Out of 45 RockBox Fitness studios and 500 trainers in the nation, only one was named the best of them all — and that was Gabe Lasmarias. A trainer for both RockBox Fitness Southlake and Plano, Gabe juggles time between both studios leading members through high-energy classes where they time fighting movements to music cues. Enthusiastic, driven and committed to helping others work towards becoming their best selves, Gabe looks forward to a new year and the sweat and success that it inevitably brings with it.
I STARTED BOXING WHEN... I was 10 years old. I was getting bullied all the time, I moved around a lot and it was a really good way to let my emotions out in a healthy way. It was great for my health, both physically and mentally. I just released all of my emotions into that bag.
AFTER COLLEGE, I STARTED OUT... as a front desk assistant for RockBox Fitness. From there, I moved my way up to trainer, to head trainer and now general manager. Like working out, it’s all a process. The work you put in is what you get out.
MY PASSION COMES FROM... helping other people get to where they want to be. Fitness is a tough journey, and sometimes you get to see both the best and worst out of people. But there are fun ways to go about it and get the results you’re looking for. That’s what I love about being a personal trainer.
WORKING OUT AT ROCKBOX FITNESS IS LIKE... “Fight Club” meets night club. Every class is 50 minutes, and half the class is always boxing or kickboxing. There are strobe lights, speakers and music to get that adrenaline pumping. When you’re not kicking or punching bags, you can sometimes beat up your coaches if they’ll let you — which I do sometimes.
THE MAIN THING I LOVE ABOUT ROCKBOX FITNESS IS... it’s such a big social experience. I used to take PE classes and boot camps all the time, and honestly, they kicked my butt and they weren’t enjoyable. RockBox will kick your butt just as hard, but you’ll have fun with it. I love to dance, I love to party and my clients experience that every time. You just feel the energy as soon as you walk in.
THE BIGGEST OBSTACLE PEOPLE FACE IS... motivation. A lot of people go to the gym and work out alone, and some people just don’t keep up with it because it gets dry after a while. But when you surround yourself with people with the same visions, goals and growth aspirations, all of a sudden it doesn’t feel like work anymore. Sometimes you just need someone to remind you why you’re there.
EARLIER IN THE FALL, I... went to RockBox Fitness’ annual summit in Charlotte, North Carolina. I thought I was just going to coach and help others to become better trainers. I ended up winning trainer of the year. I was not expecting that at all, but I felt so honored regardless. I don’t do this for the awards, the glitz or the glamor. I’m here to work hard, see people improve and help them get from point A to point B.
IN FITNESS, YOU CAN FIND PEOPLE... who really bring you down — people who don’t want to see you succeed. I’m grateful that I have the exact opposite. I have people who want to see us grow, build each other up and get better. We call it a community, but really it feels more like family to me.
EVERYTHING I DO IS... from the heart. There’s always something to do, always something to get better at. Even if it’s just 1%, that makes a big difference over time. As long as we get better at it, that’s what we came here for.