Sofia Vergara, Kelly Ripa, Shakira and Sarah Jessica Parker all turn to trainer Anna Kaiser to look sleek and sexy on the red carpet.
The dance cardio queen and trainer on the ABC series My Diet Is Better Than Yours founded AKT InMotion in NYC in 2013. Her studio offers six types of 55- to 60-minute classes, which range from dance to interval training to fine toning. “At AKT, we change the routine every two weeks. This way our clients never plateau physically or mentally,“ Kaiser tells Us. “One week, the class may be rooted in hip-hop and TRX suspension training, while the next may be jazz and kickboxing.”
Us enlisted senior editor Allison Baker to tackle the company’s customizable five-day Intensive Program, which includes two workouts a day (one taught by Anna herself), a group Q&A session with a nutritionist and meal delivery from Sakara Life. (Prices range from $165 to $675 depending on which services you choose.) The goal: to see if she could tone like a star slimming down right before the Oscars. Here’s what happened.
Day 1:
I’m already obsessed with Sakara Life’s organic, plant-based and gluten-free meals. The dark chocolate granola breakfast tastes like dessert. I have to skip my first workout because of a work commitment, though, so I sit at my desk dreaming of Sofia Vergara’s butt and Shakira’s arms. Sigh!
Day 2:
I make it to the studio today for my first class, the cheekily named 4Play, a high-intensity circuit training routine. I thought I was in good shape, but by the third burpee interval I’m ready to collapse. I make it through — and bounce back for an evening dance cardio class! I hail my two-a-day a success, but the true high point of the day is breakfast: the chia pumpkin bread with cocoa cream. How is this gluten- and dairy-free?
Day 3:
My morning workout is AKT Tone, which targets small muscles with barre, Pilates and body weight exercises. My muscles are quaking, especially when we work our arms with resistance bands and 3-pound weights. I fuel up at lunch with my favorite meal yet: a sweet potato and caramelized onion flatbread.
Day 4:
I’m tempted to hit snooze and sleep through the (extremely early) morning workout, but I hear Anna’s encouraging voice in my head and make it to our Happy Hour dance cardio class at 7:15. We learn the same combination as we did in Tuesday night’s class, so I’m basically a pro (or at least I don’t flail around as much). By the last song, Anna is leading us all in a killer routine!
I’m starting to feel a little hungry with the all-vegetarian meals. I have to admit I add chicken to my root veggie salad dinner.
Day 5:
Anna saves the toughest class for last. In Sweat Dream, we use resistance bands suspended from the ceiling to sculpt our arms and jump onto Pilates boxes for cardio. After five days of intense workouts and clean eating, I feel less bloated and I can see more definition in my arms. If only I had a red carpet to attend!
For those on the West Coast, AKT will be holding an Oscar-week L.A. Intensive from February 23 to 27 at the MNR Dance Factory in Brentwood and Soma Studio in West Hollywood. Visit aktinmotion.com for more details.
