Feeling great about those abs, biceps, and gams is just about as good as it gets.

Working out isn’t exactly the first image that comes to mind when one envisions getting “pampered.” But Gina Berta, co-owner of Breathe Fitness Studio in Mountainside, says it’s the ultimate way to take care of yourself. “It’s really a necessity,” says Berta, a certified trainer who has been in the fitness industry for 26 years. “It’s about improving your quality of life, looking good, and feeling good.”

But she is aware that there are people out there who can’t bring themselves to venture into a crowded room of treadmills and weight machines. That’s why at Breathe (breathefitnessstudio.com), there’s an emphasis on being the anti-gym. When you walk in, the atmosphere feels more spa-like than that of a place to sweat. And there’s no row of stairmasters with people waiting around for their turn or giant room of aerobics students—clients are either meeting with a personal trainer or attending a workout class with fewer than fifteen students. “So many people don’t like coming to the gym because they feel intimidated,” Berta says. “Our studio is very warm and we try to cater to our clients individually to help them succeed. It’s like an oasis.”

That combination of meeting with a personal trainer and taking instense small-group classes is a great way to get your body geared up for the warmer months—and keep you feeling healthy, energized, and strong no matter what page the calendar is turned to.

Weight, body-mass index, body-fat analysis, waistline, and thigh circumference are just a few of the numbers that will be in your file on day one—the “before” to your eventual “after.”

One-on-One Gym Time
Once the goals are established and your trainer has a sense for the direction of your workout, he or she will take you into the exercise area. At Breathe, the Kinesis equipment is extremely popular. “It’s very functional,” Baker says, pointing out the multi-dimensional nature of the cables and handles, which allows users to incorporate smoother, more natural movements into their workouts. Whether it’s with Kinesis cables or typical cable-and-pulley weight equipment, Baker says she tries to make most exercises efficient by working several muscle groups at once in a motion that is familiar and useful to clients (reaching, lifting, pushing, and the like). At the same time, she tries to get people to open up their ribcage and stretch out—a counter to the curled-forward nature of those who are usually bending over to take care of children or bowing over a computer keyboard.

Using a combination of weight-resistance equipment, balance balls, free weights, Pilates reformer equipment, treadmills, and more, a personal trainer will walk you through a workout and make sure you’re making the proper movements. He or she will also keep you going long enough to feel the effects. “We can always push you harder than you’ll push yourself,” says Berta. “You’ll get more results and more consistency, but at the same time, you’ll get more actual exercise variation.”

Back to School
Taking group classes can be a little overwhelming, but at Breathe, like most upscale personal fitness studios, classes are smaller and more personally focused. They also add the element of competition—if the people around you aren’t giving up, you’re less likely to take it easy.
Spinning classes are among the most popular—and they’re guaranteed to make you sweat. Another high-intensity class is Zumba, a new style of exercise that incorporates Latin dance movements. Body sculpting helps with muscle tone, and Nia is a non-impact form of aerobics. Pilates classes—whether on mats in the classroom or on reformer equipment—focus on core strength, and yoga is centered on flexibility and meditation (but that doesn’t mean you’re not going to feel the burn!).

There are always new classes being developed and new fitness trainers putting their own spin on them, so mix it up and try a variety of methods. “There are no quick fixes,” Berta says. “We try to structure a program based on balance. There’s no such thing as spot reducing—you have to focus on the whole body.”

Making It Happen
It takes time, but having someone in your corner is the most efficient way to get your muscle tone up to snuff and lose those inches around the waist. It’s also the safest: When you have a certified trainer around, you have someone making sure you’re not straining any muscles or getting dehydrated.
Whether you want to throw yourself into a new, more fit lifestyle full force (Breathe has a six-week intensive program that’s especially helpful for brides-to-be, aspiring marathoners, or new moms) or if you just want to start a solid, consistent workout routine, making an appointment with a personal trainer and sticking your butt on a spinning-class bike or a yoga mat is the best way to get started. “You take this one hour of your day to take care of yourself,” Berta says, “and it will flow into the rest of your life.”

Classes at
Breathe are small and focused.

Getting Started

Meeting with a personal trainer for the first time involves a health and body composition evaluation and a discussion about what goals the client would like to achieve. “Our goal is to help clients meet their individual needs,” says Anne Goldman Baker, a personal trainer at Breathe. “In order to do this, it is extremely valuable to perform a fitness assessment, which is a time for the trainer to get to know the client and understand his or her specific needs.”

Sitting down with a fitness expert before tackling the exercise equipment not only helps the trainer plan the workout properly for your goals, but also allows for a baseline of information to be gathered.

If getting to the fitness studio is just not happening today, keep some equipment on-hand for home workouts.


Fancy Free
Using free weights at home, such as these AFNA neoprene-coated dumbbells, helps keep muscle tone and fight bone loss ($6–$12, at most sporting-goods stores).


Jammin’ Log
There’s no better motivation to work out and eat healthy than knowing you’ll be accountable for it. With The Ultimate Workout Log ($13, amazon.com), keep track of cardio, weight-training, and nutrition information.


Strong to the Core
Take Pilates home with a padded elevation box, pole, and instructional video ($99.99; staminaproducts.com).



In A Heartbeat
Keep pace with the lightweight Reebok Fitwatch, which monitors your heart rate and keeps time during workouts ($79.99; reebok.com).