New studio combines health, fitness

While Jeanne Whited has been a fitness instructor for more than 20 years, she wanted to find a way to give more to the people she trained.

"I've always loved training and coaching people," she said. "But I want to take it one step further. It's more about teaching people a healthy lifestyle. There's so much you can do when you own your own place."

Whited will combine her knowledge as a healthy cooking chef with her fitness expertise in her new studio, Mean Jean's Body Shop, which opens Monday.

The studio will feature TRX suspension bands and RIP Trainers, slightly weighted bars that work with body resistance. She also will offer cardio kick boxing.

She said her studio is unique to the area and touted the benefits of using the body as natural resistance.

"I've been a fitness instructor for 22 years," she said. "Ever since I discovered the TRX training system four years ago, I've been hooked. This is for everybody. It's a great way to teach people at all different levels in one class."

She said an adjustment in body positioning is all it takes to increase or decrease weight.

"It's stability, it's flexibility, it's strength, it's endurance. It works every muscle in the body, keeping your core engaged at all times," she said.

She said she will also offer cooking demonstrations and nutrition seminars, emphasizing the importance of wellness.

"I want to encourage health and fitness," she said. "One is not enough. By combining the two, you can really help people along with any kinds of struggles they're having."

In addition to her studio, she is also working with volunteers to organize a Girls Run program for elementary and middle-school-aged girls.

They would meet at local parks and schools to introduce the girls to the sport of running.

Having been teased as a child for her small stature, Whited said she is passionate about empowering young girls.

"I want to help them be independent and build up self-esteem," she said. "Once you give girls confidence and self-esteem, who knows what they can do. The sky is the limit."

Whited said she hopes to offer customers something new and innovative.

"When you do the same thing for a long time, you get bored and you want to try something new," she said. "This will be good for the community."