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Business & Tech

Build More Than Just Muscle at Mind, Body & Spirit Personal Training

Leslie Ingram-Lewis and crew specialize in one-to-one personal training.

Glen Ridge resident Jodi Badagliacca is performing straight-leg deadlifts with light dumbbells.

She has to do four sets of twelve repetitions. She’s on set three.

“I feel changed," Jodi Badagliacca said. "This is mental and physical therapy.”

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It’s also new territory for Jodi Badagliacca. It’s the first time she’s ever returned to any gym following a first workout.

“Someone told my daughter about Leslie. So I came in, and I wound up falling in love with the environment, and the concept," she said.

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“Leslie” is Leslie Ingram-Lewis, a spiritually motivated, certified personal trainer and exercise therapist, and owner of Mind, Body & Spirit Personal Training. Badagliacca and her daughter, 20-year-old college student and art major Andrea, visit Leslie three days a week.

“She teaches you how to live,” said Jodi Badagliacca of Ingram-Lewis, “outside the gym. Absolutely positive.”

“They both walk the walk," said Ingram-Lewis of Jodi and Andrea.

At (17 James St.), it’s all about one-to-one personal training, involving circuit training, a total body workout which challenges the heart rate. It’s really a strength training and cardio workout in one, and Ingram-Lewis wants it no other way. “If strength training is not combined with cardio, you’re not fit,” she said.

“I feel strong,” said a smiling Jodi Badagliacca.

Translated? Once you’re finished here, you’re better able to catch whatever the day throws at you.

Ingram-Lewis opened Mind, Body & Spirit in 2004 after renting space in Broad Street’s Bloomfield Fitness Center. She has four children, 13 grandchildren and looks much younger than her 61 years (the day of my visit was, in fact, her birthday). Since the age of 15, Ingram-Lewis has been all about fitness.

In addition to herself, she employs four instructors and teachers: Jermaine Louden, Claudia McIntosh, Rachel Huebig and Al Kroll. An initial consultation is held before a program starts, and if Ingram-Lewis finds two to three risk factors in an individual, she has a doctor of her choice examine the person. Once cleared, an individual performs a program of six or 12 weeks, and from there, the trainee is confident enough to go off on their own.

Her typical client?

“Most of my clients (which include business CEOs, athletes, and more) want to be fit," she said. "But unless you change your grocery list, you’ll never get in shape.”

Which is why Ingram-Lewis performs reassessments of the individual at four to eight weeks with body fat measurements to make sure that they’re following proper nutritional guidelines throughout their program.

Jodi Badagliacca claimed you need someone to show you fitness and good health, how to do a proper workout, which is where Ingram-Lewis comes in.

“My job is to educate," Ingram-Lewis said. "Unless you don’t take care of the day, it will take care of you.”

Mind, Body & Spirit offers various fitness programs of six or twelve sessions, special students for seniors and students, variable rates between 5 and 8 a.m., and offers pilates, yoga and ti chi upon request.

Mind, Body & Spirit Personal Training
17 James Street
(973) 680-0075
http://mbsfitforeverpersonalfitness.com/home.html

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