Irena Kaler

How long have you been coming to class and what’s the one thing about Boot Camp that keeps you coming back?

In 2015, I committed to the idea that I wanted fitness for my lifetime. Like most females of a certain age, school and organized athletics were always on the “softer” side. I was always reasonably strong and fit and came of age in the “running boom.” In my teens, 20’s and early 30’s, running was my go-to. Everyday actions, and sporadic running through the years, along with picking up kids of ever-increasing pounds, became enough. Eventually the reality of my mid to later adult years became clear—everyday activities were not enough. I sought an alternative to regain what I was starting to lose. Enter Jeff’s Boot Camp. I’ve been a devotee since day one.

You’re one of the most consistent campers as far as attendance, which sets a great example. What is it that gets you out of bed in the morning?

What keeps me coming back is habit, a bit of personal compulsiveness, and the physical and mental satisfaction that occurs when I’m done. I’ve made coming to boot camp a habit. It’s what I do and what I plan around. Even on the days when it’s hard to get out of bed, or if I’m traveling, I feel a thousand times better when I’m done. I’ve accomplished something for the day. I’ve pushed myself even when I’m tempted to take a break. At the end, I get energized to tackle the rest of the day. As to my compulsiveness, each month, I look at the month ahead. I set a goal for how many times I’ll do a boot camp workout, regardless of in-person, live online or video. My target is always M-W-F-Sat. I hit my goal about 80% of the time, but it keeps me honest. I give myself a bye for the missed day, as long as I remain active.

I must note that you recently retired, but you seem to have added to your regimen as opposed to slowing down? What are you working towards now besides just staying strong with classes?

At the beginning of May, I retired from full-time work after slightly more than 50 years of being in the workforce in some capacity. That’s close to mind boggling but coincides with how I’m approaching my next many years. Being active, being committed, and engaged, is motivating.

I’m lucky. I have a really short bucket list. At the top of my bucket list is completing a marathon. Regardless of being engaged in or around the running world (my husband and daughter are marathoners), I’ve never had the time to commit to the required training. Retirement is my opportunity to dedicate the time. It’s not about how long it takes to finish, but rather the grit of putting one foot in front of the other for 26.2 miles. And if I think about it, I will never be this young again. So now is the time.

Why Jeff’s Boot Camp instead of going to the gym or another group class?

What I’ve valued from day one at Jeff’s Boot Camp, is that each day will be fresh, fun, challenging and different in the format and workout activities. This is a place for beginners to seasoned folks. I like that the people around me share a similar goal of personal health and fitness. All of us are different, but everyone is there to stay and improve on an already good level of health/fitness, or to become healthier, stronger, and more fit. No one needs to be at peak fitness to join, this is a boot camp for everyone. Even more motivating is the shared camaraderie. That’s part of the coming back. I like looking forward to exercising with a group of like-minded folks and find that brings a sense of belonging.

What would you say to someone who is considering joining the class but is nervous or unsure about joining?

Well, anything new is hard, but you’re only new one time. If you come, you’ll get a fairly quiet greeting from the group, but it’s all about getting down to business—the shared goal of fitness and conquering that day’s workout. No one is keeping score or judging how many this’s or that’s is being done by anyone (you’ll be too busy with your own this’s or that’s).

Any last words on working out, fitness, or just motivation in general?

Since you asked, what is really grabbing my greatest interest is the connection between body-brain health that is being proven in the most recent studies. Once upon a time it was all about cardiovascular fitness, building bone density with exercise (particularly for women), maintaining healthy body weight, muscle mass and eating well for HDL/LDL ratios, etc., etc. In other words, fitness was very body focused, essentially from the neck down. More recently, it’s like science has had an ah-ha moment. Fitness is an all-in need (body and brain). Body health = brain health = quality of living and quality of aging. Along with all the feel-good feelings that come with completion of a good workout, knowing that I’m putting something in the bank for the future of my body and my mind keeps me coming back. Plus, it’s just pure fun.