PITTSTON — When Ashley Faraday was in college, she said she didn’t struggle with the “Freshman 15,” she struggled with the “Freshman 30.”
Faraday, 30, examined her unhealthy habits and decided to rethink her lifestyle choices. She began exercising to lose weight.
“I was really heavy, had high blood pressure and health problems,” she said. “I didn’t want to be on medication, so it was kind of like a slap on the face. I started losing weight doing Piloxing as a fitness class, and I got hooked because it was ballet and boxing, and that’s really what got me started on this journey.”
Now, the Duryea resident owns Chiseled Fitness Studio to help others do the same.
The named Chiseled comes from a workout Faraday offers, which is total body strength training using free weights.
“One of my women who takes my classes suggested the name,” said Faraday. “My mom suggested one name and my husband suggested another, but Jane (Turner) suggested the name and we ran with it. I was like, ‘OK, Chiseled it is.’”
The studio is located at 11 East St. on the second floor of the Cooper’s Co-op building, and it has a hardwood floor dance studio, a backroom with floor mats and pedal bikes.
A soft opening was held in early July and classes have been taught at 5:30 p.m. Wednesdays and 6 p.m. Thursdays as sneak peeks.
A grand opening will be held Monday, Aug. 1 and classes will be free that entire week.
Classes are for all ages and are co-ed.
Wilkes-Barre resident and friend of Faraday’s, Shawn Walker, said he’s been training since the soft opening in early July and has been enjoying it ever since.
“I’ve been looking for a way to get back in shape for a long time,” he said. “Ashley is someone I’ve grown to know and love over the last couple of years, and she’s like of like my accountability partner.”
Classes that are offered include Dancefit, Piloxing, P90X, Insanity, Corebar training and more.
“If I was a customer that’s what I would want,” said Faraday on the variety of classes offered.
Faraday is a certified instructor in P90X, Suspension Training, Metafit and is certified through the American Council of Exercise (ACE), a nonprofit fitness certification, education and training provider.
Some of her staff consists of family members, Melissa Roberts, Lottie Chipego and Terry Faraday-Purcell, as well as friends, Candy Lombardo and Jess Khalil.
On top of getting people back into shape, Faraday is looking forward to being part of the Pittston community. She said the studio will be represented in the Tomato Festival Parade and will offer classes during Paint Pittston Pink.
“I want to be involved,” she said. “I want to support local businesses and help how we can. Fundraisers or whatever somebody needs. By nature, I just want to help people out.”
Patrons say it’s not just the offerings at Chiseled that keeps them coming back — it’s the atmosphere in the studio.
“There’s no stress, no worries and nobody’s looking,” said Walker. “Just come here, get a good workout, have fun together, and then we can’t wait to see each other the next time.”
