Get Into Shape, Support A Good Cause At Vigor Ground

Vigor Ground Renton Results Boot Camp has moved into a new location — a space previously occupied by Value Village— and has put a new emphasis on marketing its “results guaranteed” fitness program. The location is a step up from its previous venue across from Merrill Gardens where owner Luka Hocevar felt 'hidden' and relied mostly on word-of-mouth advertising.

The program’s “boot camp” system is tough, but Hocevar, a nationally certified fitness trainer, and former professional basketball player says that anyone from a beginner to a fitness nut can work the program. His students currently range in age from 18 to 71.

The fitness program has varying levels with each move, which allows participants workout within their own fitness level. For example, a static lunge is basic, reverse lunges are a step up, and jumping lunges are more rigorous.

Hocevar is big on giving back. He regularly holds charity fitness camps on Saturdays that give back to a local, national, or international organizations.

On a recent Saturday, the club hosted The Livestrong group that benefits the Lymphoma and Leukemia Foundation. Other charity camps have benefitted the Susan G. Komen Foundation, Treehouse, and Autism Speak.

Attending the Livestrong Charity Fitness Camp was Susan Thompson, of Lakeridge. At age 64, she was desperate for a change in her appearance and her health. One year ago, before joining Vigor, she topped the scales at 244 pounds.

"When I started here, I couldn't hold a plank (a static push-up) for 3 seconds," she said. "But each time I would get better and better. I was determined to start my 65the year in the best health yet, and I have achieved that."

Thompson has now lost 66 pounds and Hocevar considers her a true testament to how the program can work for anyone.

Nemesia Ramolete, Hocevar’s assistant, works out daily, as do each of the five trainers at Vigor Ground. Ramolete started a blog describing her own transformation, onsite  and can often be seen at Vigor offering non-judgmental and encouraging support to students during their workouts.

Hocevar emphasizes the quality of the warms-ups, ensuring students use proper form and don't push too far, so as not to get burnt out or discouraged.

The emphasis is to start with what you can do and then push to get better, he said.

After a warm-ups students work through lunges, planks, squats, sprints in place and weights.

Zong Her, membership director for the Renton Chamber of Commerce, enrolled in the boot camp to prepare for a fitness contest she's in this fall.

“It’s exciting that there is a really neat training facility right here in Renton and I don’t have to drive to Seattle,” Her said. "Luka and his staff are very motivating."

In addition to group classes, the camp has smaller group training sessions (for six to eight people), and semi-private training sessions.

The club often hosts charity boot camp sessions on the weekends. On Oct. 22 at 9 a.m., Vigor Ground will host a camp to benefit the A21 project, a cause to stop Human Sex Trafficking in Europe. Click on the pdf image (at right) for more information.

For more information about Vigor Ground, charity boot camps and transformation contests, contact the club at 425-306-4598, or visit their Facebook page.