To push or not to push...

I just got back from my Venice Beach workout, and it really got me thinking. I felt so great afterwards—like I kicked some serious a$s and rose to every challenge. I also realized something really important about working out with my BMA trainer—while he pushes me like no one else, I’ve worked out with many trainers who pushed me like crazy as well. The difference is, they pushed me to a point of total discomfort, where I felt like I was going to throw up or have a heart attack. Like they were going to show me exactly what working out really was, and only until I was ready to pass out would I be able to quit.

That mentality is so prevalent among trainers. Push, push, push and whenever the client complains, know that they just need to be pushed more. That is so not the right mindset. There should never be some weird competitive energy between trainer and client—your trainer should be there to motivate you, to help you go deep within yourself and connect with your physical being. It’s really about connecting with your body and using your breath to get you past any plateau or physical challenge. It isn’t just about the best conditioning methods or equipment—it’s about really listening to your body and knowing that you can keep moving and taking it to the next level.

I’ve worked out with some great personal trainers in Venice, the South Bay, London and other cities across the country. What’s crazy is this is the first time I’ve trained with someone whose ultimate goal wasn’t to either push me past my limits or to simply entertain me as I work out—BMA is about giving you the tools, both physical and mental, to achieve greatness in every aspect of your life.

Keeping the Momentum

Summer’s coming to an end and it’s easy to lose motivation. The pressure to look good in a bikini and in skin baring fashions diminishes, while vacations filled with libations and irresistible culinary delights make it hard to stay on track. On top of it, a lot of beach workouts and beach fitness programs, which are especially inspirational for many, come to an end. What to do?

Thankfully, I work out with BMA and seasonal factors no longer play a role in my mindset. Rain or shine, I’m still getting my work out on, no matter what. My personal training sessions are set in my schedule, regardless of the opportunity winter brings to cover up and hibernate. It’s all because of what I’ve learned in the past few months of training, and it’s not just about the actual conditioning methods we explore or the exercises I do. It’s about the value of my workout.

Training is no longer an option—it’s a necessity that grounds me in every other area of my life. It’s an appointment I have to be deathly sick or out of state to cancel, because I know it’s what helps me keep it all together, no matter what else is happening in my life. My training, whether it’s a group workout, a one-on-one personal training session or a personal training combo, becomes both a physical and mental foundation that is integral to both my personal and professional success.

It doesn’t matter where I train—though I do love my Venice Beach workouts and personal training in Santa Monica—as long as I squeeze some form of conditioning fitness into my week. BMA’s taught me to integrate exercise into my daily activities and to appreciate every opportunity to do so. Ideally, I make it to my BMA private training—but if I can’t, I do it on my own. As I long as I work out, I know it’s all going to be good and that I’ll be able to take on all the challenges I face with a clear head and a strong body. What more can you ask for?