Two close friends zealously encouraged me to give boot camp a try for almost a year. While I admired their passion and their amazing physical transformation, I didn’t think boot camp would be for me. I’m moderately introverted by nature. I love people, but prefer smaller, more intimate interaction with friends.
I harbored some negative stereotypes about gyms in general, considering them to be magnets for attention-seekers. I’ve done various types of aerobic exercise most of my life, but from a quasi- meditative perspective. When I run, for instance, I get lost in my thoughts and am almost surprised when I find reach the end of my route. Regardless, I respected my friends’ judgment and thought that I may be missing something big.
I attended my first class on January 5th. The workout involved some rowing, plyo jumps, push-ups, kettle bell swings, and d-ball slams. Other than push-ups, everything was brand new to me. I started with the smallest plyo box, and watched in awe as some others were jumping up on boxes that seemed to span half my body height. "I’ll never do that," I muttered. Doug Chapman immediately admonished my use of the term, "never." While somewhat skeptical, something told me he was right.
The next day I went to the Detroit Institute of Arts with my husband and the two friends who hooked me into boot camp. I could barely move. I wondered how I might "ever" make it up the stairs to attend the Annie Leibovitz exhibit. I soon learned that going down a flight of stairs was even harder than ascending them! Over the next couple of weeks the stiffness subsided. I frequently felt clumsy in class, and even experienced muscle fatigue for the first time. We were lunging around the gym and at one point my legs simply wouldn’t lift my knee off the floor. The first two weeks were characterized by many "firsts."
Soon I felt surprised by how much vigor I had. I felt like the "energizer bunny." My daily productivity began to soar, and at night I was sleeping deeply. I suspect my endorphins were high by the end of each class. I started coming home and chatting incessantly to my husband – poor guy – he often was hoping to sleep much later than my 7:15 a.m. return. My body has started changing, too. I started training at a pretty good weight for my 5’
2" height, but my overall structure seems to be getting more compact. I’m feeling stronger and in better balance in my daily motions, whether they are moving around the house or running on days I’m not in boot camp.
As for my preconceived notions about gyms – I was wrong - at least at HyperfitUSA. Folks are there to train. There’s a sense of bonding that seems to happen when people push themselves to their limit, so there is a sense of community. Moreover, the level of expertise that Doug Chapman and the instructional staff offer is exceptional – quite honestly I’m not advanced enough to fully appreciate the extent of it. For example, Doug recommended that I see my doctor to rule out any structural problems in my hips after observing my squatting motions. I just learned that my right leg is ¾ of an inch longer than my left, and my physician has referred me to an orthopedic physical therapist. I wouldn’t have even suspected a problem without Doug’s intervention.
It’s been seven weeks and boot camp has already become one of the most important parts of my life. I encourage anyone who has even the slightest interest to give it a shot. I know I’m glad I did.
Carol H.
Age 48
College Professor
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