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Mendy Shriver teaches fitness all over town

They’re not in the Army. It just feels that way on a day when temperatures are expected to soar into the upper 90s, and fitness trainer Mendy Shriver shouts commands.

Even at 5:45 a.m. the humidity is already stifling for 21 women working out in the gymnasium at the Liberty Methodist Church. They’ve already jogged to the junior high and back.

Several of them are grunting; others are collapsing on their mats or sipping water as Shriver motivates them to do one-handed push-ups.

She makes it look easy as she drops to the floor, puts one arm behind her back and dips down. There are audible groans from those in the fitness class.

“Keep grunting. I’m just asking for trying, girls,” she says. “Down, up, down, up.”

Heather Murphy says she’s not grunting, she’s whining.

“This is excruciating,”

Murphy said. “I don’t have upper body strength. I’m a marshmallow.”

On the floor, the women arch their backs like a banana, roll over like Superman flying, stand on one foot for balance, and lift their left arms and right legs at the same time. Some lift the leg and arm on the same side and topple over.

“It’s super hard, all this running and squatting and push-ups. It feels like running around the neighborhood carrying your furniture,” Murphy said.

Murphy said next time she might switch to lower-impact Pilates or swimming to get herself back in shape. Earlier this year Murphy trained for a marathon.

“Since then, I haven’t done anything and I’ve gotten pudgy.”

The women are three weeks into a six-week fitness class. Shriver’s next class starts Tuesday, July 28. It meets on Tuesdays and Thursday beginning at 5:25 a.m. She said men are also welcome to join in the exercise routines.

After the class, Shriver heads for the Liberty Community Center, where she’ll work out and swim. The mother of three boys, Shriver said it takes a lot of stamina to keep up with them.

Shriver said right now she teaches nine classes, and also provides one-on-one personal training or small group personal training. She also teaches a class for new mothers, Burn Baby, Burn, which includes working out with their babies.

“I like holding the babies,” Shriver said.

Shriver said she started her business, Burn Fitness Training, after teaching aerobics five years ago. She teaches classes at the church, community center and at Jazzercise on Mill Street.

Shriver said people often ask her if she’s served in the Army.

“I get that question all the time,” Shriver said. “No, I haven’t been in the Army.”

Shriver has a Web site at www.fitbyburn.com.

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