Buns of Steel Boot Camp

I usually hate exercising in a gym, but Buns of Steel Boot Camp has changed my mind! I have been to a couple of other boot camps and tried a couple of gym classes around the city but have not returned to any of them except for this one. I would highly recommend BOS to EVERYONE.
You can work as hard as you want to and to the best of your capabilities without feeling intimidated. It’s not the usual boot camp where instructors yell at you to continue working even when it is compromising your form. The instructors are focused on making sure that you have the proper form and are targeting the appropriate areas. After a couple of classes, they also have a good sense of what you are capable of so they’ll push you just a little bit harder to keep you going. Even on my lazy days, I end up working really hard and am sore by the end of class. I think this is because they have managed to create a fun workout environment where both the instructors and other participants are supportive and encouraging.

I’ve always been apprehensive regarding group exercise and the word «boot camp» could be enough to scare me away. However, I’m so glad I took the chance to check Buns of Steel out. The leader/​owner, Jay, is fantastic. He provides motivation without intimidation which is fantastic. The members are of all shapes, sizes, and fitness levels and there is no competitive nature what-​so-​ever. The members encourage each other to push hard and are genuinely happy to see you succeed. This has been a delightful surprise. I’m tired, but satisfied, after each session.

BOS has new ownership now — a guy named Jay who is doing a fabulous job. Jay and all of his trainers are lovely people who are very motivating, dedicated to their jobs and attentive to clients, every class. The atmosphere is comfortable and community-​based, yet very challenging and NEVER boring. The exercises are varied, fun, and will always leave you feeling like you’ve had a great workout and you’ll sleep like a baby! You will definitely see results if you attend regularly and put in your best effort. I love going to BOS and look forward to each class; when I miss one I feel disappointed. Jay is also very committed to providing the best service he can, and is always offering us extra perks, plus he has organized regular potlucks that are a lot of fun and with delicious, healthy food! I would recommend BOS to anyone; I love it, I actually enjoy exercising when I’m there, and I’m definitely seeing results.

Here’s a list of why this bootcamp is great:
1. Amazing group of people who attend. Friendly, all ages, all fitness levels.
2. There are currently four instructors who bring to their classes a whole lot of personality, energy, knowledge, variety, technique improvement, positive motivation, flexibility, personal attention (fixing technique, giving you a different exercise if you have issues, such as in your shoulder or knee, etc.)
3. Each class is different. Every time. Of course there are general similarities (such as Tuesdays incorporate boxing technique and Thursdays is often high intensity intervals), but you really don’t know what the hour will bring you and it’s over in a flash.
I’ve been attending for almost two years now (wow, I just realized it’s been that long!) and it has changed my life. I was hooked after one class. So much better than going to the gym. This place has personality, an awesome community, and you will see results if you apply yourself.

The best bootcamp in Toronto! It took me quite some time to find a place where I’d feel motivated. The instructors are amazing! Thank you Jay, Sean and Justine! Your classes are so much fun! I still want to try Peter’s classes which are on Tuesdays, I’ve heard that they are great as well. I love that every class is different, so I never feel bored. It’s only been 2 months, but I already see and feel a difference! Thank you!

I love this bootcamp.
As someone who feared gym class and struggled with being overweight my whole life, I never thought I would enjoy group exercise. This place made me love it. I have been attending this boot camp for almost 3 years. The previous owners started a really great boot camp and I saw tremendous benefits in my first few months there, but over time some of the classes became unfocused and classes got smaller.
The current owner of this boot camp has been doing the Friday classes since I started and has revamped each night with a host of awesome new instructors since taking over. Each has their own style and approach, but all of them are welcoming, friendly, and willing to work with you at your level — whatever that is.
This is a place where you don’t have to feel bad if you can’t do a certain exercise or are just starting out. Exercises can be modified to meet your needs and you are encouraged by both the trainers and the other boot campers.
The breakdown:
Mondays and Fridays are the owner Jay. Expect circuits, some partner work, a mix of body weight, kettlebell and floor exercises with a mat, and sometimes even a game or two to mix things up. The soundtrack is always fresh, but you won’t be by the time you’re done.
Tuesdays are Peter. Expect a short cardio-​based warmup, some circuits to mix it up, and BOXING! You know you want to try boxing. Most classes you will get one-​on-​one time with the gloves and lots of practice to improve your form and movement. He keeps it simple so anyone can do it.
Wednesdays are Sean. I’ve only been to his class twice because of my schedule but they were just as fun as the rest. Circuits, ab work, lots of sweating and good fun.
Thursdays are Justine. Justine will make you sweat buckets, but in the most fun way ever. Every week is different but you’ll always get a full body workout. Sometimes she will even join in and work out with you. She’s also a nutritionist, so you can pick her brain about just about anything food related.
Then there are the boot campers themselves. It’s a very relaxed and friendly atmosphere and the people I have met here are the main reason I continue to work out regularly.

Came to this place with my fiancée for a workout, walked out exhausted. Jay worked us quite hard and gave lots of options on each exercise to challenge everyone’s ability level. He’s a good motivator, keeps on you without getting too in your face. Definitely recommend this place!

I have to say I really love this boot camp. I have only been to the classes with Jay whom I feel in love with, and I felt like I got a hell of a workout.
The place is a bit hard to find, but when I did find it I was welcomed with a smile from the instructor and greeted by the others in the class.
The atmosphere is unpretentious and warm, which made me feel very comfortable. I find a lot of classes like this are so focused on the fancy equipment and cool work space that the point if the thing gets lost. This was not the case here.
The instructor was really good at tailoring the exercises to each persons ability level and really made me work hard. He came around and adjusted my body when I was doing something incorrectly, which I think really helps because I find in classes like this people end up doing the exercises wrong a lot of the time.
I walked out of there feeling like I got a REALLY good workout and I enjoyed myself!

I had a lot of fun at Buns of Steel Boom Camp class. I found the class had very high energy with an excellent class instructor Jay. Jay has been our personal trainer for about 3 years and he has always been very motivating and helpful.
In the boot camp class, Jay set up multiple stations during boot camp class and we were asked to do 1 set of exercise at each station. Jay taught us different ways to modify the exercise if we find them too easy or too difficult. I felt that the class was very intense and I was sore for a few days after but it felt great. Thank you Jay!

The whole group — instructors and participants alike — are extremely motivating and push each other positively. What is so great is that each session is run by a different yet equally challenging and knowledgeable teacher.
I heard the last owner kind of let the program go, but the new guy who took it over has been super active at getting participants to feel at home and welcome.
I highly recommend this bootcamp for those looking for a fun challenging evening group workout throughout the week.

This place was a joke!
I have done plenty of Bootcamps in my life and I can’t believe these guys actually have paying clients… I paid $ 20 for 5 classes via Deal
and I still feel thoroughly ripped off.
First off there is the Website. A jumbled nightmare sales pitch more concerned with talking about «why we are better» than provide basic info like parking information, instruction on getting into the building (which was locked upon arrival) or the fact that a mat is required!
I was expecting to have a registration session. This would be where you’d be measured, weighed and given a waiver to sign… none of that was done. What if we would have gotten injured in class?
Instead, when we walked in the instructor was eating and telling us he hated DealCanada (awesome… nice to meet you too!) He tried hard to get to know us… too hard even. Barking out our names as some kind of turrets mnemonic device he had created for bootcamp (see… we ARE better!)
The bootcamp lasted about 45 mins! The «warmup consisted of swinging our legs front to back than side to side… TAH DAH you are warm right?!
Then we used resistant bands, puny kettle-​balls and medicine balls. There wasn’t enough equipment for everyone so some of us had to struggle with weights too heavy or breeze through with weights too light.
I broke a sweat during the floor work because frankly my core sucks but for the most part my heart rate stayed pretty mellow. If this was a decent workout I shouldn’t be able to have a full conversation with full breath. In fact I was able to come up with witty quips for every time our idiot instructor decided to randomly say my name, ask me stupid questions or tell the class he hates Yoga (really?!)
My favourite part of class was the «stretching» at the end where the instructor said: «Just stretch what needs to be stretched» and watch us do whatever stretches we knew.
In my opinion this is a terrible workout, and in some cases dangerous as I saw older woman adopt terrible form as they flung kettle-​balls over their heads while locking their knees etc… If you bought a voucher here try to get a refund because it’s not work it at all.