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When May Bend and Amy Keys hunted for real estate for to open their new gym, CenterPointe, they had a few requirements: 1.) a basement space was key so noise from weights wouldn't bother any neighbors, and 2.) they really wanted to be in Adams Morgan, the neighborhood they both live in and have grown to love. Turns out the ideal location was the former Capitol Hemp retail space, of all places.
Located near 18th Street and Adams Mill Road, the basement space that had been vacant for a year is now light and bright, with large windows, exposed brick, and gymnastic equipment hanging from the ceiling. CenterPointe opened last month, and it's here where head coach May Bend leads private training and small group classes for no more than 12, focusing on proper weightlifting technique and balance and stability work.
Bend, a powerlifter, endurance athlete, and former researcher at the World Bank in a previous life, also teaches functional movements exercises to her students. These moves that are meant to help with mobility and elasticity by mimicking movements in everyday life, and to help athletes avoid over-use injuries. "This is my favorite thing in the world to do," Bend says of coaching.
Want to try out a CenterPointe workout for free? Drop in on Sundays at 1 p.m. for a free intro class, where Bend walks students through the studio's basic moves and techniques.
· CenterPointe [Official Site]