Why Outdoor Bootcamp?

Easter is here. Good Friday is next week! If you're keen to start the four day long weekend exercising in the park (before devouring your body weight in chocolate), please VOTE!! It's currently very close, but you have until tomorrow night to get your vote in.Do you want to train on Good Friday this year:

    Yes, I can't wait!    or    No, I'd like to sleep in. 

Due to a scheduling conflict at the venue, thewine tastingwon't be able to go ahead on the proposed date (6th April), but new plans are formulating and we hope to have an update soon.

As the mornings get cooler and darker, it seems timely to revisit the benefits of choosing to start the day with an outdoor bootcamp. Now is the time to cement the habits which will carry you into the winter months. Obviously you're all jumping out of bed to hang out with Andy, but here are some more advantages to keep in mind.Variety: Outdoor environments provide a wide range of natural elements such as hills, stairs, walls, and open spaces, allowing for diverse and engaging workouts. Not to mention the water views! Have you ever noticed an area in the park that you think might offer something interesting for the group? Mention it! Fresh air: Exercising outdoors in fresh air can increase oxygen intake and improve overall energy levels. Cooler temperatures can also be invigorating.Vitamin D: Being outside exposes you to sunlight, which helps your body produce vitamin D, crucial for bone health and overall well-being.Mental well-being: Regular exercise can increase self-confidence, improve your mood, help you relax, and lower symptoms of mild depression and anxiety. Outdoor workouts take this further, leveraging the calming effect of nature.Social interaction: Bootcamp fosters a sense of community and provides motivation and support from fellow participants.Overall, an outdoor bootcamp offers a refreshing and stimulating exercise environment, combining physical activity with the benefits of nature. Getting together to start the day in a positive way, with a friendly community of encouraging peers, is the icing on the cake. Highlights are below. We may need a fancier camera to capture the action in the dark, but Daylight Saving will end in a few weeks, and the mornings will become lighter.

Housekeeping

I hope you've all had a great week. I'm sure the milder mornings are welcome, and the changing light keeps things interesting. It must be nice to see the water and the park so still, before everyone gets their day underway. 

If anyone would still like to order a t-shirt or jacket, today is the day! The form is still up if you are interested. Easter is almost here. Hot cross buns have been out for three months and Lindt bunnies are calling my name. Across the long weekend, Good Friday is considered a pretty sombre occasion with most businesses closed. While training normally continues in the park, this year Andy wanted to check whether this is what you want. So...Do you want to train on Good Friday this year:

    Yes, I can't wait!    or    No, I'd like to sleep in. 

Andy's asked for another reminder about getting to training on time. Warming up helps prevent injury in a way that simply walking to training won't achieve; it helps build a sense of community by showing your commitment to the group; and it helps Andy by avoiding interruptions to the session that's underway. Warm ups can feel a little underwhelming, but they really do help maximise your potential and prepare you to work.Speaking of the work, if you don't currently include Saturday in your routine, maybe you should give it a go? You can get up a little later, but get an excellent start to the weekend. What better way to balance some of the delicious food and drink you are hopefully enjoying. This week Poppy is covering for Andy.Here's the highlight reel - it's quite theatrical this week. Great to see so many working on the advanced push up option. Building great shoulders! Top tip: Adjust your alignment as though you are doing a barbell press (elbows a little lower), then as you lower and press, focus on opening and closing your chest and using your upper back muscles - you'll share more of the load through your upper body and give your shoulders a hand.

Why Warm Up?

First up for those who mightn't read to the end, please SAVE THE DATE - 6th April if you're keen to be involved in a wine tasting evening. Watch this space for more information in the coming weeks.As we look toward the cooler months, Andy is having jackets and another run of t-shirts made. These jackets are breathable but wind and water resistant, and the t-shirts are super lightweight and comfortable to train in. If you're interested in purchasing either, please order using this form before next Friday. Below are images of the men's cut. 

Don't forget how important it is that you arrive in time for the warm-up! A warm-up is essential before exercise for several reasons:

1. Injury Prevention: Warming up increases blood flow to muscles, making them more pliable and less prone to injury during vigorous activity.

2. Enhanced Performance: It prepares the cardiovascular system, gradually increasing heart rate and oxygen delivery to muscles, improving performance and endurance.

3. Range of Motion: Dynamic stretching and mobility exercises in a warm-up help improve joint flexibility and range of motion, enhancing movement efficiency and reducing the risk of strains or sprains.

4. Mental Preparation: A warm-up helps mentally prepare for the session, allowing you to focus on the movements and muscles in use.

Starting the session together and on time is also the best way to make the most of your hour, and the opportunity to work together in a group.Thank you to everyone who has made the effort to get their sessions locked in with Andy on Sundays. This really helps Andy and Poppy with planning, and the commitment you make to yourself and setting the intention to turn up, might make the difference on a less than ideal morning. If you need to change sessions or can't make it, just drop Andy a message. Here's some highlights from the week. It's great to see some challenging modifications - excellent effort, Rach!