Next Level Fitness Is Opening in the North End

Bodytalk’s current interior

It’s no secret that many of Boston’s brightest throw in the towel after a few winters to explore the perennial warmth of California’s coast. In fact, if you stop by a sports bar in the Los Angeles area, you could probably call it Fenway West. (Although, please note, I’m a firm believer that if you haven’t shoveled in five years, you need to turn in your Boston card. Sorry, folks.)

So, it’s with a heavy heart that we report that our beloved city is losing one of its favorite personal trainers. Astrid Bengtson, a corrective exercise specialist and personal trainer, is packing up her North End business and moving out to L.A. with her husband, chef Samuel Monsour, of JM Curley’s and “Future of Junk Food” fame.

Fortunately, the fitness scene in Boston is healthier than ever, and it took very little time for Bengtson to find someone to take over at her studio. Next Level Fitness, a personal training company with locations in the South End, Brockton, Revere, and Roslindale, has acquired Bengtson’s Bodytalk Factory at 133 Endicott St. in the North End.

The first Next Level Fitness, which offers personal training, semi-private training, and bootcamp classes, opened in Massachusetts in 2003. Owner Micah Logan says that they are “looking forward to helping residents of the North End keep their bodies injury free and get into the best shape of their lives.”

A big part of Bengtson’s practice is focusing on form and paying attention to muscular and postural imbalances. This is the kind of work that Logan is looking forward to continuing with in the new studio. Logan says that proper form and postural analysis with clients is definitely something that Next Level Fitness uses in their practice. “Working out with good postural alignment and form can help reduce or rid lower back pain and many common ailments associated with incorrect form while exercising or with work related injuries,” Logan says.

Free open house September 13 at 133 Endicott St. with free chair massages, smoothies from Smoothie King, and discounts on personal training. Next Level Fitness will begin operating on September 2.