Hottest Trainer Contestant #1: Karyn Nesbit

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Welcome to Racked New York's search for New York City's hottest trainer. Over the coming weeks, we'll profile sixteen smoking locals—fitness experts who not only look hot in spandex, but can make you look amazing too. Once you've gotten to know everyone, we'll host a March Madness-style showdown in which readers vote for their favorites. Let the games begin!

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Photos by Sean Gomes for Racked

Karyn Nesbit had been teaching a rotation of barre, yoga, and spin classes in L.A., when she got hooked on SoulCycle during a trip to New York. The North Carolina native made the move to the East Coast in 2012, and she's been tapping it back ever since. Karyn's devotees describe her rides as sexy—there's a lot of what she calls "hairography"—but that doesn't mean she's afraid to crank up the resistance. After the jump, a little bit about the fitness pro's love of Lil Jon, and why she's not into gym selfies.

What's one song that always gets you pumped up?
'Outta Your Mind' by Lil Jon. There's something about Lil Jon yelling at me that really gets me going.

What's one gym class memory you'll never forget?
When I was in elementary school, we took a series of fitness tests once a year. In the second grade, I had the overall best performance out of everyone my age. I'm not bragging, these are just the facts! So when third grade rolled around, I had to hold onto my title as reigning 8-year-old fitness test badass. All was going well until we got to the mile run. Right out of the gate, I was in a full-on sprint, killin' it, and then I got a cramp at the third lap. I went down, sobbing, clutching my side, "something is wrong with me!" I lost my title that day, and with it, a little bit of pride, but learned a thing about humility.

Gym selfies: yay or nay?
Yikes, that's a hard nay. It's such a wonderful, beautiful thing to feel good about yourself and to be proud of how hard you've worked. Taking selfies and posting them on social media is just asking for everyone else's approval, and guess what? You don't need it! No one else's opinion will ever matter as much as your own.

If you weren't a trainer, you'd be a…
Maybe a TV Host because I really like talking with a mic in my hand. Or attached to my face.

What food would you do 50 burpees for?
Red velvet cake, but not just any red velvet cake, legit southern red velvet cake. And I'm pretty certain I'd need to do a lot more than 50 burpees for the amount that I would consume.

· SoulCycle [Official Site]
· All Hottest Trainer 2014 Contestants [Racked NY]