April 18, 2012 09:35 ET

Ballet Body® Creator Leah Sarago’s Advanced Training Techniques Utilized by Top NFL and NCAA Athletes

Leah Sarago Is Changing the Way Elite Athletes Prepare and Perform

Instructor interview 

Leah Sarago

Like many video instructors, Leah Sarago planned to launch her career in Los Angeles. But she actually found exercise-video success back in Nashville.  “I decided to move to Los Angeles because I wanted to debut my Ballet Body class. And, at the same time, I had a DVD project in the works with a small video production company. The DVD project fell through, but I continued to teach Ballet Body classes while also continuing to refine my training techniques.

“However, frankly, I found Los Angeles too fast paced at that time. I think that all the yoga in the world couldn’t have reduced my stress levels. So I moved back to Nashville to be closer to family and in more peaceful surroundings. Looking back at it now, I realize that I didn’t need to live in Los Angeles to produce exercise DVDs. I realized that there is lots of great talent all over the country.”

How did you get interested in fitness? “I grew up in a big family. My mom had all of us girls in ballet at a young age. My dad, of course, encouraged us to play sports. And I’ve always been active (my parents said I was the one constantly doing cart wheels or handstands). I remember pretending to play dance teacher/choreographer in our basement as a child — working out with my mom’s exercise videos. In high school, human anatomy and science were the most intriguing subjects for me. At that point I decided I was going to pursue a degree in  Exercise Science.”

With your degree and your experience, you ended up working with the NFL. How did that happen? “I had the opportunity to work with some of the 2009/2010 top NFL Combine picks, including Tim Tebow. I was brought on to help the athletes with flexibility and recovery while they prepared for the NFL Combine. It was great.”

Do you have any plans for the future? “Sure. I want to continue to grow and expand the programs that I offer, including training programs tailored to athletes and special populations. Additionally, I’m working to create a Ballet Body certification program for those interested in helping spread the fun and benefits of Ballet Body across the country. Lastly, I want to further my education in nutrition, and possibly even attend some cooking schools to publish a recipe book — I love to cook and bake!”

You like to cook and bake… really? “It’s true. If I have a craving for chocolate or sweets, I usually go right into the kitchen and bake something. By baking it yourself, you can cut out a lot of the preservatives and make it much healthier. Also, I find that after I bake it, I really only want a bite or two.”

Finally, a question we hear from a lot of our readers… How do you motivate yourself to work out when you just don’t feel like it? “On the days when I lack motivation, I try to talk myself into just 20 minutes. That’s because 20 minutes is better than nothing and I know I’ll feel better afterwards. I usually find that I end up working out even longer than what I had planned. Also, sometimes I’ll even throw a yoga mat down on the kitchen floor while I’m cooking and do some exercises. Or just play around with some new techniques. It’s fun!”

See all of Leah’s videos.

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