"Intimidation" best described my feelings about attending Egan Inoue’s Fit Body Bootcamp. After all, Inoue is a mixed martial arts champ, and I run only if someone is chasing after me.

Upon my arrival at Ala Moana Beach Park, one of six sites where the boot camp is offered, a group of relatively fit types were on the beach and raring to go. Some of the women were in bikinis, which left me feeling a little out of place in my full-length, yoga-style workout pants.

All of my fretting was for nothing though, since it turned out to be a positive experience. Inoue doesn’t yell, carry a whistle or push you to do anything you aren’t ready to do. People of various fitness levels attended and those in tiptop shape offered encouraging words to the newbies, which was a pleasant surprise.

Inoue offers a free introductory boot camp session at Ala Moana Beach Park on Saturday mornings; the regular cost is $167 to $267 per month for unlimited access at all locations.

Our beach workout was done barefoot and includes cardio, strength, core and balance exercises. We began with a short jog in the sand, running from one lifeguard stand to another and back. Other warmup drills included jumping jacks and stepping on and off a knee-high wall. By the end, we had completed wall push-ups, some abdominal work and stretching.

There were a few one-minute water breaks, but otherwise, the class was an hour of nonstop movement.

Sometimes, I’d be halfway through a set while everyone else was running backward to the starting point to repeat the drill. Several times, I just turned and went along with them, not completing all of the exercises. I told Inoue I felt like I was cheating, but he disagreed.

"I don’t want people to feel like they are cheating," he said, adding that everyone has to start at his or her own pace. "People come and sometimes start out walking. After several sessions, they are running and keeping up with everyone else."

I appreciated that he offered a low-impact alternative to many of the wall exercises. And although I didn’t do all of the drills, I was really sore the next day.

One word of caution: Dress to get wet. I didn’t realize we would be doing some of the workout in the water. Swimming isn’t involved, but we were asked to piggyback a partner while wading through the water. I opted to watch this activity.

First-time participant Renee Rivera said she was impressed with her boot camp experience.

"I expected a lot of yelling and exercises that were too hard for me to do. It was not that at all," she said.

"The instructor was helpful and didn’t make me feel embarrassed for not knowing what to do. The exercises were very tough but basic at the same time so you felt that you could at least try them without feeling too foolish."

Inoue has already begun his free, six-week 2012 Fit Challenge, but it’s not too late to join. He provides weekly workout video clips and tips for a healthier lifestyle. Visit his website for more information.

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“Tryouts” features exercise and wellness classes and other fitness activities. Reach Nancy Arcayna at narcayna@staradvertiser.com or call 529-4808.