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92 || MOST FITNESS || APRIL 2016Global Fitness Expert and Celebrity TrainerBy Denise Smithwww.ramonabraganza.comamona Braganza has spent most of her life navigating fitness in a myriad of forms. Excelling at every turn, she has mastered the fields of gymnastics, cheerleading, modeling, and training in addition to coaching wellness. Ramona has shaped the bodies of countless celebrities such as Jessica Alba, Halle Berry, Zoe Saldana, as well as Zac Efron and Ryan Reynolds. Expertly crafting her signature 3-2-1 Philosophy she shares her vision with clients through retreats and connecting online. MOST spoke with the global fitness expert and celebrity trainer about the thought process behind her 3-2-1 Fitness plan and creating an inspiring new initiative that empowers victims of trafficking. Ramona was born in Rehau Germany, a small town in the northeastern corner of Bavaria, near the Czech border. Originally from Mumbai, her parents were offered jobs at REHAU, a small plastics company founded in 1948. Unable to pass on the opportunity to make a new start for their growing family, a pregnant Lucy and Oscar would make the move. At the age of four, Ramona%u2019s family relocated to Nigeria where her brother was born. After several moves, the family of four immigrated to Canada. Oscar was offered a job as plant manager at REHAU Plastics, in Prescott Ontario and the family settled in neighboring Brockville on the St Lawrence River. While in Canada, Ramona completed high school and prepared herself for what came next. A move to Toronto would allow the fitness expert to pursue a career in dance, acting and modeling. She would spend three years in Toronto before relocating to Los Angles. From the age of four, Ramona was often %u201changing about, literally by my toes off a bar that was used to beat rugs.%u201d Recognizing something unique in her abilities, Lucy enrolled her daughter in gymnastics. Ramona excelled at the sport, loved it, and by the time she was nine she joined a private club and began competing at the highest level. %u201cI competed all round (all apparatus) winning many medals ribbons and trophies and continued through high school and provincial competition.%u201d At eighteen during her last year in high school, she tore her ACL while dismounting from the high-bar. Although the injury would mark the last year of competition, a year after surgery she quickly returns to form doing back handsprings and dance auditions, a true testament to the young athlete%u2019s resilience.MOST spoke with the fitness expert about the competitive nature of gymnastics and the effects the grueling tempo and how high stress can affect the body. %u201cWhen you are in the sport that you love, and are good at it, there is no stress, but you do it because you couldn%u2019t imagine not doing it.%u201d She goes on to say, %u201cIt takes over your life, and you let it, the competitions are the most stressful but when you are young and have the support of family and friends you