Kseniya Sovenko
A former pro ballroom dancer, Kseniya began her fitness journey at age 5. Over the years, she’s supplemented her training with everything in the boutique fitness scene—from vigorous Bikram Yoga and Pilates reformer classes to weekly HIIT, Metcon, and Tabata workouts, Muay Thai, strength training, and more. Kseniya graduated from the University of Washington with degrees in journalism and sociology. You can find her work in The Guardian, Capitol Hill Times, The Seattle Globalist, and more.
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Exercise for Women vs. Men: A Guide to Unique Gender Differences in Fitness
We’ve all seen the videos. Endearing scenes of boyfriends or husbands struggling through Sculpt or Barre sequences—what most of us typically think of as “exercise for women.” At the same time, we know most men would outlast us lifting heavy. This begs the question: do women and men respond differently to the same workouts, and…
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What’s the Best Exercise for Hormones? You May Be Surprised
Ugh, hormones. When they’re balanced and doing their thing, our bodies and minds are in flow. But throw in just a little disturbance—like some good old stress or the luteal phase of your menstrual cycle—and suddenly, everything’s bananas. When you’re feeling moody or insecure from an acne flair-up, working out may be the last thing…
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No, You Can’t Tone Muscles—the Surprising Myth, Revealed
How many of us secretly (or not so secretly!) wish for our workout routines to deliver those picture-perfect ‘toned’ arms, ‘toned’ abs, and ‘toned’ legs? We gawk over fitness influencers and Pilates girlies with long, lean lines, searching for fitness classes that promise to tone muscles and ‘tighten’ our physiques. The only problem is that…
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Expert Chat: Why Every Woman Deserves to Have a Sex Drive
Ever noticed how working out can be something of an… aphrodisiac? One minute you barely have the will to put on your workout leggings, and 30 minutes later you’re empowered and ready to feel a little sexy. It’s not just your imagination—exercise can be a potent sex drive enhancer and a great trick for getting…
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New to obé: Meet Josh C., Your Strength + Power Trainer
He’s the son of a race car driver, a former college football + rugby player, and has coached everyone from collegiate-level athletes to those working out for the first time. Full of wisdom, technique, and infectious energy, Josh C. is ready to be your new Strength and Power trainer at obé. With 10+ years of…
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5 Crazy Facts You Didn’t Know About Women’s Fitness History
Head to any group fitness class (extra points if it’s Pilates), unroll your mat in any Yoga studio, go for a walk in any park, and one thing is certain: you’re going to see women. And lots of them. For many of them, working out is an essential pillar of self-care. And if not, it’s…
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Your Strength-Obsessed BFF Is Here: Meet Olivia T.
If there’s one thing new obé trainer Olivia T. loves, it’s picking up a heavy weight. The daughter of an aerobics instructor, this Minnesota native is a HIIT powerhouse and a Strength technician. You can always count on her to say it as it is—and throw in a little sprinkle of fun to every class. …
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Postnatal Training: The Workout Program for Every Mama
When it comes to working out post-baby, most new moms have a lot of questions. Is there a right time to start—and how long should you wait to recover? What types of exercises and classes are safe? Should you focus on cardio or strength? And how much exercise is enough (if you even have the…