7 Days At A Fitness Bootcamp In Thailand – My 5 Surprising Key Learnings

Emma Weber

I forget what it’s like to be a complete learner. With some in trepidation, December 15^tharrived and I was off to Thailand for a fitness boot camp. Mid-September, when I committed to the plan with friends, I was full of enthusiasm feeling very positive about finishing the year prioritising health and fitness, however, as the week drew near the phrase – ‘what possessed me’ was the one I found myself uttering the most.

Good news. It was a GREAT experience.

With some very rich learnings. I left the week fitter, visibly stronger and humbled, as I was reminded what it was like to be not only a learner but a novice.

So allow me to share my 5 surprising key learnings:

Run your own race 

I found it important, literally in Thailand, and proverbially when learning overall to ‘run my own race’. I turned my ankle in the fitness assessment at the beginning of the week by being too competitive in my jump test. It was all healed within 48 hours and fortuitously it meant I had to set my own schedule and work within my limits – not getting caught up in what anyone else was doing. It gave me the chance to ‘run my own race’ which was far more successful (fewer injuries!) and more fun.

Learning is uncomfortable 

Some of the sessions were really uncomfortable. When they were new to me or I was struggling to get the hang of it, the emotions were coming thick and fast. In my first ever TRX session I spent most of it trying not to cry! I was terrible and could not work out what I was meant to be doing. Breathing through the discomfort was important and as the week went on I could see that this was just part of the learning process.

Instruction matters

Despite my disastrous first attempted at TRX, my training buddy talked me into giving another go. The second session was so much better! One of the big components was an instructor who was much clearer explaining how the angle at which you held the chords makes the exercise easier or harder. Ah ha! Simple, clear instruction made the whole session much more enjoyable and so much easier to learn.

The more fun it is the easier it is to learn

Instructors who had a lightness of touch and didn’t take it all too seriously made it so much easier to learn too. Yes, people could push themselves and work hard but especially in the warm ups and cool downs the attitude and vibe was key to the success of the session.

The value of personalised learning is huge

Can you imagine that I was enjoying Muay Thai by the end of the week? That’s Thai boxing for the uninitiated! In my first session, I was given one-on-one tuition by a very experienced trainer and fighter. They didn’t give up and drilled the moves over and over with me. Each person received personalised instruction in the very early stages of learning. I was a bit lost and couldn’t get the moves at all, but, by session 2 the muscle memory of the repetitive drilling started to pay off and while I am not a natural (no surprises there!) I could give it a go and enjoy the experience.

Reflecting now no-one will read this article and be stunned or enlightened by these observations I’m sure! The power of the experience was actually taking myself back into the position of the learner and feeling first-hand what it was like to learn.

I encourage you at some point this year to be a true learner. Put time aside and stretch yourself. Remember and experience what it’s like to be a novice.

PS – If anyone wants to check it out I can highly recommend Phuketfit and will be planning a return visit. Shout out too to Sue-Ellen – training buddy extraordinaire. Thanks, you are a star!