Boot camp fit for stars offered in Houma

Tired of trying to sweat pounds away on your own? Or giving yourself motivational pep talks to help you keep up with the perky people on television fitness channels?

If so, consider joining the group exercise classes in Houma taught by fitness pros Paul and Debbie (Devona) Baker.

The husband-and-wife team – California transplants – is bringing “Hollywood Fitness” to the bayou area.

The high-energy session is designed to motivate each fit clubber to sweat inches away for summer romps on the Gulf Coast beaches, weekends at Grand Isle or to build self-esteem and self-confidence, the couple said.

Boot Camp for Life (BCFL) is a weekly training session, infused with fun for better results and personal development, which leaves fit clubbers feeling energized and invigorated.

The workout was designed by Devona-Baker and is part of the WHOLE fitness program.

“Debbie and I have trained with the best of the best in Hollywood, Beverly Hills and Los Angeles, which is ‘fitness central’,” Paul Baker said. “We want to share what we have learned. There is a growing need for bigger fitness exercise groups.”

Baker said he believes it is his duty to bring Hollywood physiques to the bayou area. “The people in our area deserve the cutting edge in fitness, too, and the positive benefits that go along with it,” he said.

The boot camp training combines athletic conditioning, strength training, martial arts and functional exercise (movements involving training for the core muscles) all set to music.

Between them, the Bakers have over 30 years’ experience in fitness coaching.

Over the course of her 13-year career, Devona-Baker has instructed pro athletes, fitness models and popular fitness personalities. She teaches groups and offers one-on-one training to some clients.

Devona-Baker is working on her life-coach certification, specializing in fitness. And she’s in the process of writing a fitness book that outlines her training program.

Paul Baker is a former celebrity trainer for Cesar Milan (aka “The Dog Whisperer”) and actor Zack Ward, the star of the new movie “Transformers.” He has 20 years of experience as a gymnast and fitness enthusiast.

“I am in the process of patenting a workout invention that utilizes the training style responsible for sculpting the physique of elite gymnasts worldwide,” he noted.

Certified through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), the Bakers are optimal performance trainers and have earned several other nationally accredited certifications, including stamps of approval from the American Council of Exercise and the Aerobic and Fitness Association of America (AFAA).

The Bakers’ weekly boot camp is held Saturdays, beginning at 8 a.m., at 4137 Bayou Black Drive in Houma. The suggested donation for each class is $20 per participant.

For more information contact, Paul Baker at (985) 991-9297 or e-mail questions or comments to info@mybootcampforlife.com.

Paul Baker and his wife, Debbie Denova-Baker, have refined their Hollywood-style fitness boot camp for the Bayou area. The high-intensity sessions are designed for all fitness levels, the husband-and-wife team said. Classes combine athletic conditioning, strength training, martial arts and functional exercise all set to music. * Photo By PAUL BAKER