contributors Donna Gast
International Les Mills presenter, expert and model for “18 Minutes to Fit,” Page 18
Don na Ga
st
i Step h a n
eM
Ni
k
Sn ow
To say that Nikki Snow has been in the biz a while is an understatement. “I began teaching Les Mills classes straight out of college and have been going strong for 10 years,” she says. Though she now travels the world as a Les Mills trainer and presenter, her favorite place is still at home in Chicago. Belying her outgoing personality, Snow is, in reality, circumspect. “In the gym, I'll try anything, but outside the gym, I am a delicate flower!” she says. “My goal is to conquer things that scare me. Last year, I surfed in New Zealand, which blew my mind!”
ki
Stephanie Main has been practicing yoga for nearly 14 years and credits dance for her ainity toward the discipline. “I grew up as a ballet dancer, so flexibility has always been a focus, especially the splits,” she says. “However, I still struggle with deep backbends. I am not naturally bendy, so I have to work hard toward that aim.” Main created her own brand called Endure Yoga, which is specifically tailored to the needs of athletes. She currently lives in San Diego with her husband, and on the weekends, she loves to cook Paleo desserts and run by the beach.
If life had taken a different tack, Donna Gast might have been working on Fright Night zombies instead of fitness models. “I attended a specialty school in Hollywood for makeup and special efects for film,” she says. “But I found a stronger love for print and commercial advertising. Now I get to put my ‘sweat efect’ skills to work on sports shoots!” Gast credits the inspiring people she works with for her longevity in the industry. “The information I gain from listening to experts on shoots makes its way into my personal life,” she says. “I love trying the recipes and adopting ideas for my workouts.”
Nikki Snow, NASM-CPT
n
Author of “The 10-Minute Squat Challenge,” Page 23
Hair and makeup artist for “Healthy New You,” Page 34, and “Leveraging Your Assets,” Page 40, among others
ai
Stephanie Main, NASM-CPT, CF-L2, RYT 500