Rachel Kobey took a 14-week business planning course and a Quickbooks course at the Center for Women and Enterprise in Boston before using money she saved for buying a house to make her vision of an "antigym" a reality. On Sunday, April 11, she will officially unveil her business, Energize Fitness Studio at 1387 Washington Street in West Newton, during an open house celebration from 1-5 pm.
"CWE provided me with all the absolute essentials to get the knowledge I needed to start my business," Kobey said. 'It was amazing how the class worked as a team - women working with one another to help one another start their business."
It was more than just her love for physical training that spurned Rachel Kobey's dream to start her business - it was helping people find deeper confidence and inner strength through building core body strength, she said. An athlete most of her life, Kobey said she had planned to go to medical school. After spending several years working with individuals to improve their physical body and watching her clients become stronger and learn to overcome obstacles with their bodies, she knew she wanted to open a fitness center.
"The minute you walk into Energize you will notice something is different - the absence of machines." Kobey said. "I am not a fan of weight machines," says Rachel. "Most don't activate core muscles, which all of us need for balance and posture. They isolate certain muscles instead of allowing the body to work as a system. And they call for motions different from the movements we use in everyday life. We need to train holistically, integrating our core joints and muscles."
Energize Fitness Studio integrates TRX suspension into many of its programs for teens and adults. You can also find many familiar and not so familiar fitness toys from Bosus and balance boards to resistance tubes, to minitrampolines for workouts designed for people of all ages. Energize also offers Pilate's classes. Clients only pay for services used. There are no monthly or annual dues.
"Energize is not just for bodybuilders and young adults, says Kobey. "Its goal is to enable people of all ages to pursue fitness, health and well-being."
Energize Fitness Studio is open now and is offering discounts on all fitness services through April 11, free personal training consultations and free fitness class. At the open house celebration on April 11, Energize will offer sample fitness classes, Pilates demos, chair massages, supervised minitrampoline for kids and adults, a raffle for personal training sessions, and healthy snacks.
