by Ardeana Hamlin
of The Weekly Staff
HAMPDEN — Angela King, 35, of Stetson, who opened Maxim Fitness Studio and Health Spa in March, can do her job with bare feet and wearing yoga pants and a hoodie. She said that’s her idea of the perfect job. “I asked myself if I had the luxury to stay at home, how would I want to spend my day? — it would be half spa and half physical fitness. I’ve wanted to have my own gym since I was 20, but I also wanted to stay true to the nutrition field I was trained for. I always loved going to the gym to exercise. I need that environment, so I decided to create one.”
Maxim Fitness is located in one of Hampden’s historic buildings, Mystic Lodge, across from old Hampden Academy on Route 1A.
“The Masons are really supportive, a wonderful group of men,” said King, who grew up in the Dedham area and is a graduate of Brewer High School.
“We started working on this in September,” King said, indicating some of the walls that are covered in recycled pallet boards, and hot water pipes wrapped in heavy twine, ideas she gleaned from forays on the Pinterest website. “It was quite an endeavor.”
King said she had help from husband, Adam, a physical education teacher at a school in Newport. “I found the pallets, he took them apart,” she said.
The interior of the approximately 2,800-square-foot facility contains a large workout area that can comfortably accommodate 20 exercising people at a time. Several smaller rooms house spray tanning, a nail salon, a massage room and two bathrooms (one with a shower). The facility also has a smoothie and lunch bar where clients can grab a quick sandwich or drink to go after a lunch-hour exercise session.
Maxim Fitness offers barre exercise classes, which are the most popular so far, King said. “I have people age 22 to 70,” she said. “It’s low impact. Trendy right now. Feels a little like New York City.”
Also on the class roster is Piyo Live low impact exercise inspired by yoga and Pilates with an aerobic and cardio component; circuit training in which one exercises for several minutes at 9 or 10 stations; kick and cardio which involves punching and kicking; and a steps class that emphasizes aerobic exercise. On weekends there is the Pump You Up class that focuses on light strength training using weights.
Twice each month classes for children are offered. Admission to these classes are by donation with proceeds going to a local charity. The name of the charity to receive the donation is drawn from a hat by one of the children. Charities that have received donations from Maxim Fitness are the Bangor Humane Society and Momentum Special Olympics. “There are 20 more charities in the lineup,” King said.
King, a nutritionist who worked for seven years for the city of Bangor and was a director of nutrition services at an area nursing care facility, also offers personal training and nutrition classes.
Other staff at Maxim Fitness are Jackie Estey of Hampden who provides massage; Kristie Grace of Hermon who does manicures and pedicures; Casey Holmes, athletics trainer at Mount View High School in Thorndike; Danielle Johnson, a physics teacher at Hampden Academy; and Trishia Boone, manager of Bed Bath and Beyond; and Ken Brown, massage.
Clients have the option of purchasing or membership or paying a $10 drop-in fee to use the facility.
“The people who have found us love it here,” King said. “I have had great positive feedback. It means so much to have people tell me what they couldn’t do, but now they can [because of exercising]. It’s reminder that I am doing this for the right reason — so that people can feel better about themselves. I love seeing and hearing about their progress.’