Gym Owner Shows Clients How To Go Pro

With Carina Weston, owner of Pro Fitness Network, by her side, San Marino resident Lourdes Tedmori hoisted an 8-lb. medicine ball above her head and stepped into a deep lunge early. One of Weston’s several clients participating in a semi-personal training fitness program, Lourdes said that the lunge routine – one of many she performs during her twice weekly, hour-long sessions – have helped her to achieve her fitness goals.

“My clothes fit better, I’ve been complimented on how toned I am. I feel good mentally and physically,” Lourdes said.

Four months ago, after a friend recommended Weston’s services, Lourdes signed up for semi-personal training at Pro Fitness. She continues to attend the sessions because of the superior instruction offered at Weston’s facility.

“Carina stays on top of everything. She gives good instruction,” Lourdes said.

Pro Fitness Network, located at 183 E. Glenarm Street in Pasadena, was founded by Weston, who moved to the United States from Sweden in 1991.

Shortly after settling here, Weston was involved in a car accident which left her nearly paralyzed with her neck broken in five places. To recover from her injury Weston participated in two years of challenging physical therapy and weight training, and after her work was completed she was inspired to help others persevere through their own injuries.

“It became so important to me to be healthy – not to be super fit like a model, but to be healthy. And the older I got, the more important it became to be healthy,” she explained.

Weston opened Pro Fitness Network to inspire others to achieve their fitness goals and improve the health and well-being of individuals seeking to lose weight, tone up or recover from injuries. Her gym offers weight training, Pilates, acupuncture, massage therapy and nutrition counseling services – a variety of programs intended to appeal to everyone.

Pro Fitness Network also offers kettle ball training, a form of physical fitness which is rapidly growing popular among clients. Using kettle bells enhances strength, speed, coordination and core stability, Weston said, and many guests are beginning to turn to kettle bells for their resistance and cardio vascular training.

“The most important thing is finding something you like,” Weston explains. “It doesn’t really matter what you do as long as you find something you like. If you don’t like it, you won’t stay with it.”

Weston’s story inspired Steven Van Singel, of Pasadena, who suffered from a back injury four years ago. In order to receive treatment, VanSingel needed to first get in shape, so he signed up for one-on-one personal training sessions with Weston. Five months later Van Singel weighed 50 pounds less and today his back pain is 99 percent gone. He has since moved into the semi-personal training sessions, where he works alongside six other clients, all of whom are guided, cheered on and instructed by the ever attentive Carina Weston.

“She keeps better track of what I do than I do,” Van Singel laughed. “And she changes the routine every day. It keeps it interesting, and it keeps the workout effective. She knows her stuff.”

Weston’s newest program – which is open to clients and non-clients alike – is a support group that will be held every other Saturday at 1 p.m. This free program, which will include a short workout, is intended to help group attendees keep to their fitness plans by inspiring and motivating fellow members.

Support from other clients is the main reason Hope Hendricks-Bacon, of Pasadena, has continued attending Pro Fitness Network training sessions since 2006.

“You don’t get up and drag yourself to the gym,” she said. “People greet you here; it’s a supportive environment. It’s great for people of all levels of fitness, people with injuries. Carina knows what to do with you.”