Secret Physique Blends Dance, Yoga
By Joe Breault
Pembroke Express
A former dancer, New England Patriots Cheerleader and model is bringing her skills and expertise to Pembroke through a new fitness studio, Secret Physique.
Located at 1330 Corporate Park, Secret Physique offers classes that combine the disciplines of dance, pilates and yoga. Proprietor Jenny Anania brought this new method of total body transformation to Massachusetts after experiencing it firsthand in California.
Anania grew up dancing and later became a competitive dancer. She danced at college and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in exercise science and a minor in business. Anania then became a New England Patriots Cheerleader, earning a Super Bowl ring after her first year.
She also modeled for calendars and catalogs while cheering for the Patriots; danced at Coyote Ugly in Boston and at three annual Sturgis bike weeks in South Dakota; and was Full Throttle’s billboard model for 2004.
Anania then moved to Los Angeles and joined the Purrfect Angelz, an L.A.-based performance dance troupe.
While in Los Angeles, Anania learned about a new fitness method that was becoming popular among celebrities and aspiring actors and actresses. The technique combined ballet, pilates and yoga, and would totally reshape their bodies.
“Originally, I was considering going into business with a conventional gym,” Anania said. “But back in 2004, I found this method out in L.A. and decided that I had to do this. So I moved back to this area to be closer to family and introduced it here. There is nothing like this in New England; the closest studio or method of this type is in New York.”
In the short time she has been involved with this method, Anania has seen its popularity grow rapidly.
Anania explained that the dance elements are drawn heavily from ballet and incorporate the “barre method,” which is similar to the Lotte Berk Method that has been used for decades.
“It’s not unusual for someone to express interest but then say ‘but I can’t dance’, so we explain the difference,” Anania said.
In general, the classes are limited to 15 to 20 at a time.
“The form is the most important part of the class,” Anania said. “The class size is kept small enough to allow instructors to walk around and adjust postures so that the students receive the full benefit. If the form is wrong, you won’t feel it and it won’t work the way it should. With larger class sizes, I will have a second instructor to keep that level of attention.”
Private lessons are available if a student feels they need more direction.
A common stumbling block for beginners in any fitness program is waning interest if results are not immediately apparent. However, Anania has an interesting approach to this issue.
“We use examples. We show the students exactly what kind of transformation can take place when you apply this method,” she said. “One of the best examples is my sister Kerry, who is also an instructor here. She literally transformed her entire body using this technique. That really helps to drive things home to the students. We also make sure to change up the music we use and keep things fresh, alter the workouts and make sure that you don’t come in and have the same workout over and over again.”
To be completely effective, any exercise program should be coupled with proper nutrition, and Anania noted that this method is no different.
“Unfortunately, we cannot follow our clients home and watch what they eat for them,” she said. “But in this new location we have more space and would like to implement something to assist them in making intelligent choices.”
As for the reason people tend to get involved in this method, Anania indicated, “It’s different from any other method or workout. When the class is over and you are laying on the mat in the dark, in relaxation and the music is just right, you leave here feeling really good. This is unlike anything that you will find in a yoga studio or a zumba class. It really is a mind/body connection that we build.”
Classes range from $12-$17 per class, depending on the total number of classes, with an option to sign up for a first-time month of unlimited classes for $100.
