
can seem overwhelming, but with
some planning you can establish
a strong structure that will cope with
whatever you and your clients throw at it.
By taking some time to create some
simple but flexible systems, you can ensure
that you are not spending hours planning
sessions – which will allow you more time to
work on the bigger picture for your business.
By considering the following points,
you’ll be well on your way to filling amazing
sessions with clients who, by becoming your
raving fans, will be the best marketing you
could wish for.
S
It’s a numbers game
The first consideration with any group
fitness class is the expected number of
participants. Unless you are doing a class
where every participant is doing the same,
bodyweight-only exercises, then numbers
will be important to you. While it is nice to
know who is coming along to your session
beforehand (and important in order to
plan for any contraindications for certain
participants), the clients you have booked in
to your session will not always be the clients
who actually participate in your session. It
is prudent to plan the session so that one
person could do it, or 30 people could do it.
Ways to do this include:
• Using a timer for circuit stations (there
are plenty of great interval timer apps
available)
• Being flexible with circuit stations if one is
a timekeeper station (i.e. everyone moves
after 30 ball slams) – you may need to
decrease or increase the stations to suit
the number of participants
• Understanding that a group of three can
work in the same way as a pair – simply
have two participants do the same thing
in that trio
• Understanding that a group of three can
also be a pair in boxing – either two
boxers or two pad holders, and have
them switch around more often than the
actual pairs.
When you first start out, planning for a
sudden change in participant numbers can
be helpful. It’s good for your own confidence
and peace of mind to have a Plan A, Plan
B and even Plan C for each session. Over
time, however, you’ll gain the confidence
and experience to safely alter a session plan
on the fly to suit the number of participants
standing in front of you.
The great outdoors session
template
So what can a typical outdoors session look
like? You will know your own training style
and the interests of your clients, so if you’re
a fan of the ViPR or your clients revel in
padwork, then include elements of what you
love doing. Remember, however, that most
people sign up to outdoor training because
it’s different to what they could get from an
indoor gym or studio-based group workout.
An element of fun can really add that
jois de vivre to your sessions and have your
clients talking about you for days afterwards.
A great session template that packs in the
smiles as well as the effort could include the
following (times are recommendations only):
Warm up (5 minutes)
• Keep this simple, timed and relevant to
the planned, main circuit.
• Participants should work individually.
• Timing movements, rather than counting,
allows for latecomers to slip in without
disruption (there will always be a
latecomer – allowing them the chance to
fit in without embarrassment is a
welcoming thing to do)
• The warm up also gives you the chance
to observe participant energy levels,
participant
engagement,
attitudes
towards the session and any injuries that
will require exercise modifications.
Game (10 minutes)
• It is not imperative to play a game, but
doing so will encourage client interaction,
set the tone for the session, and raise
energy levels
THE QUICK READ
• Participant numbers in outdoor training
sessions can vary considerably, so
plan sessions that one person could
do, or 30 people could do
• A great template for an outdoor session
might include a warm up, a game, a
main circuit, another game and then a
cool down
• To avoid client burnout, you need
variety throughout the week, month or
six-week block, rotating through
cardio/running sessions, strength-
based sessions and interval sessions
• By making sessions fun and
incorporating opportunities for client
interaction, you will increase
adherence, participation and word-of-
mouth referrals.
NETWORK SUMMER 2019 | 51