The photographer described this final shot as “the perfect blend of femininity and strength.” I have to agree.
I have a new respect for fitness models. You know, the girls in your fave ab-mags like Women’s Health or Shape that manage to do a one-fingered plank or even something gynecologically humiliating and still manage to suck it in and smile? The ones whose captions say things like “Mara, 24, is a Pilates and aerial dance instructor and stays in shape by doing boot camp 8 days a week in a weighted vest. Her motto is: I strive for balance in my life.”
Who hasn’t always wanted to do Yoga in front of the sunset?? Where’s Rodney Yee when I need him?Well last week I got to be one of those girls when Turbo Jennie asked me and two others from her TurboKick class to pose for some promo materials (that I believe are actually going to be embedded in stone on our Y’s legacy wall. I’ve achieved immortality at 30 – now what do I do for the rest of my life??). Yep, that’s me up there on the left-hand side preparing to kick somebody’s head off and trying not to crush the life out of wee Turbo Jennie when I fell over. Which I did after nearly every shot.
Holding a punch is much, much easier than holding a kick. J (on the left) and I were much relieved. Especially our poor booties. Lesson Number 1: Holding poses is hard. It’s hard enough doing a proper roundhouse kick. It’s ridiculous when the photographer – a wonderfully talented and nice man everyone referred to as “Buddha” for reasons I never could figure out – yells out, “Great! Now can you just hold that?” My left butt cheek is now one size bigger than my right. I’m going to have do one-legged squats for a week to even out the difference. Not to mention that to get that nice “sweaty” sheen, the photog kept spritzing us down with glycerin water which while it had a pleasant rosy smell was apparently made out of mosquito pheremones.
I swear I eat enough fiber. Although how much do I love my bicep??“Drop you arm. No, the other arm. Not your leg, just your arm. Look the other way. Chin down. Stop wobbling. Look fierce. No, not constipated. Fierce. Never mind, just look away. No giggling!” By this point I had contorted myself into something that didn’t resemble any kick or punch and was possibly making the face that people do when they see Michael Jackson in person. Miss Tyra would not be proud.
Somebody teach me how to punch, please! And, also, how to stop giggling at inappropriate moments. Lesson Number 2: Taking direction is hard. The photographer and Turbo Jennie had come up with a fabulous idea that would look both feminine and strong. The problem was in translating it to me. I daresay the other two models managed to look as fierce as if they wrestled tigers in their spare time without batting an eyelash. But me – I’m self conscious even when no one is sticking a camera in my face. Let’s just say they took way more pictures of me and it isn’t because I’m just so preeeeettty. But the photographer’s brilliance prevailed and he managed to get a few shots that I’m actually rather proud of.
In my opinion, this shot of J is the best shot of the night. I want to see this in a magazine.
M’s expression is so poignant in this one it kind of breaks my heart and I don’t know why.Lesson Number 3: Women are amazing. I got over my insecurity pretty quickly when I got to watch all the other girls posing. I was blown away by how beautiful and tough we can be. We were strong and tender. Agile and comforting. Trusting but not defenseless. All at the same time. Not that doing dancer pose against the sunset wasn’t awesome – it was fantastically unreal – but the best part of the evening was sitting around talking with Turbo Jennie and the other girls after the shoot. Nothing fancy. Just girl talk. And it was amazing.
Hello! I have been lurking around here for a very long time but had to peep out today to say… FOXY! You all look so gorgeous and strong and it makes me want to rush out and kick something!
Is that baby oil or just the natural sheen of Kick-Ass?
Sexy ladies – Tyra WOULD be proud!
TA x
you so prettystrongFITlooking.
you lost me at so prettystrongFIT.
charlotte, you are amazing! I fully expect Fitness and the other mags to be calling you very soon.
strong
fit
and BEAUTIFUL!
🙂 Lisa
Wow, you guys look so HOT! (Er, was that inappropriate of me to say? Well, screw it, it’s true).
I’d say the feminine/fierce combo was perfectly realized.
I’d buy any magazine y’all wanted to pose for–Shape or Women’s Health or Appliance Repair Weekly, whatever.
You guys look awesome, strong and healthy 🙂 Not to mention cute!!
Y’all look great! and there’s nothing like some good girl talk.
I linked to you today. 🙂
Hot ladies!! I HEART Turbo so much… For me it has been the perfect blend on being tough and girly, I love to be able to do something martial arts related, and be able to dress up in a little skort for it.
GO TURBO!
Wow! Keep it coming! 🙂
thats so cool. the pictures look great- you will be in Shape magazine in no time. but then you will have to wear tiny little booty shorts and learn to smile while holding a squat for 15 minutes.
http://www.groundedfitness.com
You look so strong and fabulous and fierce!! How amazing – you need to frame that silhouette shot and hang it up. Really inspiring.I’m so proud of u…and your friend!
TA’s comment, “Is that baby oil or just the natural sheen of Kick-Ass?” is so funny!
Soo jealous you got to do this photo shoot for your gym. I think I’ve put in enough hours at mine that I should have my picture up somewhere.
Those are great photos! You’re all so wonderfully strong and gorgeous.
That sounds like so much fun! The photos are great! Just the way women should be portrayed – beautiful, fit, and strong.
This is awesome! You may have a new career on your hands!
Just Gorgeous! All of you…
WOW!!!!!!
Beautiful!!!!!
that is awesome! great photos – i especially like the silhouette one.
You gals look awesome. That’s all! 🙂
Those are fantastic pictures.
Char,
great pics! You guys look awesome, and J has really lost weight after her baby and boy is she getting some great muscle tone!
I miss turbo and look forward to coming back after the summer!
Candice
OK, that first picture totally reminds me of the Charlie’s Angels pose. But, those ladies were also fierce yet feminine!
Love the pics!
That is a lot of beautiful women in one post. Perhaps there should be a warning for men who suffer from heart problems? 😉
I love your blog. Looks like a good place to counteract the idea that weight loss and getting thin is a good thing in and of itself. Too many people believe the former and don’t spend enough time focusing on getting healthy and fit.
Love it.
Awesome..the pics look great.
Fitness Models