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Mantra Ask's an Expert

Simone King
Jul 14, 2016
3 min read

Are you making excuses that are hindering you from achieving your fitness goals? We asked our members what was stopping them from working-out, here's what they said:

No Time
Cardio is Boring
Lifting weights means losing my curves

Here at Mantra we know the importance of expert advice. When it comes to fitness having the right information can change everything. So we took your concerns right to the Expert.

Emmanuel Ofori is an Entrepreneur, Personal Trainer and Motivational Speaker based in Toronto. Known for his social media following @eMotivates, he aims to motivate the world one day at a time. Growing up, Emmanuel dreamed of a career in law enforcement. He believed a career in that field would position him to help many people. However, after graduating college in 2008, he began working as a personal trainer. He quickly realized the power of being a coach and motivator- This was his purpose and health is his passion.

After a tour of the fitness facility it was easy to see why Emman was the perfect expert for Mantra Members. His passion and enthusiasm was infectious. Each client and colleague that we encountered shared great respect and admiration for his patience and knowledge. Now we were ready to put that knowledge to the test.

Mantra: Thank you so much for taking the time to meet with us.

E-man: It is my pleasure, anything to help.

Mantra: We shared with you the results of our survey and the top 3 reasons our members don't exercise. What would you say to your clients had they shared these concerns with you?

E-man: First, I do want to point out the importance of seeking a trainer or medical professional for advice. Especially before attempting a new workout regime.

Mantra: Great point, a good general exam and having someone teach you proper form will definitely limit injury.

E-man: Many of my clients have concerns about time. Short and quick workouts are effective, don’t let time constraints stop you. Knowing your schedule is essential “Isolate it wisely, crush it quickly”. Take for example Michelle Obama, she works out at 4:30 am before the kids and President Obama start their day."There is no right time, its all about what works for you."

Mantra: Cardio for some can be a great stress release but others find cardio boring.

E-man: Cardio doesn’t have to be just running on a treadmill or outside. There are ways to make it fun. You can implement cardio into lifting by engaging in a circuit.

Mantra: Great point, just increasing your heart rate has great health benefits such as;

weight loss
increased bone density
reduced risks of heart disease
better sleep

Mantra: Some of our Mantra Members think that lifting will cause them to lose their curves. Any advice for anyone feeling hesitant about weight training?

E-man: I believe many women think weight- training and imagine female bodybuilders. Yes weight training builds muscle, but when you target specific areas it can in fact accentuate curves. That's why it's so important to set goals and to monitor your progress. With my clients I always stress the importance of recording their accomplishments. Pictures, journals, or even sharing your progress on social media all help to keep you motivated and accountable.

Mantra: Using social media is a great incentive. We've had a few Mantra Members say they are not seeing results. Keeping record of their progress at regular intervals may help encourage them to keep active regardless their fitness plan.

The scale isn't always the best tool for measuring results. It doesn't identify the type of weight you are losing or gaining; water, lean muscle or fat. If you are incorporating weight training into your routine, you may develop increased lean muscle which shows up on the scale as a gain. Finding a good tape measure can solve this problem.

#WordsOfWisdom:

Special Thank you to our Featured Trainer Emmanuel Ofori. Here at Mantra our Passion is Education. We know that with it you have the power to change the world, transform the body and nurture the mind.

Find Your Mantra and live the life you want!