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Aug 10

Local resident assumes ownership of popular fitness center – Shore News Today

HAMILTON TOWNSHIP Mays Landing resident Joseph LaCerra had been interested in operating his own fitness facility. Conveniently, the owners of the Tilton Athletic Clubs were looking to sell its Mays Landing site, where LaCerra had been working as the general manager since May 2016.

As their common interests lined up, LaCerra, along with his father Tim, took ownership of the facility July 1 of this year and renamed it Hometown Health and Fitness. I had planned to move to Florida to start a business with my father there where he resides, but when this opportunity arose I chose to remain here in my hometown, he said.

LaCerra has a background both in personal training and business. He graduated magna cum laude with a bachelors degree in business from Stockton University in December 2016. He was certified as a personal trainer by the National Academy of Sports Medicine. In addition, he is certified as a natural physique pro by the Organization of Competition Bodies.

He is a graduate of Oakcrest High School, where he played baseball, and is skilled in the martial arts, with a fourth-degree black belt in Tang Soo Do.

One of the first moves that LaCerra took upon assuming ownership was to retain the entire staff, including the instructors and trainers. The long list of classes, available from early morning into the evening, which range from Ab Lab to Zumba, was also kept.

The 15,000-square-feet facility houses four studios for kickboxing, cross-training, group fitness and spinning.

LaCerra, recognizing the competition in the area, also lowered membership prices, with most monthly rates at $30 or below. Its the same club that it was before, just more affordable, he said. We also have an added emphasis on equipment maintenance, and also vow to keep a clean and friendly environment.

Longtime members Jack Carson and Barbara Kupp have been impressed with what LaCerra has accomplished thus far. I have been a member since this facility opened in 1999, Carson said. It has a good range of members that gives the club a lively feel. The group classes and trainers push me beyond what I could achieve on my own. I particularly credit Yoga Fusion instructor Faye for providing the most rewarding workout I have ever had and spinning instructor Steve who gets more out of us than we knew we had in us.

Its nice to see a young, local Oakcrest graduate doing business in his hometown.

Joe continues to promote a friendly, encouraging atmosphere, offering quite an extensive schedule of classes for one reasonable fee, Kupp said. I have been a member for over 17 years and feel the greatest offering is the selection of group fitness classes, all included in the fee. Daily classes include hip hop, body pump, spin, turbo kick, Zumba, yoga, Pilates, insanity and step, all taught by certified, fun-loving instructors.

Our classes are like families. We support each other, offer modifications, and they are just fun. We are all ages, sizes and shapes and try to be a little bit better than the day before. One of our longtime body pump participants is an 89 year-old World War II veteran. It is a very friendly environment where everyone knows your name.

Group fitness director Kim Basile leads many of the classes. At Hometown Fitness, our goal is to make exercise fun and engaging while being effective for people of all fitness levels, she said. With over 40 weekly group fitness classes, our schedule offers a wide variety of programs. A lot of our success comes from our team of professional instructors that do so much more than just teach classes, we teach people to love working out, and that makes all the difference.

Ive been at this facility for 17 years, and quite literally, it has been 'my home away from home' for a large part of my life, one of the best parts, really. There is nothing more rewarding than making a positive and healthy impact on someones life, and I feel blessed to have the opportunity to work with our members. Once I started working with Joe LaCerra, it was clear to me that his heart was in this place. I love the name 'Hometown,' because we truly are a fitness family with our members."

An open house week is scheduled for Oct. 2 to 7. That Saturday will be our big event, featuring the Army bringing a rock wall, and we will also be having a group fitness dance battle that day to raise money for the Mays Landing Fire Department, LaCerra said.

More information, and a free daily pass, can be obtained by calling 609-625-9355 or by visiting the website hometown.fitness.

Read the original:
Local resident assumes ownership of popular fitness center - Shore News Today

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