Morning Crunch – Pasadena Boot Camp

Classpass review: a suggestion to Morning Crunch — don’t list all of your locations under one company! It makes it impossible for the Classpass holders to search Morning Crunch using locations. For Example, if you search studios in Pasadena, Morning Crunch Pasadena will not show up, because it’s listed at the location of West Hollywood!
Anyway, it’s a long due review since I have attended Morning Crunch Pasadena for many times. It’s the only outdoor group exercise in my area that offered through Classpass. I get a really good workout every time, and I always max out my class limit each month.
Because it’s outdoor, it’s never crowded since you have the whole field to spread out. In the early mornings, the air is always fresh, and you can run around the big field instead of running in place on a treadmill. The workouts are never the same, and the locations can also be different, although the warm ups are always at the same place. The workouts are the combinations of cardio, strength and core. All you need to bring are a mat and water, and the other equipment will be provided. In addition, Michael is always very attentive to the participants on the forms. The parking is also more than plenty.

I have to agree with the reviewer that gave this 3-​stars. This is not a 5-​star workout. No offense to the people who love it but this workout is intended for people who have never exercised in their life (or very little) and need a way to get started. I was already fit going into this and work out hard at the gym (weight training, circuit training, and running). I just wanted to try something different and outdoors for the summer. But after the first class, I realized this would be a waste of my time and I’d likely gain weight/​be less fit if I relied on this boot camp for my exercise. You run around the park, do lunges and squats, push ups, burpees, and crunches. All VERY basic stuff. Also, my biggest problem with the workout is that it is not a balanced, full-​body workout. For example, there is not a single exercise in there for the back but you do tons of push ups. If you keep building your chest muscles and don’t do anything to build your back muscles, I think it’s pretty obvious that you’re going to have a problem. I asked the instructor whether we’d ever be doing pull-​ups on the monkey bars in the park. He said no because most people can’t do pull-​ups. I rest my case. Yes, most people who are just starting a fitness routine can’t do pull-​ups. But people in decent shape can at least jump up and hold themselves up (which is how you start building the strength to do pull ups). That said, I’m not going to trash the boot camp entirely. The instructor was nice and tried to keep everyone motivated. And if you need the discpline of an organized fitness routine, it’s MUCH cheaper than personal training. Luckily, I did this with a Groupon so I wasn’t upset about wasting $ 50.

How do I begin to describe the awesome-​sauce that is Morning Crunch…
Firstly this is an outdoor Boot Camp. When I heard outdoors, I imagined birds chirping in a sunny breezy park and what I got was a dark, damp, FREEZING park setting. But this was motivation because it was freezing I felt like I HAD to keep moving keep running keep exercising at all cost. Because I did the late March-​Early April camp it was DARK at 6am due to daylight savings. And Yes I went MWF from 6am-​715am which gave me plenty of time to shower and get ready for work.
This boot camp is great because the instructors provide an outline for the exercises and you can go at your own pace. I loved this freedom because it gave me some flexibility too focus on my exercise goals. I didn’t want to lose weight per se but I wanted to tone. So I cut back on the running and really focused on the shaping exercises
Yea technically you can do all this stuff for free on your own but most people DON’T so I think it was worth every penny spent because it gave me the structure and motivation to get active. And Michael was a great motivator. He was very demanding and kept you moving from start to finish. After the five weeks I did notice my tummy was much more toned and my thighs had slimmed down. I was kinda mad I lost some ass meat but hey we all gotta sacrifice something for the greater good.

A great way to bust out a new day. Michael Rupnow is a very helpful instructor. As expected, you bring your own mat or beach and weather appropriate clothing. Of course, you can do all of these exercises yourself, but seriously what exercise can’t you do yourself? You can lift sacks of rocks for almost free, but the rock sack factory is still closed in L.A. and honestly, it is better to do this with a group. If you need that little extra motivation, this is cheaper than your trainer or spending your last decade in a diabetic torpor. The class pops up on Groupon and other promo sites, but just check out their web page for their frequent promos.

Considering I’m the first one to give Crunch Pasadena anything other than a 5 star rating, I’m DEFINITELY going against the grain here. But I gotta say, for the price you’re paying, you could easily do it yourself. There’s nothing they offer you, that you can’t do on your own. For free.
Lunges. Plank. Crunches. Jumping jacks. Did I miss something?
It would be one thing if the instructor was more attentive and gave more guidance on best practices, posture and such, but I felt that was quite lacking too.
Bottom line, not enough bang for your buck. I’ll stick to the gym.
— Desperately Seeking Exercise Motivation

Went to Boot Camp here by the Rose Bowl for a year and saw amazing results — after three months I’d lost 30 lbs. which put me in the best shape of my life for my wedding! Megan was fantastic at motivating me and keeping the workouts fresh.
This is an outdoor bootcamp (rain or shine) and it gets very cold in the mornings. There are two sessions in the morning MWF (6:00 and 7:15 AM) and a session in the evening (6:30 PM). Prices are also reasonable and are based on the number of classes you plan on attending. You can see great results going 2 – 3 times a week. People of all levels of fitness can get something out of this workout, though generally the attendees are 35+ and in pretty good shape, but everyone is very supportive!
Sad to say Megan is no longer doing the Pasadena Boot Camp and I can’t speak for the new trainer.

If you are are serious about getting fit and want a trainer that takes you and your training seriously, you have got to meet Coach Megan. She keeps you concentrated on your exercises and doesn’t let up. Megan takes special care to watch and analyze how you are progressing, and she knows what she is talking about. You can be as good as you want to be by just learning from Megan’s eating habits, workout habits and staying focused like Megan does. She’s one of the best trainers out there. Don’t miss your opportunity to better your physique, your mental strength and your aerobic fitness, agility, anaerobic fitness, cardiovascular fitness, conditioning, coordination, endurance, fitness, flexibility, physical conditioning, shape and body strength.
Go for it!

Best thing I did for myself this year! I have never done a Boot Camp before — but I love Morning Crunch. I still get sore, even after completing 3 sessions — starting session 4 tomorrow — but it’s a good sore! I love working out outdoors — and the Rose Bowl is a beautiful location. And Megan enjoys kicking us into shape… give it a try!

The words «Boot Camp» can conjure up images of camo-​clad drill sergeants barking orders at lowly scrubs and punishing them to egde of their physical limits. Morning Crunch — Pasadena Boot Camp is the COMPLETE opposite of that! If you’ve been toying with the idea of getting serious about getting in shape (but don’t relish the idea of a SCARY, traditional-​type boot camp) then MC could be for you!
I attended every session of this boot camp for almost 2 yrs. (with the exception of the current session) and it always keeps me coming back. Megan’s workouts are never boring and always challenging. She mixes the traditional cardio exercise with her own kickboxing and fencing experience to create a very unique effective workout. Every workout ends with a slow, yoga-​inspired cool down.
You will sweat! You will get sore! But Megan will guide you, motivate you, and push you in a gentle but firm way, to make sure that you get results without unnecessary injury. Most importantly: She asks you to listen to YOUR body, and then she LISTENS to you! Rain or shine, she’s there. So no more excuses!
Lookout Megan! Rocky is coming back for your next session! LOL!