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Minna's education with wellness began at the age of 3, with gymnastics. She dedicated 11 years of her early life to the sport as well as a parallel study of ballet. Next, this elite level gymnast gracefully transitioned into springboard diving, where she dove nationally on a private team and continued on with the University of Miami's NCAA collegiate team. While attending the University of Miami, Minna studied physical therapy, working in various rehabilitation clinics, and graduated with a bachelor's degree in Biology and an associates degree in Exercise Physiology.
After graduating from the University of Miami, Minna's professional fitness career began. First up was ESPN fitness television. From 1995 to 1998 Minna appeared on various fitness shows for both Reebok and Crunch, as well as CO-Hosting a full season of ESPN2's Perfect Parts with Olympic Decathlon Champion Dan O'Brien.
In 1997, Minna was crowned Ms. Fitness USA. Immediately thereafter she gained her IFBB professional fitness athlete status by winning the 1997 National Physique Committee Championships. She signed her first ever endorsement deal with Health and Fitness pioneer, Joe Weider. Minna was the first fitness athlete to sign a Weider contract. At the same time, Minna signed on to be the Miami Herald's exclusive fitness columnist, delivering weekly fitness advice for the next 6 years.
From 1997-2005 Minna was the residant fitness expert for CBS' The Early Show where she appeared bi-monthly to weekly live on the show. She began with the launch of the show with Bryant Gumble and Jane Clayson, and still appears sporadically to date.
CBS SportsLine signed Minna in 1998 as their online fitness expert where she kept company with a short list of Superstars such as Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, Shaquille O'Neal, Pete Sampras, Joe Namath, Cal Ripken Jr., and Mike Schmidt. USA Today published an article in 1999 which detailed Minna's status as second in page views to Michael Jordan.
Minna is an internationally recognized fitness super model, gracing the covers and appearing in numerous publications including Muscle and Fitness, Her's Muscle and Fitness, FIT magazine, Women's Fitness International, French Cosmopolitan, FLEX, and more.
Minna's solid fitness and elite athletic background has given her a personal training client list that ranges from world class Mom's to world class athletes. Alex Rodriguez, then short stop for the Seattle Mariners, enlisted this fitness star's services and followed with a record breaking season which he attributed to Minna's off-season strength and conditioning program in an article published in USA Today.
In 2001, Minna came out with 3 of her own workout videos, "Workout Emergency," "Fat Eliminator," and "Strength and Grace." All three videos charted in the top 10 in Billboard magazine. In 2004 she then signed with Sony BMG and released "1 Minute Workout."
"Tank Top Arms, Bikini Belly, Boy Shorts Bottom," published by Rodale in 2007 is Minna's latest book and corresponding home workout DVD. Charted #4 on the Billboard charts, "Tank Top Arms, Bikini Belly, Boy Shorts Bottom," has received rave reviews.
Currently Minna is a mom of two young children, teaches dance and fitness instruction to children, and continues to work on various projects in fitness and healthy lifestyle.
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