My first bootcamp experience.

My first bootcamp experience.
Wednesday, February 25, 2015 @ 9:15 PM

Last weekend I was invited along to a taster day at a new bootcamp that has just started up in Marbella. Now, for me the word 'bootcamp' conjures up images of a harshly strict regime inflicted by sadistically strict instructors on poor weeping souls begging to be shown mercy while face down in a muddy puddle being forced to do endless push ups. Or am I confusing bootcamp with a scene from 'An Officer and a Gentleman'? Anyway, in reality this rather over dramatic image that I have of bootcamp actually couldn't be further from the truth. Aurora Bootcamp is run from a beautiful villa in Las Chapas and on the day we went it was a gloriously sunny and warm day. Furthermore the instructors are not in the least like sadistic army drill sergeants, they are instead all you would hope them to be - fit, informative and efficient but with a relaxed, cheery approach that encourages you to push yourself to your limits. The day promised to offer us sample sessions of some of the activities that would make up the bootcamp.

We started off with a fun and energetic boxing session and then moved on to a Tabata workout which is a circuit of high intensity exercises that we did for I minute each and then had 30 seconds rest in between before moving on to the next one. After this I slipped off for a rather fabulous massage with a wonderful therapist who as well as working on my numerous muscle problems advised me with ways I can help to manage them on a day to day basis. Next was a session where we alternated between taking part in kettle bell exercises and core exercises and then we stopped for a light lunch which was a lovely chicken and bacon salad prepared on site. After lunch we had some time to sit and chat on the grass with the other people on the bootcamp before getting back to work.

We went for a quick trip down to the beach to sample the sort of activities that could be involved during beach bootcamp workouts before returning to the villa and walking down to the nearby tennis court. On the tennis court we took part in lots of shuttle runs and played some fun and very high energy games in pairs and groups involving planking, sit ups, lunges and squats that really pushed our muscles to the limits and got our heart rates racing! On returning to the villa we had a wonderful yoga session by the pool and during the relaxation stretches at the end many of us were falling asleep!

The day was chock-a-block full of varied and fun exercises which were delivered in a way that was accessible to all fitness levels. Each new activity was introduced with a range of different intensity levels which enabled people to access them at a level that would be challenging to them. Any injuries are also taken into account. I have tendonitis and in the introduction to each activity I was given advice on how to take part without putting any painful stress on my knees.

I was very impressed with the whole day and especially with how the instructors were so approachable and made you feel like you could attain whatever you pushed yourself to do. The organisers were very friendly and made sure that we all had a wonderful day. I was at the bootcamp from 10am until 4pm and by the time the day came to an end I was absolutely exhausted and feeling like I had had a really thorough workout. The next day I definitely knew which muscles had been put to work as I ached all over! So, if any of you are looking to improve your fitness or lose weight then the Aurora Bootcamp could be just the thing you are looking for. I will certainly be going again as soon as I can!

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