In the Media
2005-08-01, The Edmonton Journal
Body & Health Personal Trainer Feature
Andrea, Personal Fitness Trainer with Defining Eve.
Certified Professional Fitness and Lifestyle Consultant. Competed in gymnastics on a national level; one-time Canadian junior record holder in pole vault, competed on an international level. Has kinesiology degree from the University of Saskatchewan.
- PERSONAL WORKOUT: “I usually do cardio – jog or bike – four times a week and I do resistance work three times a week and that includes exercise on the stability ball and dumbbells and I do flexibility workouts for 30 minutes three times a week as well.”
- LIKES: “I love dancing. If there’s music on, I feel the beat and I want to dance. This past year I took a ballroom dancing class. My favorites are the cha-cha and jive.”
- DISLIKE: “I’m scared of strange big dogs that jump on you.”
- GUILTY PLEASURE: “Belgium praline chocolate.”
- GREATEST FEAR: “Insects, spiders in particular.”
- GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT: “My experience as an athlete. Being on a national team was one of my all-time goals.”
- MOST TREASURED POSSESSION: “Photos of me and my friends.”
- TALENT YOU WOULD MOST LIKE TO HAVE: “I would love to be in the circus as a trapeze artist.”
- ONE THING YOU WOULD CHANGE ABOUT YOURSELF: “I would like to be a lot less stressed, though at the same time, I work best at the last minute.”
- SOMETHING PEOPLE WOULD BE SURPRISED TO KNOW ABOUT YOU: “Most people don’t know that I like to make cards and scrapbook.”
- IF YOU WERE TO DIE AND COME BACK AS ANYTHING WHAT WOULD IT BE? “An angel. Then you can oversee everyone – your family and friends, but without knowing what they’re thinking, so you’re not invading their privacy.”
- WORDS YOU LIVE BY “You can never get away form yourself so try and make yourself the best person you can be.”
Andrea’s Tips
Chris Zdeb; journal staff writer, Edmonton
Many adults haven’t been to a playground since their kids grew up or their butts got too big to go down the slide.
A “stability park” doesn’t require you to have kids to be able to visit, and there’s no confining equipment because it’s a playground for adults, says Andrea, a personal trainer at Defining Eve, who regularly takes her clients out to play on the large-sized equipment at an Edmonton elementary school.
Interestingly, it wasn’t built as a stability park or a playground for adults. It was actually a “ropes-challenge park,” similar to ones commonly found at summer camps. The equipment was installed in 1993 by Edmonton’s parks and recreation department, local community association and elementary school to challenge the older students in Grades 5 and 6.
But Cindy Davies, who was community recreation coordinator at the time, is thrilled that someone has come along and found another use for it.
“I love it when people are that creative and inventive,” she says.
Andrea says the equipment offers a total body workout.
“You can do most of the exercises you do in a gym or a studio, only you’re outside in the fresh air and summer sunshine and its fun,” she says.
There’s not much equipment: sand, some large tires, ropes strung between large wooden posts, and a log roller. The idea is to work out on uneven surfaces and equipment which strengthens your core muscles. Andrea says.
Quoting an old coach, she describes the body’s core as the trunk of a Christmas tree. “Before you can hang any ornaments on it, your core has to be stable,” she says.
There are varying degrees of difficulty to the equipment to challenge everyone from beginner to the more advanced.
“It’s something, as parents, that you can take your kids to, so it’s kind of a family activity too. Just don’t tell them they’re exercising,” Andrea says laughing. “They’re just playing, everyone likes to play.”
