by Anisha A.

I have been a member at Equinox since I moved to NYC eight years ago.  Before I started training with Ed, I kept my workouts pretty simple.  I didn’t really push myself too hard, but tried to be consistent about working out.  However, after seven years as a member, it finally hit me that I wasn’t seen any results, and I hadn’t even used most of the gym’s facilities.

That all changed when I started training with Ed.  My goals were twofold: to better understand what to do at the gym and to become more toned.   After taking the time to understand where I was coming from, Ed constructed a series of specialized workouts that catered to my goals.  Our sessions are often centered on circuit training, in which we do a series of exercises that incorporate full-body movements and are cardio-intensive.

Ed is clearly experienced and knowledgeable about his profession; he is able to improvise and has a whole host of exercises in his toolbox.  When I started training for a 100-mile bike ride in Tahoe, he began incorporating exercises into our sessions that helped prepare me for high altitude and steep climbs.  In addition, one time I came in incredibly upset about something and said, “I want to hit something”.  Those who know me would say that is very unlike me (I’m too scared to even watch fight scenes in movies).  Ed did not get flustered; he quickly recreated our workout and soon I was slamming ropes and medicine balls.

Ed also pushed me harder than I had ever pushed myself (tell me, when does someone willingly run up three flights of stairs with dumbbells in hand? And not once, twice, but THREE times?).  It wasn’t long before I started seeing progress; I started taking in my skirts at the tailor and buying clothes one size smaller.  And when I go to the gym on my own, I am not overwhelmed.  I can choose between various exercises, whether its swinging ketelbells, lunging across the gym, or doing push-ups on a Bosu ball.  I would not have been able to do this without Ed’s training and it is very clear to me that he helped me achieve my goals.

What’s also special about Ed, however, is that he goes above and beyond his mandate. He could easily come in to the gym, run me through some exercises, and call it a night.  However, he has helped me reassess my whole lifestyle and better understand my body.  During our sessions, Ed would share his insight about nutrition, explaining to me how I could modify my diet and eat better. He encouraged me to get a heart rate monitor so I could make the most of my workouts.  He is also encouraging me to sign up for bike races now that I have completed several long rides.

I am very fortunate to have had Ed train me for the past year-and-a-half, and I’m also lucky to also have him, and now his girlfriend Cathy, as friends.  I would highly recommend Ed to anyone that is looking to get in shape and better their overall lifestyle.

Edward Gemdjian is a NASM certified Personal Trainer and Holistic Lifestyle Coach. Team Awesome is his response to the myriads of misinformation about health and fitness in the media. He currently sees clients exclusively at Equinox Fitness in Chelsea, New York.  For information on web based training, please Contact us or click on the link at the top of the page.