Exercises = Fun

What do scorpions, wheelbarrows, Alcatraz and Queen of Spades have in common?

They're all exercises at boot camp, an exercise program for ages 12 through adults offered at Fitness Playground, 204 N. Fifth St., Mebane.

Annie Luxmore, owner of Fitness Playground, described it as a six-week program which approaches exercise as a team activity.

"Boot Camp provides a team atmosphere and accountability. It's a want-to- be-involved type class," Annie said in a recent interview.
Annie got her inspiration from John Hinds at the Monkey Bar Gymnasium in Madison, Wis. She likes the boot camp atmosphere because it is not repetitive and she "hates the thought of being stuck in a gym."

Classes are held three times a week for six weeks. Campers do a lot of different workouts. The Animal Workout involves scorpion push-ups, duck lunges, bear crawl and frog hops. The Farmer Workout requires wheelbarrows with weights that get heavy fast and carrying sandbags, which gets harder with every step. Escape from Alcatraz challenges campers to dig, crawl, run, swim and "escape" from the hour-long workout. In the Card Deck Workout, each suit stands for an exercise and when a card is drawn you must complete that exercise.

Annie keeps workouts interesting by using a variety of a different exercise. For example, it would get pretty boring doing plain push-ups every workout, so she has many different types of push-ups. Alligator push-ups are done by putting one hand slightly forward of the other and switching them every time you go down. Scorpion push-ups start as a regular push-up, as you go down one leg goes up, and your head turns toward your leg. Other varieties include Down Dogs, Hindus and Inchworms. Annie also keeps workouts interesting by having many different types of equipment. Campers use kettle bells, dumbbells, medicine balls, mats, bands, stability balls, jump rope, wheelbarrows, sandbags, power wheels and more.

Another aspect of Luxmore's workouts is creating personal goals. These goals are monitored by personal fitness tests (PFTs). These tests are a way to measure your progress from the beginning to the end of the session. PFTs may include running the mile, number of consecutive push-ups, number of box steps in a minute, and number of V-Sits completed in a minute. These numbers and times are recorded and compared from the beginning to the end of the session. Each session different PFTs are used to monitor your progress.

If you think boot camp would be hard for you due to injury or poor conditioning, Annie is good at modifying exercises so they target the muscle groups, but are easier to perform.

Annie grew up in Sandwich, Ill. She went to graduate school and trained in Madison, before moving to Santa Cruz, Calif. Two years ago, she moved to Mebane and opened the Fitness Playground. About a year ago, Annie began a boot camp but as more teens became interested, she started a teen boot camp last November. The teen boot camp participants love Annie's workouts.

"It's not really like we're working out. It is so much fun," said Elizabeth Walker, a 17-year-old camper. Although they sometimes complain, the campers agree that working out at boot camp really works and is fun at the same time. If you are interested in being apart of the teen or adult boot camp family, please contact Annie Luxmore at fitplaygound@yahoo.com

Sarah Troxler is a home-schooler and Teens & 20s writer.