Boot camp classes have become a popular way for people to stay in shape through challenging outdoor workouts. The article describes attending a boot camp class led by instructor Janneke in Istanbul's Emirgan Park. The hour-long class included a variety of intense exercises like squats, pushups, and hill sprints. While difficult, being outside in nature and exercising as part of a group provided motivation. Janneke aims to grow the boot camp class by offering new activities like training for a mud run.

1. nÍg
ffitL
fr itness often falls bY
L tne wavside when living
I the heótic big citv life.
lstanbul has PlentY of gYms'
but working out indoors in a
smelly, sweatY environment
has its drawbacks'
Named after the Punishing
workouts used for militarY
training!, boot camP has
become a PoPular waY for
regular PeoPle to staY in
shape. OriginallY involving a
pseudo-armY officer i nstructor
yelling abuse at a grouP of
quivering attendees, boot
camp has become milder
in deliverY, Yet remains
challenging in essence. On
a bri$ht FridaY morning at
Emirgan Park, I showed uP in
my sPorts kit and woollY hat,
ready for a challenge. I'd done
boot camP classes before, in
England as well as in Qatar'
After working out in 3S-degree
desert heat, how tough could
lstanbul's version reallY be?
The instructor, Janneke,
greeted everYone and
began the warm uP' The
group numbered around 15
people, all women - although
Janneke assured me men
are PerfectlY welcome to join
in. Warming uP involved light
jogging, knee raises, and arm
stretches to PrePare everyone
for the harder stuff still to
come. Janneke then led us
on a run around the Park.
Everyone went at their own
pace, but PeoPle were clearlY
motivated to keeP uP with
the pack. Arriving at the next
area in the Park, we were led
through a varietY of squats
and jumP moves. At this
point mY legs started to burn
intenselY. I wanted to give uP
and rest. But seeing the other
group members working hard
kept me going and Pulled me
through to the end.
The session continued with
an ihteresting set of exercises
involving a giant rubber band,
then some killer Push-uPs and
tricep diPs on Park benches'
Then we sPread out around
an empty car Park for a
sweat-soaked circuit includi ng
skipping, sit-uPs, squats and
lunges.
Janneke took us through a
stretchin$ routine and then
finished off the session with
a final round of tough hill
sprints. Most PeoPle seemed
to have PlentY of energY left,
and even those who were
visibly wiltin$ made a final
push to tackle the hill' One
hour had flown bY and the
class was over in a flash'
The great thing about boot
camp is the sheer varietY of
exercises involved in a tYPical
session. There's never time
to get bored or look at Your
watch, unlike in the gYm.
Exercising outside is another
major Plus Point. There's
something hi$hlY motivating
and uPlifting about working
up a sweat surrounded bY
pleasant Park scenerY. lt
gives You a feeling of well-
neing that lasts for the rest of
the daY.
lstanbul's boot camP
instructor Janneke
Kelderman, from the
Netherlands, is a qualified
physical theraPist. She
started lstanbul's boot camP
exactlY one Year ago, with onlY
two ParticiPants at the first
session. Since then the class
has grown to include over
fifteen regular ParticiPants'
with more exPressing interest
every daY.
JannekP talked
enthusiasticallY about boot
camp's benefits. "Exercising
in the fresh air reallY changes
your mindset. Even if the
weather's bad, doing boot
camp still clears Your mind
and refreshes You. That's
why I named the class Fresh
lstanbul."
She went on to highli$ht the
distinct advantages of working
out as Part of a friendlY group'
"When evelPne is outside
exercising together, there's
a big social asPect which
helps motivate PeoPle even
more." lstanbul's boot camP
is set to grow and develoP
even further, as Janneke
is planning a range of new
activities to give the classes
more varietY. "There are so
many Possibilities in this
park. I'm even going to train
people for the Mud Run next
month, which should be fun.''
lf you're looking for a uniquelY
muckY challenge, whY not trY
the Mud Run?
Fresh BootcamP takes
place in Emirgan Patk
every MondaY and FridaY at
9.30am.
Find out more: www.facebook'
com/Freshlstanbul
24 wwwlitneoutistanbul'c om / en Apr rl 201'4