For everyone who has ever used a baby or dog as a reason to stay indoors and not work out, local trainer Robert Hepper is offering to solve the problem by hosting a free outdoor clinic designed to incorporate dogs and babies into exercise routines.
"I want to give people in the community more options for exercising," said Hepper, a diehard fitness advocate. "It's sad that having a baby or a dog is an excuse for many not to work out - it doesn't have to be that way."
Hepper said the aim of the clinic is to show locals how to fit in a safe and effective full-body workout while taking care of a baby or dog.
"The emphasis is on getting your own workout in while keeping the baby or dog distracted, but utilizing the baby or dog in the workout will also be covered," he said.
Hepper runs a fitness boot camp called Osofit Fitness, and he often hears stories about how taking care of pets and babies interferes with the desire to get fit.
"As a fitness trainer, I hear a lot of stories from people when they come to see me about why they need my boot camp program and why they have become out of shape," said Hepper.
"There are two very common stories that come up - the biggest one I hear is, 'I started having children and lost the time needed to exercise and eat well for myself,' or 'I just couldn't leave the children alone to go work out.'"
Hepper said traditional classes force caretakers to leave a baby or small child with someone to go work out at the gym or take a class.
"Getting help with children is just not possible for a lot of people," he said. "So they need other options that allow them to workout and be with their children at the same time."
He said the other problem he hears a lot is, "I want to work out but I'm so busy with work and taking care of a dog that any spare time I have I need to use to take the dog for a walk."
"With my tips and tricks at the clinic, I'll show dog owners how to exercise their dogs and distract them while doing their own workouts at the park," he said.
He doesn't promote himself as a baby or dog expert, only a fitness expert trying to make sure everyone has the same opportunity to be active.
"Ultimately this is about working out with healthy people outdoors," he said. "This is my area of expertise and incorporating babies, children and dogs into that scenario is problem solving which I love to do."
The clinic is two hours long and will take place on Saturday (April 30) at 9 a.m. at Valleycliffe Elementary. Hepper said no baby or dog is required for the workshop - anyone interested in outdoor fitness who ever has the intention of working out with a baby or dog is welcome as well. The clinic is free of charge, but there are only 20 spots available and it's first-come, first-served. Call Hepper's Osofit office to register at (778) 970-2908.
