Parkpoint Sonoma
RISA WYATT
Back in high school, Risa Wyatt dreaded gym class and was usually picked near-last for punchball and volleyball. But in her 20s, she discovered that sports didn’t have to mean balls or competition. Skiing and horseback riding quickly became her passions. While working as a travel editor in New York, a fashion-model friend invited her to a gym fitness class. “That was the Jane Fonda era—I had a cute hot-pink headband and leg warmers,” she laughs. From then on, fitness became part of her lifestyle.
As a professional journalist, Risa travels the world covering food, wine, and outdoor adventures. Staying active helps her keep up with the demands of her assignments. When she moved to Sonoma in 2011, she joined Parkpoint and immediately felt at home. “The camaraderie among regulars connects me to the Sonoma community—I love seeing people I know at the Tuesday night farmers market and Transcendence performances.” At the club, Risa mixes things up with cardio-sculpt, Pilates, TRX, and water fit classes. Her varied routine keeps workouts fresh—and keeps her ready for the next adventure.
TRX to the Rescue. “I’m going to fall into the water!” That was my first thought as a gust of wind pushed our boat away from the dock—right as I leapt off to tie the anchor line. Instead of landing on the quay, I found myself dangling three feet above Puget Sound, clinging to the bow rail. I wasn’t scared, just resigned to plunging into 60-degree water. But I didn’t fall. To my amazement, I held on—long enough for Peter to maneuver the boat back to the wharf. Once on solid ground, I cleated the boat and heard him call, “Nice job.” “It was TRX,” I said.
I’ve taken Sandy Young’s TRX classes for three years, and the results show. TRX has boosted my strength, flexibility, and range of motion. One week you’re struggling; the next, you nail a move that seemed impossible. Best of all, it’s fun—part Cirque du Soleil, part Special Forces (fitting, since a Navy SEAL invented it). Of course, we all groan when Sandy says, “Go to over-shorten mode.” That’s her cue for pull-ups and the dreaded negative chin-ups—where you hang suspended, then lower yourself slowly to the floor. Arduous? Absolutely. But those tough moves built the grip strength and reflexes that saved me from an unplanned swim in Puget Sound. At Parkpoint, TRX and fitness classes focus on “functional fitness.” That covers everyday moves like hoisting suitcases or lifting toddlers—but sometimes it also means staying dry when life tries to throw you overboard.