The more fit, the more fun!
May 8, 2007 | 12:00am
I like the concept of boot camp training," says fitness instructor Paolo Villarroel, who has been involved in the fitness industry for over 15 years. "That is why here at Paolo’s Boot Camp we have programs that are circuit training in nature."
Well-aware of the many changes that the industry has undergone, Paolo has made his gym’s layout conducive to working on circuit-training programs.
On one side there are the Kaiser machines, which are exercise-specific and operated via hydraulics. This means that the weight that you carry as you use the machines can be made heavier or lighter depending on the amount of pressure you allow the weights to carry. There are no metal-plate weights attached to the machine. The more pressure added, the more weight you feel.
Paolo explains that these kinds of machines are great for the joints. Once a person begins to feel that the weight is a bit too heavy, all he has to do is press the negative button and the weight load is decreased. Pretty neat.
No useless grunting here. Of course, Paolo also points out that with this kind of system, it is the lifter who determines whether the load is too heavy or light. This is where the catch lies. This machine will work only for those who really want to get a good workout.
"It is easy to cheat," shares Paolo. "It really depends on how serious a person is about his workouts."
Paolo is known for keeping himself abreast of the latest developments. What makes Paolo’s Boot Camp different is that he works hard at combining exercises to make it more fun.
"Overall fitness is the main purpose of this gym," shares Paolo. "I want to be able to get people to be concerned not with just one aspect of fitness, but rather to view fitness as an overall condition."
Paolo has a unique gym. There are balls, tires, ropes, and many other fitness "toys" that he picks up along the way that will make exercising more enjoyable. Sure, there is strength training for those who like the weights, Pilates for those who want to develop flexibility, cardio machines for those who like to run, bike or climb stairs. But at the end of the day, Paolo hopes that his clients will see the value of putting all these exercises together  and becoming fit so they can perform these everyday movements with ease.
It is the playful young man in Paolo that takes over when he talks about fun. He knows that many people lose interest in working out once it becomes repetitious and boring. That is what he wants to change. "Fitness is fun," he says. "The more fun my clients have, the more fit they can become."
Circuit-training is all about getting the best workout in 45 minutes. This means there is a fair amount of break time in between high-repetition sets. After years of being in the workout industry, Paolo realized that his clients can get a lot of variations within circuit-training programs. This means less clients getting bored with their individual workouts.
Even kids will enjoy the circuit-training programs Paolo has fashioned for them at his Boot Camp. That’s where it’s at for Paolo, who also believes that interest in fitness should start at a young age. And what better way to achieve that than to make it all feel like playing a game?
"Fitness comes naturally to most kids," says Paolo. "They like to play games that involve jumping, running, and screaming."
Circuit-training programs for kids are the other workout programs that keep Paolo on his feet. Kids have all the energy but their attention span can be short. So Paolo says that he has to develop programs that will keep kids interested and fit at the same time. The kids’ programs are actually the same as the adult programs, but to them it seems like play. Paolo believes that when kids are playing, they don’t realize that they are also getting a good workout.
"Too many kids I know don’t get out enough," he says. "Computer games take the place of real workouts. That is sad. I hope that kids will come here and play games."
Paolo still offers Pilates and mat classes, as he has done extensive training abroad in these two disciplines. "There is really no such thing as a fad," says Paolo. "Look at Pilates: People used to say that it was a fad that would pass. But it is still around today and there are people who swear by the benefits of such classes."
He admits, though, that his focus these days is on the circuits. Paolo knows it’s important for the people he personally trains to stay focused yet enjoy at the same time. People of all ages need the right stimuli in order to keep coming back. And that means programs have to be made to fit not just fitness levels but also fitness moods.
"There have been times when a client may ask for a special type of program for the day because that is what they are in the mood for," says Paolo. "If I feel that they will do better with their suggestions, then we go for it."
There are always changes in the way people work out. Every year, new and better ways of getting and staying in shape are introduced. These developments are good because the older we get, the more we tend to look for different things to do when we work out. Fitness is always evolving. The way people looked at exercising 10 years ago no longer holds true today.
"Of course, as people age, so do their fitness needs," shares Paolo. "Those who did power-lifting when they were in their 20s will want to try something else when they reach 30."
Paolo admits that some exercises are developed and some are rehashed and make a comeback  this time, in a healthier fashion.
There will always be a need for fitness in this world. Talk these days focuses around fitness and wellness. Yet Paolo assures us that what he offers his clients at his gym is the best of everything that he has learned about fitness through the years.
He says the quality of exercise a client gets is very important. "We are not here for the volume or sheer number of clients," says Paolo. "We want people to get the best workout they can, given the short time they have to do it." Makes a lot of sense to me.
The by-appointment-only sked has its benefits. An appointment is good for most people because they know that they have to make use of the time in the gym well.
"There is no long rest in between sets," says Paolo. "The time frame with which you are to complete a set and the rest in between has been calculated so that they allow the one following the program to get the greatest benefit from doing the program."
And just what is a good workout schedule to follow?
"Three to four times a week is a good pace for people who like to work out to stay healthy. A 45-minute workout spent in a quality fashion is the best," he adds. "You don’t have to do a lot of repetitions or sets for you to get results. But if you do a quality workout in 45 minutes then that is good."
Paolo’s Boot Camp is located at the Adidas Sports Camp, 28th St. corner Libertad Drive, Crescent Park, West Global City, Taguig. For more information, call 816-1131.
Well-aware of the many changes that the industry has undergone, Paolo has made his gym’s layout conducive to working on circuit-training programs.
On one side there are the Kaiser machines, which are exercise-specific and operated via hydraulics. This means that the weight that you carry as you use the machines can be made heavier or lighter depending on the amount of pressure you allow the weights to carry. There are no metal-plate weights attached to the machine. The more pressure added, the more weight you feel.
Paolo explains that these kinds of machines are great for the joints. Once a person begins to feel that the weight is a bit too heavy, all he has to do is press the negative button and the weight load is decreased. Pretty neat.
No useless grunting here. Of course, Paolo also points out that with this kind of system, it is the lifter who determines whether the load is too heavy or light. This is where the catch lies. This machine will work only for those who really want to get a good workout.
"It is easy to cheat," shares Paolo. "It really depends on how serious a person is about his workouts."
Paolo is known for keeping himself abreast of the latest developments. What makes Paolo’s Boot Camp different is that he works hard at combining exercises to make it more fun.
"Overall fitness is the main purpose of this gym," shares Paolo. "I want to be able to get people to be concerned not with just one aspect of fitness, but rather to view fitness as an overall condition."
Paolo has a unique gym. There are balls, tires, ropes, and many other fitness "toys" that he picks up along the way that will make exercising more enjoyable. Sure, there is strength training for those who like the weights, Pilates for those who want to develop flexibility, cardio machines for those who like to run, bike or climb stairs. But at the end of the day, Paolo hopes that his clients will see the value of putting all these exercises together  and becoming fit so they can perform these everyday movements with ease.
It is the playful young man in Paolo that takes over when he talks about fun. He knows that many people lose interest in working out once it becomes repetitious and boring. That is what he wants to change. "Fitness is fun," he says. "The more fun my clients have, the more fit they can become."
Circuit-training is all about getting the best workout in 45 minutes. This means there is a fair amount of break time in between high-repetition sets. After years of being in the workout industry, Paolo realized that his clients can get a lot of variations within circuit-training programs. This means less clients getting bored with their individual workouts.
Even kids will enjoy the circuit-training programs Paolo has fashioned for them at his Boot Camp. That’s where it’s at for Paolo, who also believes that interest in fitness should start at a young age. And what better way to achieve that than to make it all feel like playing a game?
Circuit-training programs for kids are the other workout programs that keep Paolo on his feet. Kids have all the energy but their attention span can be short. So Paolo says that he has to develop programs that will keep kids interested and fit at the same time. The kids’ programs are actually the same as the adult programs, but to them it seems like play. Paolo believes that when kids are playing, they don’t realize that they are also getting a good workout.
"Too many kids I know don’t get out enough," he says. "Computer games take the place of real workouts. That is sad. I hope that kids will come here and play games."
Paolo still offers Pilates and mat classes, as he has done extensive training abroad in these two disciplines. "There is really no such thing as a fad," says Paolo. "Look at Pilates: People used to say that it was a fad that would pass. But it is still around today and there are people who swear by the benefits of such classes."
He admits, though, that his focus these days is on the circuits. Paolo knows it’s important for the people he personally trains to stay focused yet enjoy at the same time. People of all ages need the right stimuli in order to keep coming back. And that means programs have to be made to fit not just fitness levels but also fitness moods.
"There have been times when a client may ask for a special type of program for the day because that is what they are in the mood for," says Paolo. "If I feel that they will do better with their suggestions, then we go for it."
"Of course, as people age, so do their fitness needs," shares Paolo. "Those who did power-lifting when they were in their 20s will want to try something else when they reach 30."
Paolo admits that some exercises are developed and some are rehashed and make a comeback  this time, in a healthier fashion.
There will always be a need for fitness in this world. Talk these days focuses around fitness and wellness. Yet Paolo assures us that what he offers his clients at his gym is the best of everything that he has learned about fitness through the years.
He says the quality of exercise a client gets is very important. "We are not here for the volume or sheer number of clients," says Paolo. "We want people to get the best workout they can, given the short time they have to do it." Makes a lot of sense to me.
The by-appointment-only sked has its benefits. An appointment is good for most people because they know that they have to make use of the time in the gym well.
"There is no long rest in between sets," says Paolo. "The time frame with which you are to complete a set and the rest in between has been calculated so that they allow the one following the program to get the greatest benefit from doing the program."
And just what is a good workout schedule to follow?
"Three to four times a week is a good pace for people who like to work out to stay healthy. A 45-minute workout spent in a quality fashion is the best," he adds. "You don’t have to do a lot of repetitions or sets for you to get results. But if you do a quality workout in 45 minutes then that is good."
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