If you’re designing a boot camp workout program then you want to make sure that it’s as safe, productive, and entertaining as possible for your clients. That’s not always as easy as it sounds but it’s definitely important. In order for your clients to get the most out of your program you might need to do some creative organizing on your part.
The following are the top 6 common boot camp workout mistakes that you should avoid and why you should stay away from them. By avoiding them, you can create a healthy, fun, and productive environment for your clients to exercise in.
Before I get into the top 6 I will emphasize that NOT PLANNING is the Number 1mistake with planning a bootcamp as well as planning a bootcamp program as I have mentioned in previous articles.
- Not warming up.Duh! Even though you are optimizing workout time for your clients you still need to provide a warm up time. When you don’t provide a warm up time for them, it can cause possible injury. Injuries aren’t good for the client but they aren’t good for your business either. Muscles need adequate time to warm up, especially considering the intensity of the boot camp exercises.
- Not cooling down. Likewise, muscles also need the chance to cool down at the end of the workout. You can’t just simply stop cold and let everyone leave. There has to be a gradual cooling down period just as there is a warm up period. Cooling down should exist of slow breathing and stretching. Not stretching after an intense workout will cause stiffness and sore joints.
- Not paying attention to detail. Even boot camps can get in a rut. If it’s not working and your clients don’t seem to be into the workout then it’s time to change things up. Try to get a feel for what your clients like and don’t like and tweak the routine accordingly. Pay attention to the type of clients attending the class and what their ultimate goals are! There’s a big difference in the outcome of your clients when they are bored during a workout versus being stimulated and energized.
- Doing too much too fast. A good trainer will be able to gauge their clients and how much they can actually handle. Asking them to do more than they can actually do can be dangerous and lead to injury. This is particularly true when it comes to weight training but can be true where cardio is concerned as well. It’s your job as their trainer to understand and know their potential and limitations. Use this to your advantage.
- Not mixing it up. A good fitness boot camp will have a mix of cardio and strength training exercises. Try to have a combination of both so that your clients are able to get a full body workout. This is one of the main reasons why they sign up for a fitness boot camp to begin with. You want to keep clients moving, motivated and energized so they burn the most calories possible in the 50 minute session. Don’t do the same thing every single time; change it up a little and always add variety.
- Not providing motivation. In a good boot camp, you want to keep your clients moving at all times. That’s one of the great selling points about a boot camp is that clients are constantly on the move, burning the max amount of calories. But what keeps the clients going besides the music and the person behind them? YOU, the trainer. When you keep yourself involved and motivating the clients they feel they can push a little more and do 5 more reps or 2 more burpees and when they do they get a rush to do even more. Motivation goes a long way. It helps the 50 minutes fly by like it was 30. Motivating your clients is good for client retention and referrals. They want a trainer that is into what they’re doing.
Many of these mistakes can be avoided with proper planning. When you start designing your boot camp you will want to create some sample itineraries and plan them accordingly. You might also want to carry them out yourself to see if they work before you put any potential clients through them. Once you carry the exercises out, you’ll be able to see if there is anything that needs tweaking before you get any warm bodies in them.
Above all, a boot camp should be exciting and stimulating while still providing a high quality workout. Your clients are there to get in shape but they want an engaging experience, too.
Georgette Pann: owner of NutriFitness Personal Training Studio and Bootcamps. She is author and creator of the best selling “Sure VictoryFitness Bootcamp Kit” and “Sure Results:The Ultimate Book of Bootcamp Workouts”