Cazzy Zahursky (Feb 2025)
AGE: Unknown
PROFESSION: Children’s book author, illustrator, and artist.
HOMETOWN: Technically, my hometown is Fairfax, Virginia. However, I lived abroad for a good part of my childhood due to my father’s fieldwork as an anthropologist. I also moved to LA right after college.
FAVORITE FOOD: Salads, sushi, and salmon – the triple S threat.
FAVORITE PLACE VISITED: As the daughter of a retired anthropologist, I was fortunate to travel extensively internationally in my younger years and study abroad during college several times. While I appreciate beautiful beaches and scenery, my upbringing has taught me a great appreciation for different customs, foods, and cultures that may not be considered the ideal American vacation. Some of the destinations that stand out to me are Thailand, Vietnam, Burma, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, Greece, Peru, Ecuador, Italy, Switzerland, and so many more. The Amazon, no, not the website, but the actual jungle was very memorable. A small chain of floating islands called the Uros, where floating reeds were used to construct inhabitants’ huts and boats and even used for food when peeled, was also very memorable.
PLACE YOU WANT TO VISIT: I’d love to explore more African countries.
FAVORITE MOVIE: Do you know the expression ‘It’s complicated’? It exists for a reason, and I am one of those reasons. I believe variety is the spice of life, so I don’t have a single favorite movie, singer, or anything for that matter. When it comes to movies, I love everything from Disney films to Judd Apatow comedies, to action-packed Marvel movies, to heart-wrenching classics like The Color Purple. This is also true for books. As long as they make me “feel,” I like it!
FAVORITE SINGER: Refer to the answer above. Here are a few artists I like: Madonna, Foo Fighters, Teddy Swims, Taylor Swift, Dido, Imagine Dragons, and Lady Gaga…who am I kidding? There are too many to list.
HOBBIES: Drawing, reading, hiking, yoga, exercising, painting, volunteering at my children’s school, and ventriloquism
BACKGROUND: I consider fitness a lifestyle. Just as one would wake up and use the facilities, brush their teeth and hair in their morning routine, a workout is one of those daily tasks necessary to keep my day from feeling off.
What is your current exercise routine? I include any combination of the following in my routine, in no particular order: running, circuit training, weights, yoga, hiking, and the spin bike.
What is your motivation to stay in shape? My primary motivation is for my health and mental well-being, but is it too honest to say for appearances, too? As a mother, I want to lead by example and keep up with my highly active daughters, who have already exceeded my endurance.
What is your greatest challenge to staying in shape? My biggest challenges to staying in shape are my busy schedule and aging!! One of which is easier to control than the other.
What is your key to success? Success is defined differently by different people. To me, success is living your life to its maximum potential, being the best version of yourself, working hard toward something you are passionate about, and seeing positive results from this hard work ethic and determination.
What do you like about Sonki Fitness Boot Camp and how has it affected your life? Here comes the redundancy, but…there’s so much to love about Sonki Fitness! The beautiful outdoor locations, the passionate instructors, the great workouts, the motivation, the group morale, the Sonki Fitness vacations, the group get-togethers, up an inch, down an inch, and last, but certainly not least, SONKI! Anyone who has had the pleasure of meeting Sonki can see that he pours his heart and soul into his boot camps as a leader, motivator, and good friend!
What advice would you give to others about fitness? Don’t let fitness intimidate you. Embrace it, and it will become a lifestyle.