Owner of fitness studio in Whitesboro discusses her career and explains why she specializes in stretch therapy
By David L. Podos
Q: When did you open Move, Breathe, Live?
A: I opened in 2020 and have been in our current location since 2023, which is 100 Main St., Whitesboro.
Q: Have you been involved in athletics and athletic training for a long time?
A: My background as a young athlete began in my early teens. I was a rower in a boat, so at that time my primary focus was as a rower. As I got older, I got into running, then got into cross-fit, which is a high intensity strength and conditioning program. It is a mixture of cardio training, weightlifting, calisthenics and gymnastics. That eventually led me to be a coach in cross-fit training.
Q: Obviously being physically healthy is very important to you. Are other aspects of health important as well like emotional health and spiritual health?
A: Yes, of course.
Q: What is your educational background?
A: In my 20s I went to the University of Delaware where I graduated in honors and received my BA degree. Soon after I went into massage school. I lived for a short time in Hawaii and it was there that I became licensed as a massage therapist. I am not licensed in New York state.
Q: Do you have any other certifications that are pertinent to what you do here?
A: Yes. About a year ago I became a stretch therapist. A stretch therapist allows me to work with a client, who is fully clothed, and work on them before or after workouts to stretch their muscles. I will move their arms and their legs and they get to relax. In stretch therapy there are several levels of training. I took level one. The training was conducted in New York City.
Q: What are the health benefits of receiving this kind of therapy?
A: It’s basically a warm-up as well as a cool-down to help with range of motion. It is relaxing, it helps with the nervous system. It can also help reduce the risk of injury to muscles.
Q: Are there any other stretch therapists in the area? Or are you the only one?
A: I am not aware of any in the area. This kind of therapy is more popular in the bigger cities. So, I am fairly confident that there are not many if any in the Mohawk Valley area.
Q: I assume your clientele is made up of both men and women, young and older and that you offer both one-on-one training as well as group training. Is that right?
A: Yes, that is right. We work with group classes and one-on-one. The group classes are primarily female based. But we do have men in them. A high percentage of our female clientele are perimenopause or menopause. So, that is usually an age group that is around 40 and up. We also work and train with much younger men and women, as young as 18 or 19. There is a difference however in that training. For all groups both younger and older we do work on strength training. The difference comes in on the intensity of the training where the younger group of people I will train more intense and more often where the older group is less intense and less often particularly with women who are experiencing perimenopause or menopause.
Q: What are the health advantages for a woman who is going through a change of life when she is working out?
A: Well, first off they are coming into a community here at Move, Breathe, Live, with other woman who are going through similar issues. It is a safe place to talk, laugh, etc. and share. The training helps them with sleep, with reducing anxiety, it helps to slow down the thinning of bones and of course strengthening their body so they don’t lose muscle mass.
Q: Do you offer any other services?
A: Yes, we offer yoga classes. Our classes are not intense and are for just about everyone. Right now, I am going through a training of breath called rebirthing. I’m in the very beginning of the training and it will take me about another year to complete the course. The way we breathe can change our mental state and when practiced it can release us from many blockages, physical, emotional, as well as mental. So, I’m hoping in about a year I will be offering this new service.
Q: Are there any kind of special events coming up for the summer?
A: Absolutely. We will be offering a special called, “Bring a Friend.” This will run through the months of July and August. For people who have been coming here they can bring their friend for the day and their friend can enjoy the services we offer all for free. Also, on Sept. 19 we will be having an expo. Information is on our website as well as Instagram and Facebook.
For more information on Move, Breathe, Live as well as Hardy and her staff, visit www.movebreathe.live or call 315-507-4422.