Eric Pellicci, owner of Foundry Fitness, instructs a small group class on a circuit-type workout using free weights.
“How much can you take and keep moving forward?” That is the question Foundry Fitness owner Eric Pellicci asks his clients every day.
For the better part of a year, Pellicci has “whipped butts back into shape,” according to clients at his Main Street fitness and personal training center in Kentlands.
The Quince Orchard High School graduate has six years experience as a nationally certified personal trainer and has trained with some of the greats in the business including John Philbin, trainer to the Washington Nationals and the U.S. Olympic Bobsled team.
Pellicci’s approach to his clients is quiet and mild-mannered (you won’t hear him barking in your ear), but his approach to fitness is intense and diverse.
“You’ll never have the same workout twice,” he told a group of first-timers recently. “We also track your progress: weight, BMI, Body fat percentage, skeletal muscle percentage and visceral fat levels.”
The workouts Pellicci delivers tend to lean toward the unique, and adults can often find themselves circling the room doing very non-traditional group fitness moves such as “bear crawls” or “crab walks.” Fully matted, the center is off limits to street sneakers, giving the bare -or stocking-footed clients a true sense of strength by minimalism. And, toggling between cardio and strength training, Pellicci said his workouts can burn as many as 1,100 calories per one-hour session.
Potomac resident Traci Weinstein attends Pellicci’s classes three days a week. While she is a successful product of multiple boot camps over the years, she said Pellicci’s classes are “the best workout I’ve had.”
Pelliccisaid he cares about his clients and their progress but notes he expects hard work. “You need to be serious about your goals and can’t be afraid to sweat,” he said. “And if I don’t hear from you in a week, you will get a call from me.”
Lakelands resident Diana Schiripa likes the challenge but also the personal touch. “It’s much better than a gym,” she said. “It’s a fun, supportive atmosphere.”
Pellicci said he feels rewarded when his clients feel good, lose weight and gain self esteem. As a personal fan of sports including soccer, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and submission grappling (think wrestling), he believes in healthy living. “There are those that say the real doctors are the trainers,” he said.
Teaming up with Foundry DC BJJ owner Noel Danforth to share the Main Street space was the right opportunity at the right time, said Pellicci, who is a first-time business owner.
Pellicci expects to expand his Main Street business by early summer. To keep up with the growth of his client base, which in a year has jumped from three to 60, Pellicci also recently hired trainer Tungi Kelley, a six-year personal training veteran and former fitness manager at Bally Total Fitness, to help keep the momentum moving forward.
For Pellicci, personal training is much more than just a job; it’s a connection with people.
“Whenever a client loses weight, is able to do something they could never do before or gets stronger, I get the same feeling as someone would if they were to win the game-winning shot,” he said. “And I love every second of it.”