Training with "The World's Best Poser." One-On-One with Russ Testo

*Old Navy* · 08-19-2006, 06:39 PM

I just returned home Friday night from an incredible training and learning experience with Russ Testo, "The World's Best Poser." Russ lives and works in Albany, NY and shares a training studio with his partner, Cindi Stone. Together they run "Sonshine Fitness" (www.sonshinefitness@msn.com). This was my second visit to train with Russ. Last year, he helped me develop my posing and choreographed my individual posing routine that resulted in a Best Poser Award at a major competition and my winning the Men's Master 60+ World Championship last June in Toronto, where the posing and posing routine counted as 1/3 of the score.

I arrived in Albany about 1 PM on Wednesday. Russ met me at my hotel and we went right to his studio. I was to spend a total of eight hours of one-on-one training with Russ. As much as I was eager to work on my new routine, Russ would have none of it. He put me though a grueling hour of symmetry and mandatory poses to see where I was and to fix a few things. Only then did he show the new routine he choreographed for me. It is based on Paul McCartney's "When I'm 64" from the Yellow Submarine album. I laughed when he did it and thought, "I can never learn that. There are too many moves...spins, fast-paced posing transitions." Russ knew what I was thinking and smiled, and then we went to work.

We broke down the 90-seconds routine to 10 second bits. I learned each segment and then started at the beginning and "posed" to that spot, before we went to the next segment. By the end of the first session, we were 40 seconds into the routine.

The next morning (Thursday) Russ and I worked out together. We did legs, calves and chest. Russ started by doing 60 light weight squats, for warm up. I did 15. LOL. By the time we were through with squats, both of us were shaking. The man is intense...but so am I. I believe Russ was a little surprised by my doggedness to stay with him. We did three sets of ham curls and then standing weighed calve raises. I out did him on calves, because I do a lot of calves and he doesn't do as much. Then we did three sets of dumb bell flys (3X10 of incline, decline and flat bench). After the workout, we did a 30 minute HITT cardio session. It was a great way to start the day.

My second posing session again started with the basics. Russ is a good teacher. He wanted to make sure my muscle memory is in tune. We went though several posing drills. He "tweaked" me along the way. Then we continued with the posing routine and got through the next 20 seconds. By the end of the session, I had the first minute done.

That afternoon, we had our third session and completed the 90 second routine. I must have performed it 30 times (not really, but it felt like it). Russ would say, "Again." "Again." "Again." "Now, do it without music." "Now, start it where I start the music." (not at the beginning). I was having a great time.

We went out to dinner that night and talked a long time about the early days of bodybuilding. Russ is 49. He has been involved with our sport since he was 16. He knows most of the major promoters and top pro competitors. But, in spite of his "knowledge," Russ is a humble man.

On Friday morning, Russ and I worked out together before our posing session. We did back, biceps and triceps. We started with pull ups, each doing 30. I wasn't going to be outdone by this strong man. Then we did bench dumbbell lat raises. Russ did 3 sets of 70s, 80s and 90s and I did 3 sets of 60s, 70s, and 80s. Next we did pull overs and press downs. For biceps, we did "I do, you do" with a 40 pound bar bell. We did! I think we exchanged 10 sets of 10 reps before we agreed neither one of us was going to quit. Then we did 3 X 10 sets of 30 pound dumbbell hammers up, curl down and ended with 70 pound barbell skull chrushers. Another good workout.

We went to his studio for more posing. Again, he put me through a grueling posing drill before we got to work on my routine. After working on the routine for an hour, we video taped Russ doing it "regular" time and then he walked though the entire routine without music, instructing at each step. We then taped me doing it. I don't look like Russ yet, but I will. LOL. I now have a great training video that I can study while I am preparing to do my routine in competition.

That afternoon, after another round of regular posing practice, We continued tweaking my performance and fixing little things. The most important was hitting the poses hard, while going through the routine with the music. The final act was when Russ watched me "do it in competition."

He hit "Play" and I started the routine. I nailed it and Russ applauded. It was a very satisfying moment for both of us.

I left Albany late that afternoon and returned to Birmingham, Alabama that evening. I was tired, excited, happy, and very grateful that I had another chance to train with "The World's Best Poser."

**davtown** · 08-19-2006, 06:47 PM

That sounds like a great experience. When you perform this routine at your next show, I'm sure all of us would love to see a video tape of it. Sounds cool!

Psychoholic · 08-20-2006, 06:14 AM

Sounds like lots of fun! Did you get to keep the video?

*Old Navy* · 08-20-2006, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Psychoholic

Sounds like lots of fun! Did you get to keep the video?

Yep. That's part of the training. Russ performed the routine at regular time, to the music and then, without music, went through each step, with commentary and teaching. Then, I did it to music regular time. I have the video and will use it to review as I get ready to perform it on stage at the NGA Natural Master Pro Qualifier in Atlanta on September 30.

08-19-2006, 06:39 PM	#1
Old Navy NGA & IDFA Master Pro Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Birmingham, Alabama Posts: 533 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 17	Training with "The World's Best Poser." One-On-One with Russ Testo I just returned home Friday night from an incredible training and learning experience with Russ Testo, "The World's Best Poser." Russ lives and works in Albany, NY and shares a training studio with his partner, Cindi Stone. Together they run "Sonshine Fitness" (www.sonshinefitness@msn.com). This was my second visit to train with Russ. Last year, he helped me develop my posing and choreographed my individual posing routine that resulted in a Best Poser Award at a major competition and my winning the Men's Master 60+ World Championship last June in Toronto, where the posing and posing routine counted as 1/3 of the score. I arrived in Albany about 1 PM on Wednesday. Russ met me at my hotel and we went right to his studio. I was to spend a total of eight hours of one-on-one training with Russ. As much as I was eager to work on my new routine, Russ would have none of it. He put me though a grueling hour of symmetry and mandatory poses to see where I was and to fix a few things. Only then did he show the new routine he choreographed for me. It is based on Paul McCartney's "When I'm 64" from the Yellow Submarine album. I laughed when he did it and thought, "I can never learn that. There are too many moves...spins, fast-paced posing transitions." Russ knew what I was thinking and smiled, and then we went to work. We broke down the 90-seconds routine to 10 second bits. I learned each segment and then started at the beginning and "posed" to that spot, before we went to the next segment. By the end of the first session, we were 40 seconds into the routine. The next morning (Thursday) Russ and I worked out together. We did legs, calves and chest. Russ started by doing 60 light weight squats, for warm up. I did 15. LOL. By the time we were through with squats, both of us were shaking. The man is intense...but so am I. I believe Russ was a little surprised by my doggedness to stay with him. We did three sets of ham curls and then standing weighed calve raises. I out did him on calves, because I do a lot of calves and he doesn't do as much. Then we did three sets of dumb bell flys (3X10 of incline, decline and flat bench). After the workout, we did a 30 minute HITT cardio session. It was a great way to start the day. My second posing session again started with the basics. Russ is a good teacher. He wanted to make sure my muscle memory is in tune. We went though several posing drills. He "tweaked" me along the way. Then we continued with the posing routine and got through the next 20 seconds. By the end of the session, I had the first minute done. That afternoon, we had our third session and completed the 90 second routine. I must have performed it 30 times (not really, but it felt like it). Russ would say, "Again." "Again." "Again." "Now, do it without music." "Now, start it where I start the music." (not at the beginning). I was having a great time. We went out to dinner that night and talked a long time about the early days of bodybuilding. Russ is 49. He has been involved with our sport since he was 16. He knows most of the major promoters and top pro competitors. But, in spite of his "knowledge," Russ is a humble man. On Friday morning, Russ and I worked out together before our posing session. We did back, biceps and triceps. We started with pull ups, each doing 30. I wasn't going to be outdone by this strong man. Then we did bench dumbbell lat raises. Russ did 3 sets of 70s, 80s and 90s and I did 3 sets of 60s, 70s, and 80s. Next we did pull overs and press downs. For biceps, we did "I do, you do" with a 40 pound bar bell. We did! I think we exchanged 10 sets of 10 reps before we agreed neither one of us was going to quit. Then we did 3 X 10 sets of 30 pound dumbbell hammers up, curl down and ended with 70 pound barbell skull chrushers. Another good workout. We went to his studio for more posing. Again, he put me through a grueling posing drill before we got to work on my routine. After working on the routine for an hour, we video taped Russ doing it "regular" time and then he walked though the entire routine without music, instructing at each step. We then taped me doing it. I don't look like Russ yet, but I will. LOL. I now have a great training video that I can study while I am preparing to do my routine in competition. That afternoon, after another round of regular posing practice, We continued tweaking my performance and fixing little things. The most important was hitting the poses hard, while going through the routine with the music. The final act was when Russ watched me "do it in competition." He hit "Play" and I started the routine. I nailed it and Russ applauded. It was a very satisfying moment for both of us. I left Albany late that afternoon and returned to Birmingham, Alabama that evening. I was tired, excited, happy, and very grateful that I had another chance to train with "The World's Best Poser." __________________ Scott "Old Navy" Hults, NFPT-CPT; NGA-CPT FAME, NGA & IDFA Natural Master Pro Bodybuilder FAME, NGA & OCB Contest Judge www.BodyBuildingSenior.com

08-19-2006, 06:47 PM	#2
davtown OM NOM NOM NOM Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Francisco Posts: 2,360 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 128	That sounds like a great experience. When you perform this routine at your next show, I'm sure all of us would love to see a video tape of it. Sounds cool! __________________ --Training Journal-- current/goal D: 350/380 S: 280/300 B: 235/260

08-20-2006, 06:14 AM	#3
Psychoholic IronMass Donator Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Loganville, GA Posts: 573 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 21	Sounds like lots of fun! Did you get to keep the video? __________________ My IMPC Log: http://www.ironmass.com/f37/psychoho...log-13160.html

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode