How to Teach a Fitness Boot Camp

Fitness boot camp is an intense workout program that boosts fitness levels quickly. Most instructors teach daily, month-long courses, using obstacle courses and cardio exercise to whip clients into shape.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Outdoor workout space
• Rope, tires, stairs, walls for obstacle course
• CPR certification

Get Started as a Fitness Boot Camp Instructor

1. Get certified through an organization like the National Exercise Trainers Association (see Resources below). Though not required by government agencies, it is a condition of employment by some employers. Certification can also enhance marketability for freelance instructors.
2. Open your own business or join a staff to teach boot camp. An employer may want you to go through his or her training and certification process. Many employers look for a military or physical education background and experience as a personal trainer or group fitness instructor. You should be in excellent condition and be able to run several miles easily.

Create a Fitness Boot Camp Workout

3. Evaluate clients and establish goals in line with each participant's fitness level.
4. Choose an outdoor location to teach boot camp, if possible. Parks, beaches and trails offer the widest variety of man-made and natural obstacles essential for fitness boot camp. Choose a place with flat areas for calisthenics and rugged areas or stairs for aerobic workouts.
5. Develop an exercise plan with calisthenics and cardio. Circuit training, jumping jacks, stationary running, kickboxing and obstacle courses can make up a diverse workout.
6. Create an obstacle course. Look for park benches or low walls to step on, stairs for squats and climbing and large drainage pipes to crawl through. Set up ropes to crawl under and tires to jump through.
7. Schedule and market classes. Boot camp is usually one hour per day, five days a week for four weeks.

Tips & Warnings

• Offer same-sex classes. They are booming in popularity with participants who are uncomfortable working out with members of the opposite sex.
• Try to offer classes to participants with similar fitness levels.
• Have new clients sign a legal release.
• Know your clients' abilities. High-impact exercise can cause muscle injuries. Have clients warm up, cool down and stretch.

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