Cardio Kickboxing helps Soldiers stay fit in Kirkuk

Courtesy Photo | Tonya Monnig (left), and one of her high-peed fitness students, Staff Sgt. Lashonda Blue (right), take the front stage to demonstrate cardio kickboxing to the rest of the class. Blue attends the Cardio Kickboxing class three times a week and is always at the front of the class.  

05.15.2007

Courtesy Story

Multi-National Corps Iraq Public Affairs

By Sgt. Maurice Smith
Multi-National Division – North PAO

Kirkuk, Iraq – Staying in shape started as a personal goal more than 10 years ago for a 38-year-old personal trainer from Oklahoma City. Now that her passion has led her to martial arts, fitness excellence and a tone definition way beyond that of her peers, she is helping Soldiers stay fit and achieve their goals in Kirkuk, Iraq.

Tonya Monnig teaches cardio kickboxing every Monday, Wednesday and Friday in the main gym on Forward Operating Base Warrior. The class is open for all service members and government employees who want to improve their cardio, lose weight, tone their bodies or simply stay in shape.

"Tonya's class is great," said Staff Sgt. Lashonda Blue, training and operations sergeant, C Company (Charlie Med), 325th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division.

Blue, a fitness fanatic, joined the kickboxing class to improve her cardio and slim down a little after going home on leave and enjoying all of her family's home-cooked meals.

"The class definitely helped with that. When you are doing this type of aerobic activity you are prepared (for the Army Physical Fitness Test) because there are no breaks in between. You are constantly moving," said Blue.

For one-hour-and-30 minutes straight, Soldiers do jumping jacks, kick, punch, and a execute variety of dips and stretches that leave each one of them soaked in sweat.

"It's a full-body workout," Monnig stated while explaining what led her to Iraq and becoming a personal trainer.

Tonya is a mother of three children, daughters, Tawnee (16) and Julia (9), and son, Christian (12). After her second child was born, Monnig decided that she wanted to be a mother without having to look like a traditional mother.

"I started having children and I wanted to stay fit. I was spending so much time at the gym, so I figured I might as well get paid for it," she said.

Tonya immediately began researching and training for a future in fitness. Aside from working out like she was possessed on a daily basis, she began consulting and training with experts in martial arts and boxing.

• Date Taken: 05.15.2007
• Date Posted: 05.15.2007 15:11
• Story ID: 10401