I have decided to tell you about some of the great exercise classes and groups in and around Austin that you can take part in. For my column in this series, I chose to do something that really pushes you, a boot camp.
Drawn in by the name and the free first class, I decided to try out was the Austin Adventure Boot Camp (AABC). AABC was founded in 2005 by Stephanie McDonald. AABC started out as a women-only boot camp but, as a result of its popularity and the women wanting to share their experience with their significant others, an evening co-ed class was soon added.
AABC holds classes throughout Austin and the surrounding areas. I attended the Northwest Austin boot camp class held at Canyon Vista Middle School at 6:30pm.
Boy was it cold (although not as cold as the morning class, from what we heard)! We were required to bring a workout mat, dumbbells (5lbs-15lbs, or whatever your comfort level is), water, and a towel. The classes start with some stretching and warming up and, before you know it, you’re right into the workout. The instructor had us doing a lot of body weight exercises, i.e. push ups, squats, lunges, etc. Most of the exercises are done with little to no rest between them, an advanced training
method also known as super-setting. This increased our heart rate early and it stayed up for the whole hour (or lil’ more) we were there. Also included in our session was some running-a good mix of long runs at your own pace and sprints-and, of course, we abdominal exercises. Then, a light cool down with some stretching to finish our session.
Overall, my experience with AABC was excellent. In the three days that I took part in the AABC, whether planned or not, I got to work out with three different instructors. Each one of them brought their own brand of creativity to the session, which I really enjoyed. All three trainers were extremely positive, enthusiastic, and passionate.
Their positive energy manages to make its way through everyone at the boot camp, which just makes it that much more fun. The enthusiasm and passion that these instructors show really shines through, as is evident by their numerous awards: the Austin Chronicle’s Best Fitness Classes and Best of Citysearch’s Best Alternative Workout, just to name a couple.
Austin Adventure Boot Camp is a great way to get fit and have fun doing it. I would definitely recommend AABC to anyone searching for a quality boot camp to get healthier. You can check out their website at http://www.atxbootcamp.com/ for information regarding pricing and times.
Please consult a physician before starting an exercise program. As always, if you would like me to cover a specific topic, please feel free to email me at [email protected].
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