Our Trainers
Russ Samuels, Owner & Certified Personal Trainer
Russ, born in New York, moved to Southern California when he was 12. It was at this time when he first became interested in athletics and running. Through high school and college, Russ was a member of high level track teams. He trained among All-Americans, world champions, world record holders, and Olympic athletes on the San Diego Track Club, Sheffield Elite.
At 20, Russ began his personal training career with his first personal training certification and job in San Diego and came to Manhattan Beach 3 years later. Over the past 15 years, Russ has acquired certifications in personal training, nutrition, balance and core training, spinal-lumbo-pelvic-hip complex therapy, and trigger point therapy certifications from all the major nationally recognized organizations.
After six years in the corporate health club industry, Russ opened a private personal training business in the South Bay. Within two years, RJS FITNESS would grow so fast that it would move to three separate locations, growing in space each time to serve the needs of Russ's dedicated clients. Not surprisingly, in 2008, RJS FITNESS grew again. Russ and RJS FITNESS relocated to its current location in Redondo Beach. Russ offers quality supplements and nutritional guidance, a 150 square foot massage room, 825 square feet of private personal training room, and a separate 1250 square foot open exercise room.
Russ currently lives in Manhattan Beach, very close to his fitness center, and is married to the beautiful and talented Dr. Sondra Samuels. He is a proud father of a beautiful, baby boy, Quinten, and the whole family enjoys the company of a cat named Monty.
Trace Lankford, Certified Personal Trainer
Trace has been involved in the health and fitness industry for over 15 years with 10 years of experience directly in the fitness community. As a graduate of the National College of Exercise Professionals (NCEP), continuing education at the Long Beach Dance Academy (Mat Pilates) and as a student at The C.H.E.K (Corrective Holistic Exercise Kinesiologist) institute, Trace trains with the philosophy of looking at the body as a whole and searching for areas of dysfunction. Utilizing such skills as postural assessment, body mechanics and introducing Dynamic Flexibility techniques to help improve the clients human bio-machanics.
With the understanding that the human body requires more than traditional segmented physical training, Trace focuses upon restoring the body's muscular system by working to improve posture and restore muscular strength and balance through core development and functional movement.
Tonya Stenlake, Certified Personal Trainer
As a cycling enthusiast and a former collegiate volleyball player, Tonya has a true passion for sports and fitness. She holds a certification from the National Academy of Sports Medicine as a personal trainer, and continues to expand her education. She is currently taking courses in nutrition in order provide well-rounded guidance to her clients in the interest of a healthier lifestyle. A native of Los Angeles, Tonya has been a part of the health and fitness industry for more than 10 years and a personal trainer for more than six years. She has trained a variety of clients, from professional athletes to the non-athletic in need of a motivational fitness enthusiast. She takes what she has learned from her health and fitness endeavors and shares that valuable information with her clients. Tonya not only wants her clients to be healthy, but she wants them to be knowledgeable about good health and fitness practices.
