Cassie and Sean Black (siblings)

AGE:  Cassie (26), Sean (29)

PROFESSION:
Cassie:  Marketing Supervisor for Sony Electronics and Sony Music
Sean:  Junior Music Agent

HOMETOWN:  Pacific Palisades, CA (both)

COLLEGE:
Cassie:  UCSD
Sean: LMU / Santa Monica College

FAVORITE FOOD:
Cassie:  Cheeseburger and fries
Sean:  Mac & Cheese (The Blue Box)

FAVORITE PLACE VISITED:
Cassie:  Paris & Antibes, France
Sean:  Dublin, Ireland

PLACE YOU WANT TO VISIT:
Cassie:  Croatia
Sean:  Rome

FAVORITE MOVIE:
Cassie:  Chasing Amy, It’s Complicated.
Sean:  The Big Lebowski

FAVORITE SINGER:
Cassie:  Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder
Sean:  Stevie Wonder

HOBBIES:
Cassie:  Dancing, wining and dining, seeing movies, going to concerts.
Sean:  Playing guitar, listening to new music, going to concerts, long boarding, movies/TV shows, finding great hole in the wall food spots, etc.

CASSIE

BACKGROUND:  When I started Sonki Fitness in January, I was really out of shape and severely overweight! From January to June, I trained with Sonki Fitness and started feeling much stronger and could tell my body was toning up. Then in June, I took it up a notch by eating healthier in addition to Sonki Fitness. As a result, I lost 40 pounds (in 4 months!). Sonki’s class and encouragement were really the catalyst for all of my healthier life choices (even though I still need my cheeseburger and fries every now and then). What helped so much was seeing my fitness achievements after each session – being able to do a couple more sit ups or push ups, or being able to run up some stairs instead of walking. Since January, I have gone from not being able to run a full mile without stopping to going on 3 – 5 mile runs on weekends (in addition to Sonki’s class 🙂 My mile time went from 10:41 to 7:50 at my latest fitness assessment! Sonki’s class has really put me in a completely different mental state, where I value my health and try to incorporate fitness into my life in a variety of ways (Sonki’s classes & hikes, dance classes, tennis, running on the beach when it’s a nice day out, etc.).

What is your current exercise routine?  When I started Sonki, it was the first time I had worked out legitimately since high school. Now I work out 4 – 5 times a week (Sonki Fitness, Yoga Hop, Dance classes, runs on the boardwalk, etc.)

What is your motivation to stay in shape?  Looking hot in a wedding dress – SHEDDING FOR THE WEDDING! AND not letting myself go back to my old, unhealthy habits!

What is your greatest challenge to staying in shape?  Not being able to eat fried food all the time 🙂  Also, it is tough to get up early in the morning to work out, but after I am done I feel amazing and am always so happy I made the effort to go to class!

What is your key to success?  Get into a good routine with working out. I find that when I work out, I don’t want to ruin my hard work with bad meal choices. It’s a great cycle to get started on!

What do you like about Sonki Fitness Boot Camp and how has it affected your life?  I love that Sonki isn’t the type of boot camp trainer that yells or uses fear tactics, like that we get to work out by the beautiful beach, and love the fun group of people! I also love that by 7:30am, I am done with my workout for the day.

What advice would you give to others about fitness?  Start Sonki Fitness, and the rest will fall into place.

SEAN

BACKGROUND:  Before I started Sonki Fitness back in January, I was in terrible shape. Exercise was a very rare activity in my life. Having a 50-60 hour a week desk job didn’t help either. I would go on the occasional hike or play in a basketball game here and there, but I would constantly find myself out of breath or too tired to keep up. After only the first session of Sonki Fitness, I felt like a new person (and started to look like a new person as well). I’ve lost 25 pounds since earlier this year, which may not sound like much but a lot of that fat has been replaced with muscles. And I now fit into clothes I wore when I was still using a fake ID. These days I’m finding myself a much more physically active person. My usual hiking crew has trouble keeping up with me, I experience MUCH less anxiety when taking my shirt off, and I find myself genuinely wanting to go on runs or get up on non-Sonki mornings and get some push ups and sit ups in before starting my day. My mile has gone from 9:04 to 6:46. It was actually my 29th birthday recently, and at midnight a friend demanded that I get down and do 29 push ups. Thanks to Sonki’s class, I was able to do all 29 without embarrassing myself in front of two dozen friends and colleagues. Thank you, Sonki!

What is your current exercise routine?  Sonki Fitness three times during the week, and on weekends 3-5 mile runs, hikes, skateboarding, and tennis.

What is your motivation to stay in shape?  Same as everyone else…to look good with my clothes off.

What is your greatest challenge to staying in shape?  Delicious food!

What is your key to success?  My sister and I have helped each other stay motivated since we started Sonki Fitness back in January.

What do you like about Sonki Fitness Boot Camp and how has it affected your life?  I like the team mind set that you get with your particular Sonki group/class. Once I felt comfortable with them, I felt comfortable exercising in front of anyone.

What advice would you give to others about fitness?  Starting is the toughest part, but before you know it you’ll love it, want it, and need it.