EVOLVE
When combining both “land and water” in a fitness regime the human body is able to more readily adapt to living with the affects of gravity and aging. Water helps balance in your land-life, and improves flexibility. Joints naturally increase their range of motion when moving in the water. As a result a better body can be attained.
A HEALTHIER YOU IS POSSIBLE
Maximize Your Potential
For over 25 years, A Better Body Training has been serving Chester and the surrounding areas' athletes, families, adults, seniors, youth and community. By focusing on personalized professional training we continue to demonstrate that an enjoyable training routine with proven results is possible.
We recognize that most people exercise because they feel they have to, not because they want to. Since a lack of motivation to workout is natural, the facility and trainer become all the more important in achieving a fitness goal. No matter your "fitness level" or "fitness needs," the fact remains the same: EVERYONE NEEDS TO EXERCISE. It is with this understanding that A Better Body Training facility was designed.
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Sports-Specific
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Functional, Stability
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Strength & Power
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Core Training
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Cardiovascular Conditioning
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Flexibility Training
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Posture Improvement
• Senior Training
• Youth Training
• Family Training
• Special Population Training
• ADL Training
• Post-Rehabilitation
• Body Aquatics
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Pre- or Post-Surgery
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Fall Prevention
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Injury Prevention
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Balance and Coordination
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Weight Loss
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Swim Instruction
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Swim Analysis
TRAIN
The Bottom Line
The Department of Health and Human Services recommends at least 150 minutes a week of aerobic activity or 75 minutes a week of vigorous exercise along with strength training exercises for all muscle groups at least 2 times a week.
TRX Equipped & Certified
We use: TRX TACTICAL GYM
The toughest, most rugged TRX® Suspension Trainer™
Relied on by every branch of the military and every pro sports league to keep
athletes in premier shape
Movement based training
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Constantly challenges the core while engaging a broad range of muscle groups all at once, improving total-body strength and mobility.
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Gravity is your resistance, so adjusting the level of intensity is as easy as moving your hands or feet, and progression is limitless.
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Push, pull, lunge, plank, rotate, hinge, squat—a few simple movements build the foundation for endless variations.
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Uniquely suited to help rehabilitate injuries.
SWIM
The effects of gravity are lessened when swimming and exercising in water.
Water pressure makes lungs worker harder and reduces heart rate to improve aerobic capacity. At the same time water’s built-in resistance acts as if you’ve surrounded your body with weights (12 to 14 percent more resistance than air), making it simple to increase the intensity of your workout and challenge muscles that are harder to engage on land.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lists several studies that found water exercise to be beneficial for people with chronic illnesses, disabilities, and psychological disorders.
SWIMMING LESSONS
Now Offering Private and Semi-Private Swim Classes/Swim Instruction
for All Ages and All Levels.
30-minute weekly swim sessions.
Limited-Enrollment.
1:1 Private
2:1 Semi-Private
EVOLVE
When combining both “land and water” in a fitness regime the human body is able to more readily adapt to living with the affects of gravity and aging. Water helps balance in your land-life, and improves flexibility. Joints naturally increase their range of motion when moving in the water. As a result a better body can be attained.
The Benefits of Water
& Water Exercise
When combining both “land and water” in a fitness regime the human body is able to more readily adapt to living with the affects of gravity and aging. Water helps balance in your land-life, and improves flexibility. Joints naturally increase their range of motion when moving in the water. As a result a better body can be attained.
FACT: Working Out In The Water Is Fun!
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Water is about 800 times denser than air, so it provides about 12 times more resistance.
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Water’s natural buoyancy gently supports joints to encourage free movement as you build
strength by working against resistance in all directions. -
Exercising in water is low-impact and easy on the joints of the body.
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Water pressure puts less strain on the heart and reduces blood pressure by moving blood around the body—especially beneficial for the elderly and those who suffer from hypertension.
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The impact of gravity is less in the water allowing a greater range of motion.
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Water exercise is more effective in improving balance, gait, and joint position sense—provides a safe environment for individuals who have less balance control, minimizing their chances of falling.
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Water exercise helps improve cardiovascular fitness—burn more calories, enjoy increased range of motion, and suffer less muscle soreness — all without the pounding of land-based exercise.
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Water exercise endurance—less stress and impact on muscles and joints leads to greater overall endurance and cardiovascular health, helping you exercise for a longer time.
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Water disperses heat more efficiently than air— helps prevent overheating when exercising, and helps lower the body’s core temperature (ideal for pregnant women—overheating is a common occurrence when pregnant).
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The soft and fluid nature of water relieves stress and decreases anxiety.
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More immediate rehabilitation is possible in water, even when it's too painful to exercise on dry land. Starting earlier means getting back to your normal life sooner.
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Water exercise is a safe, beneficial option for people with arthritis and other joint disorders.
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Studies indicate that exercising in water can help improve mental health, especially when it comes to offsetting the symptoms of dementia.
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Several studies have indicated that aquatic therapy is beneficial for individuals suffering from Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease—helps improve cognition, functioning more effectively despite their cognitive impairments.
Water Exercise Combats Arthritis.
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Studies show that exercising in water helps reduce the pain associated with arthritis, as well as reducing other symptoms of arthritis.
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Scientific evidence has proven that water-based exercises help arthritic patients improve their joint function, promotes long-term adherence; helping to prevent the occurrence of disabilities associated with arthritis.
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Water may be the only environment where people suffering from arthritis can conduct a full-body workout without feeling pain.
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Studies indicate that arthritis patients attain more health improvements when they participate in water-based exercises compared to land-based.
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Aquatic aerobic exercise has been shown to reduce joint tenderness in rheumatoid arthritis sufferers, as well as improve their psychological well-being, and enhance their knee range of movement.
Individual & Small Group Training
Tired of trying to fit your “likes" and time schedule into various group classes at the local gym?
Do you feel lost in the group mix?
Large group fitness classes make training more affordable but lack individualized attention.
One-size doesn't fit all!
A Better Body specializes in private customized programs for both the individual and small groups (3-4). Each private by-appointment-only session is designed and monitored by a certified personal trainer. Every training session is customized to facilitate each client's preferences, interests, skill levels, fitness goals and training environment.
Our Facility
Located in a private setting overlooking a beautiful wooded landscape, the view is the first thing that easily distinguishes our training facility from the other brick and mortar gyms you've come to expect.
Coupling this with a private by-appointment-only environment, professional trainers, commercial equipment , two warm water pools and plenty of room makes all the difference when it comes to "getting to the gym".
Our facility is designed to personally meet the interests and needs of each individual and group.
Each session incorporates a variety of necessary and specific training modalities to assist every client towards safely achieving their fitness goals.
Our POOLS
Not 1 but 2 pools
Our 15’ x 15’ Dual-Propulsion Pool lets two swimmers take on two swim currents, each with its own independent controls to vary the pace. Each swim lane also has an underwater treadmill. Walk, jog, or run you'll burn as many calories as on a dry-land treadmill with little to no impact. Each underwater treadmill’s speed adjusts independently, so you can tailor every workout to take your fitness to the next level. Using the Underwater Treadmill with the swim current varies the intensity while developing core conditioning.
You’ll say. “I can run again!”
Combining the swim current and treadmill makes exercise possibilities endless.
You'll also enjoy:
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An increased range of motion
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Minimal joint impact (no dry-land pounding!)
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Less muscle soreness (perfect for recovery runs)
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All-direction resistance for a more thorough workout
“As soon as I started using the Endless Pool, my Achilles stopped getting stiff. That was a massive, massive benefit.”— Alistair Brownlee, Olympic Gold Medalist
Our 7’ x 14’ Performance Pool is smooth and fast. Many swimmers even call it "soft." – the current just feels good! The custom-designed two-propeller system delivers a superior swim current: It's faster (or not). Power it up to its demanding top speed of 1:05/100 yards, or at the push of a button, slow the current down to a gentle pace. A broad, deep current gives beginners more room to drift. Our Performance Pool is equipped with 3 swim mirrors to give a swimmer immediate feedback. Perfect built for swim analysis and instruction.
OUR TEAM
MYKEL McELWEE
OWNER / TRAINER
A Better Body Inc. was established in 1996 by Mykel McElwee. Mykel is an ACE-certified trainer with over 25 years experience, holds a B.S. in Multi-disciplinary Studies from Liberty University and is the innovator of AQUABODY. As the owner of A Better Body Training, he demonstrates a natural ability to quickly understand and identify various strengths and weaknesses in individuals of all ages and fitness levels, including the concerns for a wide range of special populations. In 2000, to better serve his clients, Mykel attached to his home in Chester an extensive commercially-equipped personal training facility. In 2020 he designed and built 2 warm water pools to further expand the facility. His current focus is making "A Better Body" for normal Joes and Janes while working on a fully accredited Body Aquatics. A Better Body has assisted males and females from ages younger than 8 yrs. to older than 80 yrs. reach their various fitness goals. Some of his clients have become state champions, moving on to become successful college athletes, while a few have even become professional athletes.
Megan Sellers
TRAINER
Megan Sellers has been a personal trainer since 2004. She holds a B.S. in Exercise Science and Sports Management with a minor in Nutritional Sciences from Rutgers University. Megan is a certified personal trainer with NASM (National Academy of Sports Medicine), a certified Fitness Nutrition Coach with NESTA (National Exercise & Sports Trainers Association) and a certified Functional Movement Specialist (FMS Functional Movement Systems). As a certified Mat and Reformer instructor she brings functional fitness to a new level. Megan’s training philosophy is “Train to have functional fitness and push to reach your goals”. She believes striving to be stronger and healthier leads to a lifestyle with less pain and health problems.
Our Professional Words Of Wisdom
Living on this planet for over 50 years and being a trainer for more than half my life, I have navigated both personally and professionally the roller-coaster that is the fitness industry. From Jack Lalanne, Jane Fonda and Arnold Schwarzenegger to today's youth-driven Cross-fit and technologically data-filled fitness apps/studios I have experienced them all. To be honest, they all have their own merits but nearly all of them come with a bit of wear and tear on the body. For some special populations and others with health-related issues "working-out" brings more pain than pleasure. In fact it becomes an exercise with diminishing returns. It is for these reasons that I find myself drawn to the water. So much so that I have gone "all-in" by building and incorporating two warm water pools (1- 15'x15' Dual Pool with 2 underwater Treadmills and resistance currents and 1-7'x14' Performance Pool with a resistance current for swimming and stroke analysis). I truly believe that a combination of training on land and exercising/swimming in the water make "A Better Body". In fact I will go as far as to say that a regular fitness regime that incorporates both "evolves" a body. Allowing each individual to more readily adapt to what it means to live with the affects that gravity and aging have on the human body. --Mykel McElwee (Owner of A Better Body/Innovator of Body Aquatics)
Contact Us
We realize that for many people, just walking in to a gym to "check it out" can be intimidating. You may worry about being pressured into "signing up." Not here. Just give us a call to schedule a visit.
36 Cooper Ln, Chester, NJ 07930, USA
(908) 879-4891
This is a private training facility: In order to maintain privacy, consistency and professional consideration all training sessions are pre-booked, by-appointment-only with a strictly enforced cancellation policy. This is necessary to establish a gym schedule and to assure that each client's training time is always available. There is no such thing as "open gym". Example: Tuesday @ 10am is your training slot and NO ONE else's (even if you are on vacation). If a client finds it necessary to cancel a training session it should be rescheduled within a one week notice. We understand that there are special considerations. A client should discuss them with the trainer. Group sessions (2-4 clients) are billed at a group rate and are subject to a non-cancellation policy. Group sessions run even if only 1 client is available to make the session. Group sessions can be rescheduled if all clients in the group agree. An extended hiatus is a special consideration and should be discussed with the trainer. The goal is not to penalize the client or the trainer for cancellations but rather to ensure consistency, reliability, privacy and exclusivity.