Why Boot Camps are a booming trend

"Everyone deserves to feel powerful and fit."
Urbanfitt mission statement.

We strive to create an environment where anyone at any experience level can walk in and feel comfortable. All too often I hear about nightmare stories from people who go to join a gym and walk away feeling far worse about themselves then before they found the courage to step through the door.

Most recently, I heard a story from a stunning 24 year old woman who had been comparison shopping gyms in Toronto. According to our scales she weighs about 110 lbs and based on Dr. Todd Starr's measurement she is 14% body fat.

The day before her measurements at Urbanfitt, she had walked into a large fitness chain (wish I could name the company but might get my ass sued) and was assaulted with a hard core sales pitch. According to their scales and body fat measurement methods, she was 118 lbs and 24% body fat. They told her she wouldn't be able to get her body fat to a healthy range unless she committed to 50 personal training sessions. Well, it doesn't take a genius to be able to tell this beautiful young woman was lean and didn't have any body fat issues. The last thing she needed was for someone to exploit whatever insecurities she had about her body and inflate measurements to get her money. With her wits about her, she walked out of that gym and the next day gave them a piece of her mind. She shared her story with us and we were determined to rectify her negative experience.

It makes me so mad when I hear these stories. I think about how much courage it takes for some people to even enter a gym. Then I hear about stories like the above and it makes me feel even more resolved to nurture an environment at Urbanfitt that builds people up, rewards and acknowledges people's efforts and unconditionally accepts people at whatever fitness level they are at.

Which brings me to my hypothesis why boot camps have been growing in popularity over the last few years.

Boot camps are normally run by people unaffiliated to large gym chains. The liability issues of outdoor fitness programs normally deters large gyms from offering such programs. Therefore, the people offering boot camps are often independent. Boot camps don't require enduring a high pressure gym sales process. Most people participating in boot camp programs are like minded. They want to be outside. They like the motivation group classes offer and enjoy building relationships with the same people week after week. Most boot camps require a minimum four week commitment so people get to see the same faces each class.

I've seen how people can grow confidence and build friendships in boot camp programs. Classes are often so challenging for everyone that you can't help but lean on each other for support and for chuckles when you just feel like packing it in. There is an alchemy when like minded people come together to get fit. And with the right instructor, a couple months in a boot camp program can literally 'reboot' your lifestyle.

Stay posted for specific dates for our Trinity Bellwoods Bootcamp starting up in May. If interested, let me know how Wed evenings and Sat mornings might work.

And together, let's send big chain gyms a message that their high pressure sales tactics are just plain wrong by seeking out different alternatives to getting fit.

Over and out.
Jane