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On the other side of town on another day at Pope John Paul II Park, several yawns mix with the chatter of crickets in the 5:55 a.m. darkness.

A dozen recruits amble out of their cars and sluggishly mosey around as though they're about to line up for a high school phys ed class.

''Your body's gonna feel like a furnace all day long. Let's stoke it up," instructor Peter Lavelle greets them in a friendly tone.

Within minutes, the sleepy dozen seem like they're feeling that burn. They run laps, perform jumping jacks, and do squats on the park's hilly terrain. The sun barely pokes out behind the State Street buildings in Quincy.

Despite its intimidating name of Ultimate Bootcamp, ''we're not military style. It's much more of a motivational, positive style," says Jill Tomich, who launched the program three years ago with Lavelle in Watertown. They created the class after hearing people looking for a quick yet intense regime that worked around their 9-to-5 schedules.

These classes meet four times a week at 6 a.m. or 6 p.m. at the Boston Common, Arsenal Park in Watertown, or Pope John Paul II Park, the newest addition to the program.

''I jumped at the chance to do this. I want to get in shape for the summer," says a sore Dianne Cushing, a receptionist in Braintree. She signed up for the Dorchester class because she doesn't have time to exercise after work.

She also said she was motivationally challenged and needed that extra push that only an instructor could give.

''They [the instructors] don't let you stop. They don't scream at you, which is nice," says Cushing, who was gasping and moaning moments later while doing squats.

Halfway through the workout, Cushing jogs in place along with her 11 other classmates. She looks exhilarated. ''I love this stuff," she says.