1. What was your starting point?  

When I first came to The Studio (MDR) it had been years since I worked out regularly—although I’ve always had a passion for fitness and health it had taken a backseat in my life for a period of time. I had lost all my muscle tone, stamina, and confidence about regaining these back. I came in weighing around 150 pounds and now I am 130 pounds of awesome muscle power.  

2. Do you remember a specific moment that nudged you to go to class, or decide that it was finally time to make a change? 

I felt trapped in a cycle of feeling discontent about my physical fitness and frustrated by my inability to find a fitness routine that could keep me inspired, engaged, and motivated without it becoming monotonous. It was a happenstance that brought me to The Studio (MDR). Midst brooding over finding a felicitous workout that encompassed a level of high-intensity and efficacy – I ran into a former roommate who had just come out of a class. Drenched in sweat, looking toned, and healthy I had to know more! She described the workout and kept promulgating the studio is transformative and effective. Even better, she told me it was continually challenging and never humdrum. I decided right then and there I had to check it out. I love a challenge and more so a class that can be a routine workout for me without feeling routine.

3. What were the first changes you noticed after the first few weeks of taking classes at The Studio (MDR)? 

After my first class I fell in love. Not only is it dynamic, face-paced, fun, I can feel every muscle being worked out in a way in which I’ve never experienced before. It truly is a groundbreaking routine in the ability to incorporate a total-body workout with cardio and strength in such short time duration. After the first few weeks of classes my body was significantly changed. I first noticed how much core strength I gained in such a short period of time. It is unparalleled to any other workout I’ve tried.

4. Have you cleaned up your diet and if so, how has it changed?

I have definitely started to eat more raw unprocessed food. I’ve cut down on eating sugar and I make sure that I stay hydrated.

5. What’s one pose that you used to hate but love now? 

French twist. The name sounds so sweet and innocent, but it works you hard and carves out your abs to make them ready for bikini season. Living in LA ‘bikini season’ is an all year ordeal so I’m always prepared. 

6. How far have you come from your starting point in both physical and mental ways? And what are some of your new goals when you look ahead?

When I first started taking classes I had no muscle definition or tone, now I have strength throughout my body and it has changed my entire physique. Having developed strength and sculpted muscle tone, I’ve become more in-tune with body awareness. From something as simple as recognizing when I am slouching and self-correcting my posture to understanding how to use more core strength and muscle control when I am in dance class.

The Studio (MDR) has pushed me to break through mental barriers and to learn to accept being comfortable in discomfort -- when the change is happening. I love when occasionally an instructor will put extra resistance on my megaformer during class because they know I can do it and giving me a loving push to better myself. Them having faith and confidence in my own strength has lead me to realize I am capable of so much more than I thought possible. Especially since just shy of a year ago I experienced a severe case pneumonia alongside multiple lung surgeries --- there was around an 8 month period where I couldn’t workout like I’d been used to. Coming back in again to The Studio (MDR) I was once again gaining up strength and stamina. I was overwhelmed at first dwelling on fears about my ability to do it, but thanks to the instructors I’ve come back (maybe even stronger) and feeling confident and mentally prepared to take on whatever is next in life. In fact, the Studio (MDR) has made me not only want to "look it. feel it. live it," but fueled my desire to inspire and start teaching fitness and health education to others as well.