Aloha my lovely dovies! Today I want to talk about fitness, so I’ll just get right to it.
When I was little, I was a showjumper (that’s with horses for those of you who have no idea what I’m talking about) from age 7 to 16.
Then, I got into boys…and didn’t do it as much. At 20, I totally stopped doing it altogether, as I was too old to go to my favorite intense jumping camp in France. I went to a French school in London, and let me tell you – languages were their thing. No religion, no arts, and most of all, next to no sports. So even though I was exceptional at riding, showjumping was the only sports gift I had.
When I moved to LA at age 24, I would do a few hikes here and there, but as far as serious exercise goes, I had never went for a run for more than four minutes. Plus, I HATE gyms. So at the time, I was really looking for a weekly workout that wasn’t in a packed gym, and was just something fun and different.
My eyebrow waxer Kim (who I swear by) recommended TRX Suspension Training. Just the name got me — it sounded so hardcore! (And yes…here’s a shameless plug for Kim because she’s SO awesome: Call her at Wax 323.951.9616).
I went for my first session without researching TRX, as I didn’t want to walk in having expectations (or get freaked out). I really wanted to learn about it first hand, organically, from my trainer.
When I got to the facility, I was greeted by this fantastic, beautifully-toned and glowing woman named Alana. It always helps if the teacher looks good — ladies, I think we all do this test! If they look great, we know we will too. I once took an abs class from a very out-of-shape woman, and it didn’t really give me the confidence that I was seeking to get to my goal…if you know what I mean.
But…back to TRX. In a nutshell, TRX is a type of training that uses your own body weight and gravity, to build strength, balance, coordination, flexibility, core and joint stability, all while preventing injuries.
During Week 1, it was more about getting used to the apparatus and what it entails. I actually broke a sweat (which is amazing for me) and Alana made sure I kept hydrated (because I never drink water unless instructed…crazy, I know).
We started with basic squats (making sure to do them in the correct posture), along with one-legged squats and side lunges. Then in an offset stance, we did back and shoulder exercises — making shapes like T’s, Y’s and I’s. For the arms, it was tricep extensions and bicep curls against my own body weight – which felt like I was really being put to work.
Then I put my feet into the TRX handles and did push-ups. Push-ups are my worst, and this week I only managed to do seven. I’m going to build on that though, so my goal for next week is to do at least 10.
So far, this workout is amazing! It’s all done against your own body weight, so depending on your level, you can make your workout easier or harder. It also means from week to week, you can improve rapidly and build on your last.
I am a geek AND a Gemini, so I LOVE TRX because I’m never in competition with anyone — only myself. This makes TRX right up my alley. It really works your core muscles during the whole workout, because there are a ton of ab work and exercises to improve balance and coordination, plus it keeps your heart rate in fat burning zone the entire time. So c’mon guys n gals! What is there not to love about that?
Also being a Gemini, I aim to please and love to be liked. I really love Alana’s energy, so that made me want to kick butt in all the exercises, as I really wanted her to like me…and not kick my butt 
So stay tuned. Next week, I’ll be explaining more of the exercises we did for this 4-week Tried and Tested TRX blog. Alana told me each week we build on previous moves, so you’ll be able to read how my body reacts to this!
For more info on Alana and TRX please visit http://www.sublimefitnessandbodywork.com/ and catch one of her group classes: Monday and Friday at 12:30 pm (only limited to 9 students per class so you get a ton of personalized attention) at Toluca Lake Tennis Club and Sports Center, 323.851.6000.
And of course if you don’t live in Los Angeles, you can easily google TRX Training in your area to check it out.
As always, for more info on me…check out www.emilyrosetv.com and keep checking back to Positively Celebrity for Week 2 of my Tried and Tested TRX blog!
Read Also
Tweet
alana is truly one of the most dedicated and knowledgeable trainers i have ever worked with. has whipped even some of the toughest cases into shape! you’re lucky to have her in your corner! dr. mike
I have worked with Alana before and found her to be an excellent trainer all around. She is patient, skilled and very knowledgeable in her work. Though exercise can be challenging, Alana always makes it fun, too. So I look forward to trying this new TRX training soon.
Awesome. Taken the class at the Toluca Lake Tennis Club and Sports Center. Alana’s the best!
Have been two three classes working at a moderate level and find the workouts very thorough in terms of reaching all the muscle groups. I love how you can work at a level you are comfortable with and how taxing it is on your core!
I am glad someone did an article on this! I love taking this TRX class. It’s a great work out. I always break a good sweat. It really gets you into great shape. Beyond that, I really enjoy Alana. She is always engaged, always positive. She takes a genuine interest in her students. She’s a great motivator and she has a fantastic sense of humor.
Nice site, nice and easy on the eyes and great content too.
Sounds like a great workout. I would love to look into it and find out more.