Anna Wong – Celebrity Fitness Trainer
As one of the most sought-after personal fitness trainers out of Vancouver, BC, people wonder what Anna Wong’s secret is in creating incredible results. From corporate titans to Hollywood movie stars, magazine cover girls to Platinum-selling music artists, her clientele list of V.I.P.’s is extensive and impressive.
Celebrities have busy schedules like the rest of us but they make no excuses.
Emmy-award winner Keenen Ivory Wayans (“In Living Color”) calls Anna “Trainer Extraordinaire”. Anna’s fitness training celebrity list includes hip hop artist “Maestro Fresh Wes”, Hollywood actress and Maxim cover girl Emmanuelle Vaugier, and actor Byron Lawson (“Snakes on a Plane”) are just a brief list to name a few.
Anna, born and raised in Auckland, New Zealand, has over 13 years of experience in personal training. Sculpting bodies to be their best on and off screen has kept this “sculptress” busy. Anna’s career as a trainer started from her strong determination to recover from a near-death car accident from which she incurred severe injuries to her limbs, head, neck and back. Her journey to recovery sparked her thirst for knowledge in healing and ignited her passion in fitness training.
Recognizing the importance of both mental and physical strength, Anna takes on the holistic way in her teachings. She combines ancient and modern methods with Eastern and Western disciplines in her approach to training. “My mission is to make a difference in the lives of those who want to be their best in every moment in life.” She believes that when you are physically at your best, this energy extends into other areas of your life as well. Her clients who has made top sales categories, won best designer awards, or listed on the “101 Most Influential People List” can all attest to her belief.
This award-winning trainer has been featured in “Oxygen” magazine, “The Vancouver Sun” and more. Clearly, Anna is well-prepared to take you onto another level of fitness. Honor yourself and reap the benefits of owning your health and fitness. With Anna Wong, be ready to be your best!
WARNING: Reading this column and being fit may become addictive!
Precaution: Before undertaking any new health regimen, consult your physician. The information in this article is intended to complement, not be a substitute for, the advice of your medical professional, dietitian or nutritionist.
ASIANCE: Is training a Hollywood celebrity different from training someone who is not?
Anna: Often times, celebrity clients have the added pressure to ‘look the part’ at a moment’s notice. By the time they get the call about a role, they are already expected to fill the physical demands of the character. Results are needed immediately and the time to prepare is almost always very slim. The cost of losing the role, as well as thousands to millions of dollars, gives them a great sense of urgency but also serves as a strong motivator. Generally, however, they, like everybody else have the quest to be fit and to be happy.
ASIANCE: How do the famous stay motivated and fit their workouts into their schedule?
Anna: Four words, “THEY MAKE IT FIT!!” Even if they have to wake up earlier, they’ll call me up, book their sessions and stick to their workouts. Celebrities have busy schedules like the rest of us but they make no excuses. They simply do not allow for any other option.
ASIANCE: What are the most common goals of Hollywood celebrities?
Anna: Aside from the action-hero types who want to build-up extra lean muscle mass, the main goal is usually to have a tight toned and fit body. The camera does add 10 pounds so, for a lot of my actor-clients, being lean and slim is important. Though looks play a big role in their career, it isn’t their only focus. Long hours on set place quite a demand on the actor. It requires that they have control over their energy output and the ability to focus and achieve mental clarity & preparedness during those long days. Being unfit, eating the wrong foods, training incorrectly, and even over-training can really disturb their performance
ASIANCE: How often does a celebrity train?
Anna: Usually 5-6 days per week. This includes cardio and strength-training exercises. Three to four of those days are dedicated to some form of strength training, whether it be pilates, power yoga or weights. This is how they shape and sculpt their muscles. Depending on the intensity of the workouts, the muscles worked usually need about 24-48 hours to recover. This needs to be taken into account when planning any strength-training regimen. Each day can include some form of cardio training. Keeping active is important to keep energy levels up, increase mental clarity and keep the metabolism running high. It’s important to remember that rest is just as important to allow the body to rebuild and recover. The body does tell. If an extra day of rest is needed, they’ll take it.
ASIANCE: What do celebrities eat?
Anna: To stay lean and healthy, celebrities follow these basic rules:
- Eat natural, unprocessed foods.
- Avoid sugar and refined carbohydrates.
- Avoid saturated fats.
- Avoid fried and overcooked foods.
- Consume clean water
- Eat very lean meats
Common food choices are whole-grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, fresh fish, and very lean meats (organic and free of antibiotics and growth hormones). Examples include poultry and wild game.
ASIANCE: What is the buzz in Hollywood fitness?
Anna: The buzz is really to find ways that work for the long-term rather than to follow short-term fads. My celebrity clients consider fitness as a way of life. Any new information that can help them improve their fitness for good health is the buzz. Adopting better and more effective ways to train and taking care of the body is important. To preview some of the latest buzz amongst the “fit and glam”, here’s a short list: Balance training, functional training, core training, clean eating, clean living, natural healing, meditation, and yoga.
Every month Anna Wong, personal fitness trainer to the stars, will be writing a column for Asiance Magazine. This column is dedicated to your questions and concerns in health and fitness. Your suggestions and requests are welcome. This column is for you so your feedback is important. To contact Anna, email her at anna@annawongfitness.com.
The content provided in this column are protected under an international copyright. They may not be copied and/or used for any purpose either completely or partially unless by prior permission from Anna Wong. Violations of said copyright may result in legal action.