Morning Crunch

Bought an amazon local deal on a whim and finding myself in a bit of a fitness rut. Definitely do not regret it and if I weren’t so busy at this point in my life i would sign up again. Paul is an awesome coach — you can tell he is genuinely invested in your fitness. He keeps the work outs fun /​engaging, not to mention challenging. I was always sore but loved the feeling of heading into work, knowing I started the day bright (or dark) and early having done something good for myself.
Don’t fear if you’re a newcomer! Paul will definitely will take the time to give you pointers, he pays attention to your form so you won’t get hurt — and he is always able to tailor workouts to your level so you won’t ever feel pressured /​or shamed for modifying something or taking a break. He never guilts you if you are late or end up missing a class (or two), because he cares more that you made it there. To anyone looking to get stronger, change up their work out routine or lose some weight– I highly recommend this class :)

I found this via Groupon because I had fallen out of a workout routine and was feeling crappy about myself. I signed up for 2 sessions, each session is 5 weeks with about a week session in between. I did some research before choosing this one over the Griffith park location. (Griffith park has class 5 days a week and this one only MWF, but who am I kidding… I would never make it up at 6am every morning). Based on the reviews I read I chose the DTLA location with Paul.
I love that the class is outside, I got used to working out outside with my old trainer roommate and the park we workout in is beautiful. Paul brings equipment so you can really get the full range of exercise. The focus is one strength and conditioning which is what I needed (I hate arm day). Paul takes the time to learn everyone’s name and remember them, he is very good at modifying exercises to be harder or easier for each individual. The rookies and «vets» are split, now that I’m on my second session I am working out with the vets and it pushes me to try for more.
Paul is an inspiring guy and I like that he doesn’t shame you for being late. If I oversleep a bit and I know I’m going to get yelled at I probably just won’t go… Instead his outlook of «you’re still doing more than most people» encourages me to still get up and go.
Try it out! There’s always a deal available and it’s a great way to kickstart a good habit and start your days right. Although it’s more than a gym it’s definitely a better deal than getting your own trainer.

I just started this boot camp and it is the first boot camp I have actually looked forward to going to. I have done two other boot camps-​one was just really not motivating and I felt lost from day one. There was no real instruction and I felt miserable. The other one pushed me to the point of sickness at every class that I had to stop going. Paul is different! He separates the newbies from the returners and thoroughly goes over the exercises and modifications (for the newbies) if you aren’t able to do the full exercise. I have never looked forward to working out before. I have an equinox membership that I will be canceling soon. I just wish this class was 5 days a week!

The real deal. I was sore and in pain for days. Why 4 not 5? You’re just a #. Like sheep.

IT IS AWESOME! I am def. going back Paul has motivated me to do exercise and I’m not an active person. These boot camp classes with Paul have been the best experience with workouts. He pushes me to continue but at the same time he lets me choose my pace. I like the fact that he makes the workouts seem like a fun exercise. LOVED IT!!!

LOVED LOVED THIS CLASS!!!
I used a living social deal to attend the 5 week program and I loved it! Even without the LS deal I would have still paid the full amount because I felt great and I saw results that not just in my waist but in my overall fitness level.
Coach Paul is A M A Z I N G, he makes the workout fun and enjoyable without loosing the challenging part.
The only reason why I’m not going anymore is because I dont have a car and I would have to catch the bus at 4 am in order to make it to the class.
Paul, whenever you start an evening program PLEASE LET ME KNOW, thanks to you I do not enjoy the gym anymore: D

I’m generally a not big on exercise, but Paul has taught me to enjoy it. I feel like I’m getting stronger every week, and will continue to attend classes for as long as I can. Not only is it a great workout, but I have developed a sense of camaraderie with my teacher and fellow students which is quite gratifying.

I started working out with Paul at the Downtown boot camp class 4 weeks ago. its amazing! i was never a morning person but needed to find a way to fit in working out around my busy work schedule. I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD BE WORKING OUT AT 6:50AM! but i do and i just renewed my membership for another 5 weeks.
Most of that is due to Paul. He keeps the routines fresh and works you hard. He doesn’t yell at you, he already likes it when your late because at least you showed up!

I needed to jump start my workout and in October 2012, I came across a groupon for Crunch Bootcamp! The class was right across the street from my condo and there was a class at 6:50, three days a week. I decided to give it a try… it’s only 5 weeks!
The classes are amazing and the instructor, Paul Shaw, is awesome and hileraous! He knows how to motivate people and he gets results! Paul is concerned that everyone gets a good workout that is appropriate for your level of fitness.
I

Been going to the DTLA location 6:50 class for just about a year now. Not only has my body transformed (and still is) but my relationship with my body & mentality towards fitness has changed as well.
Paul Shaw makes class fun, challenging, all while allowing you to set your own goals. He’s not the run of the mill spit in your face call you a dirty maggot type of trainer who uses fear as motivation. He genuinely cares about your personal goals and caters to your abilities. Not only that, he has a way of making people motivate each other too.
Whether you can only do 10 pushups or can knock out 300 no one feels left behind. I started off only being able to do about 30 pushups now I can do do over 340!
As for Kelley M.‘s review, you deff have the WRONG Bootcamp class. Paul does more strength training and conditioning than cardio. It’s really hard to believe that you were forced to do cardio and treated rudely on top of that, in this class. It’s just unheard of. Are you sure it was Paull Shaw who was training you that day?
There are all types of deals going on if you ever want to dip your toes in one of these training sessions. They are a lot of fun and the fellow Bootcampers are great too.

So so
Kinda liked it

I’d never done a boot camp before, had heard lots of horror stories about them but when I went skiing one weekend and was sore and exhausted after four runs I decided I had to do something about it.
I signed up for my first boot camp in February and showed up for the first session, nervous as hell, not having any idea what to expect, and ready to bolt in a second. God, what the hell was I doing up at 5:45am on a Wednesday morning on the streets of downtown LA?
There was a surprising mix of women and men, returning vets, and us rookies. Everyone seemed friendly, the trainer didn’t seem like a Marine drill sergeant who was going to spend the morning yelling at you so I stuck it out. As the morning wore on, I got a great feeling of camaraderie with the other rookies as we would commiserate about the willing torture we were putting our bodies through.
Paul Shaw, the trainer, was great. He was encouraging and supportive. With all the exercises he encouraged everyone to do as much as they could, offering easier and harder ways to do each exercise. No yelling, always with a smile and joking and encouraging us to push as hard as we could. I’ve worked with several trainers in the past and by far Paul is the best.
We all got through the workout and as we were dragging our exhausted bodies to our cars we were all amazed, and I’d also say proud, at what we’d just accomplished. Due to Paul’s encouraging, supportive attitude I think everyone was there for the next workout and most of us finished the 15 sessions and signed up for more. Paul has a great motto, «Everyone is an athlete, many just don’t know it yet» but you can bet he’ll show you how to discover that inner athlete.
I’m now finishing up my third boot camp session and don’t see myself ever going back to an ordinary workout. The camaraderie with the others in the classes, training outdoors, and having a great supportive trainer make Downtown Morning Crunch a memorable and exhilarating experience. No more musty smelly gyms, no more muscle bound apes scoffing at you if you can’t bench press 500lbs, and no more slacking off and just going through the motions.
It’s gritty, you’ll get your hands dirty and possibly other parts of your body too but it’s worth it as you start to see your body change. You’ll get stronger, loose weight, discover energy you’d forgotten you had, and get positive feelings from the new found endorphins coursing through your body.
This was the best decision I ever made, I’ve made new friends and got to meet a truly great guy in Paul.
Come on, join us and reinvigorate yourself.

So I’m a college student, and it’s still a a struggle for me to develop healthy living habits. Before this boot camp, I had never strength trained before or had any muscle really, but Paul sure did help me change that!
1. Waking up is difficult (esp after late nights cramming for exams and writing papers), but all you need to do is get there, and Paul will take care of the rest! I literally roll out of bed & am out the door in 10 minutes. Once you’re there, the beautiful park, the endorphin rush, and Paul’s lovely motivational voice will completely support you.
2. Paul is caring, easygoing, and pretty hilarious. He makes a point to learn names quickly and say good morning to everyone, regardless of how late someone may be. His jokes and the funny sounds he makes also remind you to laugh when the workout is kicking your a**.
3. Paul is extremely knowledgeable and attentive to each individual’s needs. He will personalize this workout for you to make sure that you are being pushed to achieve your fitness goals. He always shows us the different «levels» of difficulty for various exercises, emphasizing the need to work your way up from a rookie to a veteran, while maintaining good form and preventing injury.
4. Paul is reasonable. He will not yell at you if you need to take a short break or do fewer reps of an exercise! Moreover, he constantly checks in with you to make sure you aren’t pushing an injured body part too hard. Personally, I injured my lower back in the first two weeks (headstrong me trying to be a hero), and to this day, Paul is always concerned about my back! He even let me make up the classes that I missed in a different session.
5. The community is wonderful. Though there are many different fitness levels within the group, everyone is working hard and encouraging each other. We all have busy lives and stresses, and we all know it’s difficult to create and stick to a regular fitness régime, but we get through it TOGETHER! And we have a lot of fun too (especially on Fun Fridays!).
6. You get results. I feel stronger and tighter every day, and my stamina and energy level are up. What a wonderful way to start the morning.
Plus, I used a Groupon deal, a LS deal, a deal they offered internally, and I’m about to purchase this Unilocal deal, hehe. Try it out. It’s the best addiction. :)

I had never tried a boot camp in my life before giving Downtown Morning Crunch a shot and I must say I absolutely loved it! Paul Shaw is an amazing professional instructor. He knows what he is doing and pushes you in an encouraging way without being coercive. He pays a lot of attention to detail in your form, tailoring the workout just for you if you have any injuries, if you are just ramping up or if you want to really push yourself. There is also a sense of encouragement and solidarity from other students in the class.
I used to have a gym membership for three years and would «workout» at least 2 – 3 times per week but I must say I wasn’t seeing any results, I was simply maintaining. I would read a fitness blog here or there to give myself the illusion that I knew what I was doing. Paul works you out according to a 5 week cycle, that builds on the prior week. Even after doing a few cycles Paul still keeps it fresh, there is always something new to learn from him.
At the gym I used to go through the same machines and felt like a hamster on the treadmill, I was wasting so much time waiting in line for machines that are half working, and I hated having to wipe other people’s sweat down. Not only that but if you are in the downtown area, the 24 hr fitness on Flower only validates parking in the evenings which is not the ideal time to work out, and by the time you go in the evening most of the classes are over.
After morning crunch, you start to see your fat melt off and your clothes fit you better and you realize you don’t need fancy machines, you don’t need to do those dorky exercises you learned in PE class, you don’t even need to run around a track and wear your knees down or ever do a single sit up, you just need to be guided by a pro like Paul every time you work out.
I was first referred to the Morning Crunch through a friend at work who raved about it. Since then I have been here for over 15 weeks and have so much strength in my core, legs and arms. Before starting I couldn’t do more than 10 pushups and Paul has conditioned me to finish over 300. If you are worried about cost, just remember its your body, your vessel of life, you only get one, so don’t cheat yourself because you deserve the best.

Welcome to your 30’s where you can no longer get away with little to no exercise and loads of brie. The time had come, I knew I had to face my demons and get rid of the jiggle that had found its way onto my stomach, hips oh my!
I am so happy that I found Morning Crunch Downtown LA boot camp with Paul. I have been working out three times a week since September and LOVING it! They offer five week boot camps and mini weekend workouts at different locations around LA.
What drew me to Morning Crunch is that you pick your location based on your neighborhood. I knew that if I was going to stick with it that I needed to be able to walk to my boot camp. The downtown boot camp takes place at the FIDM park it’s a lovely place to workout.
Paul is an fantastic teacher and I’m glad he isn’t only available to mega stars in the hills. You just need to show up with a yoga mat and a bottle of water everything else is provided for you. There are two time slots for DTLA I opt for the 6:50 AM (later) class. He runs a tough workout but does not yell at you like you are in the marines. He was in the military and does the great 1, 2, 3 count but does not degrade you.
No matter what shape you are in, no matter how many months or years it has been since you worked out don’t worry! Put that behind you and sign up TODAY for the Jan 4^th boot camp and start 2012 out right. I promise you if you stick with it you will see results.
What do I love the most?
–Morning Crunch is VERY affordable, way better pricing than any other DTLA boot camps.
–Once you complete a series (5 weeks) then you are VET for life. That means that every future boot camp you sign up for will be discounted how cool is that?
–In addition to the VET discount you can sign up with a friend and get a few more bucks off!
–Each workout is different and Paul varies the exercises. I have been going for 15 weeks and not bored yet. The fact that I stuck with it for this long says a lot.
Paul’s technique and approach has opened up a new world to me. I knew I was bored with gyms and paid for many memberships that I never used. But I needed to find that missing link. I am more likely to workout with an instructor but can’t afford a personal trainer. Or so I thought! Get outdoors, use your body no need for fancy equipment or gym memberships. As Paul says everyone is an athlete but we don’t realize it yet. I can say I agree! I am getting in shape, having fun and have made exercise a new habit. Hope to see you Jan 4^th 2012 for the next 5 week boot camp. Be sure to sign up for DTLA location with Paul!

This review is for the Weekend Warrior Mini-​Bootcamp held at Griffith Park. I bought the Unilocal deal awhile ago and finally got to use it last month. Our trainer was Ricardo. We started a little late, but it was due mostly to stragglers. In total there were about 20 of us that morning. It was nice and overcast, so Ricardo decided to take us on some trails up to the helipad and then have us go up and down trails several times. At the end of it I could barely walk back to the car, but it was definitely the level of intensity you would expect from something with the word Warrior in the title. Do not try this if you’re idea of workout is 20 minutes on the elliptical machine in your BeBe sport wear.

The thought of waking for Boot Camp before the crack of dawn seemed pretty much near impossible before I actually tried it, but let me tell you that it is completely worth it! After the workout I feel so energized and am ready to jump-​start the day.
Paul is a great instructor who is always very energetic and passionate. He is open to any questions that you may have and really does care about your well-​being. I always leave the Boot Camp with a smile on my face feeling much better than I did an hour before. The fellow boot campers are very welcoming and it really does create a sense of community and accountability. I would feel guilty for not showing up without a valid excuse!
The class is for all fitness levels so get up and TRY IT! I guarantee that you will have a ton of fun, meet some nice people, and get a great workout in while everyone is still sleeping!

Thought I should write a review for this year. This is one of the best ways to get in shape. I have been doing this bootcamp for over a year and I couldn’t be happier (plus when you are told you lost about 15% body fat and gained quite a bit of muscle you know it is a good investment). Paul is amazing and my fellow bootcampers are awesome. As early as people think it is and as asleep as most of us still look when we arrive, we are always glad we at least showed up. I am far from a morning person but I went from taking the 6:50 session to becoming a regular fixture at the 5:45 session. Plus working out at Grand Hope Park while the sun is coming up is not a bad way to start the day.
All in all I say check it out at least once and you may be hooked. Not to mention it can be a lot cheaper than a barely used gym membership like mine.

If you want to do something good for yourself this year, join this boot camp! Paul is a great instructor and he makes everyone feel comfortable at their fitness level.
Don’t let another year of being down on yourself for not getting fit go by! It’s fun and good for you. I had to stop coming for a few months because of my work schedule but I’ll be back in 2010!

DO IT !
Great instructors. Great location under california plaza. Great hours 5:45 to 6:45 (there’s another class at 6:50) it’s gorgeous outside at that time of the morning. Good mix of fitness levels. Great workout.