New Canaan Resident Launches Free Fitness Boot Camp at NCHS

For the past nine weeks, a budding local tradition has been cultivated at the New Canaan High School track every Friday morning at 5:45 a.m. 

In scorching heat or overcast gloom, longtime town resident and physical therapist Nick Rutigliano has shown up at the track to lead his free-for-all fitness class, “The New Canaan Fitness Boot Camp.”

What started as simply Rutigliano’s morning workout is now developing into a symbol of town unity as he leads a committed group of almost 10 people every week. “My passion is to try to help people and motivate them to move safely and prevent injury,” Rutigliano said. “My passion and love as a physical therapist is to help people recover, move better, and reclaim their strength. I’ve always believed that prevention and community support are just as important as treatment.”

He continued: “I saw this as an opportunity not only for me to continue my workout journey, but also to bring people together through movement. I wanted to create something that blended fitness, connection, consistency, and a space where people of all ages and backgrounds could show up, feel welcome, and grow stronger together.