Bootcamps in Calgary
Posted in Cardio Training, Strength Training on 05/09/2009 10:49 am by adminIt has come to my attention over the last couple of months that Bootcamps are popping up all over the place here in Calgary, well actually not just Calgary but all over the world.
What concerns me is the rate that they are popping up.
Each town/city/province has different rules and regulations in regards to using “green spaces”, and there are also rules in place for business licences etc.
Before you take the plunge and sign up for a Bootcamp, please take the time to ask the following questions …
1. Is the person teaching the classes, qualified to do so?
2. Does the person teaching the class hold a current First Aid/CPR qualification?
3. Are they insured?
4. Do they have permission from the town/province/city to use the “green space”? If so they will hold a certificate showing exactly where they are allowed to go, what times they can use the space, they are required to have this with them all the time.
5. Do they hold a business licence? This will also be a certificate, and it will show you that they have met all the requirements from the town/city/ province.
6. If you are training early in the morning/late at night is there adequate light to ensure your safety?
What concerns me is that trainers/just anyone are just setting up bootcamps with out following the regulations of the town.city, if you sign into one of these, you may not be protected, and should you have an accident there will not be adequate insurance in place. You may be trained by someone who does not have the correct knowledge and you will be trained in a way that is dangerous to your health and safety.
Also if they do not have permission to use the space and the city visits them, they will be shut down, and you may loose your money.
Bootcamps can be fun, safe and get to your goals, but I ask you to ask a few questions before signing up for one in your area.
May 9th, 2009 at 3:03 pm
Frankly, I think there are bigger things to worry about than the minutae of licensing. Like mass obesity.
I mean, insurance, use permits, and lighting? Seriously?
May 9th, 2009 at 4:23 pm
I have to agree with you. I do know that here in Airdrie there were Boot Camps through the winter that would go on when the temperature was over -20 or some crazy thing. I am sure they were not in anyones way but I can imagine now in the Spring and going into Summer that people are just going to be over run with boot camps in their park. Are there rules about this? Is there a simple licensing system so that only one boot camp is going on so that we don’t have to avoid people running into us while we either workout or in some other way enjoy the outdoors? I bet you have brought up an issue that will have to be dealt with municipily (is that the word) over the next couple of months.
May 9th, 2009 at 4:23 pm
Sure obesity is a huge problem, but so will someone getting injured because the necessary steps have not been taken to protect the client.
If Im partaking in a bootcamp, I would want the instructor to be qualified to do so, and also know that should one of the other clients have an accident that the instructor know how to do CPR etc …
You try running the stairs near me in the dark ..
Insurance is a huge one, I would feel very sorry for the instructor that did not have it and one of the clients sued them for a couple of million .
May 9th, 2009 at 4:43 pm
Bill - Yes, I know in Calgary there are lots of bylaws regarding people using the space outside, not sure if they are enforced though. Not sure if Airdrie is the same.
We also are overrun with them, I think that bootcamps are awesome, and I am a big believer in training outdoors with minimal equipment.
I hate the bootcamps that are run near me, that are on our off leash area, and the people taking the bootcamp moan about us passing by with our dogs. I wouldnt like to be doing push ups and sit ups where the dogs do their business !!
May 10th, 2009 at 9:38 am
I did the Soldiers of Fitness boot camp at Edworthy Park in 2005. I was never in better shape and I highly recommend their program - if that’s the kind of motivation you need and enjoy.
I went looking for a closer-to-home program recently to spike my own training and was surprised by the number of ‘bootcamp’ programs that have cropped up in Calgary.
Many of them just didn’t seem to suit what I wanted or were way too expensive.
It seems to be the new fad and I hope people do the appropriate research you’ve suggested before handing over their money.