Resilience comes to mind when I think of Belmont, Massachusetts Founder of Triogo, Donna Ognibene,as she has faced numerous challenges over the years, yet has been a role model on moving forward when facing adversity. I could tell Donna was a go getter, but didn’t realize how much so until I interviewed her! Here’s her story:

Tell me about yourself:

I grew up in Westchester County, NY and was always very active! Gymnastics was everything to me, and I was a gymnast all through high school. I would have gone to UCONN on a scholarship had it not been for an ankle injury. When I had to give up gymnastics, I became a distance runner and achieved one of my dreams which was to qualify for Boston with my first marathon, and run the Boston Marathon.

I began my academic journey as a Physical Therapy Major and planned to get involved in all aspects of Sports Medicine. I changed gears after my first year, and studied Social Science, Education, and History and started my teaching career in Scarsdale, NY. My husband and I moved to Boston so he could attend MIT, and I completed my Master’s Degree at Boston University.

I started out teaching 6th and 8th grade History at Medfield,MA, but movement was always my passion. While I stayed at home to raise my 3 daughters, I began the foundation for what would become my own studio and training system.

These formative years raising my girls, allowed me to teach, but to teach movement. I went into their schools and taught Yoga/Creative Movement and my own blend I called Triple Treat (kickboxing, Yoga, and Tai Chi). I have a special affinity for all things 3.

Next, I rented space at a dance studio and taught Pilates, provided warm ups and training for local teams and races, and officially transitioned from Middle School classroom to teaching all things sport and movement related.

In 2008, I opened my own studio and began to realize my dream of being involved in sports, therapy, business, and life as an entrepreneur. I now have what I call "a studio without walls" and go into many different settings: Corporate, lululemon (I am an Ambassador), races, practices, and have been training and consulting with the Harvard Women's Swim and Dive Team now for 3 years.

I love running, writing, reading, nature, travel. and collaborating with others. I am a member of the Screen Actor's Guild and enjoy acting as well as Fitness/Lifestyle Modeling and am represented by New England Models Group. I am extremely grateful for my love of movement as it has never been more important!

Tell me about Triogo and your training:

Triogo is my signature blend of Pilates, Yoga, and Free Style Movement. After decades in the fitness industry and precious time spent with my Personal Training clients, I knew I needed to connect the dots and streamline my training to be the most effective and efficient. All the best training prioritizes the core, spine, hips, and feet.

I have studied with the world renowned Gray Institute and am a Fellow of Applied Functional Science. I am certified in PranaVayu Vinyasa Yoga from David Magone (listed as one of the world’s top 25 Yoga Teachers). Also certified in Classical Pilates Teachers Nora Gomez-Dears and Kathy Van Patten and a NSCA Personal Trainer.

With this background, I have synthesized and curated a method to be able to enhance movement and performance for the Harvard Women's Swim and Dive Team, runners, dancers, models, lacrosse players, and many other teams and athletes. Whether you are looking for sport specificity, to trouble shoot or impact injury, or simply have a movement session that is all inclusive, Triogo can be beneficial. No need to do Pilates for core, Yoga for flexibility and peace of mind, or hit the gym to train for a sport...you get it all with Triogo®.

How has the Corona Pandemic impacted your business?

Corona has really impacted my business which is based on "personal training" and "group classes". I have been completely shut down for a month now and trying to connect to my community and offer free videos to use at home, meditations, and connecting via email to just check in and offer support. I just began teaching LIVE classes on Zoom and also the Power Pilates Platform.

I really miss seeing my clients and friends who I have trained every week for 11 years. I wrote a piece called “Quarantine What Does It Mean,” to try to process this all myself and to help others process that this is "much more than a virus." This is a time for all of us to reassess what is most important to us and what makes us feel comfortable and connected to a sense of steadiness and ease in our bodies, minds, and spirits.

Have you experienced adversity in the past and how did you adapt?

Unfortunately I have experienced quite a few setbacks, and they do not space themselves out very well... I had a massive concussion due to a very minor car accident where my airbag deployed and broke on my face. This was my first major setback but led me to learning and then teaching everything mind-body.

I opened my studio Bodytrio- Pilates, Yoga, and Personal Training in 2008 (we all remember that year...). The studio was very successful and thriving! Just three years in, I went water skiing as I always do during the Fourth of July weekend. Getting up on one ski as I always do, in the ocean, another accident.. My ski was too big (wobbly), the boat too slow to pull me up, and my hamstring completely ruptured and tore off the bone. This led to 5 surgeries, a ton of dysfunction, and an effort to reclaim my identity. With the help of family, friends, my Bodytrio Community and the most talented Surgeons and Docs in Boston, I have been able to get back to doing all of the things I love and most importantly feeling like myself and be able to teach and serve.

Not long after getting "back," my studio suffered severe damages from a fire in a nail salon below. This happened in 2018, and I scrambled to teach in nearby spaces. I now have a home studio and developed my training system Triogo to take on the road and offer off site.

How do you bring out the best in others?

I developed the Triogo® Training style to take Body, Mind, and Spirit to the next level. Inherent in the format and method is the key understanding that movement must be natural and fluid to allow our bodies to perform at their peak. Triogo's foundational principles are: Move, Breathe, Be - and what could be more natural than that?

To be your best, you must move well and with purpose and ease. To feel balanced and whole you need to breathe, expand and move with a natural vs. fixed/forced rhythm. To be healthy, happy, strong, perform at a high level you need to have a training system that is balanced, 3 dimensional, and allows for utility. Why "workout" unless you can utilize the movement and work you are putting in?

Other key understandings for us to feel whole and our best selves are: See me, Hear me, and Move me. We must be seen for who we truly are, listened to-as we all need something specific and nuanced, and moved in ways that are foundational, timeless, and true. No gimmicks here or "junk miles"...

What advice do you have for others on coping with this horrible situation?

Stay connected to others, whether it be family, friends, or any group that allows you to feel supported and able to process this surreal experience.

Have a routine every day that includes: exercise, nutrition, rest, enjoyable activities you didn't have time to do or the right environment to do so. Laughter is more than medicine!!!

Realize that every set back is a chance for you to get back to nature- walks, gardening, cooking, sewing, music, art, and anything that connects you to a sense of joy and inner peace. Think back to what made you most happy as a child.

Meditation and Mindset- do not feel as though you have to have any special knowledge or practice to meditate, but do make time to quiet your mind. Oprah & Deepak Chopra, Curable, and many other apps and options are out there to take time out and connect to a sense of steadiness and peace of mind.

Are you offering virtual classes now?

Yes, I will be teaching using Zoom, starting 4/13 for 4 weeks on Monday and Wednesday mornings. Check out my triogo3 Facebook and Instagram pages as well as my website http://www.triogo.comfor virtual classes and find videos for home usage.

I have also been invited to teach on the Power Pilates Platform and will have more info soon.