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Check our interview with master trainer Ky Evans who appears on NBC’s new fitness competition show STRONG which is executive produced by Sylvester Stallone.
Evans has been featured in over 40 fitness publications and was one of Shape magazine’s “hottest trainers” in America in 2014. Ky has also been featured in OK Weekly, ELLE Australia, LA Confidential, DuJour, Bello Magazine, W Magazine, Glamour, Marie Claire, Celebuzz, Radar Online, Star Magazine.com, Fitness RX and on E! News, Good Day LA and ABC 7 among others.
So imagine how popular and talented is Ky, his classes have a month long wait list with a clientele that includes Olympians, professional athletes, television and film personalities including Giuliana Rancic, Bryan Greenberg, Hayden Panettiere, Kellan Lutz, Sophia Bush, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Rosario Dawson & Rhonda Rousey.
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Describe yourself in 3 words?
Philosopher, Poetic, Scientist
Who has been the biggest influence on your life?
My Dad. He always gave me enough room to fail, but always picked me up before I quit.
How and when did you start into fitness?
I was never into fitness in the literal sense. I was always fascinated by movement and how movement effects the brain and the spirit. For me fitness is about personal expression. Fitness is about owning our greatest gift, our body. And when we own our body, and stop apologizing or judging it, we can be truly fit! Fitness for me, is about setting the spirit free by taking our body to total failure. It’s the peeling away to the truth of who we are not the adding on of muscle or a 1RM. There can only be one you, so why would anyone want to change that, instead embrace who you are, master failure, and create with your body not compete with it! When you go to failure in fitness you succeed. I spent a lot of years being bullied and suffering from what I feel is the worst disease of all: “I’m not enough”. But when I would work out, I felt free, safe, and when I pushed myself past the idea of who I thought I was, or what society deemed as fit, I found peace. I always gravitated to Ballet, and the meditative arts, but I also loved the intensity of weights. I don’t believe in competing but rather creating. When one is truly at physical exhaustion, the brain turns off and the spirit starts to sing! Remember the only sport that matters is LIFE!
What keeps you motivated to keep training hard and eating right?
The idea that I’m not teaching fitness but rather teaching HOPE! The idea that if you own your body, and express truly who you are no one can ever hurt you. The idea that when we go to failure, we succeed and that we are not alone in this world. To create a way of training that keeps my clients in a state of inspiration, creativity and truth.
What is the biggest highlight of your career?
I’m not interested in my successes. I have been very blessed to get a second shot in life, I am more interested in my failures, and if I pushed the limits of my truth to uncover more of my self.
What is your workout routine these days?
I try not to limit myself in any area of training. Usually its morning meditation. Afternoon Mega Former or Supra Former session and evening cardio or weights. Every Sunday I go to a meditational center and hang out with monks.
What is your favorite healthy food?
Salmon and Brussel Sprouts.
And your favorite cheat food?
Pepperoni Pizza.
Tell us about your experience in the new fitness competition ”Strong”?
Words cannot even come close to what is was like. You will just have to watch it. The thing I will tell you is that I learned the true definition of being a teacher: The ability to truly sacrifice yourself for the good of the student. I also learned the true definition of strength: True strength is the ability to be completely vulnerable and trust a complete stranger.
What the show is about?
STRONG is more than a show, it’s a movement, a culture, a lifestyle that if you are brave enough to fail and let go of any ideas, that with trust you will truly become STRONG. The show takes Americas 10 best trainers, with 10 very different modalities and teams us up with a female partner who wants more out of life. Who is stuck and can’t find their way. But what ends up happening is that, it’s the teachers that become the students and the students become the teachers. The trainers have to compete with their partners and teach transformation at the same time. The show is a cross between Biggest Loser, American Ninja Warrior and a little Big Bother mixed in. There is an entire voting and game play element as well. When we can truly embrace our ordinary, we realize that we are Extraordinary!
Can you share with us some Beach ready body tips?
The formula is simple:
Nutrition – to burn more, you have to eat more. Especially protein. 1 gram per pound of body weigh. Diet doesn’t mean less, it mean smart. Smart for your bodies is not what the latest fad in a magazine.
Hydration – 1 LH2O per pound of body weight. The greatest fat burner in the world is water.
Exercise – Less is more, Train smarter, with more intensity and less time
Rest – recovery is everything. If you don’t repair how can you expect your body to truly become efficient?
We know you also teach in other studios, how do you manage your time as you look very busy?
I currently am teaching at 4 different studios, in 4 different cities, that’s 38 sold out classes a week. That’s 456 people a week. I take it one moment at a time. “Time is our greatest commodity. No mater how many time we do the same thing or go to the same place it will be like it is right now”. I truly try to milk every moment and focus on the now. Other wise you spend your day chasing an idea of what you should be doing or where you should be at.
What music we can find in your iPod?
Dance, Hip Hop, Pop, Opera, and a lot of audio books.
Idea of a perfect Sunday?
Hanging out at my favorite meditation center in Malibu and rapping with the monks.
Do you support any charity?
As of now I am working with Defeat the Label – anti bulling organization in my hometown of Detroit. I am interested in becoming more involved with similar organizations that have a national presence.
3 things you can’t leave home without?
1 Justin’s vanilla almond butter pack – keeps me burning
1 L Beaker Water bottle – I drink 5 L a day
My Fit Bit Surge – I love to track everything
What do you think of Social Media?
A very necessary evil – with great power comes great responsibility, unfortunately some people don’t see it that way.
Where we can follow you?
therealkyevans on Instagram, Facebook & Twitter
Favorite food: Pepperoni Pizza
Song: Only Love by Shaggy
Bar/Nightclub: I don’t drink – so I don’t really go to bars.
Travel destination: My home country: Macedonia
Restaurant: Barton G – because I am all about having an experience.
Actor/Actress: Johnny Deep – I like to think of myself as the Johnny Depp of fitness with a little Richard Simmons and Tony Robins mixed in.
Quote: “Those who overcome great challenges will be changed, and often in unexpected ways. For our struggles enter our lives as unwelcome guests, but they bring valuable gifts. And once the pain subsides, the gifts remain. These gifts are life’s true treasures, bought at great price, but cannot be acquired in any other way.”
― Steve Goodier
Book: I try to read a book a week, and I really don’t have a favorite, but one that has inspired me a great deal is “The Alchemist”
Movie: Good Will Hunting – I have never related to a movie more!
Drink: Black Coffee with an added shot!
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