all about the boot camps...running from June-October

A couple weeks ago, I finished my 7th and 8th boot camp session for this year--my first year. This year has been very fulfilling getting to design and implement my own fitness boot camps starting with two two week long sessions (an early a.m. and an evening session) in June. It's definitely been a lot of work, a lot of learning the hard way, but also so rewarding. I LOVE being able to do something active and healthy on an everyday basis and getting to be with some of the most amazing women. I also LOVE getting outside and it was the perfect times of day; either early in the morning right in time for the sun to rise or later in the evening and getting to watch the sun set. The park we were at had beautiful views of the mountains and I loved those moments where all my blessings: the beauty around me, a body that functioned, great company, great family and friends and getting to do something I loved set in. My favorite sessions were my very first...early a.m. and eight super gals, my tough girl session...again an early morning session and it was not for beginners, so we worked and played hard (a.k.a. killer freeze tag ;-), did a lot of running and advanced exercises and it actually may have been my very most favorite! and lastly the mom and baby sessions I just finished up, which were definitely different from others, but a lot of fun and great to get a group of moms and their little ones together for a refreshing start to your day! I had a couple that were more challenging and I learned some important lessons from them. With each of them I got to meet and know new and amazing ladies and loved it.

It's also great to still get to be a stay at home mom and still get to do something I feel passionate about. Next year, I look forward to more fun sessions! I'm hoping to start back up in May with a mom and me and an evening session, June having another early morning session and tough girl session and we'll see from there. We'll see what the future holds! Here's some pics I've been wanting to post so I could reserve some of the memories in our yearly blog book. That was one important lesson I learned: take more consistent pictures of each session and get a group photo each time...next year! this was on the last day of the first session...I had superwoman Jane, a student of mine from the health club I work at come and speak to the group for a few minutes. She's in her sixties and is as agile, strong, and capable as an athletic teenager. She's a great example of the importance of exercising your body regularly as you grow older...I like to say, grow older, stronger and BETTER! She's definitely done this and I always love having her in my classes.

drawing names (#s) for prizes...my first two sessions, I was able to give out some great prizes: movie tickets, hair products, bags of groceries which were all mostly donated from local businesses.

Tom brought the kiddos and took pics on the last day...

this was the last day of my first of two evening sessions. We had a nice big group and a lot of fun and some gorgeous sunsets! We did more Yoga with this session.

On this day, I had Mercedes, another student of mine come and speak to the group. She's a very cute 73 year old lady from Jamaica. I remember the first time she came to my class, she was in the back of the gym doing everything we were doing without modifications (easier methods) and with amazing agility and flexibility. I was so impressed. I still see her one or two times a week...she's raising two of her grandkids and is just so full of life and vibrancy....THIS is how to strive to be in your seventies, eighties and so on! It takes a few minutes a day and healthy food choices...but, so worth it!!!

Jeanine, from Switzerland and her three beautiful daughters...