The over-55 fitness program aims to “keep people moving”

WILTON — The Studio in Wilton, once a humble establishment, has grown significantly in the last year with the addition of Mary Carell to the ranks of personal trainer. Carell’s classes, “Movement with Mary,” are aimed at increasing mobility and enhancing flexibility for clients age 55 and older.

Mary Carell (right) explains to clients Ellen Nadeau (left) and Lisa Lemieux (center) what exercises they’ll be doing in their session and how they relate to everyday life at her Wilton studio on Tuesday, June 4. Here, she talks about proper lifting technique and how it affects movements like lifting grocery bags. Brian Ponce/The Franklin Journal

Located at 284 Main St. in the GH Bass Building in downtown Wilton, Carrell holds classes on Tuesdays. [9 to 10 a.m.]Wednesday [6 to 7 p.m.],Thursday [1 to 2 p.m.].

During her class on Tuesday, June 4, Karel began with some gentle stretching before leading her clients through five workout stations that she had prepared for them. Each client had two minutes to complete a station while listening to classic ’60s tunes before moving on to the next station.

At each station, she not only explains the exercises and teaches you about form and such, but she also takes the time to explain the methodology behind the exercises and relate them to an aspect of everyday life, like picking up a bag of groceries or stepping over a dog that’s lying down in the middle of the floor.

The class met with two of her regular customers and one newbie, who quickly became interested after Mary showed her how to do it and made her feel welcome.

“Despite there being new people in the class, everyone enjoyed themselves,” she said in an email to The Franklin Journal.

Ellen Nadeau hops on a piece of fabric during the Movement with Mary program at The Studio in Wilton on Tuesday, June 4. The training station, similar to hopscotch, is meant to keep the mind and body active, with Nadeau focusing not only on jumping but also on maintaining a consistent pattern as she walks up the rope ladder. Brian Ponce/The Franklin Journal

A 1975 graduate of the University of Maine at Farmington, Carrell describes her career as “colorful,” having worked in a variety of industries, including textiles, a private daycare program, director of a private preschool and in retail. Her last job before retirement was working part-time as a breakfast hostess at the Comfort Inn in Farmington.

In 2019, Karel’s doctor recommended medication to treat her high blood pressure and high cholesterol, but it wasn’t the treatment she wanted.

“I’m not the type of person who can be easily fixed with medicine,” she says, “so I asked for six months to start living a healthier lifestyle and agreed to have my blood tested again in six months.”

Karel heard about The Studio’s owner and personal trainer, Saira Morrill, through a friend and decided to explore working with her.

“When I walked into that first appointment, I saw the sparkle in Saira’s eyes and knew she loved her job and would hold me accountable for all my excuses,” she said.

Karel’s only goal was to stay drug-free, believing that if she continued on her path, “the rest would come naturally.” Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, she maintained her fitness routine with Morrill, which Morrill noticed and admired.

“I saw the potential in her,” Morrill said of her at The Studio’s new 24-hour gym. “That woman has passion.”

In February 2022, Morrill met with Carell to discuss a business opportunity.

“I had no idea what business proposal she was going to tell me,” Karel said. “I thought it was just office help or cleaning or something like that.”

Instead, Morrill asked the then-67-year-old how she felt about going back to school to become a personal trainer.

“I asked her what she was trying to say and she said she thought I’d be a good candidate for a group fitness instructor,” Carell said. “I looked at her and said, ‘Are you kidding me?'”

Morrill wasn’t, so Carell put the idea on hold for a month while he looked into the American Council on Exercise. [ACE] Aiming to obtain a qualification.

“I was very nervous because I hadn’t had to study or pass an exam for at least 30 years,” she said, adding that Mr Morrill had been “her rock” throughout the process, leading to her receiving her qualification a year later, in February 2023.

Mary Carell (left) watches newcomer Cheryl Hitchcock (right) at one of the workout stations during the “Move with Mary” program at The Studio in Wilton on Tuesday, June 4. Carell hopes the space is not only safe and relaxing, but fun as well. Brian Ponce/The Franklin Journal

During the course, Karel observed a variety of people of all ages going about their daily lives. “Because of their illness, I saw my mother and sister freeze when they felt pain and their ability to move rapidly deteriorate,” she said.

Because of this, she decided to limit her classes to clients over the age of 55. Morrill supports the idea and said she is proud of the impact Mary has had on her older clients.

“She’s connected to the 55-and-over community in a way that I never could,” Morrill said.

“I knew there were classes for older people,” Carrell said, “but I didn’t realize there were so many taught by people my age who knew exactly what it was like to have arthritis in the knee or a sore shoulder.”

When thinking of a name, Karel decided on “Movement with Mary,” hoping the name would inspire people to “keep moving,” regardless of their age.

“I want to make more people in this age group aware that, firstly, it’s never too late to start fitness, and secondly, there are classes for all ages and fitness levels so you can take a fitness class that suits your needs,” she said.

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