When Mary first moved to DC, she was searching for a job in special education. She ended up taking some time off to figure out what her passions were and what she wanted out of a career. Mary found herself spending a lot of time in the gym, which led to her itching to learn more about the “how” and “why” behind movement and exercise. 

She enrolled in personal training coursework to further her education, but then couldn’t imagine not sharing this knowledge and helping others. She got certified through NASM, started training at MINT in 2014, and never looked back.

Mary’s training style is client-focused, thorough, strong, and quiet. She tries to understand everyone she works with so that she can provide them the optimal experience. Each session is the result of client-specific programming, with special attention to goals, needs, and preferences. She also prioritizes long-term health, endurance, and building relationships.

“I believe that during each session, the client is the priority,” she said.  “I engage with them to determine exactly what they need and discover how I can offer solutions in ways that are engaging, fun, and productive.”

She enjoys helping people push past their self-imposed limits. Mary motivates clients to challenge themselves while remaining attentive to any limitations or muscular imbalances that need to be considered. As a personal trainer with a passion for motivating people to stay active, she strives to change people’s perspectives on fitness. 

Mary is also a nutrition coach and a certified life and health coach – which allows her to combine her skills as an educator, her passion for others’ wellbeing, fitness and nutrition expertise, and strength training experience to further benefit others.

Her advice to anyone interested in training for the first time: “Put us to the test! Try it out and have some fun!”

When she’s not working, she enjoys cooking, weightlifting, or advancing her education. She loves living in such a city that you can get around by walking, running, or cycling. She also enjoys eating outdoors, running around the monuments at the mall, and hiking the Billy Goat Trail. Her favorite restaurants in DC are Habesha and Little Sesame.

Fun fact: Mary was a competitive bodybuilder for two years, competing throughout the Northwest in the figure division.

If you’re interested in working with Mary you can email her at mary@mintdc.com. 

 

MINT Personal Trainer and Nutrition Coach Sam Donin uses his own experience and love for wellness to help his clients achieve their goals inside and outside the gym.

Sam played sports like soccer, basketball, and baseball throughout his life, but only did the minimum amount of weight training necessary to compete. While at the University of Maryland, he started to get more involved in strength training and weightlifting. He discovered that he loves the feeling of getting stronger and seeing what his body is capable of. 

His passion for fitness progressed from there, as he began to train friends and family for fun. As he gained more experience, they started asking him for complete programs rather than just a few exercises. Sam decided to turn his hobby into a full-time job. He got his certification as a NASM personal trainer in November 2018 and began at MINT a month later. Sam is also a certified Behavior Change Specialist (which focuses on the psychology of behavior change and how to make a lasting impact towards your goals) and is working on a pre/postnatal certification.

His personal training style revolves around classic strength training with a focus on functional moves. He tries to work with his clients to create target programs suited for their individual goals and needs rather than prescribing a generic routine. He also makes a point to explain how certain moves will impact their everyday life. For example, a client may not care much about being able to do more pushups but will be motivated by understanding that developing strength with that move can translate into a positive daily function. He enjoys helping clients achieve new levels of success while, at the same time, making each workout unique and fun.

He uses his experience in corporate America to relate to his clients’ daily stresses of balancing work, family, and fitness. Not everyone can dedicate two hours a day, seven days a week to working out. Instead, he emphasizes that it’s possible to be healthy every day, and not just in the gym. To further help clients achieve goals beyond their workouts, Sam has also become a nutrition coach because he believes health and fitness are a lifestyle that must be maintained consistently.

His advice to anyone interested in personal training is to not be afraid to jump in and speak up. The most successful clients actively communicate with their trainer. Don’t be afraid to ask for extra help when something doesn’t feel right.

Outside of training, Sam’s favorite DC-area hike is Old Rag in Shenandoah and his favorite place to grab a healthy meal is Sweetgreen. He recently got into sandbag workouts and said, “the shifting weight is incredible. In real life, you don’t always get to pick up a nice, evenly balanced barbell so being able to handle a sandbag is tough and fun.” When he’s not exercising, he spends time with family and friends or watching sports.

Interested in training with Sam or learning more about nutrition coaching? He can be reached via email sam@mintdc.com.

Meet February Member of the Month, Marjan Shallal. When Marjan was nominated to be MINT member of the month she was excited to use the opportunity to share her thoughts and thank the MINT staff.

Thank you for your superb job to keep the place clean and safe for people to use. I have been with Mint since 2006, after having been a member of other clubs in the DC metropolitan area. From the first day I signed up with Mint, the entire staff has been so nice and respectful. The space is clean and is not that crowded around the time I use the gym. This makes me want to come back to the gym more offen.

Marjan’s fitness goals have changed since she started working with her trainer, Rasean which began in 2006. Originally, she wanted to maintain a healthy body image, but since working with Rasean, she realized that now, she is able to carry heavier weight while getting stronger and that makes her feel really good about herself!

She shared that she suffers from osteoporosis and was told that she need to lift weight to keep her bones strong. Her original intention was to maintain a healthy body image and to build muscles to protect my joints. However, Rasean was able to her get her interested in muscle building and increasing her fitness level by creating an individualized plan. After just a few months, she felt stronger and ready to take more challenging workouts. The most important thing about her trainer, Rasean, is that she trusts him and feels safe to follow his instructions which is something that certainly takes time and is a huge compliment to her trainer. Of course, the next best compliment is a referral, which she did with her husband who recently started withing with Rasean as well and has seen a big difference as well. 

Thank you, Marjan for being such an incredible and loyal member. Next time you see Marjan, possibly working out with Rasean, give her a socially distant wave hello!

After taking yoga classes for five years, Ferdaouis wanted to learn more about yoga and fitness through a structured program. She was inspired by wonderful instructors and wanted to help others find similar positive experiences. She took a 200-hour power yoga teacher training course in 2015 and quickly realized that teaching was a passion of hers.  

When classes are in-person, she loves leading slower, more balance-focused classes in a heated studio. And when the weather allows, her absolute favorite is teaching outside on a warm day on the field by MINT. She loves how heat helps us loosen up muscles and connect more quickly to our yoga practice and the experience can be more meditative as well. She is also partial to the powerful vinyasa classes where students can find their groove and enjoy the flow to a really great soundtrack.

Ferdaouis’s classes meld consistency and diversity. She creates unique sequences that focus on a variety of poses and body parts, but using a similar formula each week. “I like students to come away with a good, balanced workout,” she said. “Feeling looser, stronger, and more connected to their bodies. We only have one body to work with, so we should learn to love and strengthen it as best we can.”

Outside of her own classes, she enjoys taking other MINT yoga courses and even recently braved her first Power Playground class with her mom! She mostly eats vegan and Fruitive, Hip City Veg, and Chaia are some of her favorite local spots for a healthy meal. Ferdaouis loves hiking through Rock Creek Park with her husband and friends, especially in the springtime.

Check our class schedule to sign up for a class with Ferdaouis!

If you’re looking for a sign to work with a MINT personal trainer, consider this your sign. Save on a discounted training package. Right now you can get 21 sessions for 21% off! These sessions have no expiration date and can be used virtually or in-club.

Master Trainer – 50 Min $1,543
Trainer – 50 Min $1,377

Rasean has been interested in personal training since high school, when he took sports medicine and medical science classes. He also played sports and studied martial arts for more than 10 years, which made him realize how fascinated he is in how the body works. He started training clients while at Howard University, where he majored in physical therapy. Rasean has also taught boxing, kickboxing, and one-on-one self-defense classes. 

He’s now a NASM certified personal trainer, an ASM Performance Enhancement Specialist, a trained martial artist, and a Cancer Exercise Specialist. He has worked with athletes of all backgrounds throughout his career. He’s qualified to assess, design, and implement exercise programs for individuals diagnosed with cancer so that they can reach more robust health with positive lifestyle management. Rasean helps them in every stage of their illness — from treatment to recovery.

His interest in the human body is what drives him to help his clients (and himself) reach a state of optimal health, a goal he’s been pursuing for 15 years. He does this through lifestyle management and metabolic typing. He considers his client’s goals and environments and tailors the program to their wants and needs. He also works hard to make it a fun, positive experience.

He believes form and technique are much more important than the amount of weight you’re pressing. He also believes workouts should be functional — helping in your daily routine and in the power of healthy living.

“This is a lifetime journey,” he says to anyone interested in personal training. “Be prepared to always be learning and growing and not be afraid to fail. In fact, your mind set should be one of winning and learning — not losing and failing. Every goal, big or small, you achieve is a win. Every time you hit a wall you are not losing or failing but simply presented an opportunity to learn and grow. So always enjoy the journey.”

Outside of MINT, Rasean loves swimming outdoors on a sunny DC summer day. His favorite places to grab a healthy meal are Dukem on U Street and Daikaiya in Chinatown.