No more excuses! The holiday season ended in January and it's really time to get to boot camp. Beach season is inching closer and closer, so we've got LA trainer Laura Hebert here to motivate us to get back on the horse. Her 6 week boot camp begins this week, so read below and you'll be inspired to get physical!

Having been an athlete my entire life, I knew that I wanted to become a personal trainer. After being successful in losing weight and reaching a point where I was happy with my own body, I realized that I needed to do this and inspire others to achieve what I had done for myself.

Three things inspired me to create Santa Monica SWEAT. The first was the amazing weather in Southern California. It seems absurd to be exercising in a gym when it's 75 degrees and sunny outside.

The second was strength training. I wanted to create a program for people that incorporated every aspect of fitness for a true full body workout. My belief is that circuit training is the most effective use of your workout time. We don't have two hours a day to be spending in the gym, so making the most of a one hour session is extremely important. The third source of inspiration was myself.

After years of struggling with weight loss, I finally did it...and I did it with circuit training. I wanted to be a source of encouragement for people who want to get fit, no matter what their level of fitness. The formula: A kick-your-butt 1-hour workout + a trainer who understands your challenges + an ocean view = Santa Monica SWEAT.

Here's an at home exercise you can do if you can't make it to class this week...

Exercise: WARRIOR SQUAT WITH LEG RAISE
- Stand with arms straight up in the air and palms facing each other.
- Perform a basic squat by bending the knees and sitting back on the heels (Think: sitting in a chair) while keeping your chest up and the knees and toes pointing forward.
- Then stand up by pushing through the heels and squeezing the glutes. As you stand, raise the right knee and bring the arms to the right side while keeping the abs tight. (Think: standing side crunch)
- Repeat movement on the same side for 10 reps, and then switch sides for 10 more reps. You will feel this in the glutes and abs.

The Details: SANTA MONICA SWEAT
310.963.7555
www.santamonicasweat.com

Story by Laura Hebert.

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