Professional figure pro Tanja Johnson works with local women, including CMC trainer Cinzia Clapp, of Eagle River, during a fitness/figure workshop held Saturday at the Eagle River studio. Johnson has also been on television's American Gladiator as "Stealth." Photo by David morse

The one-day workshop was held by International Federation of BodyBuilder (IFBB) Pro Fitness Athlete Tanji Johnson. Johnson is also known as “Stealth” on American Gladiators.

Johnson began her amateur competition career in 2000, after completing her college at the Air Force Academy. Her first place finishes at the Emerald Cup, Washington State and Northwest Championships, along with the National Fitness Championships in 2001, propelled her into the professional ranks, with events beginning in 2004. She placed first in fitness at the Europa Super Show in 2006 and second at the same event in 2007.

“I got involved in fitness initially because I was looking for a challenge and a healthy venue to look,” Johnson said in her short biography as part of the Camp packet. “During my childhood, I always felt that my naturally muscular body would threaten my femininity. It sounds ridiculous, but true. I looked up to women that were fit yet still loved being every bit of a woman. I saw fitness as an entertaining and challenging way to promote a healthy lifestyle as well as help change society's concept of a 'real woman.'”

Studio director Cinzia Clapp said the day went off well, despite Sunday's early morning rain that caused the boot camp to go indoors rather than outside. Even so, the agility drills, ballistic flexibility, core strength exercise, strength training and plyometric techniques were covered, she said.

Later Sunday, eight women also took part in the fitness/figure workshop, with topics including pose and presentation, physique assessment, image consultation, nutrition, training and discussion of criteria used in judging the event.

Clapp recently fared well in competition herself, winning the 2008 Last Frontier Fitness, Figure and BodyBuilding Alaska State Championships in May and will travel to a national competition in Chicago this fall.

CMC Personal Training Studio is located at 10901 Mausel St. in Eagle River (next to Eagle Academy). For more information and for upcoming events, call 952-3168 or visit www.cmctrainer.com.

This article published in The Alaska Star on Thursday, June 19, 2008.