BHS Alum Returns Home to Start Bridgeport In-Home Fitness

“I want to help my clients feel so good in their bodies – by doing whatever movement – and my ultimate goal is that they will no longer need me,” Bean said.

She will meet clients in their homes or work with them outside or even run on local streets or exercise in a park.

“I can bring everything – sets of dumbbells, kettle bells, a portable bench, stability balls, resistance bands, yoga blocks and matts,” Bean said. “I structure, as I should, everyone’s workout to that person’s exact needs, goals, and desires.”

She serves those of all ages and abilities, and he shas a passion for doing so. Bean lived in Bridgeport through her years at the old Bridgeport Junior High. Her high school years were spent at a private boarding school. While working for Yankee Candle in Tennessee, she was relocated to the company’s corporate office in Massachusetts. She joined a gym where she could work out during the long, severe winter. She eventually began working with a trainer, who introduced her to power lifting. She began competing and increasing her workouts, even working Saturdays at the gym and becoming a certified personal trainer while continuing her work with Yankee Candle.

“I worked there several months before the pandemic hit. I was there to pull the plug in March of 2020 and everything went dark for a long time,” she said.

She returned when the gym was given the go-ahead to reopen, but said she struggled mentally with being back and working so closely with others, even though safety precautions were in place.

But, when a key employee was involved in a severe accident and immobilized, she returned to help pick up the slack.

“I hired someone for the gym part-time, and I was there nights and weekends for 10 months. By then, my heart was with the gym. There was such love and compassion. Everyone came together and it was as lovely as anything resulting from a tragedy can be.”

When an opportunity arose to work full-time at the gym, Bean made some sacrifices in her lifestyle to be able to afford the pay cut, but she never regretted it.

But then came another opportunity, and that was to return to Bridgeport to help care for her dad. A family friend asked for her help in creating a personalized fitness program. That’s when the idea of Bridgeport In-Home Fitness came to be.

“I can then answer any questions via email or set up a complimentary phone call,” she said. “After that, I can go to their home for an assessment. I take a lot of time understanding their goals, test their range of motion, fitness level and flexibility, determining what would be safe in terms of a first workout. I also make sure I don’t need medical clearance. Then, if they decide after that they do want to continue, we schedule a workout for 60 or 90 minutes.”

Clients pay as they go and there is no contract or commitment. Payment through Venmo is preferred, but she will also take cash or checks.

Bean stresses the importance of choosing an activity that one enjoys. There are many options.

“If you’ve always dreamed of running a mile, we will go to City Park or to a neighborhood within our wonderful city,” she said. “You can exercise by walking your dog, gardening or other activities.”

Bean also works at her client’s pace. “If you want to take a break, we take a break,” she said.

She said while it is her goal to help her clients feel as good as possible in their bodies and about their bodies, she makes sure she is not projecting goals on them that she thinks they should have.

While diet and exercise are important, there are other factors that are important to overall fitness and wellbeing.

“Stretching and sleeping get overlooked and they deserve a lot more attention,” she said. “So many important things happen during sleep. Whether it’s physical trauma, emotional trauma, abuse or violence, sleeping well consistently heals some of that over time.”

As for stretching, Bean suggests stretching every morning.

“Set a timer and stretch for five minutes for seven straight days,” she said. “I feel quite strongly that you will feel better.”

Bean believes it is fascinating to get all the pieces of our complicated life working together.

“The better you feel, you tend to be kinder and softer to those around you,” she said. “I’m not saying it will heal the world, but it will be a ripple effect.”

Bean is happy to be back in her hometown and hopes to make a difference in the lives of those who live here. 

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