By Drew Denny
Today Robin Demarco kicked my butt in front of a whole playground full of kids. No, she’s not a bully! She’s a trainer, and she had me doing ‘ski moguls’ on a Bosu until I could no longer feel any of my glutei (maximus, minimus, medius etc etc). We met at 1 pm in a little neighborhood park in Studio City where she often trains clients and where she recently began her “Burn Your Booty Camp” class. While Robin also trains clients at home – and travels all over LA – I especially enjoyed doing her workout in the park. Robin’s method is simple: perform 7 activities back to back, completing 3 total sets. We started with 45 seconds of jog-bouncing off the Bosu then worked through several actions that combined the Bosu, free weights, and movements that draw from the traditions of classic aerobics as well as yoga. The first set was novel and exciting, though the Bosu was a bit intimidating. By the second set, I was bouncing jubilantly along with all the other kids in the park and impressing myself by remembering the moves and not falling off the ball so much. By the third set, I was ready to collapse. I began to hate the moves I had loved so dearly only 30 minutes before, so much that I gave them secret nicknames in my mind:
1. the afore-mentioned jog-bounce
2. the sit-up-stand-up: Stand facing away from the Bosu holding light free-weights in both hands. Sit on the ball, lean back into a V position holding the weights up with your arms making 90 degree angles, sit up, and jump up to your feet!
3. the Texas T: Stand next to the Bosu, step up on it with one foot lifting the other leg and both arms in the air as if you’re doing a ¾ of a toe touch jump some cheerleader’s call a Texas T
4. the booboo: Flip the Bosu upside down, get in push up position, and grip the Bosu at either side. Push up! I call this one the booboo because it hurts but also because I bet it’s great for the boobs.
5. the kinky donkey kick: Get down on all fours, place a resistance band around one foot and anchor it under the Bosu, put the opposite knew on the Bosu. Do a series of leg lifts followed by donkey kicks before switching the band to the other foot.
6. Hell: Lay on your side, placing your elbow on the center of the Bosu and holding a weight in your upper hand. Gracefully arch your weighted hand over your head while lifting your body up onto your stacked feet, making a nice diagonal line and working your obliques until they scream at you.
7. bubble mogul: Try not to fall off the Bosu as you jump left right left just like a skier dodging moguls
After the three sets, Robin stretched me out. In her words, trying to stretch yourself is “like trying to tickle yourself – it just doesn’t work.” If you’re looking for a trainer who incorporates fun moves and the outdoors into your workout, Robin’s your woman. I’m actually hoping to try her boot camp class next time – She admitted she’s not the whistle and yell type, so I don’t her she might be on to something… Blasé boot camp? Dry jokes and anecdotes rather than spit in your face? I’m d
