Founded by two lifelong friends, Body Evolution Fitness helps clients achieve both physical and mental transformations. (Courtesy of Body Evolution Fitness)
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Jennifer Hally and Daniela Cintron both found fitness at a crucial juncture in their lives. Hally, a young mother who craved time for herself, turned to the gym to sharpen her mental health. Cintron, diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) after the birth of her son, began exercising to ease the painful symptoms of her physical ailment. A shared passion for their own overall health and well-being is what ultimately united them.
Jennifer Hally, left, and Daniela Cintron both found fitness at a crucial juncture in their lives.(Courtesy of Body Evolution Fitness)
“We’ve known each other for 30 years and were best friends growing up,” Cintron said. “In high school we grew apart and didn’t see each other for about 14 years. And then, a couple of years ago, we bumped into each other at the gym at 4:30 a.m. Gradually we started working out together and it was like that gap never happened. I think the universe just put us back together.”
The longtime friends, who were each working with a different personal trainer at the time, began studying exercise science on their own, tailoring their workouts to suit their personal goals. When friends and family started asking about their transformation and requests for workout advice filled their social media feed, both Hally and Cintron began pursuing their fitness trainer certification.
Cintron and Hally, pictured here during their pre-teen years. (Courtesy of Body Evolution Fitness)
“Throughout my life I had followed every fad diet you could think of and the weight would never come off,” Cintron said. “I never thought for one minute that I would become a personal trainer. But when I learned how to exercise, it changed my life. I wanted to teach other people about the power of fitness too.”
“I started working out because I needed something that was exclusively for me,” Hally added. “My life was all about my kids, which isn’t a bad thing, but I needed to pay more attention to myself. After a couple of sessions, I was hooked and told my trainer I would eventually have my own gym. And that’s exactly where I am today.”
Strength training is just part of the schedule of classes at the West Brighton-based Body Evolution. (Courtesy of Body Evolution Fitness)
The fitness-focused duo, who currently own Body Evolution Fitness, located at 550 Broadway on the corner of Morrison Ave. in West Brighton, started hosting outdoor boot camps at Silver Lake Park in 2018. When attendees encouraged them to open a storefront studio, they filed for an LLC in 2019 and began renting space in different locations for their classes. When the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic hit in March of 2020, their business went virtual.
“We were working out with clients, lifting dinner plates, cans of food and bottles of laundry detergent,” Cintron said of her gym’s COVID existence. “That’s how it initially started. And even though it was challenging, we built this network that helped get us through. Little by little we kept the faith that it would all work out.”
“We’re a small fitness studio but we have all the equipment you need,” Cintron said. “There’s weights, plates, a squat rack and cable machines." (Courtesy of Body Evolution Fitness)
In 2021 when COVID restrictions eased, they began searching for a space, eager to create a physical facility for their clientele. Body Evolution Fitness officially opened to the public in January of 2022.
“We both had a moment where we said ‘if not now, when?’” Cintron said. “We took this giant leap of faith, quit our full-time jobs and just gave it our all. Now we absolutely love what we do.”
The gym, which focuses on small private group training, offers a variety of strength, conditioning, cardio, plyometric and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) classes.
Founded by two lifelong friends, Body Evolution Fitness helps clients achieve both physical and mental transformations. (Courtesy of Body Evolution Fitness)
“When you work out, you feel stronger both physically and mentally,” Hally said. “Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced athlete, there’s a place for you at Body Evolution. We have marathon runners in here and people who have never picked up a dumbbell in their life. They take the same class and they both walk out with a great workout experience.”
Classes are capped at 15 members and each workout is completely different, the owners note.
The 1,000 square foot studio, decorated with wood flooring and featuring large mirrors throughout, is described as “chic and neat.”
“We’re a small fitness studio, but we have all the equipment you need,” Cintron said. “There’s weights, plates, a squat rack and cable machines. Classes are offered four times a day from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. and there’s personal training sessions scheduled in between.”
Personal training sessions at Body Evolution Fitness involve a variety of training methods. (Courtesy of Body Evolution Fitness)
“We have a ‘no sitter, no problem’ philosophy for any parent who wants to come in but doesn’t have childcare,” Hally added. “We have a back office where the kids can hang out and play.”
A variety of packages are available and a New Year’s promotion is ongoing until the end of January.
“We’re offering 30% off group classes and 20% off personal training,” Cintron concluded. “We’re looking forward to building our membership in 2023.”
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