Fitness Boot Camp 'Inspires' Women Into Shape

Joy Poulsen says why wait until the New Year to get into shape?

"You can jumpstart your fitness using my online 'Twelve Days of Christmas' workout video," says Poulsen, who owns Inspire Fitness in Castro Valley. "You don't need any equipment, just a towel and a bottle of water!"

Poulsen started Inspire Fitness "boot camps" for women two years ago. She says she was tired of the repetitive routine and four walls of the gym where she was an instructor. She wanted to offer classes outdoors and mix up the exercises, so that no two workouts are the same.

"Every day is different, you'll never get the same routine," says Poulsen, who uses everything from sand bags, to medicine balls and hula-hoops. "By changing up the routine you stimulate different muscles, which also helps burn more calories."

Poulsen's innovative approach has struck a chord with a lot of women. Carla Schultheis-Gerry says Inspire Fitness has changed her life.

"Every boot camp is different and challenging," says Schultheis-Gerry, who has dropped a dress size since she signed up. "Joy has pushed me well beyond what I thought I was capable of accomplishing."

Schultheis-Gerry says she loves the inspiration she gets from the other women.

"The best thing about Inspire Fitness is the support and camaraderie of the wonderful women who work out next to me every week," Schultheis-Gerry says.

Today, Poulsen has about 40 clients who attend early morning and evening boot camps in Castro Valley and Hayward. From May through October, the women exercise outdoors at Five Canyons Park in Castro Valley and J.A. Lewis Park in Hayward. In the cold, dark winter months, they use the community center on Lake Chabot Road.

Poulsen says her clients come in all shapes and sizes, and all fitness levels.

"I have clients who are very unfit and deconditioned and people who run marathons," Poulsen says. "I've had women come to class who couldn't do one pushup, who now can do 12. It's pretty inspiring to watch the transformation."

Poulsen says one of Inspire Fitness's most popular classes, taught by assistant coach Ramona Hernandez, is kickboxing and self-defense.

"Women love it and say it empowers them," Poulsen says. "Unfortunately, as crime goes up, we need to be prepared."

Alabama born

Poulsen, 49, was born in Alabama and moved to the shores of Lake Erie in Ohio when she was 7. She has always loved sports.

"I was a jock pretty much my whole life and was even crowned 'Most Athletic' of my high school class," says Poulsen, who holds a bachelor of science degree in marketing from the University of Phoenix. "Boy, was I proud to receive that."

Poulsen moved to California in her 20s and worked for Apple in Cupertino for 11 years.

"I worked in the education division, marketing Apple products in K-12 schools and in higher education," Poulsen says. "Apple was a fun and dynamic place to work, with lots of amazing people."

After getting married and having a baby – Poulsen's sons are now 13 and 10 years old – the pace proved a little too hectic. She quit Apple and launched a marketing consulting business, which allowed her to work from home. But after four years, she says, she knew that being a marketing consultant was not for her.

"It was good money, but it was not where my passion was," Poulsen says.

An instructor at the gym where she worked out provided the spark she needed to find her calling.

"One day when I was at the gym, the instructor said to me, 'You come here every day, you've transformed your body. Why not become an instructor? We need a spin instructor.' "

Within a month Poulsen had earned her spin instructor's certification and went to work.

The Big Picture

Good nutrition goes hand-in-hand with exercise, says Poulsen, who encourages her clients to keep a journal of their daily food intake.

She also teamed up with a company called Beach Body that makes a meal replacement drink called Shakeology.

"It's healthy, natural and a quick start to weight loss," says Poulsen, who is also an independent Beach Body coach, offering free coaching and health and wellness programs through her website.

"Beach Body allows me to open doors beyond Castro Valley," Poulsen says.

It's not all about the hard work of staying in shape. Poulsen spices things up by hosting parties for her clients at her house. She recently invited a celebrity stylist to give women fashion tips for the holidays and a vegan chef who gave a cooking demonstration.

Poulsen says she's "gratified" that she wakes up every day, loving what she does.

"I'm grateful that I can combine my passion for helping others with doing what I love," she says. "I'm inspired by watching women who say they've never been athletic change their mindset from 'I can't' to 'yes, I can.' "

She also gets inspiration from people in her family.

"My father is obese and has diabetes," she says. "It limits your life and your options."

Her two sons also inspire her to keep fit.

"I had my kids late in life," she says. "I want to stay young and fit for them."

For more information on Inspire Fitness, or to check out the 'Twelve Days of Christmas' workout video, visit inspiremejoy.com or joypoulsen.com.