Boot camp drills are the new way to exercise

As  winter  creeps closer and the warm summer begins to  fade, so does the desire to go for that early morning walk or afternoon run.
The days are getting shorter and for many people the idea of heading outdoors to exercise is becoming more  remote.
But a number of local gyms have come to the rescue of those who are in a rut and need an excuse to kick-start their winter workout.
The latest craze to hit the Bay is boot camp style workouts where recruits follow orders to push themselves to the limit.
Global Fitness in Mount Maunganui, Results Personal Training in Te Puke and No Compromise Fitness are three of many Western Bay of Plenty organisations that offer these services.
Global Fitness gym manager and boot camp drill sergeant Carl Newman said boot camp was a way for people to push themselves beyond what they thought they could achieve, be accountable for their actions and experience a new way of exercising.
At the end of May, Global Fitness will begin X Factor - an indoor boot camp specific for winter.
"We don't want people to hibernate like a bear so this will give people a good base through the winter," said Mr Newman.
Global Fitness is also offering no joining fee during April (on memberships of six months or more) as well as deals on three and six- month memberships.
For those less inclined to have orders barked at them, many Western Bay gyms offer group fitness classes where people can workout in a fun, social environment. Two of these are Bay Bodyfit in Mount Maunganui and Fit.Co. in Tauranga.
Fit.Co. is one of the largest gym facilities in the Western Bay of Plenty and this winter Fit.Co. is offering membership deals, the Body for Life programme, and a reduction in establishment fees.
John Richardson, owner of Fit.Co., said about 300-400 people passed through the doors each day to make use of top-class equipment and facilities.
 The gym also offers 24 Les Mills group classes each week, which Mr Richardson says are  very popular with female clients.
"It's a social thing and women and men are taking part ... the gym is for everyone with a heartbeat," he said.
Group fitness classes are popular at Bay Bodyfit, however, it  also offers vibration training as an  addition to complement their workout.
Lisa Newport, one of the owners of Bay Bodyfit, said vibration training was used to encourage stretching, which many people forget.
"There are many advantages of vibration training and any stretch that can be done on the floor can be done on the machine," said Miss Newport.
"It is particularly popular for older clients because it increases bone density, helps promote blood flow and reduces muscle tightness." 

 As well as gym facilities, Ocean Blue Health and Fitness Club offers members access to the pool and squash courts.
ClubFit at Baywave and Greerton also offers members access to pool facilities inclusive in their gym membership.
Glenn Quintal from Tauranga City Aquatics Limited said members had  access to more than 40 Les Mills group fitness classes - so there is something to "suit all shapes, sizes, abilities and requirements".
ClubFit also offers zumba classes, RPM/spin classes and membership deals for seniors.
But what if you work long hours and don't have time to get to the gym?
Many people in the Western Bay of Plenty struggle to find time to go to the gym before or after work. For those with families, it is unrealistic to go to the gym after school or in the early evenings, however, The Gym, on Cameron Rd, has found a solution.
The Gym is one of two fitness centres in the Western Bay of Plenty to offer a 24-hour service so people can work out any time of the day or night.
The service was initiated in March and owner of The Gym, Lisa Chan, said it had received a very positive response from clients.
"Now there is absolutely no excuse for people so say they don't have time to work out," she said.
"This is a way for people to come in and work out in a time that suits them."
With winter approaching, Mrs Chan said it was important for people to continue to exercise. To encourage membership, The Gym was offering three and six-month  deals - buy three months membership and get three months free and buy six months membership and get six months free.
For people who join in the next few weeks, The Gym is offering the chance to win $1000 travel.
The other Western Bay gym which offers 24-hour access was City Gym on St John St, Tauranga.

 Configure Express, in Gate Pa and Bethlehem, stand out from the rest, with the Visual Fitness Planner.
This technique used 3D imaging so members could see what they could look like without those unwanted kilograms.
Using key factors (such as age, activity level, body mass index, smoking cholesterol level and blood pressure) the Visual Fitness Planner could show a person's current health risks and give them an achievable exercise regime.
Kristine Henderson from Configure Express, Gate Pa, said the software package aimed to educate and motivate women to begin and maintain a healthy lifestyle change.

 There are more than a dozen gyms, fitness studios and health packages available for people in the Western Bay of Plenty.
Whether it be boot camp, vibration training, group fitness classes or midnight workouts, there is something available in the Bay for everyone, so look around and find the gym deal that is suited to you.