I am not a morning person. So the thought of waking up at 6am to make it to Bodyrite’s Small Group Personal Training at 6:15am had me seriously second guessing my dedication to fitness (and let’s be honest, life in general).

As I groggily got into the car and drove myself over to Downer Oval and Community Centre, I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to locate personal trainer Patti and the other participants. I needn’t have worried however, as I nearly took out a row of kettle bells when I turned in to park. I also saw cones lined up next to skipping ropes, Frisbees, and yoga mats.

My interest was piqued – clearly this wasn’t your standard boot camp style class and I was pretty excited to see what was in store. I was also pleased to see that Patti seemed kind, gentle and supportive. Far from the sour-faced, angry and aggressive instructors typically associated with boot camp-style training. The other participants were lovely too, all smiles and friendly chatting. I got the impression that they were eager to be doing an activity that they enjoyed as opposed to bitterly anticipating yet another chore.

We were paired up and told to run back and forward across the car park while throwing and catching a large Frisbee. Please allow me to take the opportunity to apologise to my poor partner if she’s reading. My terrible throws had her jumping and running to collect the Frisbee as it ran off in every direction other than hers, and she patiently waited while I fumbled and then dropped the Frisbee over and over again, despite it gliding straight into my hands. It was a lot of fun though and something other than your stock standard high-knees or jogging on the spot warm-up.

Next Patti split the group in half and sent us to opposite sides of the car park. One half of us did enough squats to make the biggest, fattest sumo cry while the other group jump roped. Then one half of us did kettle bell swings while the others did side lunges reaching to opposite foot (jump optional).

Next we held hands and ran around in a circle while one person had the task of fetching the scarf tucked into Patti’s belt. As the newbie I went first, and it was so tricky! They are certainly a speedy bunch. But after a few cheers of “come on Ashleigh” and “you can do it”, I finally grabbed the scarf, doing a quick victory dance before taking my place in the circle. Honestly, you hardly notice how much running you’re doing when having that much fun. That amusing, playful element is one of the things that make Bodyrite so unique. Patti says that “I love the special feeling and extra lift to endorphins that training outdoors gives. We don’t get to play enough as adults and this is something we can incorporate into outdoor sessions”.

A long stretch finished off the class, which gave me an opportunity to speak to some of the other participants. Most of them came to 3 or more sessions a week, and said it was something that they looked forward to and had become part of their daily routine. One woman told me that she loved how the classes were different every time. Another lady said that she’d struggled with more aggressive boot camps in the past, and particularly enjoyed Patti’s gentle approach. Nobody had a bad word to say, and were nothing but friendly and happy. It’s hard to be a grumpy morning person when you’re surrounded by smiles and laughter.

I’m so happy I made the effort to wake up and try out Bodyrite bootcamp. The 45 minutes flew by and I breezed through the rest of my day, high on endorphins and revelling in the fact that I’d already gotten my workout out of the way.

Patti says that being a part of that is one of her favourite things about being a personal trainer. “I love seeing my clients change their lives and being able to share in their achievements and joy” she says. “Equally as important as the physical changes that occur is the fact that come through constantly when clients say ‘it makes me feel happy!’ and ‘it sets me up for a great day’. I feel very privileged to be a part of that process”.

Patti’s passion for personal training is obvious, as is the way she relates to her clients. You can tell that they all feel really comfortable and supported, which stems from more than just her friendly personality. She explains that “as a mature trainer I’ve experienced similar things to many clients, including having a busy working life, being a busy parent and making some tough decisions. I am someone who has made the journey back after letting work take over, from debilitating illness to fitness and health again. Having this experience allows me to have empathy and understanding of what clients are experiencing”.

Not only does Patti have that life experience, but she’s also highly qualified. She has been in the fitness industry for 34 years, completed a Diploma in Sports Science as well as fitness instructor courses, and has been steadily adding courses to her repertoire every year since.

Patti offers a range of different services in addition to small group training sessions, so there’s something on offer for everyone including boot camp, one on one training and will soon be commencing fun, game-based sessions for children. This is something she’s particularly excited and passionate about, given the “days of constant screen based activity and less outdoor play opportunities”.

Did the classes convert me to a morning person? Well, I certainly won’t be waking up at 5am, chugging down kale smoothies and go for marathon runs. But knowing that a fun, energetic workout in the company of a wonderful group of people lies at the other side of my alarm clock certainly makes it a lot easier.

the essentials

What: Bodyrite Personal Training
Where: 6:15am Tuesday and Thursday (Bootcamp – Ainslie); 6:15am Monday, Wednesday and Friday (Group Training – Downer); 7pm Wednesday (Stretch and Core Class – Downer)
When: Corroboree Park, Ainslie (Tuesday and Thursday) and Downer Oval and Community Centre (Monday, Wednesday and Friday)
Web: www.facebook.com/bodyritepersonaltraining