New Mantra Fit Bootcamp Strengthens Mind and Muscle

What happens when you cross high intensity exercise with the mindfulness of yoga? The answer is Mantra Fit, which comes to the Severna Park Community Center on April 15th. This holistic approach to fitness fuses cardio and strength training with purposeful coaching to help condition the mind and spirit, along with the body. 

Mantra Fit was conceived by Severna Park resident, Carleen Birnes, an ACE® certified personal trainer and lifelong athlete. Birnes grew up in the mountains of Pennsylvania where her parents owned a yoga retreat center. Her regular practice of yoga and meditation provided a counterbalance to the hard-driving nature of playing competitive sports. Mantra Fit is the culmination of this experience. 

"My goal is to help people train with purpose, thereby creating a body and a life they love," said Birnes. "We focus on building strength from the inside out. Exercise is transformational for the mind, as well as our body. It's the best anti-depressant around. When we shift the fitness experience to the whole self, the feeling of empowerment helps integrate exercise as a lifestyle, which is the key to healthy and happy living."

Mantra Fit also keeps it fun and uplifting by cultivating a bootcamp community who support and motivate each other throughout the workout. All fitness levels are welcome in class, which is structured into an hour-long session of cardio and strength training drills peformed in an interval format that emphasizes bursts of high intensity, followed by periods of recovery. "We refer to it as cardio bliss," Birnes said. "Your heart and mind are pumping. And you can't wait to come back to the next class for more."

Mantra Fit Bootcamp officially kicks off April 15th at the Severna Park Community Center, located at 623 Baltimore-Annapolis Boulevard. Weekly classes are held on Mon., Wed., and Fri., 6-7 a.m. and Sat. 8-9 a.m. The first class is always free for new students. Students can come at their convenience, choosing to drop in, buy a block of classes or pay monthly for unlimited classes. 

To sign up and learn more about Mantra Fit Bootcamp, go to www.mantrafit.com. Visitors to the site can also enter to win a giveaway for 10 free bootcamp sessions. And coming this summer, Mantra Fit will introduce Stand Up Paddle Board fitness classes on the scenic waterways of the Chesapeake.