From a renowned financial analyst at Goldman Sachs, she now leads fitness classes and shares quick methods to achieve physical fitness.
In a bold move, ex-financial analyst Hilary Hoffman traded her desk for dumbbells, crafting a quick-fire fitness regimen for time-crunched workers. Now, she's the mastermind behind the compact yet potent Soto Method.
Buried under mountains of paperwork at Goldman Sachs, Hoffman was alarmed reading about the health repercussions of prolonged sitting. Determined not to compromise her health for Wall Street, she devised a workout strategy that fit her busy lifestyle. Enter: the Soto method, a 60-on, 10-on pattern where you hold an exercise for 60 seconds and follow it with 10 seconds of active movements.
Even on her crammed days, Hoffman found these exercises just enough to maintain her physique without exhausting herself. Recognizing the demand for a swift fitness solution, she started offering weekend workshops in her garden. Word soon spread, leading her to establish her own New York studio.
Goal-Setting is Your Ticket to Tony-Worthy Gains
A finance whiz at heart, Hoffman emphasizes the importance of setting clear fitness goals. Prioritization is key when juggling work and workout, she says.
If you covet beefy biceps, for instance, devise a progressive resistance training program that gradually challenges your muscles. Gradual progression allows your body to adapt, setting the stage for strength gains. Hoffman advocates a mix of cardio and strength training for long-term vitality.
Five Minutes of Daily Sweat is a Good Start
Hoffman is a firm believer in training your mind as well as your muscles. Just like you wouldn't start a deadlift challenge with a hefty 140kg load, you shouldn't dive headfirst into an unrealistic workout routine.
A mere five minutes every day can help develop a workout habit and prepare your body for muscle growth.
Hoffman's weekly routine, despite her demanding job, consists of a mere hour: two 30-minute cardio sessions and two five-minute resistance training sessions, one for arms and one for the core. You can add more sessions as you progress.
The Soto method is built on exercise blocks that you can stack to create longer workouts. Hoffman often kicks things off with a short session, only to be pleasantly surprised at her achievements.
Isometric Workouts: A Time-Efficient Pump
Hoffman's secret weapon? Isometric exercises, which involve holding a static position where the muscles work, like planks or squats. By keeping muscle tension while staying in one place, you barely stress your joints, facilitating easier recovery and injury prevention.
Isometric exercises feature heavily in her workshops, where participants maintain their position during brief explanations of the next move. This way, they maximize their time in the gym while preparing for the next challenge. Research shows that pushing muscles to their limits in isometric exercises can boost strength and muscle gains.
According to Hoffman, "This method ensures that you're truly building new muscle and endurance."
Hoffman's innovative Soto Method is making waves in the workout world, offering hope to those with hectic schedules who still crave a fit bod. It evolves beyond traditional fitness methods by acknowledging that time is our most precious commodity.
Of the bustling New York studio, Hilary Hoffman, the ex-financial analyst turned fitness guru, crafted a workout strategy known as the Soto Method. This method, inspired by Hoffman's desire to maintain her health amidst a busy schedule, is an isometric-based routine that follows a 60-on, 10-on pattern. In line with her background in finance, Hoffman emphasizes setting clear fitness goals and prioritizing workouts, recommending a weekly routine of cardio and resistance training sessions, even though her own schedule only allows for an hour.
