FRIEND


Doug Rusho is everywhere these days. If he’s not motivating his Psyclewerks class to push through the pain, he’s teaching spinning or training his clients.
Now, he’s hijacking the blog once again to talk about Spinesis.
Go, Doug, go.
Do you want to enjoy family, friends, and really good comfort food on Thanksgiving? Does Aunt Sarah’s deep-dish caramel apple pie lure you back to the fridge at 3am Friday morning?
If so, you can balance out your Turkey Day consumption with some high-calorie-burning workouts.
Spinesis, this Friday at 10:00am, is exactly what you need.
What is Spinesis, you ask?
It’s a group exercise class limited to 12 people, which combines two types of training, Kinesis and Indoor Cycle. Each person starts cycling with me in the Cycle Room. Then, groups of six head next door to the Kinesis studio to work out with the ever-so-sassy and energizing Dina Smock for 12 minutes of Kinesis. The other six people continue to cycle. Each group will go through three rounds for a total session time of 1 hour and 15 minutes. Both rooms are music-equipped for maximum motivation.
Never done Kinesis? Now is the perfect time to start.
Kinesis is movement-based, total body training, utilizing four special cable stations. Participants choose their own weight and go through a station over a timed interval. Weights are light because the intervals are usually more than a minute. There is only enough recovery time to get to the next station. Setup at each station is quick and easy. As you can imagine, your breathing will remain high and so will the calorie expenditure!
Kinesis is focused on true core conditioning and strength endurance.
It is great for toning and total body coordination. I have taught and taken many Kinesis classes and I really like the workout. It is something that feels totally different than anything you would do in the weight room. This is exactly what the body needs, something new and different to spice up that metabolism!
This will be my first Spinesis with Dina. I plan on bringing my own unique teaching style, the usual “music mapping,” and new to any past Spinesis class, something I call “Powertrip.” You’re going to have to sign up to find out what this is!
Spinesis is not your run-of-the-mill fusion class. The small group, the music, and the workout combine to form a unique experience.
I like Turkey Day as much as anyone, but to truly enjoy it, we have to find a balance. Make your reservations at the front desk now ($20/guest and guests are welcome for the same price), and do the holiday right!
Answering your questions this month is personal trainer Dina Smock.
Dina has been with the club for over 14 years and is N.A.S.M. (National Academy of Sports Medicine) certified.
Kristi: How did you get into personal training?
Dina: I have a B.S. in Health Sciences, and I began my career at Midtown as a floor trainer. This developed into a passion for training and running special events, so I transitioned into the Events Coordinator role for awhile. After that, I became the Fitness Director and worked in this role until the birth of my twin daughters in 2002.
Since then, I’ve worked part-time as a personal trainer, with a focus on pregnancy exercise and Kinesis. I love my work, and I’m still training my very first client who started working with me 14 years ago.
Reader Question: “I have about an hour to work out every day. I would like to lose about 10 pounds and I prefer the cardio machines to the weights. Which machines should I use and for how long?”
Dina:If you can get to the gym and do a solid 30-to-60 minutes of cardio a day, three-to-four times a week, you will be on the right track. To burn the most calories, you have to work at a high intensity. The harder and longer you work, the more calories you will burn.
As far as what is the best machine, I believe that you need to have variety in your workouts. If your program has variety, you are less likely to become bored. Having variety also helps to prevent overuse injuries. If there are certain machines on which you are more likely to exert maximum effort (and thus burn more calories), the definitely fit those into your workout program. I joke with my clients by telling them that the machines on which they like to work out the least are the ones they should be doing! The Gauntlet (the never-ending flight of stairs located in the back of the cardio room) is very challenging, and running or walking with a high incline on the treadmill are also great calorie-blasters.
Reader Question: “What kind of resistance training do you recommend for toning my arms?”
Dina: There are a lot of fun resistance exercises using weights, bands, and even your own body weight that you can do to tone your arms. Push-ups are a great exercise for focusing on the upper body and arms. Depending on your fitness level, start off with a few and then work your way up to doing more repetitions and sets. Here is the proper way to do a push-up:
Also Yoga and Pilates are great workouts for your arms!
Reader Question: “How can you best train for mountain climbing without supplemental oxygen? How is it that only a few elite athletes can complete class 4 or class 5 climbs? How does a person train for this?”
Dina: I spoke with fellow trainer Dave Statt who has a client who has climbed several class 4 and 5 summits. There is no one correct answer to this question. In terms of training, obviously being in great shape will help with climbing, but it’s really the luck of the draw in terms of being able to do it without oxygen and there are many reasons why someone summits or does not summit.
Reader Question: “I’ve been swimming a lot this summer. I feel great after leaving the pool, but is swimming a good workout?”
Dina: Swimming is a full-body exercise. The more body parts you involve in your workout, the more calories you’ll burn. For example, spend 30 minutes doing the breast-stroke and you’ll burn almost 400 calories. Best of all, your joints are fully supported so you don’t have to worry about high-impact injuries. It’s also great cross-training for other cardio and weight-training activities.
Reader Question: “I don’t make it to the club as often as I would like to. Can you suggest some strength-training exercises I can do at home?”
Dina: When you can’t make it to the gym here are some key exercises you can do at home with weights or without. These exercises use your body weight and can be done anywhere. You can also take them on the road if you’re traveling.
1. Squats.
Why They’re Great: Squats are one of the best exercises you can do. Squats work your glutes, quads, hamstrings, and calves all at once.
How to Do Them: Stand with feet hip-width apart, toes facing straight ahead or angled slightly outward. Slowly bend the knees and lower your hips towards the floor, keeping your torso straight and abs pulled in tight. Keep your knees behind your toes; make sure everthing is pointing in the same direction.
2. Push-Ups.
Why They’re Great: Push-ups, like squats, are compound movements that use almost all of the muscles in your body. You’ll work your chest, shoulders, triceps, back, and abs.
How to Do Them:See above!
3. Lunges.
Why They’re Great:Like squats, lunges work most of the muscles in your legs and bring focus to the glutes.
How to Do Them: Stand in a split-stance (one leg forward, one leg back). Bend knees and lower body into a lunge position, keeping the front knee and back knee at 90 degree angles. Keeping the weight in your heels, push back up (slowly!) to your starting position. Never lock your knees at the top and don’t let your knee bend past your toes. Variations: front lunges, back lunges, and side lunges.
4. The Plank.
Why They’re Great:The plank (or hover) is an isolation move used in Pilates and Yoga. Planks work the abs, back, arms, and legs. The plank also targets your internal abdominal muscles.
How to Do Them: Lie face down on a mat with elbows resting on the floor next to your chest. Push your body off the floor in a push-up position with your body resting on your elbows or hands. Contract the abs and keep the body in a straight line from head to toes. Hold for 30-60 seconds and repeat as many times as you can. For beginners, do this move on your knees and gradually work your way up to balancing on your toes.
5. Seated Dips
Why They’re Great: This exercise focuses on the triceps (the back of the arms).
How to Do Them: Sitting on a step, bench, or floor, place hands next to your hips. Lift hips off the step and forward until lower back is almost touching the step, keeping the knees bent (easier) or straight (advanced). Staying close to the step, slowly lower your body until your elbows are at a 90 degree angle. Keep shoulders down and abs in. Then bring yourself back up and repeat.
You can add hand weight
s to your lunges or squats for more resistance. Do 2 –3 sets of each exercises at 12-15 repetitions, 2- 3 times a week.
Thank you, Dina!
I’ve received some really great questions from readers, so now it’s time for you to submit yours! If you have a question you would like one of the personal trainers from the Fitness department to answer, you can post your question as a comment to this post, or email it to me at kristi@meetme-atmidtown.com. If you email the question, I will ask it anonymously on your behalf, and post the question and answer (but not your name) on the next “Ask the Trainer” post. You do not need to be a member to ask a question.
What do you want to know?
Fitness Director: Sam OwensM3
Sam has over 15 years of fitness experience. He earned his undergraduate degree in Physical Education from Cortland State University, while playing four years of varsity football. Sam received a Masters in Exercise Science with a Concentration in Performance Enhancement from the University of California at Pennsylvania and is certified with the National Academy of Sports Medicine as a Personal Trainer and as a Performance Enhancement Specialist.
Sam enjoys non-traditional training methods and is often seen flipping tires and swinging a sledge hammer in the Midtown parking lot as part of his workout.
Reading and listening to music are two of Sam’s favorite things to do during his free time.
Fun Fact: Sam is a die-hard Dallas Cowboys fan and also enjoys barbecuing and making his homemade barbecue sauce on the weekends.
Email: Sam.Owens@midtown.com
Phone Number: 461-2301 Ext. 139

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Justin started weight training at the early age of 12. Justin’s father took him to the high school gym, which at the time was a 10 x 12 room, with a universal lat pull, squat bench, roman chair, and a row machine. Justin’s passion for exercise grew with the expansion of the high school gym. His passion led him to MCC, where he studied Physical Education. Still unsure of what he wanted to do, Justin enrolled at SUNY Brockport, where he developed an interest in Psychology. After much contemplation about which path to take, he finally came to his senses and picked Exercise Physiology.
Fun Fact: Justin’s lifting career began early as he spent his high school and middle school years taking down and setting back up all the tables and chairs in his school cafeteria. Wrestling practice was held in the cafeteria, and the wrestlers had to move all the tables and chairs, cart in two mats, practice, and then move everything back in again.
Email: Justin.Bradt@midtown.com
Phone Number: 461-2301 Ext. 238

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Arlene first came to Midtown when she was ten years old to watch her parents play tennis. During a college break, she came back to work out in the new fitness center. After teaching aerobics in the early 1980s, Arlene decided to further her education in the field and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Health and Fitness from Springfield College in Massachusetts. Upon returning to Rochester, she was hired at Midtown and began a long and fulfilling career. Arlene has had many roles in the Fitness department over the years, and currently, she’s a Personal Trainer. What Arlene enjoys most about personal training is the different people she meets and helping them improve the quality of their lives through achieving fitness goals. In addition to her Bachelor’s degree, Arlene is NASM and ACE-certified.
Fun Fact: Arlene has worked at Midtown for over half of her life.
Email: Arlene.Dalton@midtown.com
Phone Number: 461-2301 Ext. 280

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Joe was born and raised in Westchester County in the small town of Bedford Hills. His passion for sports started at a young age when he began playing soccer at age 5. Continuing his goal to become a top athlete, he was awarded top honors for the Presidential Challenge in middle school, placing in the top 5thpercentile. During the summers, he worked as a lifeguard and swimming instructor. By the end of high school, he was the captain of the soccer and lacrosse team, and was awarded All- County status for both sports. Since playing sports came naturally to him, Joe decided to pursue a degree in Exercise Science and Kinesiology at SUNY Cortland. During college he played Division I rugby, and achieved certifications in scuba diving, water safety instructor (WSI) and self-defense. After graduating from college, Joe decided to move to Rochester, where all three of his older brothers live. He began working at Midtown in 2007. Joe currently holds his personal training certification through ACE and is currently working on completing his ACE Lifestyle & Weight Management Consultant Certification.
Fun Fact: In rugby, Joe was given the nickname “jaw breaker” for accidentally breaking a teammate’s jaw during practice.
Email: Joseph.Dietrich@midtown.com
Phone Number: 461-2301 Ext. 311
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Susan was born in Liverpool, NY and has been in fitness since 1994. She originally started her fitness career in Houston, Texas where she, her husband and then three-year-old daughter lived for about 3.5 years. She received her group fitness certification from AFAA and began teaching fitness classes at Gold’s gym, Worlds Gym, and a private club, all located in the Houston area. When her husband switched jobs, they moved back to Liverpool withher daughter, nine-month-old son, and another baby on the way. Once her third child was born, she continued her career in Liverpool where she gained new certifications in kickboxing and core. Eventually they moved to Rochester, where she and her family have lived for the past 11 years. In 2006, Susan received her Personal Training certification through AFAA. In 2007, Susan received another Personal Training certification through NASM. In 2010, she received a certification for Pilates Reformer through Balanced Body. She has worked for Midtown for 11 years, where in addition to personal training, she continues to teach Cycle, Core, Group Power, Bootcamp, and Pilates Reformer.
Email: Susan.Doyle@midtown.com
Phone Number: 461-2301 Extension: 257

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Kevin has been involved in fitness and sports his entire life. He comes from an athletic family, and graduated with a degree in Exercise Physiology in 2002. He then started his career at Midtown. Kevin became NFPT, ACE, USBA, and CPR/AED certified with a specialty in weight loss and strength and conditioning. He enjoys training all levels of fitness and helping people achieve their goals.
Fun Fact: Kevin once did
200 push-ups in one set and 2,000 in a single day.
Email: Kevin.Glor@midtown.com
Phone Number: 461-2301 Extension: 230

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Bruce has 14 years of personal training experience. He has spent his entire career helping people get fit, stay fit, and strength-train. Bruce started training when he was 16 years old. The owner of the gym where he worked out encouraged him to enter the field. Bruce realized very early on that training was the only job he ever wanted. Bruce graduated from SUNY Cortland witha B.S. in Exercise Science, and is a Certified Strengthand Conditioning Specialist. In addition to working as a trainer for Midtown, Bruce is also the Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Rochester Americans, and for Penfield High School.
Check out Bruce’s “Ask the Trainer” post here.
Fun Fact: Bruce has run 17 marathons (including 10 Bostons)
Email: Bruce.Hedlund@midtown.com
Phone Number: 461-2301 Ext. 269

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Beginning at age 5, Josette was participating in any sport she could, including “two-hand-touch football” or “stickball.” Josette continued to play sports through high school and college, earning a Sports/Academic Scholarship for softball. At the age of 15, Josette began working at City Park and Recreational Facilities instructing children in a variety of sports and activities and continued doing so until graduating from SUNY Brockport in 1990, with a degree in Physical Education and Sports Management. Exercise and fitness were always part of her life, whether she was preparing for an upcoming season or just staying fit and healthy. After college, Josette taught children’s fitness classes for all ages for four years. Because she was always interested in weight training and aerobics classes, she began looking for opportunities in adult fitness and personal training. In 1995, she began working at a fitness club in Syracuse, instructing members on the proper use of the equipment. She also dabbled in Membership Sales/Management positions. Josette learned that she enjoyed hands- on instruction much more than managerial positions. She feels her job is very rewarding when her clients achieve positive results from their workouts! She enjoys working with people of all ages and all levels of fitness. Josette has been at Midtown for five years and is NASM-certified.
Fun Fact: Next to fitness, Josette’s second love is food. You can also find her serving you a fabulous dinner at her family-owned restaurant, Rizzi’s. Josette has six siblings, including a twin sister.
Email: Josette.Lindsey@midtown.com
Phone Number: 461-2301 Ext. 251

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Steve grew up in Fall River, a city 30 miles south of Boston. He started lifting weights when he was 13. In high school, he played baseball and soccer, and upon graduating, he entered the Marine Corp.
Once back home, he worked as a cabinetmaker and sheet metal worker/welder while lifting weights, boxing, and doing aikido in his spare time. In 1999, he moved to the Caribbean island of St. Kitts, where he devoted himself to fitness and competed on a national level for St. Kitts as a Power Lifter and Bodybuilder. After leaving St Kitts in 2001, he moved to Baton Rouge, LA. where he decided to make a change to a life around fitness.
After relocating to the Rochester area in 2003, he decided to dive into the entire Fitness profession by becoming a full-time Personal Trainer, and added a National Academy of Sports Medicine to his existing certification with ISSA as a Fitness Trainer. Steve joined Midtown in October 2006, where he has continued as a Personal Trainer. Steve teaches two early-morning Boot Camp classes per week. Steve enjoys helping as many people as possible on a daily basis and can be found on the workout floor quite often fine-tuning his workout programs.
Fun Fact: Steve enjoys cooking and counts Beef Wellington & Tiramisu as two of his favorite dishes to make.
Email: Steve.Lopes@midtown.com
Phone Number: 461-2301 Ext. 249

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Vincenzo is originally from Rochester and enlisted in the Armed Forces, where he was a Military Police Officer/Master Fitness Trainer for eight years. He has over four years of overseas experience. Vincenzo is currently certified with the National Federation of Personal Training and is currently working on completing his certification with the National Academy of Sports Medicine. Vincenzo is a highly motivated, energetic trainer with 10 years of experience, with expertise in Boot Camp classes, resistance and free weight training, Professional Women’s Figure / Bodybuilding, sports -specific training and post -rehab conditioning.
Email: Vincenzo.Mogavero@midtown.com
Phone Number: 461-2301 Ext. 272

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Kim started her unusual path in the fitness field as a nanny. She took care of 4 children, including newborn twin boys, and as a job benefit, she was given a free membership to a gym. Not only did she love challenging her body, but she also created workouts and dietary guidelines for a friend who was diabetic. Several months later, her friend was taken off medication. This inspired Kim to look into the field of fitness. She soon discovered Pilates, which she is very passionate about. After years of studying and acquiring certifications, Kim decided to look for work in the fitness industry. She waited until the children she cared for were old enough for school, and then began to pursue her new career. She never thought she would find something as gratifying as taking care of children. But after 9 years in the fitness field, she still wakes up around 4 AM, excited to play at work.
Fun Fact: Kim started a business as a personal chef several years ago.
Email: Kimberly.Myga@midtown.com
Phone Number: 461-2301 Ext. 235

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Laura began personal training while she attended undergraduate and graduate school. She started working for Midtown as a personal trainer in 2004. She has a national certification and has attended several other certification programs in a variety of exercise programs, including Pilates, yoga, aqua, flexibility and Kinesistraining. Laura has implemented and is currently teaching the stretching program for both one-on-one and group stretching at Midtown. Additionally, Laura is an active instructor at SUNY Brockportand at the University of Rochester in their dance departments. She has earned both a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts from Brockport and a Master’s degree in Fine Arts in Dance from the University of Buffalo. Currently, she performs and dances for Biodance, a modern dance company in Rochester. Laura’s exercise teaching philosophy is that she focuses on building a strong “core” and good alignment for her clients, while keeping the workouts challenging and fun.
Fun Fact: Laura loves to hike, especially to waterfalls, with her husband, Dan and dog, Vance.
Email: Laura.Regna@midtown.com
Phone Number: 461-2301 Ext. 278

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Doug started his interest in training at 13 years old, buying a textbook on plyometrics, and starting strength training when the high school quarterback told him “you would dominate in basketball if you bulked up.” Although the “bulking up” was minimal the performance gains were very apparent. Doug competed in Soccer, Basketball, and Track and Field utilizing all types of training. He graduated from SUNY Brockport with a B.S. in Exercise Physiology/Biomechanicsin 1995. He interned at Midtown and has been Personal Training ever since. He has held several certifications, currently National Strengthand Conditioning Association Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and National Academy of Sports Medicine Certified Personal Trainer. Doug is also heavily involved as an indoor cycle instructor, launching many special events like “Cycling at the Cinema,” “Pre-Turkey Burn,” and “Journey of the Peaceful Warrior.” He is a member of Indoor cycle instructor Pro and was recently featured in a two part podcast interview covering indoor cycling technique. For the past 14 years Doug has become a “certified cycling nut” racing mountain and road bikes all over the Northeast. Doug continues his quest for training knowledge and the improvement of human performance.
Fun Fact: Doug is often praised for his “musicality” in cycle class, which he attributes to being forced by his parents to play a musical instrument (trombone) from 4th through 10th grade.
Check out Doug’s “Ask the Trainer” post here.
Email: Doug.Rusho@midtown.com
Phone Number: 461-2301 Ext. 261

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Dina has been a trainer at Midtown for 14 years and is NASM-certified. Starting out as a floor trainer with a B.S. in Health Sciences from Brockport, she soon acquired a passion for training and special events here at the club. Eventually she became the special Events Coordinator and then Fitness Director until the birth of her twin daughters in 2002. Since then Dina has maintained a part time schedule as a personal trainer and focuses on pregnancy and exercise and Kinesis. Dina enjoys playing tennis and has been in several leagues and hopes to continue to play and get more competitive. Lately you can see her carrying around a yoga mat or running off to a Pilates class. When not at Midtown, Dina enjoys spending time with her husband Steve and three children.
Fun Fact: Dina is still training her very first client whom she began training when she started 14 years ago!
Check out Dina’s “Ask the Trainer” post here.
Email: Dina.Smock@midtown.com
Phone Number: 461-2301 Ext. 125

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Dave has been at Midtown for 19 years, and holds an M.S. in Exercise Physiology from the University of Buffalo. He is a NSCA-certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, and an NASM Certified Personal Trainer. His recent personal accomplishments include competing in the Musselman Triathlon and being a two-time finisher of the Adirondack Canoe Classic (AKA “The 90-Miler”). Dave began lifting weights at age 12, and has not stopped since! Dave began college with the goal of becoming a Physical Education teacher, but soon realized he loved training and science, so he switched his major to Exercise Physiology. He enjoys helping clients develop a passion for exercise and achieving fitness goals.
Fun Fact: Dave was once the Strength & Conditioning Coach of the Rochester Amerks.
Check out Dave’s “Ask the Trainer” post here.
Email: Dave.Statt@midtown.com
Phone Number: 461-2301 Ext. 282

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Judy has always been active, and began playing sports in elementary school. When she discovered the benefits and fun of working out with weights and machines, she wanted to help others reap the same rewards. Judy obtained her first certificate as a personal trainer nine years ago. She has been training ever since, the last six years at Midtown. Along the way she has obtained two additional certifications, and became a Pilates Reformer instructor. She is also very enthusiastic about Kinesis training. Judy enjoys training all ages, especially the clients 45+ and those rehabilitating from an injury or surgery.
Fun Fact: Judy is an avid fly fisherwoman, and has traveled with her husband Kimball as far as Alaska to catch salmon and rainbow trout.
Email: Judy.Straw@midtown.com
Phone Number: 461-2301 Ext. 246

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Paul
has always had an interest in physical activity. He played a variety of sports growing up, starting at the age of five. His interest in working out started in high school due where he was a wrestler. Paul then went to SUNY Brockport where he earned his B.S. in Exercise Physiology. After earning his degree, Paul was hired as a Fitness department intern, and he was later hired as a personal trainer. He has been training individuals and groups at Midtown for the last four years and is certified by the American Council of Exercise (ACE-CPT). Paul specializes in training a wide range of individuals witha special interest in strength and conditioning, weight loss, and bodybuilding.
Fun Fact: Paul also works for his father, assisting him in running a dairy farm.
Email: Paul.Torcello@midtown.com
Phone Number: 461-2301 Ext. 277

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Brian started his fitness career at the age of seven, swimming for a competitive swim team in Jamaica. At the age of 10, he made it onto Jamaica’s National Swimming Squad and competed at an international level until age 17. During that time he continued to swim for his club and for his high school. At age 13, he started playing water polo for his high school and continued to play in college. Brian started Body Building after his aquatics career ended at the age of 18 and started personal training then as well. He competed in body building until age 24, and won the NPC Amateur New York State Championships for his weight class. Shortly thereafter, Brian wrote a book entitled Slim and Trim,which has since been published by Amazon Books. Having moved to Rochester in 1990, Brian started teaching swimming at a local healthclub and then moved from aquatics to the fitness department. He eventually led the strength training department, and he also managed the aquatics department for a brief time. After becoming certified by The American College of Sports Medicine as a Health Fitness Specialist (HFS) and having had several certifications prior, Brian worked in a medical office as a health fitness specialist for six years. Brian joined the Midtown personal training team in 2000, and his current fitness quest is Seidokan Karate.
Fun Fact: Brian is a Licensed United States Coast Guard Master Captain for vessels up to 50 tons.
Email: Brian.Wilmot@midtown.com
Phone Number: 461-2301 Ext. 259


