Speeding into 2011

By Cary Shuman

editor@winthroptranscript.com

Hamilton’s RPM Fitness moves to  spacious new location on Banks Street

Marie Hamilton’s RPM Fitness will enter 2011 in a spacious, new 5,000-square foot facility.

Hamilton presided over an official ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday morning at the new location of the business, 120 Banks St., inside the former building occupied by Viking Oil.

Among those attending the ceremony were Marie’s husband, Phil Hamilton, and their three athletic sons for whom RPM is named: Robert and Phil, who were standouts for the 2006 Super Bowl champion Winthrop High football team, and Mark, a rising hockey talent at the Salisbury School. Marie said her family has been very helpful in launching the new site of the business.

Also celebrating the grand opening was RPM Fitness office manager Lisa Montelone Ferrara, one of the greatest female athletes in WHS history and a former Bentley basketball star.

RPM is a training facility where indoor cycling, yoga, and Zumba (Latino rhythmic dance) classes are offered. There is also an area for weight training and cardiovascular training (treadmills, elliptical bicyles, and stepmills).  Group training and athletic training are also available.

In fact, Marie Hamilton has become the go-to trainer for many of Winthrop’s elite high school, prep school, and college hockey players. In addition to working on fitness, weight training, and conditioning with her son, Mark, other RPM-trained athletes have included Jess Martino (Boston College), Nicole Ferrara (Rivers School/Syracuse), Janelle Ferrara (Rivers School), Chelsey Goll (Brewster/Northeastern) Pat Feeley (Berkshire School), Robert Beshere (Groton School), Mark Upton (St. Mark’s), and Viking hockey players Christpher LeBlanc, Joe Scarfo, Adam Lundberg, and Christopher Page.

RPM Fitness, which is in its fifth year, has grown to 200 members and more are expected to sign up as individual make their New Year’s resolutions for improved health and fitness.

“It’s going very well – it’s steady,” said Hamilton. “And I think once people come in and see what we have, what we look like, and what we offer, they’re pleasantly surprised and very happy to have something so convenient and so close to home. There’s really no excuse at all for anybody.”

Hamilton said one of the reasons for the move from the previous location at Michael’s Mall was the calling for extra space for group classes, a growing trend in fitness training.

“The training really started getting bigger, which is what we mainly do and we needed more space,” said Hamilton. “Health and fitness is something you really can’t live without – at least people who love working out. So I thought the move to our new location was a good thing.

“I’m surrounded by great people and if it weren’t for the people who work for me and come to our facility, I probably wouldn’t be as successful today. Everyone’s on board and everyone’s happy. It’s a nice place to go and I know it will continue that way.”