Yoga M.A.T.T: Personal Fitness with a Personal Touch

For Christine Beckelman and David Bittner, the dual goals of introducing new fitness methods while also providing personal attention forms the philosophy of their new business, Yoga M.A.T.T.

“We opened this because it was a need we saw in the community,” Beckelman said. “You go to work out and you get personal attention.”

The facility opened this summer, and specializes in TRX strength training, which uses suspension bands and a person’s own bodyweight instead of traditional weights, kettlebell, Rip Training and various forms of yoga. Beckelman and Bittner pride themselves on being the first exclusively yoga, TRX and kettlebell facility in Hillsborough.

“The closest place to get all of this is probably New York City to the North and Manasquan to the South,” Bittner said. “And they still don’t have the Rip Trainers we have here.”

Beckelman and Bittner’s decision to create the facility drew from experiences they saw as instructors in other businesses. Beckelman, who taught Yoga in other facilities, noted that Hillsborough did not have anything dedicated to Yoga specifically, and often found that hindered residents from taking up the practice. Meanwhile, Bittner’s background as a personal trainer and massage therapist had him noticing the ties between various types of training, he said.

Providing an introduction to Yoga, TRX or kettlebell workouts for those who never tried them is among the goals Beckelman and Bittner have for their business. They do that through workshops that are akin to “schools for beginners”, they said.

“A lot of people are intimidated to walk into a Yoga class. . .it can be a very intimidating experience to step into a class that is too advanced,” Beckelman said. “There is a lot we offer for true beginners.”

But Beckelman and Bittner are quick to stress that the Yoga M.A.T.T. facility is not “another gym”. While they offer group classes, it’s not the 40 to 50-person class seen at larger facilities. Instead, the owners and trainers limit the class size, and specialize in personal attention with their clients.

“You can give personalized training to everybody,” Bittner said. “We take it very seriously and personally to get these people the results that they want.”

“We are a Yoga studio but also a fitness studio,” Beckelman said. “Depending on what your personal goal is, we offer something for it.”

The business partners note that the combination of strength and stretching balance two important aspects of exercise.

“It’s a very nice compliment to each other because it focuses on core stability, balance, inner peace and outer peace,” Beckelman said.

In fact, Bittner and Beckelman emphasize that aspect in their class schedule by following strength training sessions with stretch-focused activities. Though students aren’t required to attend both session, Beckelman and Bittner have found several clients start by taking one set of classes and then incorporate the other, they said.

The classes also appeal to a variety of people, whether weekend warriors, dedicated athletes or those who haven’t exercised in years, they said.

“The biggest thing we’re hearing is that people are getting their strength back,” Bittner said.

“We have all different levels of clients, from athletes to older people,” Beckelman said. “They are doing things they never thought they’d do.”

Yoga M.A.T.T. also offers community classes, where Hillsborough residents can attend classes at a reduced drop-in rate, they said.

“It’s our way to give back to Hillsborough for supporting our business,” Beckelman said.

Yoga M.A.T.T. also offers a massage service, drawing on Bittner’s background as a massage therapist. Since he specializes in sports massage, he’s been a massage therapist for the Rutgers Football team, women’s basketball team, and also worked with seven New York Giants players during the teams’ 2008 season.

The facility employs a female massage therapist as well, he added.

Yoga M.A.T.T. does not charge a membership fee either, and instead has residents sign up for classes via its website, yoga-matt.org, using one of three payment options.

But Yoga M.A.T.T.’s main goal is helping its clients achieve their goals.

“To be able to make and achieve these goals is something we take very personally,” Bittner said. “We are of the opinion that if you give people the results, the success of the business will take care of itself.”