Fitness facts

— LOCATION: Body Symmetry is located at 1 Paul St., Brunswick (right behind the old Tim Hortons).

— TELEPHONE: 729-1122

— EMAIL: info@bodysymmetrymaine.com

— CLASSES: Class schedules and more information are on our website: www.bodysymmetrymaine.com, and be sure to “like” us on Facebook.

— OFFICE HOURS: Office hours are Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to noon or by appointment. (Classes and private sessions are offered Monday through Saturday.)

BRUNSWICK

“Having a healthy, fit body means you need to be balanced — in your muscles, in your joints, in your mind and in your life. Symmetry is all about being balanced.”

Words to live by from Martha Kittle, who knows what she’s talking about.

She is the owner of Body Symmetry, a Pilates and personal training studio in Brunswick, and she has more than 30 years of experience in teaching fitness.

“We’re very passionate about what we do,” said Kittle.

The Times Record recently conducted a question and-answer session with Kittle to learn about her Paul Street facility, and what she and her small staff have to offer.

Q. First of all Martha, tell us a little about yourself. Where did you grow up, etc.? When did you first become interested in fitness?

A. I grew up here in Brunswick — went to Brunswick schools.

I became involved in fitness more than 30 years ago. I joined a gym right after college, started taking aerobics and fell in love with it! When my job took me to New Hampshire, I took a certification course which at the time was the first certification for aerobic instructors.

I really enjoyed the fitness field and delved a little deeper into it to become a certified personal trainer. I soon moved up the ladder to become a fitness director and had the opportunity to work at several of the local gyms here in Brunswick, and I just loved helping people discover what it’s like to feel healthy and to feel strong for their day-to-day activities.

Then about 15 years ago, I was looking for a niche in personal training and discovered Pilates. It took three years and more than 1,000 hours of training to earn my full certification. I was then asked to become an instructor trainer, so now I train others to become a Pilates instructor.

Q. What’s the history of Body Symmetry? You started with a facility on Bath Road and are currently on Paul Street in Brunswick.

A. Yes, we started at 119 Bath Road, opening March 1, 2004, so we’re celebrating 10 years in business! We moved to our current location at 1 Paul St. in 2007.

It was a great decision to move — we have visibility from Pleasant Street. It’s a larger space, so we’ve been able to expand our services and we have great parking out behind the building.

Q. Explain the meaning behind your business name.

A. That was the fun part of starting up a business.

Having a healthy, fit body means you need to be balanced — in your muscles, in your joints, in your mind and in your life. Symmetry is all about being balanced.

Q. Describe the programs you offer. Do you provide individual instruction?

A. We’re unique in that we offer “one-stop shopping” for all your fitness needs, with personalized attention.

The foundation of a healthy body, strengthening from the inside out to help support the joints comes from Pilates. Strengthening to lose weight, to help prevent osteoporosis comes from our TRX and Group Strength classes. Cardiovascular health for a healthy heart and fat loss comes from our Spinning classes.

We also offer one-on-one instruction and small group instruction for those wanting or needing a little more individualization.

It’s fun when a group of friends wants to come in for their own Spinning class or workout.

Q. If someone is just starting out to improve their health and become a fitter person, what do you recommend they do?

A. First, set realistic goals. What is going to work best for you and your lifestyle? Don’t commit to six days a week, hurt yourself because your body isn’t ready for it and then quit.

Maybe it’s one Pilates class a week and supplement it with walking one or two days a week. Do that on a consistent basis and build up from there. Maybe then add in a Spinning class to challenge yourself a little more than the walking.

Make sure you do continue to challenge yourself a little more, one step at a time. Often people get into a routine and the challenge is no longer there.

If you’re getting bored with your routine, chances are your muscles are bored as well and you’re not making the best use of your time.

Second, find something you enjoy! Working out shouldn’t be a chore — there are enough options that you can find something you look forward to and then you’ll do it consistently. It might not feel like fun in the very beginning, but stick with it.

Q. What is your particular niche? Why should I, as a consumer, make it a point to check out Body Symmetry?

A. I think our biggest strength is our knowledge. With more than 30 years of experience and having a strong background in anatomy, I’m able to help a client modify their workouts if they have a particular issue with a shoulder, knee, or lower back.

I have a strong reputation with many of the local rehab specialists, and my clients trust me that the workouts are going to be safe. I get many clients who have hurt themselves somewhere else, their friend or neighbor has told them about Body Symmetry, and we’re able to have them finally feel successful with their workouts. They’re so grateful!

Our classes are also unique in that the instructor is not up front getting their own workout in, but is truly teaching the class. Our clients know we have our eye on them to assure proper form and that they are at the correct level for challenge. Clients really appreciate it when we make a little tweak and they feel the exercise in the correct muscle.

Ginny (Machon) and I are both Level 2 Spinning instructors (the only ones in the area) and Sheryl (Woodworth) is always taking courses to further her Spinning knowledge. This all transfers into better classes that are scientifically based and fabulously fun.

Q. I understand your retention rate with clients is pretty high. How do you make exercise fun?

A. We have a 92 percent retention rate which is extremely high in the fitness field.

I think it’s a combination of our enthusiasm and quality of what we offer. Ginny, Sheryl and myself all truly care about our clients. I’m so lucky to have them work with me — they are so awesome, and the best instructors in the area.

We’re very passionate about what we do. It takes a special knack to be able to design a class, modify it for particular individuals so they achieve success … and all with laughter and smiles.

Q. According to a new global analysis, almost a third of the world is now fat, and no country has been able to curb obesity rates in the last three decades. Your comments please.

A. It’s sad that our jobs often make us sedentary, and our lives are so busy we eat the processed foods to make things easier for us. Then we feel sluggish from the processed foods and we want to move even less.

What many people don’t realize is that exercising gives us energy. The more we exercise, the healthier we are, the better we feel, the healthier we want to eat.

I used to be a sugar-a-holic (I admit it! and still claim myself to be a whoopie pie connoisseur). A few years ago, I started making small changes in my family’s eating habits, and soon felt a difference in my body and my joints. We’re now eating organic, and less processed foods, minimal sugar and it’s amazing how much better we feel.

Being healthy is a combination of eating healthy and staying active. Consult a professional to help guide you — it’s worth the investment for your health and that of your family.

Q. Is it easy or hard running a small business in Maine? Would you call our state business-friendly?

A. I think there needs to be an additional category for businesses.

Right now there are large corporations and small businesses. I’m a “petite” business. I don’t have three or more employees. I think running a small or petite business is hard, period. I shovel snow off the roof, sweep parking lots, pull weeds, clean carpets, fix toilets. I’ve even been known to climb into a Dumpster to stomp the trash down.

But then you have the client who thanks you for helping with their shoulder, or for being pain free with their lower back, or the look on their face when they find a muscle connection they’ve never felt before — that is why I love my job.

Q. Any future plans for your business?

A. No immediate plans for further expansion. My philosophy has always been to offer a service and excel at it. If you can’t excel at it, don’t offer it.

I would love at some point to merge with a physical therapist or similar health care professional. It would really complement my services.

Q. What is your contact information, i.e., street address, telephone number, email, website, etc.? What hours are you open?

A. We’re located at 1 Paul St., Brunswick (right behind the old Tim Hortons).

You can contact us via phone: 729-1122 or email: info@bodysymmetrymaine.com.

Our class schedules and more information are on our website: www.bodysymmetrymaine.com, and be sure to “like” us on Facebook.

Our office hours are Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to noon or by appointment. (Classes and private sessions are offered Monday through Saturday.)

Q. Is there anything else you would like to add?

A. Thank you to my clients — I have the best clients in the world. They come from all walks of life: accountants, lawyers, moms, retirees, college students, tri-athletes and non-athletes.

They make the time to devote to their health, they let me teach them about proper form, and we laugh and have so much fun. They always thank me, but it’s through their time and commitment that they achieve success.