Trainer Thursday - elena

Which classes do you teach?

I currently teach Wednesday evenings in Edgewater. 5:30 Cardio Barre and 6:30 Tabata.

How did you get started in health and fitness?


I am an actor, and while on tour with a musical I would do fitness videos in my hotel room/take classes when available/ write work outs for myself in order to stay in shape on the road. After tour I had developed this deep love for fitness and wanted to find a "day job" that was something I could be passionate about. I then found myself teaching group fitness and never looked back! 

How would you describe your training style?

I am extremely high energy and encouraging. But I think my style is definitely to find humor and fun in sweating. If I can make my clients laugh while wanting to cry from pain, I've done my job. ;)


Top three favorite exercises and why?

I'm obsessed atomic pushups on the TRX, because there is nothing more difficult. I love sprint/run intervals during my runs. They keep me from getting bored and improve my speed. But most of all, I LOVE the way my legs shake during thighs in a barre class. It seems so simple and the movements are so small, but there is no better leg workout. 

What food would we find in your fridge? 

Always a jar of pickles (I get a salty treat without the junk), a drawer full of leafy greens for my smoothies, almond butter (good on EVERYTHING), and every egg in Chicago. I am literally addicted to eggs. Sometimes I think I might turn into one... 

Do you use supplements? If so, which ones? Why?

I use Arbonne protein powder as a meal replacement and a recovery drink after a work out. It is vegan protein (milk products and soy are considered to be very difficult for the body to process and not the healthiest) and is made from cranberry and pea proteins which are the most efficient for the body to use. It is a great way to get the nutrients my body needs and to help achieve those fitness goals. I also feel like it's a milk shake because its so delicious, so I pretend I'm cheating a little! 

Any classic healthy meals that you eat?

I like to change it up. But if I'm craving pasta on a random night, I like to make brown rice pasta with veggies and a pesto sauce made from my home grown basil, grapeseed oil and cashews. I mean... it's just sinful. 

Give your best 3 health tips that people can do right now: 

1. Start today on living a healthy life. 

2. If you fail, start again immediately. No one is perfect. But believe that you deserve to be your healthiest/ best version of yourself and set a goal to achieve that.  

3. Have a friend that will be your healthy buddy. I have a friend that I can call when I feel chubby, when I've eaten something awful and need a boost, when I need to set a goal, etc and she is always on the other line encouraging me. We set goals together. It keeps me on track and sane! I'm not alone in this! 

What are your best tips for losing the last few pounds?

Never think of them as your last few pounds. Be proud of how far you've come, set a goal, achieve that goal, then set another. If there are a couple pounds that want to hang around, set a goal that has nothing to do with weight but rather your eating habits/ a race you want to finish/ a fitness class you want to conquer, and forget that mean scale. 

Do you have a fitness role model? If yes, who are they and why do you look up to them?

My mama. She taught aerobics while pregnant with all 3 of us kids, she has run several half marathons, she tries new workouts all the time, she just does it all. To this day if I ask her to take a class with me she says, "I can't wait to try it." If I write us a workout and tell her what we're doing that day she says, "You're gonna kick my butt, but let's do it." She is an absolute stud. I hope that I am as excited about life and as fit as she is in 35 years. She's my idol. 

What is your favorite inspirational quote?

"Nothing tastes as good as being thin feels." Sometimes it reminds me why I make the sacrifices I do, and it encourages me to stay on track. 

What is the best piece of advice you were ever given about health and fitness?

Don't think of it as a diet, think of it as a life style. There is no expiration date. 

What are your favorite exercises for developing abs?

Planks! The absolute best. 

What are your favorite exercises for developing a nice butt? 

Honestly, barre. I see a difference when I take and teach a lot of barre. My legs are more slim and my booty is perkier. Gotta love that!

Where does your inspiration come from?

Everywhere. Other classes, daily tasks, friends, online

What is your favorite form of cardio? 

Circuit training. Burpees, mountain climbers, froggers... all the stuff that hurts the worst. I LOVE doing cardio circuits. It's the easiest way to set a goal (number of reps, etc) and feel achieved when you do. It also kicks your butt. 

What was your funniest moment at the gym?

I think I'm hilarious during my classes, though the clients may not agree. I guess it's hard to laugh at me when you're cursing the day I was born...

What is your favorite part of teaching fitness classes and/or personal training? 

Connecting with people and knowing that I might be changing their lives. It's an amazing feeling. 

How do you handle setbacks in your own fitness journey?

I just keep on pushing. I start over constantly. And I ALWAYS have a new goal in mind. 

If you could be the best at one sport/fitness activity, what would it be?

Aerial acrobatics. I've never done it. But I've seen it on Cirque du Soleil and man that looks cool! 

What is your favorite song to workout to right now?

It's slow and very random, but "Pretty Hurts". Beyonce literally gives me life during a workout, and the song is just so powerful. I'm obsessed.