This May, we’re excited to feature not one but two of our amazing members, Rod and Nona!

Nona is a retired competitive bodybuilder, so along with cardio, stretching, and swimming, she especially enjoys weight training at the club. Rod also spends time in the weight room and stretching area, as well as the sauna and steam room.

To stay motivated, both Nona and Rod point to the mental health benefits, increased energy, better sleep, and improved flexibility they gain from exercise as key inspiration to keep moving. “It helps with mental barriers, it helps with that ‘all or nothing’ thinking. Consistency for me is about discipline and keeping my agreements with myself,” Rod explains. For Nona, exercise is a great way to build resilience. “It has helped train my mind to handle discomfort and push through challenges, translating to improve focus and stay calm when calamity arrives in my personal life.”

When it comes to specific exercises, Nona favors compound movements like deadlifts and leg work, along with upper body training for overall strength. “I like anything that challenges me to sweat,” she says. Rod and Nona were endurance cyclists for over 17 years, something Rod still enjoys today.

Outside of the club, Nona is a passionate thriller reader (“My favorite author right now is Freida McFadden”). She also loves to garden, cook, and spend time with friends and family. She serves as a mentor for women struggling with alcohol addiction. Rod describes his best hobby as “being my wife’s arm candy!” He also loves to spend time with his grandkids, family and friends. In his spare time, he reads a lot of spiritual books (“My favorite author is Emmett Fox”), and both Rod and Nona are plant-based vegans who enjoy cooking together. They also incorporate meditation into their routines.

Fun fact: Nona was a disc jockey back in the 70s and 80s in San Francisco who went by the handle, “Naughty Nona.”