Sean Temple

Izimvo is honoured to introduce the founder and owner of African Boot Camp: Sean Temple.

African Boot Camp is styled as an alternative outdoor “African Lifestyle Fitness Philosophy”. This form of results based training is a fun but focused way of keeping fit and trim and is achieved using the landscape we have here in Africa – especially the beach!

Website: http://www.africanbootcamp.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/africanbootcamp
Location: Durban

Sean was kind enough to answer the following questions:

Personal

Q: The all important personal profile. How would a close friend introduce you at a social event? i.e. Name, age, company, interesting fact etc.

A: First off, just want to say that this website and the ideals are brilliant! I congratulate you guys on doing something that is special to SA and its wellbeing.

Sean Temple, 38 going on 24, African Boot Camp founder and owner, Loves being well and making others feel great!

Q: Tell us something that not many others know about you. This could be anything from a phobia to your favorite movie.

A: My favorite movie is “Shawshank Redemption” and my phobia is fear of climbing up into a roof of a house – What is that phobia called? Claustrophobia and/or Myctophobia.

Q: What do you enjoy doing when you want to get away from it all?

A: Taking a small trip up to my house in Zinkwazi and taking it easy with my beautiful fiancé and dogs.

Q: How would you describe your dream home and where in South African would you like it to be?

A: I have been very fortunate in having been able to build that! It is in Zinkwazi and it’s the perfect getaway for me and my loved ones.

This question was proudly sponsored by Private Property

Health and Fitness in South Africa

Q: What was the impetus for starting African Bootcamp and can you tell us about the training programs and services on offer?

A: Basically it was a culmination of many things.

1. I had done so much training of different disciplines over my life that I was looking for a new way and means of keeping fit completely. I couldn’t find that extra regime that complimented my various training sessions. I believe that we don’t maximize some fundamental human dynamics when we train. Modern fitness, I believe, has been compromised and is defined by appearance rather than actual horsepower. We abandon the very foundations that actually make you perform at your best! Done properly we should be able to work our bodies really optimally using multiple cross functional training that tests ourselves to the best of our ability. This also refers to how we live our everyday lives – Lifting shopping from the boot of the car, walking up and down stairs or setting off after your child – if you are not optimally balanced, you can sustain injuries that are totally avoidable.

2. I love the beach and sea so much. Our coastline in this country is special! We as a nation just don’t utilize it like we should! I lived in Australia for 2 years and used to take part in their thriving Boot Camp classes in Sydney (each headland had a Boot Camp business). I got really fit from it but felt that it could be done better!

The training programs are based on an EDT (Escalating Density Training) program. This means that I do workouts over a period of time where I slowly but surely start increasing the load of the workouts yet don’t increase the time. The program includes work around relative strength, power-endurance, and endurance. With training on the beautiful beach and stunning weather, it is easier to get the mind in synch. Remember the mind is primary in all training and goal setting.

Q: African Bootcamp’s training sessions are held at local beaches. What, besides the amazing scenery, are some of the benefits of training on sand?

A: Training in sand, in small doses, is ideal and positive for many attributes in training

1. It is highly cardiovascular
2. Allows your body – mainly your feet, knees and hips to move to their natural range of motion
3. Sand is soft and offers less jarring on the body
4. Huge calorie burner
5. Guaranteed increases in power and strength
6. Allows both stabilizers and mobilisers to be utilized

Q: What are some of your core training philosophies?

A: Stop making excuses for your training. Be honest about your ability and scale your training to be the best that you can be. With the way medicine and health progresses, we will generally be living a long time! Train your body to live longer. Healthy body, healthy mind.

Q: What are some of the success stories of those who have signed up for your classes?

A: I have had huge success stories from the elite athlete to the best Dad’s and Mums that they can be!

I have had as much joy in the knowledge that I had a small part to play in examples like an SA bodybuilder place at the worlds, a top runner drop his PB 10km from 43 mins to 39 mins after 7 months of training, to having a lady lose 17kg and another 10kg. I have had a Dad lose 7% body fat yet keep his muscle tone. They all mean so much because of the work they have put in!

Q: With the current levels of childhood obesity, what advice would you offer parents regarding the health of their children?

A: I think that in this country we have such an abundance of healthy living options that parents really shouldn’t have any excuse not to instil healthy living as a fun and viable way of living. I am not saying you must run around and train, I mean eat well, get outdoors, walk and enjoy what South Africa has to offer.

Q: Do you have any health and fitness secrets?

A: I have tons and always glad to share! The one that I love is when you wake up first thing! Drink a large glass of water and eat an apple. You haven’t hydrated for over 8 hours and the apple is just a wonderful health secret from nature. The other is stretch!

Life in South Africa

Q: Have you or any of your immediate family been affected by crime? If yes, has it changed your perception of the country and the way you and your family live your lives?

A: I think that we have all had someone close to us be affected by crime. I have been, but I was also party to crime in New York and London. It hasn’t in anyway changed my perception of living in SA. We live an amazing life here and we have to understand that crime will affect us some way or another. I think that by being careful at all times does get quite onerous sometimes but it really is a small price to pay.

Q: What about life in South Africa did you miss the most while living abroad?

A: Family and the space! We have such a lot of open space in this country. Its vast and makes you feel how incredible this land is that we live in. I will never forget the times when you fly in to Johannesburg and then onto Durban, the sheer size of the country and its open spaces. I also find that this country has a special and distinct smell.

Q: If you were given the opportunity of sitting down with the president, what advice would you offer him?

A: 1. Surround yourself with brilliant people

2. Keep this country busy with hosting major sporting/financial/public events – it keeps us honest and also inspired to keep this country functional

3. Be like Madiba!

4. Less is more – Less “panels” of investigation for the sake of keeping the peace and adding time to an issue that sorely needs action, less talk, less publicity in the social sphere means MORE action, More decisions and more focus at the job at hand.

Q: Who do you consider as South Africa’s greatest health and fitness role model?

A: All those coaches and teachers and trainers that spend hours of their free time making it possible for the kids of our country to realize their full potential!

Life in Durban

Q: What do you enjoy most about living in Durban?

A: The beach and the sea – What an extra ordinary coastline right on our doorstep. The fact that in 5 mins you can be surfing. I love the chilled out way of life here. I love the fact that there is a business hub though that works hard! I love that we can drive an hour anywhere and we have such a diverse landscape.

Q: Favorite restaurant in or around Durban for a romantic night out?

A: Beira Alta

Q: First place you would take an international visitor?

A: To have a quick drink at the lighthouse bar in the Oyster Box, then to the beach for a quick surf/bodysurf and finish off with a meal at so many restaurants to choose from!

Q: Favorite destination for a long weekend getaway?

A: Zinkwazi!

General

Q: What does your personal training schedule look like?

A: I do gym for strength 3 x a week as well as do boxing and grappling training 2 x a week with one of the best trainers around www.deanzone.co.za, I do Kettle Bell training 2 x a week and I surf ski paddle 2 x a week.

Q: One book that you would make required reading for all matric pupils?

A: “Success, one day at a time” John C. Maxwell

Q: Where would you like to wake up tomorrow?

A: In Zinkwazi overlooking the ocean with my whole family and loved ones there!

Q: If you could be any comic super hero, which would it be and why?

Q: Silver Surfer – first off cool way to get around! He made mistakes and rediscovers his nobility of spirit – Cool!

Q: Who would you most like to read about on Izimvo and what would you ask them?

A: My Dad – I would ask questions that show the world what a brilliant man he is.

A massive thank you to Sean for taking the time to answer our questions and for sharing his inspirational voice. We’d like to wish him every success for the future and especially his upcoming wedding.

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