Editor's Letter
jarc
Beyond Muscle Power
I
"I really came to understand the true meaning of these
t tested her physical strength as well as her mental
words:' Sherman-Marx said.
toughness. And she came away a better person.
Listen to her describe the transformative experience.
Just by taking part in a cable television show.
Many times in our lives, she said, we confront situations
Jill Sherman-Marx is a 39-year-old personal trainer and
that challenge us both physically and mentally. As we get
spinning instructor at the Jewish Community Center in West
older, our bodies may fail us, or may weaken on us, in differ-
Bloomfield. She's also a competitive athlete. But that didn't
ent ways.
automatically qualify this mother
"When this happens:' she said, "all that is left is our mind!'
of three for X-Treme Warrior, a 10-
So what do we do? Give up?
episode, fitness-based reality show
Not a chance.
intended to inspire viewers to be con-
As a health advocate and fitness enthusiast, Sherman-Marx
fident and learn to deal with every-
relished the opportunity on X-Treme Warrior. "It taught me
thing that life throws at them.
that our limit is much greater than we really are aware of' she
On the Comcast Local broadcast
said.
that began in April, a world military
Her regimen at Shanty Creek Resort & Club in Bellaire,
boxing champ challenges 80 women,
where her episode was filmed, included the spider move, a
57 from Michigan, to pull aircraft, roll
difficult, signature X-Treme Warrior exercise. It works various
logs, climb a tower and ride a bike 13
muscles. It's a push-up position, half down; maintaining that
miles as part of an 18-hour workout
position, you move the opposite arm and leg up so that your
over three grueling days. The women
elbow and your knee almost touch on the other side. If you
competed individually, in pairs and on teams.
Sherman-Marx's moment of truth in this feat of endurance, do that for three minutes a day, you'll be in shape super quick.
You'll also know what patience and perseverance really mean.
agility and courage came early, five minutes into opening day.
"I was suddenly aware that I had absolutely no idea what I
Dream Catcher
was about to experience she said.
Aid was impressed: "Jill is strong, physically yes, but mentally,
A triathlete and marathon runner with vigor for life,
she's even stronger. No matter what we were doing, she never
Sherman-Marx kept a journal until it was taken from her
quit, she never hesitated, she never took the smile off her face,
about an hour into the high-stakes competition. In the jour-
and she never stopped looking out
nal, she wrote: "I feel excited, I feel
for teammates and never stopped
concerned, I feel XTREME!"
motivating them!'
No kidding.
He characterized her as "the kind
The women, ages 18 to 64, spent
of
person who is positive no matter
three days and two nights training
what!'
with Omar Aid at different loca-
X-Treme Warrior executive
tions around Michigan. They slept
producer Leona Larson of West
in teepees and trees. The competi-
Bloomfield, a former WDIV
tors were strangers at the start, but
Channel 4 producer, liked Marx's
friendships soon bloomed, born
leadership.
from the raw energy they shared.
"Jill was the glue that kept a lot
The competition was between
of
people of different backgrounds
Aid, a trainer at Powerhouse Gym
Jill Sherman-Marx doing the spider move
together;' Larson said. "She was
in West Bloomfield, and the contes-
so excited after the shoot that she actually recruited more
tants, not among the contestants themselves. That took them
women to future X-Treme Warrior auditions and shoots."
a while to grasp.
A Sherman-Marx referral meant a lot, Larson said, because
"As an individual:' Aid said, "I can break them but as a
"Jill understood, on many levels, what it means to be an 'X-
team, they are hard to break!'
Treme Warrior."'
He said Sherman-Marx understood that from the begin-
The 12th-century sage and physician Maimonides champi-
ning and worked to keep the group together. "That made them
oned the idea of a mind-body connection. Jill Sherman-Marx
all stronger;' he said. "When one tried to quit, Jill was the first
is a believer. "If we learn to shift the mind, and use it as our
to convince her to stay. That was inspiring for all of us!'
guide to deeper truth!' she said, "it is likely that our body will
That's not surprising. I know Jill Sherman-Marx and can
follow these messages and allow us to accomplish more than
vouch for her grit and tenacity.
we ever dreamed we could." Fl
Each episode features a new team. One competitor from
each team competes in the season finale along the Lake
Log on to www.xtremewarriorcom to check out when and where the
Michigan sand dunes for a chance to win a jackpot of up to
episodes are airing. Check out You Tube at http://www.youtube.com/
$25,000 for herself and her team.
xtremewarriortv for the episode shot at Shanty Creek.
Mind Games
Aid moved to the U.S. from Lebanon in 2000. Three years
later, after working odd jobs, he opened Omar's Planet in West
Bloomfield, specializing in boxing, kickboxing and Muay Thai
training.
He stresses the mental aspect of life.
O :
to
1-
z z
What impact does fitness have on your
mental state?
0 0 Does being part of a team inspire you?
a.
CI-
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June 7 • 2007
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