Mom's Q&A: Staying Fit With Baby Boot Camp

ST. PETERSBURG - Christie Bruner of Shore Acres is a business owner and stay-at-home mom of two young children. She also is a new member of Patch's Moms Council.

Bruner, 31, has accomplished what many other working moms only dream about: Running her own thriving business while simultaneously taking care of her kids. She stays fit doing it.

Bruner owns the St. Petersburg franchise of Baby Boot Camp, a national company with 150 locations.  If you’ve every seen the cadre of new moms pushing strollers as they jog along St. Petersburg’s waterfront, you’ve seen Bruner’s business in action.

Bruner offers  nine classes a week at various locations around the city, from Tyrone Mall to Vinoy Park. Most of the women buy a six-month or year pass that enables them to attend as many classes as they can squeeze in to their busy Mommy schedules.

Of course, bringing the little ones along is not a problem, but part of the workout.

Bruner paused from her own busy parenting schedule, taking care of Grace, 5, and Jocelyn, 3, to talk about her business and the benefits of staying fit.

 Q. Tell me about your background.

 A. I’ve been doing this for five years. The company used to be called Stoller Fit but merged with Baby Boot Camp in Sarasota. My two littles ones are the reason I started this business. I started teaching classes when Grace was just a few months old. I had been looking for something to do and I was new to the St Pete area. I went to a Stroller Fit class in Westchase, and I talked to the girl who taught there. I decided I liked the concept and to start a franchise in St. Petersburg. It grew from there.

 Q. Do you have a fitness background?

A. I have a college degree in exercise science from Truman State in Missouri. I swam competitively in college and coached swimming at St. Pete Catholic High School… Starting my own business was a way to have a flexible working schedule. But it also helped me to meet people as a new mom and to get out in the community and socialize.

Q. What are the benefits to moms who join Baby Boot Camp?

A. It is a way to get fit, but it also is a social outlet for moms. There’s also bonding for moms and their babies. The kids have a social outlet, too, and get to see children their own age. They learn from each other. We take time to do things for the kids, going over ABCs and numbers. It’s engaging for everyone.

Q. Tell me about the workout.

A. It’s a 60-minute workout. It’s interval training. You don’t have to have a stroller to take part; it’s not required. We get pregnant moms who participate. There are different facets to the workout, with cardio and strength training. The kids are different ages, from six weeks to two to 5 years old. We do warmups and then go to different stations. The moms may do pushups off of benches. They also get a membership kit that includes tubing for resistance training. They use the tubing to do things like bicep curls. The workouts can be done at all levels. At the end of class, we find a nice grassy area and put the kids on blankets. The women do their abs and core and then stretching at the end.

Q. How hard is it to get a workout done, if your child is crying or doesn’t want to stay in the stroller?

A. The babies have a lot to do during class; they watch the boats and planes and birds go by. Their moms sing to them and bring snacks along. We’re interacting with the kids throughout the clas.

Q. How has running Baby Boot Camp worked out for you?

A. It s nice being a stay-at-home mom. I like the flexible schedule. I get to spend time with my kids. Being a franchise owner, the parent company gves me a website, email account and help with marketing. With 150 locations, there already is name recognition in place. Before I did this, I worked at a gymnastic facility as a program director. I had a lot of driving to do for the commute. It was all day and draining. This has worked out really well. I teach classes, and the babies come with me. They see the benefits of being active and having an active lifestyle.

Q. How important is it for new parents to stay fit?

A. The main thing is moms are so tired, they don’t get enough sleep. Just having an outlet and time for themselves makes a huge difference. After a short time, they say “Wow, I feel so much better.” There is also a circle of women who understand what they are going thorugh and can share their own experiences.

If you want more information on Bruner's Boot Camp, click here to access her Web site and class schedule. To reach Bruner's Baby Boot Camp by phone, call 727-637-7913.