Janell Vela-Smith

What got you into working out?

What are your favourite exercises? and do you have any special training methods that you use?

How often do you train?

What is your weekly routine?

Do you train any martial arts? what was your martial arts journey? and how did you get into it
martial arts?

Do you all have any special diets?

What is your favourite Healthy Food(s)?

What supplements do you take ? (protein, amino's etc)

What advice would you give our readers on exercising?

What advice would you give our readers on exercising?

Thank you for your time!

I have always been active. I started out with Cheerleading, baton twirling and gymnastics at a young age. My Mother had me involved in activities everyday afterschool!, On Saturday afternoons I would watch “Kung-Fu” Theater and always loved Bruce Lee!..I wished I could have done martial arts instead of dance when I was younger. But I made up for it later!

My favorite exercises are ALL, I try to incorporate something different into my own personal workouts. For my clients I have a big selection on which to train them. I hold International Certifications in Personal Training, Group Fitness, Indoor Spin Classes..anything fitness I LOVE!!, My special training methods are Kickboxing and Martial Arts and Core Training. I like to incorporate bag work-punching kicking targets and different drills with kickboxing. I do a lot of “Interval Training”

I train myself 5-6 days a week 3-4 hrs a day. I also train at the dojang 1-2 days a week. I train and teach others 3-4 days a week too. My training consist of Kickboxing, weight lifting, cycling, interval training and cross training. I try to take 1-2 days off for rest. Rest is just as important as the work effort. It gives your body time to recover and get stronger. I also try to maintain good nutrition to fuel my body for the demands I place on myself physically and mentally. My schedule changes if I am working on Film projects.

Wake-up 7am, Oatmeal/Fruit/yogurt and coffee for breakfast. I work at my home office until 11am then I prepare for clients and training at noon. I return to my home office for my company work and lunch/snack time, then at 4:30pm I prepare for my evening training clients and teaching classes. My day ends about 8:30pm with a light dinner and usually more office work. I have a few interns with my company but I take care of most of the Administrative work. Meetings are scheduled a few times a month in preparation for upcoming Conferences/Film work or whatever my current projects are. I like taking on new creative challenges so I make my schedule work accordingly. When working at the Movie studio my days are 12-14 hr days and very hectic but Films are usually only for 1 month. I am currently in Pre-Production on several Film/TV/Web projects(www.thenextdragon.com) and I have one project in Post-Production which is a webseries(www.stoneandsand.com) and another in which I was the Stunt Coordinator(www.modostv.com) Yes, I am a busy gal! But Martial Arts has taught me to be my very best and this is philosophy that my Family has taught me. I had a wonderful Father who encouraged me to do EVERYTHING! And to always be my BEST!

I have ALWAYS loved the Martial Arts but as a child it was not something my family wanted me to do. I would watch Kung-Fu Theater every Saturday afternoon and I loved going to wrestling matches with my Father. After a few years as a Professional Fitness Trainer and Instructor, I was teaching a Kickboxing class in a local gym. I decided to go to a Dojang and learn from a real Martial Artist how to kick properly so I could teach my students. I walked in 14 years ago and have never stopped training since that day! I have 4 Black Belts, 1st Degree in Taekwondo, I trained with the United States Olympic Coaches and earned several Gold medals and a National Gold Medal. I also hold a 3rd Degree in Tukong Moosul which I currently study under the creator of the style which is more traditional from the Dae Yeon Sa Temple in Korea. I will be one of the very few Female “Masters” in this art.

 Because of my extensive Martial arts background I created my own Kickboxing Certification called Cardio Combat Kickboxing or Tukong Cardio combat Kickboxing in which I travel and present workshops around the Country. Anyone interested in holding a workshop/certification can contact me on my website at www.IronDragonProductions.com I have also been blessed to have my own Fitness and Film Production company. I have Produced and Coordinated several Film projects and I teach Actors Martial Arts
and Stunts for Film. I am the Director of Fighting Stunts Association (www.FightingStunts.com)

I try to eat balanced and I eat for FUEL, I occasionally have a cheat day now and then. But my work
and training requires me to be more disciplined with my nutrition.

I love salads with chicken or tuna!, I love egg whites and salsa! There is not much that I don’t like,
I like chocolate protein shakes and my cheat snack is cheezit crackers!

I drink 1-2 protein shakes a day and I drink barley juice, I take a multi –vitamin and fiber.
Drink plenty of water. As a professional athlete, I learned the hard way to stay hydrated.
There is a product I use called Amino-Vital. I drink before during and after workouts. I try to eat as much
“LIVE” food as possible. Just got into juicing which is a great way to get more veggies in your diet.

Move and Breathe EVERYDAY! Because one day you will not be able to and you will wish you did!..Make exercise fun and an adventure. Cross train with different trainers and learn as much as you can about your body. I also get bodywork done a few times a month for repair. I believe in Eastern and Western philosophies on health. Accupuncture is GREAT and Accupressure if you don’t like needles. Get a massage 1-2 times a month to release toxins. My philosophy is Mind/Body/Spirit training. Train the inside and the outside! Be balanced!

Becoming physically fit opens many doors for you in many areas of your life. If you feel good you will look good. You project a positive healthy attitude that will attract many positive and successful people in your life. “Stars attract Stars”! My Martial Arts and life philosophy: What you do in life echoes in eternity!...Martial Arts means Honestly Expressing yourself! (Bruce Lee quote)