My most recent venture took me to an off-the-beat workout class. It’s a class that had also been filling up my social media feed and my interests because its only $5 a class — uh, awesome! Anything that is only $5 is worth a try at least once, right? The class is called BeautCamp, and it’s an early morning boot camp for women that takes place at various parks in Scottsdale and Phoenix.

When I say this class is early I mean it is flippin’ early! I can honestly tell you that I have no clue what the other classmates look like because at 5 a.m. bodies are just outlines with no real facial features. This is also why I don’t have any pictures from the class. I don’t know if you have ever taken a picture while working out at 5 a.m. in the freezing cold, but let me tell you that everyone ends up looking like a scared raccoon. I refuse to subject myself to that torture being documented online for the world to see. It’s not fair to anyone.

Being that the class is only $5, you are asked to bring your own mat, hand weights and workout ball (optional). Class started promptly at 5 a.m. with about five to six girls in attendance (they average 7-8 per class).

We started by running laps around the tennis court (this could vary depending on your location). It was so cold that I was actually excited to be running at this point. Anything to boost my body temperature. Then we went into a series of exercises that varied in reps/timing, and some sets were repeated.

In the interest of time, I will just list out what exercises we performed (in no particular order):

  • Squats
  • Ice Skaters
  • Laps (one or two laps around the court)
  • Burpees: The combination of a squat, pushup and vertical leap in one fluid movement
  • Jackknifes: In push up position with your feet on a workout ball, bring your feet towards your chest
  • Planks: In push up position with forearms on the ground and holding for a designated time
  • Pushups
  • Crunches
  • Lunges (with hand weights raised above the head)
  • Court shuffles (each side)
  • Sprints
  • Bicep curls
  • Superman: Lying on your stomach, lift head, arms and legs up off the ground, and hold
  • Jump squats
  • Mountain Climbers: In pushup position, bring the right knee in towards the chest, jump up and switch feet in the air, bringing the left foot in and the right foot back; continue alternating the feet.

I am sure there are a few others I am forgetting but what do you expect for a 5 a.m. workout? The workout was inexpensive, challenging, and I left feeling tired but ready for the day.

However, my favorite part of the workout was not the exercises we performed but rather the other girls that take the class. I have never had such a great time with so many laughs. The best way to describe these girls and their conversations would be a mix between Sex and the City and the cast of Entourage. There is no topic off limits with this crowd, and they are hilarious! They laugh, curse, tell stories and are basically an open book of life’s ups and downs. I never felt like an outsider or unwelcome, and it was fun to be in a class with that kind of banter back and forth. There is something about laughing that makes it a little easier to do that last set of mountain climbers.

I would say that this class isn’t for everyone, but if you are looking for something new, inexpensive and with an average, down-to-earth group of girls then this is worth the try.

Workouts are currently scheduled for Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 5 a.m. – 6 a.m., but suggestions for new locations, days and times are always encouraged and welcomed.

For more information about BeautCamp call 612-202-1011 or visit facebook.com/beautcamp.