HEALTH: Virtual moves

BOOTY BUSTER GETTING GLUTES IN SHAPE, IN-PERSON OR ONLINE

by ELIZABETH WHITE photo by TERAH WILSON

For some, working out can be intimidating. It can be hard to find a place that feels comfortable and fits a variety of needs.

At Booty Lab, workouts and training do not have to be such an unpleasant experience. Owner REBECCA MCABEE strives to make clients feel strong and empowered. With most gyms still closed and others working with restrictions, technology has been one way McAbee continues to help them keep those goals.

McAbee’s family and love for the beach brought her to Wilmington. Originally, she was a personal trainer at Wilmington Performance Lab, a business she ran with her husband. But, McAbee wasn’t completely happy.

“I felt that my passion for coaching wasn't being fulfilled,” she says.

This frustration led her to create her own business. McAbee wanted to educate women about weightlifting, which can be dangerous if performed incorrectly. She also likes glute-specific training. McAbee’s clients dubbed her the “glute queen,” since these muscles are a primary focus of her sessions.

Booty Lab is more intimate than your average gym; McAbee strives to create a more private and comfortable environment, and her goal is to make her clients feel empowered both in and outside the gym. So, the studio provides a space for women to feel capable and confident, while also getting in a killer workout.

“I consider my business to be a boutique-style studio,” she says. “We focus on giving the client a personal setting by training small groups of six.”

At Booty Lab, McAbee says, “You can feel confident without having to fight for a (weight) rack, and you can do it all while rocking a sports bra.”

She also had an app developed called Booty Lab by Becca.

“The app was custom made through a company called Trainerize,” she says.

The app can be downloaded through a link in her Instagram account, @bootylab. The account has more than 1,000 followers and offers tips regarding workouts and living a healthy lifestyle.

The fitness app makes it easy to track workouts and measurements, as well as view photo progress through the training programs. McAbee also offers a monthly subscription. The subscription gives her clients self-guided workouts for at-home training or for gym settings. In addition, monthly programs provide specific guidance and videos tailored to the client’s personal needs.

McAbee points out the app is more than just a way to track progress and workouts, adding that programs on it “come with a huge community of women” who help offer support. The constant motivation helps clients stay strong and be proud of themselves.

The best part, she says, is users do not even have to leave the house: “It’s all right at the fingertips of your phone.”

The coronavirus pandemic forced many local businesses to close or go online, McAbee explains. “COVID was definitely a shock to everyone,” she says.

Like many other businesses, she had to adjust.

But, McAbee “takes obstacles as a challenge” and set in motion her plan. The personal setting of the Booty Lab studio transferred to virtual classes with ease. McAbee explains that nothing really changed with regard to personalized attention and programming with clients. Even though Booty Lab lost some clients along the way, many dedicated ones stayed.

“We helped lift each other during these uncharted times,” she says. “I honestly think COVID brought myself and my clients closer together, as weird as it may sound.”

She praises her clients for helping her keep a positive mental outlook through it all.

Currently, McAbee uses ZOOM to continue her strength-training workouts.

Even virtually, the small groups remain the same but are adjusted for different home environments.

McAbee remains focused on ways to improve her fitness app, which she views as “her baby.” Soon, she plans on adding small group coaching to it.

McAbee says despite the pandemic she is determined to continue helping women enjoy working out while also feeling confident about their bodies. W

TECH TOOLS

VIRTUAL OPTIONS TO HELP STAY OR GET IN SHAPE BOOTY LAB BY BECCA: A fitness app developed by Booty Lab owner Rebecca McAbee (bootylabinc.com/fitness-app) SLOW BURN: The city of Wilmington’s Sherriedale Morgan Fitness Center has a six-week program including workouts sent by email. The program is free and open to the public. (wilmingtonnc.gov/departments/parks-recreation and click on Fitness Center) FULL BODY WORKOUT: Fit to You founder Kerri Davis shares a full-body workout on her fitness studio’s website that can be done at home. (fittoyounc.com/full-bodyworkout-at-home-or-anywhere) Find these and other local fitness resources on our WILMA Wellness email newsletter, out every Wednesday.

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