The (Tongan) Two-fer - Rachel and Simi Tufunga
Daily workouts: Seven hours (combined).
Hours training others: 14.
Path to six-pack abs: Punishing cardio training and blessed genetics.
Simi’s vice: Ben & Jerry’s cookie mint ice cream - the whole pint.
Rachel’s vice: Sleep.
The dish: Well known in East Bay gym circles, the Tufungas occasionally vamoose to Simi’s native Tonga, where they met more than 10 years ago — where else but in a Tongan gym when Rachel was there teaching English. When local, their fans track them down wherever they are.
Simi’s secret: Top honors at bodybuilding competitions; he goes natural, without ‘roids.
Rachel’s secret aspiration: Organic farming.
Her gym peeve: “The dramatic throwing of weights by men— if you can’t set it down properly, don’t lift it.”
The tryout: Rachel’s killer conditioning sessions, burn-up mat Pilates and inspiring can-do one-on-ones are legendary among East Bay gym-rat gals. Both genders flock to her group-X classes: a combo of step, weights and core-strengthening exercises — if you can snag a spot on the floor. This is a perfect 50 minutes. With Simi, I learn the meaning of lifting. After 15 minutes of squats with a barbell I’m convinced my rear end has morphed into something like JLo’s. Simi’s casual South Pacific lilt doesn’t reveal his inner-drill sergeant — until I flag on my reps. Who knew how those ma-chines worked? Now, with Simi’s help, I do. Post-workout, I’m on the table and his stretching wrings me out like a dish towel
Bottom line: Simi’s got the goods on everything bodybuilding, but he’s also tuned into plain folks wanting to look and feel better. Rachel will work you into lather but you’ll love her for it. $75 to $90 per session, depending on the package; semi-private groups of three are half price.
Daily workouts: Seven hours (combined).
Hours training others: 14.
Path to six-pack abs: Punishing cardio training and blessed genetics.
Simi’s vice: Ben & Jerry’s cookie mint ice cream - the whole pint.
Rachel’s vice: Sleep.
The dish: Well known in East Bay gym circles, the Tufungas occasionally vamoose to Simi’s native Tonga, where they met more than 10 years ago — where else but in a Tongan gym when Rachel was there teaching English. When local, their fans track them down wherever they are.
Simi’s secret: Top honors at bodybuilding competitions; he goes natural, without ‘roids.
Rachel’s secret aspiration: Organic farming.
Her gym peeve: “The dramatic throwing of weights by men— if you can’t set it down properly, don’t lift it.”
The tryout: Rachel’s killer conditioning sessions, burn-up mat Pilates and inspiring can-do one-on-ones are legendary among East Bay gym-rat gals. Both genders flock to her group-X classes: a combo of step, weights and core-strengthening exercises — if you can snag a spot on the floor. This is a perfect 50 minutes. With Simi, I learn the meaning of lifting. After 15 minutes of squats with a barbell I’m convinced my rear end has morphed into something like JLo’s. Simi’s casual South Pacific lilt doesn’t reveal his inner-drill sergeant — until I flag on my reps. Who knew how those ma-chines worked? Now, with Simi’s help, I do. Post-workout, I’m on the table and his stretching wrings me out like a dish towel
Bottom line: Simi’s got the goods on everything bodybuilding, but he’s also tuned into plain folks wanting to look and feel better. Rachel will work you into lather but you’ll love her for it. $75 to $90 per session, depending on the package; semi-private groups of three are half price.
- San Francisco Chronicle
Personal Training by Simi and Rachel Tufunga - San Francisco Bay Area
Contact: 510.776.5688 or 510.689.6615
