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Island couple helps families live healthy, stay in shape

This article originally appeared inthe Ka Leo newspaper in April 2005
Island couple helps families live healthy, stay in shape - April 2005



With a lifetime of work dedicated to improving the lives of others, a Honolulu couple combined their experiences in the fitness industry with parenting skills in an effort to help local families reach their fitness goals.

Eric Yamashita, a competitive bodybuilder and certified personal trainer, whose clientele includes KGMB9 anchor Kim Gennaula-Hagi and other prominent members of the Honolulu community, has successfully revolutionized the direction of the personal training field by offering a variety of family oriented programs such as prenatal and post pregnancy fitness.

According to Yamashita, the programs are designed exclusively for family fitness and total body wellness.

Currently a trainer at Gold's Gym Honolulu, Yamashita instructs his clientele on the importance of a healthy family atmosphere as a crucial aspect for success.

"With all the obesity problems in Hawai'i, the focus of my training is really on the family," Yamashita said. "Many island families can benefit from simple lifestyle changes, and I encourage people to start slowly by just getting out and walking, or going to the beach as a family."

With the arrival of a new member to the family, their son Ian, Yamashita and his wife Angela have had to adapt their lifestyles to the fulltime job of parenting.

"I was a gym rat and wanted something that would allow me to be around mothers whom I could help get into shape," Angela Yamashita said.

As a certified instructor for Stroller Strides, a program which helps mothers get into shape through power walking and body toning using strollers, Angela educates mothers on how to live a healthy lifestyle while spending time with their children. This is something Angela said has helped to bring their family closer together and has allowed her to stay in competitive form.

"You never want to get away from a strong family atmosphere, no matter how busy or demanding your work can be," Eric Yamashita said.

He added that fitness is more than trying to be skinny or an attempt to pursue a certain physical appearance. Fitness is about longevity through quality of life and strong family ties.

"By following these principles, you'll find that everything else will fall into place," he said.

For questions on how to get more involved in helping your family reach their fitness goals together, log on to www.ericyamashita.com.