It’s hard to imagine one of the biggest names in all of baseball history saddling up for a group fitness class, sweating alongside the regulars that strip off their business suits to squeeze in a sweat session. But that’s exactly what happens at TruFusion, a new Las Vegas-based fitness studio that counts Alex Rodriguez, the former New York Yankee and 14-time All Star, as a regular, and now a business partner.
Rodriguez will be a major investor and equity partner alongside co-founder Mike Borden, Martin Hinton and President/COO Jonathan Fornaci as well as have ownership of the franchise development rights for 20 new facilities. “My job is basically to spread the word,” A-Rod said over the phone.
But he’s not just chatting up the business. Rodriguez says he spends as many as three hours a day there taking everything from heated bootcamp classes featuring kettlebells to Pilates to yoga. “I only take group classes,” he said. “That’s the one thing that makes it special and unique. Everyone is encouraging you. There’s really a community atmosphere where everyone is working together.”
Even A-Rod’s superstar girlfriend Jennifer Lopez has jumped into classes and he says her dancers often take part as well. Rodriquez called J-Lo a “great athlete” which says a lot coming from a three-time American League MVP. But A-Rod backed down when asked if she’s the one pushing the pace in workouts.
“She wins at everything,” he said.
After a 22-year playing career that came with two hip surgeries and two knee surgeries, it’s just as important that Rodriquez stay in top shape. He still travels regularly, works as a baseball analyst with Fox Sports and as a correspondent for ABC’s “Good Morning America.” But Rodriguez is also 41 years old and those training sessions don’t come free of aches and pains.
“A big part of it, especially at this age, is nutrition,” he said. “Nutrition, sleep and core and then the last thing is strength. Lifting for years, one thing you lose is flexibility. So that’s a lot of what I work on.”
Rodriguez was hitting some hot yoga classes, Pilates, and still lifting some even before he stepped foot in a TruFusion studio. But the community-feel at the studio changed the game for the former slugger. After his first session, A-Rod was at TruFusion 20 out of the next 25 days. His favorite class now is a spicy one called the Down N’ Dirty Bootcamp, described as a “R-rated” bootcamp class that’s a combination of yoga, Pilates and kettlebell training in a heated room that reaches temperatures above 100 degrees.
“I love the Down N’ Dirty. It’s over-18,” he said. “I’m not a club guy anymore so that’s kind of where I get my fix.”
Original article found here:
http://www.askmen.com/sports/fanatic/alex-rodriguez-partners-with-vegas-based-fitness-studio.html
