Gennaro Ferra is one of the most sought after fitness trainers in the USA and Australia. He was born in Italy and grew up in Melbourne, Australia. In 1997 he was invited to New York City and became an international physique star, model and NYC's premier fitness and nutrition coach. As an actor he also appeared in off Broadway theatre and independent film and is the spokesman and demonstration specialist for Australian muesli bar company Carman’s Fine Foods in NYC. He is also the creator of Powerpose® workout routines and a former Mr. Australia as well as other impressive credits and life accomplishments, including representing Australia in the Mr. Universe in London and Mr. World in Spain. He has graced the covers of many national and international fitness and lifestyle magazines, such as Natural Bodybuilding and Fitness, Men's Health, Exercise for Men, Cultura Fisica, and other media throughout Asia and Australia, as well as appearing in local and national television. He trains several top NYC fashion designers, CEO's and celebrities in TV and film.
You can learn more about his client success stories at gennaroferra.com/before_after. He is one of those rare breed of fitness trainers whose programs are all encompassing, educating his clients on proper nutrition, meal preparation as well as a comprehensive exercise and lifestyle program. Here is his advice on some common fitness questions.
What is a good way for someone to start a fitness routine if they haven't exercised in a while or they have a tight schedule?
Begin slowly and cautiously. Start off training at least 3 days a week for the first 4-6 weeks and then progress to 4 days a week. Perform 45 minutes to 1 hour of resistance training daily combined with 35-45 minutes of varied forms of aerobic training at a different time of the day. Learn how to perform the correct technique of an exercise first with light to moderate weight then increase the load or repetitions as you get stronger and gain more endurance. Record your food intake in to a log book, and eat 5-6 small balanced meals every 3 hours. Eat whole unprocessed foods and limit the amount of starchy carbohydrates eaten at night.
How do you keep your clients motivated and keep the workouts interesting?
I am constantly challenging them to perform better than their previous training sessions and to aim for perfection in each session. This can come in the form of performing a personal best lift in the bench press or squat or being able to perform a chin-up 10 times. I change the tempo and intensity of the workouts constantly which keeps my clients working hard without having time to think or complain. I incorporate a lot of super-sets, giant-sets, Powerpose® and circuit training in to my client’s daily routine. I was one of the first professional fitness coaches/bodybuilders in NYC to adopt the hard, fast, and heavy system of training. Now many are attempting it but it takes one to have lived the experience and truly understand the teachings of the method to execute it effectively.
Australia is a very outdoors oriented culture. How do you incorporate the outdoors into your routines?
In NYC, I take my clients to Central Park, Madison Square Park and The Hudson River Park for individual and group training sessions. While I was in London training clients recently we used playground equipment to work out on in various parks and gardens throughout London. I also have them use their own bodies as a form of resistance. We perform push-ups, walking lunges, leg raises, crunches, short sprints, squat jumps etc, to work the whole body and raise the heart rate in order to burn fat in the most efficient way possible. I also incorporate my Powerpose® routines in to their outdoor program. Powerpose® requires no equipment and involves whole body posing while strengthening the core and flexing and lengthening all major muscle groups. It's very effective in helping my clients achieve that super lean athletic look while remaining graceful and confident.
If someone had to get takeout, which stores would you recommend eg. Cosi, or what should they stick to eating?
Whole Foods Market has their own hot food section which includes many vegetable, assorted bean, grain and lean meat dishes. The Pump is an excellent health food chain of restaurants in NYC. It’s very clean, nutritious food that is sugar and bad fat free. KOFOO on 8th avenue and 27th street have great varieties of lean Korean food including my favorite Bo Bim Bop dishes - the perfect balance of brown rice, cruciferous veggies and lean protein.
What are some special projects you have going on such as videos, DVD’s.
I’m working on various video fitness projects at the moment which will shed new light on how people train and eat. A very unique and results orientated system of fitness DVD's which actually work, require little or no equipment, and are very safe. I also invite reputable production companies to contact me if they are interested in producing something very unique and dynamic. I would like to expand my brand and training lifestyle philosophy to incorporate more products in the form of DVD's, foods, and possibly supplements. I like the freedom of training celebrities all over the world but do not rule out opening up Ferra Fitness Studios Inc across the globe.
How can people contact you or learn more?
People can contact me through my website at ferrafitness.com and at facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000859783762#!/profile.php?id=560401625
Comments
Great Article Susan and Looking Excellent Gennaro. Two brilliant Aussies hard at work keep up the good work the both of you ..
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