This morning I proved that I am not an alien owner of a fitness boot camp company, but indeed a human being. Whew! Now everyone knows my secret.
The story is I was late. My alarm didn't go off and one of my instructors had to kindly serve me a wakeup call as 40 of my boot campers patiently waited in the parking lot for their fearless, and now human, leader to arrive at Blackburn Park Boot Camp.
I don't have an excuse, because there shouldn't be one. I live accountability, so I should stand by it even when it is not convenient. So I gratiously did my 45 pushups for being late while my boot campers happily counted them out.
But this brings up a really important fact about being a boot camp owner and operater. As the leader of many people, your example is what sets the tone of your business. If you stand around and bark orders, your clients will see you as unforgiving. If you get down and dirty with your clients and feel the same pain that they do, they will have a certain amount of respect for you that placed you in that "alien" category.
But the best part about this morning was that by re-joining the "human" group, my clients realized that my success isn't so unattainable. That they goals and thus their success might just be possible. I am not sure I could have planned for a better lesson in believing in oneself.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Serious Results for the Serious Man: The Evolution of Group Fitness
Outdoor fitness expert, Mari Garner who extended group fitness beyond the gym and into the parks, now explores a new avenue – Group Fitness for Men. As founder of The American Boot Camp Company, Mari is constantly innovating her outdoor workout regimen and indoor group ex programming to meet the needs of an ever growing population of men that want the accountability and motivation of a group, but not the frou-frou dance classes or step aerobic classes offered at the local gym. “Most guys can’t and don’t want to dance at the gym. They want simple movements that are real, not choreographed and most gyms don’t provide that type of programming,” offers Garner. “We appeal to men with loud, fast beat driven music in classes where it is ok to sweat, perform power jump squats or do slow pushups to build muscle mass.”
Painting a new image of group fitness in the minds of the male client is a number one priority. Class titles like “Buns and Glutes” have to be replaced with “Boot Camp” and “Interval Training”. Class programming needs to become less choreographed, movement patterns need to become more athletic and workouts need to become shorter and geared toward a total-body experience. Most importantly, long cardio routines that build upon memorized dance steps have to be replaced with more dynamic and explosive movements to keep the interest of the males and to constantly keep them challenged physically.
The American Boot Camp Company is proving that group fitness is not just for girls. By creating workouts using athletic drills, agility training and functional movements a tough full-body workout can be achieved in every kickboxing, interval and core conditioning class. And yes, this training is done in a group. But Jane Fonda beware. There are no leg warmers, just a serious group of fitness enthusiasts – everyday athletes as they are often referred to, led by a certified, athletic instructors that are tough enough to challenge any man to a pushup contest.
But don’t equate group fitness to gym class either. There are no teams to be picked, just a group of people with the same goal of getting in shape. At The American Boot Camp Company Fitness Studio in Atlanta, GA, every member is there for one reason only – to get their butts kicked. They don’t put on make-up to come to the gym or wear jog bras or tight shorts. And the guys that come don’t look like Richard Simmons.
Check out this line up for the best group fitness classes for men:
Kickboxing: Interval training and heavy bag work combined to maximize calorie burn. Each class incorporates the functional movements of kickboxing with strength elements such as squatting and lunging and core elements such as pushups and ab work. See results in no time.
Female to male ratio: 15:5
Bottom line: In a society based in efficiency, this is the best full body workout. Get out all your aggression on the heavy bags and keep your nice guy reputation. Burn up to 750 calories in 45 minutes and look like a boxer. Who wouldn’t want that physique?
Try this class for a major kick in the pants: Tara’s 6PM class on Monday or Ricardo’s 10:30AM class on Saturday
Interval: Constant action of cardio based intervals, plyometric & agility exercises and strength training using free weights, medicine balls and heavy resistance bands
Female to male ratio: 12:8
Bottom line: This is perfect if you are not a fan of weight lifting or if you want to burn some fat to show a little bit more definition. You will not be out of place in this group class.
Try this class for a major kick in the pants: Mari’s 6PM class on Tuesday
Core Conditioning: Think you abs are strong? Think again. This is more than just an abs class and is guaranteed to give you that six-pack you have always wanted and make you a better athlete.
Female to male ratio: 10:4
Bottom line: Try it if even once a week to stay injury free and to improve your golf swing. Great for cross training, too.
Try this class for a major kick in the pants: Chris’s 8AM class on Saturday or Mari’s 6PM class on Thursday
Outdoor Fitness Boot Camp: 4-Week results based exercise and nutrition program designed to jump-start any fitness routine. All fitness levels are welcome, but participants are usually broken up into smaller groups based on their cardiovascular and strength levels. Workouts combine athletic based drills, interval training and core conditioning with running and strength training to provide ultimate results.
Female to male ratio: 20:12
Bottom line: This is the best workout in town. With multiple fitness boot camp locations across Atlanta, The American Boot Camp Company does fitness boot camp better than any others.
Painting a new image of group fitness in the minds of the male client is a number one priority. Class titles like “Buns and Glutes” have to be replaced with “Boot Camp” and “Interval Training”. Class programming needs to become less choreographed, movement patterns need to become more athletic and workouts need to become shorter and geared toward a total-body experience. Most importantly, long cardio routines that build upon memorized dance steps have to be replaced with more dynamic and explosive movements to keep the interest of the males and to constantly keep them challenged physically.
The American Boot Camp Company is proving that group fitness is not just for girls. By creating workouts using athletic drills, agility training and functional movements a tough full-body workout can be achieved in every kickboxing, interval and core conditioning class. And yes, this training is done in a group. But Jane Fonda beware. There are no leg warmers, just a serious group of fitness enthusiasts – everyday athletes as they are often referred to, led by a certified, athletic instructors that are tough enough to challenge any man to a pushup contest.
But don’t equate group fitness to gym class either. There are no teams to be picked, just a group of people with the same goal of getting in shape. At The American Boot Camp Company Fitness Studio in Atlanta, GA, every member is there for one reason only – to get their butts kicked. They don’t put on make-up to come to the gym or wear jog bras or tight shorts. And the guys that come don’t look like Richard Simmons.
Check out this line up for the best group fitness classes for men:
Kickboxing: Interval training and heavy bag work combined to maximize calorie burn. Each class incorporates the functional movements of kickboxing with strength elements such as squatting and lunging and core elements such as pushups and ab work. See results in no time.
Female to male ratio: 15:5
Bottom line: In a society based in efficiency, this is the best full body workout. Get out all your aggression on the heavy bags and keep your nice guy reputation. Burn up to 750 calories in 45 minutes and look like a boxer. Who wouldn’t want that physique?
Try this class for a major kick in the pants: Tara’s 6PM class on Monday or Ricardo’s 10:30AM class on Saturday
Interval: Constant action of cardio based intervals, plyometric & agility exercises and strength training using free weights, medicine balls and heavy resistance bands
Female to male ratio: 12:8
Bottom line: This is perfect if you are not a fan of weight lifting or if you want to burn some fat to show a little bit more definition. You will not be out of place in this group class.
Try this class for a major kick in the pants: Mari’s 6PM class on Tuesday
Core Conditioning: Think you abs are strong? Think again. This is more than just an abs class and is guaranteed to give you that six-pack you have always wanted and make you a better athlete.
Female to male ratio: 10:4
Bottom line: Try it if even once a week to stay injury free and to improve your golf swing. Great for cross training, too.
Try this class for a major kick in the pants: Chris’s 8AM class on Saturday or Mari’s 6PM class on Thursday
Outdoor Fitness Boot Camp: 4-Week results based exercise and nutrition program designed to jump-start any fitness routine. All fitness levels are welcome, but participants are usually broken up into smaller groups based on their cardiovascular and strength levels. Workouts combine athletic based drills, interval training and core conditioning with running and strength training to provide ultimate results.
Female to male ratio: 20:12
Bottom line: This is the best workout in town. With multiple fitness boot camp locations across Atlanta, The American Boot Camp Company does fitness boot camp better than any others.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Live, Work Hard, Play the entire time
I am so proud to announce the wonderful work that our Midtown Owner, Lauren DiNatale, has done to secure a new relationship with Atlantic Station! She has worked to make The American Boot Camp Company the Official Boot Camp in Atlantic Station. This relationship will help our entire organization to grow and generate new clients but will specifically help the Midtown area to begin to take some market share in the boot camp industry. With free workouts twice a month in Central Park, we are sure to attract many people for fun, yet challenging workouts.
But what is very exciting to me is that the Live, Work, Play mentality that Atlantic Station builds its community around is the very same premise that The American Boot Camp Company follows. We want all of our clients and instructors to work hard, but to play harder. Even in our instructor group, we can be found many mornings starting to "play" before we even get to work. Check out this post from several months ago on how our Happy Hour begins before work. We think life begins over coffee and that we should play the entire day.
Now I know that many people believe that all I do all day is workout and train people. Although I wish that was true, it couldn't be farther from the truth. Check out a Day in the Life of The American Boot Camp Company owner. I, too must go to a job every day where I deal with clients, sales, marketing, financials and have goals and must manage employees. Fortunately for me, I try to make this as fun as possible by building my business around my passion. If everyone could do this, I think the world would be a much more productive place. But until then, I will settle for playing at 6am, happy hour at 7 am and then heading off to work!
But what is very exciting to me is that the Live, Work, Play mentality that Atlantic Station builds its community around is the very same premise that The American Boot Camp Company follows. We want all of our clients and instructors to work hard, but to play harder. Even in our instructor group, we can be found many mornings starting to "play" before we even get to work. Check out this post from several months ago on how our Happy Hour begins before work. We think life begins over coffee and that we should play the entire day.
Now I know that many people believe that all I do all day is workout and train people. Although I wish that was true, it couldn't be farther from the truth. Check out a Day in the Life of The American Boot Camp Company owner. I, too must go to a job every day where I deal with clients, sales, marketing, financials and have goals and must manage employees. Fortunately for me, I try to make this as fun as possible by building my business around my passion. If everyone could do this, I think the world would be a much more productive place. But until then, I will settle for playing at 6am, happy hour at 7 am and then heading off to work!
Getting "Schooled" - Part 1
Even as adults we continue to learn. As a leader in the outdoor fitness industry, I have to make sure to stay on top of new techniques, laws and trends to keep everyone that I educate operating at the highest level. This goes for my boot camp instructors and licensees, too.
But sometimes we forget that often the best lessons are the ones we already learned. So let's go to study hall...
Several months ago, I posted about the trials of breaking campers up into groups in my Picking the Team post. Yesterday at the boot camp workout, we saw the true reality of what happens when someone feels that they are in the wrong group. They feel dejected, like less of a person and even depressed. As their coaches, we can avoid this. First by doing a better job of breaking up the group. It is my job as the lead instructor to be aware of every single detail of every person's personality - especially my clients that have been working with me for several months. I need to know they want that extra push and I need to know when to give it to them. As a support instructor or the instructor leading the group for the day, you can also help. Support instructors can challenge that person to go faster to run an extra lap or do perform a more advanced level of the exercise. Leaders can see that one client is faster or stronger or needs a great push and can group that person with the other clients that are at the top range of the group. But we must be aware that we will make mistakes from time to time and that is how we learn.
Ring>>>Ring>>>Ring>>>
Class dismissed...
But sometimes we forget that often the best lessons are the ones we already learned. So let's go to study hall...
Several months ago, I posted about the trials of breaking campers up into groups in my Picking the Team post. Yesterday at the boot camp workout, we saw the true reality of what happens when someone feels that they are in the wrong group. They feel dejected, like less of a person and even depressed. As their coaches, we can avoid this. First by doing a better job of breaking up the group. It is my job as the lead instructor to be aware of every single detail of every person's personality - especially my clients that have been working with me for several months. I need to know they want that extra push and I need to know when to give it to them. As a support instructor or the instructor leading the group for the day, you can also help. Support instructors can challenge that person to go faster to run an extra lap or do perform a more advanced level of the exercise. Leaders can see that one client is faster or stronger or needs a great push and can group that person with the other clients that are at the top range of the group. But we must be aware that we will make mistakes from time to time and that is how we learn.
Ring>>>Ring>>>Ring>>>
Class dismissed...
Thursday, April 17, 2008
The benefits of rising early with a clear head
I'll admit it. I am a boot camp instructor and I like to drink wine. I like to crisp fruit taste of a white wine or the bold spicy taste of a red wine. So much so, that I decided to start a wine tasting club with my friend, Emily.
So last night was our first club outing and man was it fun. We brought together girls from all different backgrounds, with all different career paths. Some married, some single, some tall, some short, but all of us united in wine. And after several bottles and lots of fun tastes and maybe a little to much of one particular variety we closed our first official wine club meeting and went home to our comfortable beds.
When my husbands alarm sounded this morning, I realized that I probably had 2 too many glasses last night and desperately needed water. But unlike most people, my second thought was that I needed to get hydrated so that I could go on my Thursday run. If I was too dehydrated, I might pull a muscle or something worse. So after a bottle of water, I decided to lay in bed a little. You see, Thursday is my day to sleep in to the late hour of 8am.
Now sleeping in to me, is not the same as it is to most people. Every morning, I rise before 5AM, quickly get dressed, brush my teeth and head out to boot camp at Blackburn Park. My job begins at 5:40am every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. So on Thursday I sleep until 8am. And that is late.
This morning when I rose with a foggy head, I realized why I quit partying and boosing it up on a frequent basis several years ago. I felt like I was waisting time. Like I had just wasted 2 hours of precious daylight and that I could have accomplished so much more. That is when I remembered how much I love to get up early and get things accomplised. And one saying kept popping into my head that a former boot camper once said, "At boot camp, we accomplish more by 7AM than most people do all day."
Lesson of the day - a wine tasting should be limited to one pour a bottle.
So last night was our first club outing and man was it fun. We brought together girls from all different backgrounds, with all different career paths. Some married, some single, some tall, some short, but all of us united in wine. And after several bottles and lots of fun tastes and maybe a little to much of one particular variety we closed our first official wine club meeting and went home to our comfortable beds.
When my husbands alarm sounded this morning, I realized that I probably had 2 too many glasses last night and desperately needed water. But unlike most people, my second thought was that I needed to get hydrated so that I could go on my Thursday run. If I was too dehydrated, I might pull a muscle or something worse. So after a bottle of water, I decided to lay in bed a little. You see, Thursday is my day to sleep in to the late hour of 8am.
Now sleeping in to me, is not the same as it is to most people. Every morning, I rise before 5AM, quickly get dressed, brush my teeth and head out to boot camp at Blackburn Park. My job begins at 5:40am every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. So on Thursday I sleep until 8am. And that is late.
This morning when I rose with a foggy head, I realized why I quit partying and boosing it up on a frequent basis several years ago. I felt like I was waisting time. Like I had just wasted 2 hours of precious daylight and that I could have accomplished so much more. That is when I remembered how much I love to get up early and get things accomplised. And one saying kept popping into my head that a former boot camper once said, "At boot camp, we accomplish more by 7AM than most people do all day."
Lesson of the day - a wine tasting should be limited to one pour a bottle.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
A Day in the Life of The American Boot Camp Company Owner
If owning your own business and being your own boss was easy, everyone would be doing it. But owning and operating a business is an even bigger challenge. For all those that think I workout all day and have fun, here you go.
4:55AM - Alarm sounds. Roll over and hit snooze
5:00AM - Alarm sounds. Grab cell phone and head to get dressed, brush my teeth and get to camp. I also check the weather on my cell phone and by opening the door to my deck.
5:18AM - Take dog out and feed.
5:20AM - Head to studio to pick up equipment/print updated attendance sheet
5:28AM - Head to Blackburn Park to daily Boot Camp Workout
5:33AM - Begin taking attendance and welcoming each client as they arrive.
5:40AM - Support Instructors arrive and help with daily nutritional counseling. I continue to take attendance and check food logs as I can.
5:55AM - Daily meeting with instructors to review upcoming workout and their rolls.
6:00AM - Workout begins!
6:00AM-6:45AM - FUN
6:45-6:50AM - Return to car and extra credit
6:55AM-7:30AM - Daily post boot camp coffee at Starbucks
8:00-8:45AM - Get ready for my day job - running the sales and marketing of The American Boot Camp Company.
9AM - Arrive at the office and check email.
9AM - Breakfast: dannon lite and fit yogurt and Nature's Path optimum granola. 1/2 cup of pineapple.
9AM-10AM - Return emails, correspond with instructors, current month boot campers and follow up with clients that didn't attend the workout and didn't let me know ahead of time.
10AM - meet with Katie, my assistant, and get her started on a new project with constant contact email and with updating my office files.
10:15AM - follow up with Team in Training about an upcoming event.
10:17AM - contact web/ad designer about printing more brochures for upcoming conference
10:20AM - contact my SCW Fitness contact about shipping manuals for certification from Atlanta rather than paying shipping costs twice. Follow up with her on outstanding invoice for teaching in February.
10:20- Mid Morning Snack - banana and almonds
10:30AM - Begin to process quarterly taxes. Pay March payroll taxes online and print out all Q1 forms. Write checks for state taxes paid quarterly. Fill out new employee forms and enter newest employee into quickbooks.
11:30AM - Check emails and return important messages. Organize upcoming instructor continuing education series for Q2, organize New Licensee email newsletter education series and make list for questions for Tara and Katie to address via email later.
12:15PM - Return sales calls to potential licensee in South Carolina and followup with new sign ups for Chastain PM and East Cobb.
12:30PM - Update homepage on the website with new information about upcoming Big Peach 5K. Remember to contact Todd about race bags.
12:45PM - Get ready for Junior League Fashionist Week where we give all Junior Leaguers 20% off boot camp and studio. Note in day planner to update Tara and Courtney on details.
1PM - Meeting with sales rep from SKIRT magazine to work on 3rd Quarter 2008-3rd Quarter 2009 budget and strategy. Looking to get rates and added value.
All this before lunch...
4:55AM - Alarm sounds. Roll over and hit snooze
5:00AM - Alarm sounds. Grab cell phone and head to get dressed, brush my teeth and get to camp. I also check the weather on my cell phone and by opening the door to my deck.
5:18AM - Take dog out and feed.
5:20AM - Head to studio to pick up equipment/print updated attendance sheet
5:28AM - Head to Blackburn Park to daily Boot Camp Workout
5:33AM - Begin taking attendance and welcoming each client as they arrive.
5:40AM - Support Instructors arrive and help with daily nutritional counseling. I continue to take attendance and check food logs as I can.
5:55AM - Daily meeting with instructors to review upcoming workout and their rolls.
6:00AM - Workout begins!
6:00AM-6:45AM - FUN
6:45-6:50AM - Return to car and extra credit
6:55AM-7:30AM - Daily post boot camp coffee at Starbucks
8:00-8:45AM - Get ready for my day job - running the sales and marketing of The American Boot Camp Company.
9AM - Arrive at the office and check email.
9AM - Breakfast: dannon lite and fit yogurt and Nature's Path optimum granola. 1/2 cup of pineapple.
9AM-10AM - Return emails, correspond with instructors, current month boot campers and follow up with clients that didn't attend the workout and didn't let me know ahead of time.
10AM - meet with Katie, my assistant, and get her started on a new project with constant contact email and with updating my office files.
10:15AM - follow up with Team in Training about an upcoming event.
10:17AM - contact web/ad designer about printing more brochures for upcoming conference
10:20AM - contact my SCW Fitness contact about shipping manuals for certification from Atlanta rather than paying shipping costs twice. Follow up with her on outstanding invoice for teaching in February.
10:20- Mid Morning Snack - banana and almonds
10:30AM - Begin to process quarterly taxes. Pay March payroll taxes online and print out all Q1 forms. Write checks for state taxes paid quarterly. Fill out new employee forms and enter newest employee into quickbooks.
11:30AM - Check emails and return important messages. Organize upcoming instructor continuing education series for Q2, organize New Licensee email newsletter education series and make list for questions for Tara and Katie to address via email later.
12:15PM - Return sales calls to potential licensee in South Carolina and followup with new sign ups for Chastain PM and East Cobb.
12:30PM - Update homepage on the website with new information about upcoming Big Peach 5K. Remember to contact Todd about race bags.
12:45PM - Get ready for Junior League Fashionist Week where we give all Junior Leaguers 20% off boot camp and studio. Note in day planner to update Tara and Courtney on details.
1PM - Meeting with sales rep from SKIRT magazine to work on 3rd Quarter 2008-3rd Quarter 2009 budget and strategy. Looking to get rates and added value.
All this before lunch...
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Decisions
Most of the life changing decisions that have occured in my life have been made for me. Usually when a change is necessry the powers that be get involved and make it so that there isn't a decision. I am ok with that, too. Just as long as I continue to live right and try to be good and just in all the daily choices I make, my good intentions usually lead to that right choice.
But for once I am at a juncture in my life that I have to consciously choose. I worry that if I choose one way I will regret it in the future. But if I choose the other way I may regret that too. And so for the past month or so I have made no decision. I have put it off using this past weekends trip as an excuse. But now that the trip is over I have to decide how to proceed. And I think for once in my life I am going to proactively make a decision.
It will be life changing for me and for many others. And every second I am second guessing myself. I try to remember all of the people that inspire me to be better, my husband and family, those clients that so generously allow me to be a part of their life changing experiences, who make me truly want to be a better trainer. And for those who can't be part of my journey. I just don't want to dissappoint anyone.
And so over the next few weeks my decisions will play out. I have this little placque on my desk that says, sometimes you just have to take the leap and build your wings on the way down.
So here's to the hope I have wings.
But for once I am at a juncture in my life that I have to consciously choose. I worry that if I choose one way I will regret it in the future. But if I choose the other way I may regret that too. And so for the past month or so I have made no decision. I have put it off using this past weekends trip as an excuse. But now that the trip is over I have to decide how to proceed. And I think for once in my life I am going to proactively make a decision.
It will be life changing for me and for many others. And every second I am second guessing myself. I try to remember all of the people that inspire me to be better, my husband and family, those clients that so generously allow me to be a part of their life changing experiences, who make me truly want to be a better trainer. And for those who can't be part of my journey. I just don't want to dissappoint anyone.
And so over the next few weeks my decisions will play out. I have this little placque on my desk that says, sometimes you just have to take the leap and build your wings on the way down.
So here's to the hope I have wings.
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