Kseniya Sovenko

A former pro ballroom dancer, Kseniya began her fitness journey at age 5. Over the years, she’s supplemented her training with everything in the boutique fitness scene—from vigorous Bikram Yoga and Pilates reformer classes to weekly HIIT, Metcon, and Tabata workouts, Muay Thai, strength training, and more. Kseniya graduated from the University of Washington with degrees in journalism and sociology. You can find her work in The Guardian, Capitol Hill Times, The Seattle Globalist, and more.

7 Reasons Why obé Is the Best Fitness Platform for Women

Not knowing where to start, thinking fitness is all-or-nothing, falling prey to diet culture, juggling endless responsibilities, struggling to find the best workouts for women, aspiring to unrealistic beauty ideals… Women deal with so many obstacles in fitness that we often don’t move at all. And that’s becoming a problem because living a sedentary lifestyle…
Does Wall Pilates Work? Your Definitive Guide from a Pilates Expert

It’s no secret that we’re all in our Pilates era. But in the past few months, something new has dropped onto the radar. Social media ads promoting Wall Pilates—or some form of a 28-day Wall Pilates challenge—have become prolific. These trendy videos usually feature an already fit woman doing Pilates moves with her legs against…
Cardio vs. Strength Training: What’s the Right Balance?

It’s an age-old fitness question. Which one’s “better” for me—cardio vs. strength training? Both workout types come with impressive (and distinct) benefits, but there’s often a misguided divide between the two. The truth is that you need both forms to supercharge your health. Yes, it’s perfectly natural to prefer one form of movement to the…
How to Use obé: 4 Features That Will Level up Your Fitness Journey

One thing you need to know now: obé isn’t just another online fitness platform. If you’re the type of person who loves to choose your own adventure and knows what you’re looking for, we got you. But if you’re newer to your fitness journey, trying to figure out what’s right for your body and goals,…
Active Recovery—Why It Can Matter More Than Your Workout

When it comes to fitness, there’s one thing a lot of us get wrong. If you’re looking to see and feel results (think: changing your body composition, being able to lift heavier, running faster for longer), the work isn’t in the workout. It’s in the active recovery. Wait a minute—what? Doesn’t our fitness progress stem…
5 Myths (And Truths!) About Pregnancy Core Workouts

So, you’re feeling good enough to exercise during pregnancy, and want to reap the benefits for both you and baby. But, as a mom-to-be, there’s one thing you’ve probably been keeping out of your routine: pregnancy core workouts. If you’re wondering whether you should work your core throughout your pregnancy, you’re not alone. There are…
The 5 Heart Rate Zones, Explained—Plus Aerobic vs. Anaerobic Fitness

Is all cardio exercise created equally? Most of us know that cardio does wonders for your heart and cardiovascular system. But is panting for air and doing sprints a necessity to max out the benefits—or are casual workouts good enough? And what’s the difference between aerobic and anaerobic cardio? The key to understanding the spectrum…
Pelvic Floor Exercises: Why Every Woman *Needs* to Do Them

It’s one of those things we don’t really talk about. At least, not until a pregnancy comes up—or something goes wrong. Like menstruation, sexual health, or infertility, pelvic floor health is a crucial topic that’s historically been considered taboo. Whether it’s due to a lack of education, culturally-bred shame about women’s bodies, stigma, or perpetuated…
3 Pillars of Longevity, According to a Doctor—And How Exercise Helps

When it comes to working out, we all have our own “why.” Maybe we want to feel more energized, support our mental health, get strong, change our body composition, or manage our weight. Some of us are motivated by training for specific goals, like running a marathon or an adventurous hike. But one thing most…
6 Ways to Improve Your Body Literacy with obé

“Listen to your body. Self-care is not selfish. Let go of what no longer serves you. You do you.” If these mantras sound familiar, it’s because we’ve become inundated with the idea that simply listening to our bodies is the key to self-love and compassion. The only problem? We don’t often know what to listen…
4 obé Workout Programs to Try If You’re Using GLP-1s

Here’s the deal: Any time you experience rapid weight loss—whether that’s due to diet change, GLP-1 medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, Ryblesus, and Mounjaro, or another condition—fat isn’t the only thing coming off. Usually, we lose all parts of our body composition, including muscle mass, in equal ratio. And sometimes, as has been observed with some…
9 Micronutrients Essential to Your Diet—Plus the 101 on Supplements

Micronutrients—they sound important and health-related, but you probably have a lot of questions. What are they? Why do they matter? How much of which ones do you need? Is supplementation okay? Though they’re vital to human life, there’s a lot of confusion around tiny-but-mighty micronutrients—so we’re here to offer an introductory guide. First up, micronutrient…
WTF Is Prehab—and Why Do I Need It?

When it comes to workout or sports injuries, most of us know the deal with rehab (or rehabilitation). But what about prehab—aka prehabilitation? Unlike rehab, which only comes after an injury to aid with recovery, prehab focuses on activating joints and muscles to prevent injury in the first place. Kind of like physical therapy before…
Exercise, PMS, and Period Pain: What’s the Deal?

You’re wearing sweats, have a cookie or Ben & Jerry’s pint within reach, and are slowly sinking into the couch with your favorite show on TV. Whether it’s the PMS (premenstrual syndrome) dragging you down or another pang of period pain, you and your body just aren’t on the same wavelength. Moody, crampy, bloated, or…
Here’s What Happens to Your Body on Ozempic (And How to Prevent It)

Like a tidal wave, the word “Ozempic” has suddenly permeated our everyday. Once known only among those this medication intended to serve—type 2 diabetics—it’s now a resident of the pop culture lexicon. We’re searching for it 1,220,000 times a month on Google (up nearly 400% from last year), tracking its use among Hollywood stars, writing…
New to the Sculpt + Dance Cardio Fam: Move with Makena D.!

Watch out, obé fam—a new Sculpt + Dance Cardio fitness pro is making her debut in the Box. Hailing from sunny San Diego, Makena D. is the definition of a total energizer: bubbly, effortlessly motivating, and the type of coach who will bring you out of your comfort zone in the best way possible. Growing…
The Only Watermelon Gazpacho Recipe You *Need* For Summer

It’s the summer essential you didn’t know you needed: Nutritious, delicious, and super-hydrating watermelon gazpacho. Beat the heat and supercharge your workout days with this refreshing treat, which helps you cool down while delivering essential vitamins and minerals to recover after activity. A zesty twist on the classic gazpacho—a beloved cold soup originating from the…
How Exercise Can Manage ADHD: A Q&A with obé Co-founder Ashley Mills

It’s not just something that affects kids. In the past few years, an increasing number of women in the U.S. have been formally diagnosed with ADHD, aka Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. The root cause of the recent uptick? As ADHD becomes less stigmatized, more women realize their symptoms were overlooked in childhood. Now, those women are…
Cycle Syncing Your Workouts: An Expert Guide to All 4 Phases

Cycle-syncing your workouts can be a great tool to help your navigate fitness. Here, your definitive guide—plus an obé Collection to follow.
13 Reasons Why the 2023 obé Member Retreat Was Unforgettable

From rooftop happy hours and workout mashups to personal tours of obé HQ, this member retreat was one for the books. See the recap!