Taking Fitness To A New Level In Glen Cove

Fitness enthusiasts considering joining a gym have a new option in downtown Glen Cove. Level Up Glen Cove opened on May 1, with a grand opening celebration on May 20 to welcome the latest fitness and wellness studio to the community. Co-owned by Glen Cove residents Nicole Robinson-Helmus and Christopher Salka, Level Up, a fitness and wellness studio, arose organically after the closing of a beloved local gym that many people relied on to keep them motivated.

Late last year, the Max Challenge closed its Glen Cove doors after five years. Robinson-Helmus and Salka both taught classes there, and, according to Robinson-Helmus, members were asking, “what’s next?” The pair decided to work together and offer classes to those devoted members, subleasing Garcia Muay Thai on School Street for early morning classes several days a week starting in January. As the popularity of the classes grew, the two decided to go bigger and look for something permanent. This spring, the trainers took over the space at 10 School Street, transforming it into a studio where they have made it their own.

Robinson-Helmus worked in finance for about 20 years before discovering her calling as a fitness trainer. The company she previously worked for would periodically have someone come in and hold corporate wellness programs for employees. “I kind of gravitated towards it,” she said, noting that it inspired her to get certified as a fitness trainer. “Now I can correctly teach people the benefits of wellness and how I benefited from it. My job was stressful and demanding, and people don’t always realize how much fitness can help you relieve that stress.”

Similarly, Salka, who formerly worked in construction, also gravitated towards fitness and got his certifications.

Both ended up teaching at the Max Challenge. Though the gym had many loyal members, it unfortunately struggled due to the pandemic. When it went under, so