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Lifestyles: Trainer Fits the Workout to the Client's Life

Posted on: Tuesday, 24 May 2005, 09:00 CDT

Losing weight or just getting in shape can be a difficult, painful and arduous task for people who have full-time careers, are off jet-setting or who have children to look after.

Without sounding like an advertisement, Ron Helman just might be your answer to your weight woes.

"I am not a sports person. I had to drag myself kicking and screaming," said Deborah Madison, 59, is a cookbook author who lives in Eldorado. "But I've definitely gotten stronger. That's the most amazing thing, because I didn't expect that."

Helman said Madison is a typical client for him, a working professional who needs guidance in weight-training and cardio workouts. He teaches his students to cut out all of the "unnecessary stuff" and get to the essence of the workout so they don't spend needless hours at the gym.

"I provide carefully designed programs which combine four elements of cardiovascular training, weight and sports techniques, bench stepping and yoga," Helman said. "I try to cut things down to the truth."

During a semi-private session recently, Helman guided Madison and Jonas Skardis, 23, a Santa Fe resident and who owns a consulting firm, in a session that begins with 10 minutes of stretching. They continue with various weight-training techniques that work leg and arm muscles. They rotate at different intervals to run and walk on the treadmill and to do step exercises on an aerobic bench.

At the beginning of the session, Helman makes the workout look easy, but as the session progresses, perspiration and fatigue is apparent in both Madison and Skardis. Somehow, Helman still makes it sound easy. That's because no matter what, he makes sure his students are having fun at all times, he said.

"Its only been 20 minutes and look what's been done already," said Helman. "Essentially, what I want from my students is for them to create a lifestyle of creative being."

Helman began his career as a gymnast and later started dancing in New York City. This led him to teach classes at the Juilliard School Drama Division, where he developed an impressive list of clients such as Sting, Al Pacino, Julianne Moore and Marcia Cross. He also worked with and trained Olympic swimming gold medalist Donna DeVarona, Helman said.

Helman's classes are designed to give individual attention to his students, which are essential to make them feel relaxed and to be able to get the workout they need.

"This is definitely a stress reliever from taking care of my young daughter and being a new homeowner," Skardis said. "Energy is the biggest thing. I feel more equipped to take on the rest of the world."

The classes are usually an hour long, but Helman designs it to fit the students' needs, said Helman. He offers semi-private sessions with three people, or private sessions.

For more information on Helman's courses, visit his Web site at www.ronhelman.com, call 466-1919 or e-mail at mileshigh2@earthlink.net.

Contact Shannon Shaw at

995-3837 or sshaw@sfnewmexican.com

Source: The Santa Fe New Mexican

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