What's the drill?
Listed in the top 10 fitness trends in 2015, boot camps and outdoor group training programs are a popular and effective choice for individuals looking to improve their fitness. Shown to have higher adherence rates than exercising alone, the social support given in boot camp programs encourages long-term commitment and as a result delivers fitness improvements for participants.
In an ACE study, titled ‘Drop and give me 20’, researchers at the University of Wisconsin assessed the health and fitness benefits of boot camp-style workouts. Researchers found that the biggest benefit of a typical boot camp workout is that participants burn an average 600 calories (2508 Kilojoules) per hour during sessions that mix aerobic movements with strength work.
The benefits boot camp workouts deliver are not solely dependent on the type of exercises involved. A huge part of what’s driving the success of boot camp programs is the focus on team-oriented exercises. Research shows that having a highly cohesive group where all participants are focused on shared tasks has a far greater impact on exercise compliance and adherence than other sources of support, such as a family member.
Head Presenter at the Fitness Education Network (FEN), Jonathon Petrohilos explains that, “The element of “friendly-competition” and the need to keep up with the pack encourages participants to push themselves and work as hard as they can, for the duration of the session.
To achieve group cohesion trainers need to make a conscious effort to build relationships amongst their group, remembering that a lot of people are initially uncomfortable working with strangers. Generally run outdoors, location is also a huge motivator and an often-welcomed distraction for participants.
Along with the location, another attraction of boot camp style programs is the variety created by the choice of movements. While exercising at the gym is usually a solo activity, the crucial difference with boot camp is that clients work together, encouraging each other throughout the class. Research shows that training in a group also means participants are more accountable for their actions and therefore less likely to miss a class.
Click here to read the full article in the Spring eJournal POWERED.
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