“Why are you here?” boot camp instructor and personal trainer Al Yenkevich’s voice boomed across the gym.
About 25 adults from around Snohomish County cheered and yelled back each time Yenkevich roared the question.
“Take a break whenever you need it,” he said before blowing into a whistle signaling the beginning of the workout.
Yenkevich runs the Total Sweat Fitness Boot camp, a high energy class where he mixes up the routines, blares bands like the Black Eyed Peas and Nirvana, and stresses personal safety.
People from Mill Creek, Everett, Snohomish and Marysville pushed through sprints, wall squats and carried buckets filled with weights during class earlier this month.
“Keep your heart rate down,” Yenkevich cautioned one participant.
“Lift your knees higher,” he instructed another.
Yenkevich, who served in the Army during the ’80s, has roughly 15 years of experience in personal training and nutrition.
But don’t let the barking and camouflage pants intimidate you.
Yenkevich puts a strong emphasis on safety, encouraging students to work at thier own pace and respecting their body.
Mary Morrison, who runs the boot camp with Yenkevich, said the class offers a full body work out and allows people to work at their own pace.
Morrison said they have participants with injuries and some are in their 60s and 70s, which Yenkevich keeps in mind.
“He’ll push everyone really hard but will back down too,” she said.
Yenkevich said his boot camp is unique because he provides the equipment and switches up the fitness routines to create muscle confusion to prevent boredom and lose weight.
“People don’t know what’ll hit ‘em,” he said smiling.
He has organized 35 different work outs targeting cardio, and improving balance, speed and agility.
Yenkevich’s current class is offered to anyone over age 15.
Sarah Olsen of Everett said she lost three inches during her first month of boot camp.
The camp works for her because it offers more than cardio and Yenkevich’s style is tough, yet he wants people to succeed, Olsen said.
“He’s tough in a caring way,” she said.
Genay McIntosh of Bothell said Yenkevich gets people’s limitations, but he doesn’t let you quit.
For Everett resident Tom Cooper, the camp works because he said he can’t motivate himself to work out unless someone is pushing him.
“A lot of people don’t know how far they can push themselves,” Yenkevich said. “I’m right there in their face.”
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