Katherine Jeblick doesn’t call Maximum Motion a “gym” even though it has all the weights and exercise machines of a typical gym.
For Jeblick, it is a fitness center, and not merely for the body. With exercise, the right diet, and discipline, she believes people can achieve a kind of spiritual healing as well.
The center opened at its current location at 262 Grove St. on June 8, although Jeblick has been a fixture in the fitness community downtown since 2003, when she first opened a 300-square-foot fitness center around the corner on Montgomery Street.
Jeblick worked for several other local fitness centers before deciding she would open her own in 2003. Even this was something of a fluke, since she lived in an apartment above the storefront and really hadn’t intended to open a place of her own at all.
“But when the store became vacant, I said, ‘Why not?’,” she said.
Fate played a hand even back then. Her current landlord, Eric Silverman, co-owner with his brother of Silverman development, happened to be walking by her storefront. He not only took out a membership for himself, but also for his brother, Paul.
“I got the gift membership for my birthday,” Paul Silverman said, laughing about how it sat on his desk for a year. “Katherine called me up and reminded me I had it. So I went down there too.”
“I love the people and the neighborhood.” – Katherine Jeblick
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The original 300-square facility was so small that Jeblick had to be creative when offering all of the services, not merely typical exercise programs, but also yoga and the associated meditation that accompanies it.
“We would have to break down one thing before we could start something else,” Jeblick recalled.
Eventually, Jeblick relocated to another side on Grove Street near the PATH station. This was a significantly larger site, and because of its location, drew a number of new clients, who passed the facility coming and going to work.
From ballet to fitness
Jeblick originally pursued a career in ballet, but soon realized that it was an extremely competitive field.
“I was in a small company, but I didn’t have a stage mom,” she said.
Originally from Rockaway Beach, she danced in New York City. Then at about age 22 or 23 she decided ballet wasn’t for her.
Still she didn’t want to abandon the field entirely and waste years of training. So she decided to explore the world of physical fitness.
Already qualified to teach aerobics, she expanded this by obtaining certification for teaching group fitness and worked as a personal fitness trainer in New York and later several facilities in Jersey City, including Gold Coast Fitness.
Once she set out on her own, she expected to struggle, and did, although she did manage to make a profit her first year – more than a little surprise to her.
“But I had to give up coffee, wine, and other small things in order to pay the rent on the storefront and my apartment,” she said, laughing.
Being a fitness person in Jersey City thrills her.
“It’s been a passion of mine for over 20 years,” she said. “I love the people and the neighborhood.”
When she moved from a 300-square-foot facility to the Grove Street facility, she thought she was set.
But then the Silvermans began construction on the Charles & Co. building. They offered her space and would construct it to meet her needs.
This allowed her to go from 1,200 to 3,000 square feet in Charles & Co. with features like fine woodwork and specially-constructed exercise flooring.
Along with things you’d find in a more typical fitness center, exercise machines, weights and such downstairs, there is space upstairs for yet another passion of Jeblick’s: yoga. She hosts classes in these rooms in the Dharma Yoga tradition.
“I started out with a poster of all the positions,” she said, pointing to the poster on the wall. “I was going to do them all.”
Over time, she became something of an advocate for the discipline and eventually became deeply involved in its programs.
“Sometimes after a session, I tingle all over,” she said.
But she also noted that there is a more spiritual aspect to the practice that also intrigues her, an sense of inner peace she has found nowhere else.
The facility also provides other programs, such as fitness for mothers and children, dance-like step up fitness, and other classes.
Hours and information about these can be accessed on the facility website maximum-motion.com.
Al Sullivan may be reached at asullivan@hudsonreporter.com.