I am wholeheartedly a routine person. “I just need to get in a routine,” has been my personal mantra for the past few months. I’ll admit, it was tough to get into a routine back when work changed, travel plans were cancelled and, oh so sadly, Power Life closed. And it’s proven to be challenging still, even as the country reopens, we being to reenter society, and we all take stock of the businesses we will continue to support. You’ve heard it said a million times before, Power Life is more than a workout. It’s not just stretching in a hot room (*eye roll*). It’s a community. I think we can all agree that lacking a sense of community in your day-to-day can be incredibly challenging.

When Power Life LIVE came onto the scene in March, I was able to keep sculpting and barre-ing (??) throughout the long days at home. It gave me a sense of normalcy – a routine! I stayed as positive as one could and practiced just about as regularly as I was pre-quarantine. I thought I was doing a really good job not allowing my practice to fall by the wayside, regardless of where I was physically practicing. My living room is basically the same as the studio, right?! (Spoiler alert: It’s not.)

After 8 or so long weeks, Power Life reopened its doors, and I was overjoyed. I was so eager to get back that I signed up for the new outdoor 3-week bootcamp. It was supposed to be a challenging, hardcore, high-intensity program. I was totally up for the challenge! Here’s how it went.

WEEK 1

I’m pumped. I can’t wait to get outside and work super hard. Feeling ready. I see some familiar faces, some favorite teachers, and a lot of new friends. The workout is intense and high speed and really got my blood moving. I felt more energized than I had during a workout in weeks! The music playlist was so good I wanted to sing out loud WHILE doing mountain climbers. There was a breeze in the open air and it felt – dare I say it – magical.

I know this feeling didn’t come from just endorphins that you get when exercising. It was the fact that I was surrounded by people that were just as pumped to be back as I was, we were sweating and woo-ing and somewhat dying, but it was together – which is something that I definitely took for granted in the past.

Week one brought a soreness I hadn’t felt in quite some time – which told me that these instructors and my mat neighbors (six feet apart of course) were pushing me beyond where I could have pushed myself at home. I also found comfort in my new routine because I knew where, what time, and what I was in for each day. It felt normal in the absolute best way, and I am equally as excited for next week as I am to have two days off.

WEEK 2

Week two had a certain manifestation of the phrase “rain or shine.” One class started out sunny and beautiful, and then a sudden torrential downpour mid-circuit. I honestly kind of enjoyed it because it made it feel more intense and hard core, like I could do anything – if I could push through, despite the weather. Plus, it was a great relief from the humidity. The other rainy days we did the workouts down one level in the parking garage which made for a lot more sweat – the Power Life Way! Kind of a physical representation of getting through the tough times. It felt good.

WEEK 3

This week’s added challenge was the heat. Am I the only one that forgets how hot it can get in the summer?! It really makes a workout that much harder when the air feels like what I imagine the Amazon Rainforest feels like. It’s like swimming, but without the water and with burpees. It definitely *warmed me up* for my return to the heated studio. I really liked that the teachers reminded us to take water breaks and cool off in the shade when we needed to. I’m someone who pushes myself to the very edge, so having a reminder to chill out was much appreciated.

This bootcamp has, in fact, kicked by booty. It was tough. But – I left the last day feeling strong. Tired, but accomplished. Sweaty, but sparkling on the inside. Sore, but empowered. I think this bootcamp was just as good for my mental health as it was for my body physically. It was refreshing to be around both familiar and new faces. It was comforting to have a routine I could stick to. It was motivating to be pushed by both the teachers and my fellow bootcampers. I’m walking away from this experience with new friends, a new appreciation for our community, and incredibly tight hamstrings. I would 100% recommend this for anyone even considering – you’re going to find out that you are capable of more than you ever imagined!

P.S. Let me be totally transparent with you – there is running involved and I quite literally would not have signed up if I knew this going into it… but I’m so glad I didn’t! I do NOT run, I’m actually anti-running, but it’s something that got me out of my comfort zone and made me stronger. Plus, my heart is probably thanking me for getting my heartrate up for once in my life.