At 5:30 a.m. on Monday, a few still-sleepy women headed towards the Oxford Elementary School gym, where Kendall Gregory was waiting.
“Go ahead, start jogging around the court,” Gregory said. “It’s time to warm up.”
Gregory is the head coach of Oxford Adventure Boot Camp, a workout program he started three years ago designed to strengthen and tone the body.
The class is offered to women for one hour Monday through Friday at 5:30 a.m., 4 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. at either Oxford Elementary or Oxford Middle School.
When registering, women have the option of purchasing a three, four or five-day workout package.
The Adventure Boot Camp program, created by John Spencer Ellis, president of the National Exercise and Sports Trainers Association, is one of the largest of its kind in the world.
This fitness program is different from others because it’s designed to keep participants in constant motion. The concept is having a diverse routine while keeping a structured balance of necessary exercises.
Gregory began the routine with jumping jacks and butt-kick drills. Next, an alternating set of resistance bands combined with running inside to do dumbbell squats. Skipping “suicides,” jumping rope and several other weighted arm and leg exercises make up the morning routine.
“Does the afternoon class have more energy than we do?” Tiffany Bensen, biology professor at The University of Mississippi, asked Gregory after finishing a set of “suicides.”
“You’d be surprised,” Gregory said. “Even though you guys are the early ones, you still bring a good attitude to the gym with you.”
Gill Mitchell said the early morning hours are actually the reason she first gave Oxford Adventure Boot Camp a chance.
“You can wake up and start your day off right like this,” Mitchell said. “There are too many distractions and excuses in the afternoon. Doing it this way, by the time you start the day, you already feel superior.”
Gregory said the morning class is actually his most popular.
Another attraction of the boot camp is that it’s only open to women.
“I think it gives women a lot more comfort instead of feeling like having to compete with guys or being hit on,” Gregory said. “Going to the Turner Center can be more of a social thing, but here they can come in, get their work done and not be intimidated by anyone else.”
Women of all ages and experience levels are encouraged to come.
Although Ellis’ model of the Adventure Boot Camp program can be found in gyms all over the country, Gregory is the only trainer running the program in Mississippi.
Kat Crawford, junior journalism major, believes the boot camp will continue to be successful because its unique.
“It’s a good thing to have in Oxford because not a lot of structured work out camps are offered here,” Crawford said.
Crawford started going to the program because of her determination to work out.
“Kendall is a great motivator and plans the work out for every day based on what we need,” she said.
Gregory started Oxford Adventure Boot Camp after seeing first-hand what kind of impact trainers could have on their clients. He moved from Nashville, Tenn., to share his passion for fitness with the people of Oxford in 2010.
“I like to help people reach their goals and better themselves,” Gregory said. “To me, it’s fun. It’s exciting to see someone changing physically and mentally only to feel good afterwards.”
For more information on the program or testimonies from past clients, visit www.oxfordbootcamp.com
