{"id":135474,"date":"2026-02-16T21:00:10","date_gmt":"2026-02-16T21:00:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/135474\/"},"modified":"2026-02-16T21:00:10","modified_gmt":"2026-02-16T21:00:10","slug":"body-by-berle-brings-on-the-burn-for-40th-anniversary-in-fresh-meadows-qns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/135474\/","title":{"rendered":"Body By Berle brings on the burn for 40th anniversary in Fresh Meadows \u2013 QNS"},"content":{"rendered":"

Body By Berle<\/a>, a personal training center providing one-on-one instruction in the Fresh Meadows Shopping Center, has been bringing the burn for almost 40 years now.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Founded on March 22, 1986, by Richard Berlinger \u2014 an avid supporter of lifelong fitness \u2014 the gym is celebrating its anniversary and reflecting on its decades-long legacy of life-changing exercise instruction.<\/p>\n

Body By Berle, located at 61-18 190th St. in Fresh Meadows<\/a>, provides a personalized approach to exercise and strength training.\u00a0<\/p>\n

A handful of certified personal trainers are available for 30-minute sessions, which cost $45 each, ensuring not only that clients are safely and correctly using the equipment, but also that they\u2019re in and out in a timely manner.<\/p>\n

Berlinger said he never originally planned to enter the business of fitness instruction, explaining that he started out working in the restaurant business.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

He received a business degree from Long Island University, formerly C.W. Post, and was contacted by the National Restaurant Association, which placed him at a restaurant in Bellmore near where Berlinger grew up. \u201cI always had an entrepreneurial spirit,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

However, Berlinger also kept fit, consistently exercising and using free weights, barbells, and dumbbells while following along with Arnold Schwarzenegger\u2019s \u201cEncyclopedia of Bodybuilding.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Berlinger said fitness was always a part of his life, beginning with high school sports. His father\u2019s death from a heart attack at age 46, however, had a huge impact on Berlinger\u2019s drive to take care of himself and stay active.<\/p>\n

The founding of Body By Berle<\/p>\n

While in the restaurant business, Berlinger said he rarely had time to follow along with Schwarzenegger\u2019s intense 5-6 day workouts, and many gyms at the time had normal equipment that owners didn\u2019t even know how to use.\u00a0<\/p>\n

That\u2019s when Berlinger discovered Nautilus, a line of strength-training machines designed for biomechanical efficiency, invented by Arthur Jones<\/a>.<\/p>\n

What attracted Berlinger to the concept, he said, was that he only had to work out 2-3 times a week for 30 minutes.\n<\/p>\n

Berlinger began studying books about the Nautilus equipment, which he now keeps on a bookshelf in his office, and attending seminars in Florida, not yet knowing he would be going into the business yet.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"Berlinger keeps books about the Nautilus equipment, invented by Arthur Jones, on a shelf in his office. Photo by Renee DeLorenzo<\/p>\n

But, by the time Berlinger was 31, he decided he would open a gym himself using an appointment-based model that allowed clients to schedule time with a personal trainer who would help them learn to use the equipment properly.\u00a0<\/p>\n

While Berlinger intended to open the gym with 30 clients, he opened with 92. \u201cI was very successful, beyond my wildest imagination,\u201d he said.\n<\/p>\n

Berlinger kept the gym in Great Neck for 16 years before he moved to Queens in 2002. He recalled passing the Fresh Meadows Shopping Center and realizing it would be a perfect location for the gym due to its close proximity to the Long Island and Clearview expressways and Grand Central Parkway.<\/p>\n

What the workout entails
\n\"\"Body By Berle packs a powerful exercise regimen into each 30-minute workout session, using a range of equipment to target over 600 muscles in the body. Photo by Renee DeLorenzo<\/p>\n

Berlinger explained that clients can schedule up to two 30-minute appointments per week \u2014 time he said fits into many people\u2019s busy schedules and can be treated just like a dentist or doctor appointment. \u201cThey can go other places and do anything else they want to do,\u201d Berlinger emphasized.<\/p>\n

The equipment at Body By Berle has the capacity to work out over 600 muscles in the body, he continued, improving joint function and increasing flexibility.\u00a0<\/p>\n

He said each client performs circuit training, meaning they spend time on each machine in order to target different muscles over the course of the 30-minute session.<\/p>\n

Circuit training is important for cardiovascular health, Berlinger emphasized, so each trainer pushes their clients to elevate their heart rate.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

Clients are also instructed to use lighter weights and instead do repetitions slower without straining their muscles for a low-impact workout compared to running or jogging.<\/p>\n

Berlinger said it\u2019s not just the equipment that\u2019s important to the gym\u2019s model, but also trained staff who know how to use the equipment and train clients.<\/p>\n

To ensure his staff is providing the most educated instruction to clients, Berlinger requires applicants to read a short book about the Nautilus equipment and become Nautilus Certified, after which he trains them on the equipment for a few weeks.<\/p>\n

Jeffrey Millman, a trainer who began as a client, has been working at the gym for over 20 years. Before attending Body by Berle, he said he tried seeing a personal trainer and using a combination of free weights and workout machines.<\/p>\n

\u201cHere, though, it\u2019s structured for the best outcomes,\u201d said Millman, who sees about 30 clients per week. \u201cThat\u2019s what I liked about this place.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

Millman said something clients express to him is that the gym\u2019s 24-hour cancellation policy helps keep them from getting \u201clazy,\u201d forcing them to stick to their word and attend their sessions.<\/p>\n

One of Millman\u2019s favorite parts of working at the gym, he said, is hearing people\u2019s stories about how they\u2019re able to do day-to-day things that they weren\u2019t able to do before.<\/p>\n

For example, he said one client in her 60s told him that she couldn\u2019t lift half a gallon of milk and would have to ask her husband to pour it into a glass for her.\u00a0<\/p>\n

However, after attending Body By Berle, Millman said this client is able to not only lift the milk, but large bags of cat litter into her car, as well.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a great way for people to stay fit,\u201d Millman said. \u201cYou can come here knowing nothing, having never worked out before, and we instruct you to make sure you end up getting a better quality of life.\u201d<\/p>\n

Clients say it\u2019s life-changing
\n\"\"Jeffrey Millman, left, instructs June Sadowski-Devarez, 80, as she uses one of the gym\u2019s workout machines, ensuring she uses it correctly and preventing her from injuring herself. Photo by Renee DeLorenzo<\/p>\n

Clients at Body By Berle \u2014 many of whom are seniors ranging in age from their mid-60s to early-90s who are looking to retain strength and mobility \u2014 said the gym changed their lives<\/p>\n

Roslyn Schwersenz, who is in her 90s, said she began coming to Body By Berle in August 2019 to build and maintain strength. When she was originally researching gyms to start her fitness journey, she said Body By Berle was the only location that specialized in the kind of exercise she needed.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s one-on-one help, so you know you\u2019re doing it right,\u201d Schwersenz said. \u201cYou\u2019re not going to hurt yourself because it\u2019s all done for you.\u201d<\/p>\n

She said the trainers also show her exercises she can practice at home to maintain her arm strength throughout the week.\n<\/p>\n

Schwersenz said her experience at Body By Berle is always pleasant, and she\u2019s built a rapport with her trainer who knows exactly what she can do and can help push her a little harder.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel good when I leave,\u201d she said. \u201cI feel like I\u2019ve accomplished something.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

Janice Oldak, who\u2019s attended Body By Berle for over 20 years, explained that she began going to the gym because her job as an art teacher is very physical. Between carrying supplies, jumping on tables and keeping up with the kids, she said she quickly realized she needed help maintaining strength.<\/p>\n

Oldak said she tried attending another gym at first but found it unsatisfying and lacked incentive.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

However, at Body By Berle, Oldak prepays for her session, which she said incentivizes her to show up each time or face a cancellation fee.\n<\/p>\n

Having a personal trainer that is attuned to her body\u2019s needs, she continued, is another important aspect of her incentive to go to the gym.\n<\/p>\n

In terms of personal growth, Oldak said stamina has been her greatest achievement. She said she\u2019s more fit than even some younger faculty at the school.\n<\/p>\n

However, Oldak said she doesn\u2019t like to compare her personal performance against others and instead focuses on her own improvement on a day-to-day basis.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m a grandparent now, and I want to be able to take care of my grandchildren without aches and pains,\u201d she said. \u201cSo, I\u2019m going to stay with this as long as it\u2019s open.\u201d<\/p>\n

Oldak now describes herself as an \u201cexercise junkie\u201d and would even like to attend more than twice a week because she enjoys the endorphins she gets from her sessions.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI look forward to it,\u201d she said. \u201cThe trainers are very warm and really care about what you\u2019re doing. They push you to improve, and they want to see you progress every time you come.\u201d<\/p>\n

June Sadowski-Devarez, 80, said she was in \u201cdesperate\u201d shape when she first started coming to Body By Berle 11 years ago.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

She said she\u2019d spent a fortune on other gyms and injured herself from incorrect use of equipment. She could never stick to a regimen, she continued, and found her mobility decreasing over time.<\/p>\n

But when Sadowski-Devarez sought out Body By Berle, she said 30 minutes twice a week was a schedule not even she could come up with an excuse for. She was quickly hooked.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe trainers are phenomenal,\u201d she said. \u201cThe technique is so unique that no matter what age you are, you can still do this because you\u2019re working to your own ability.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sadowski-Devarez said even with her back problems, which are related to a medical condition, she has been able to build a lot of muscle. \u201cNobody tells you how important muscle is until you need it,\u201d she stressed.<\/p>\n

When Sadowski-Devarez broke her ankle last year, she said the staff at the rehabilitation center she attended for her recovery were shocked at her mobility.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThey couldn\u2019t believe the way I moved, because most people my age can\u2019t,\u201d she said. \u201cThe strength training here has saved my life. From the bottom of my heart, I really do believe that.\u201d<\/p>\n

How to start at Body by Berle
\n\"\"Berlinger, 71, personally uses the Nautilus workout regimen to stay fit. Photo by Renee DeLorenzo<\/p>\n

Interested individuals can contact the gym at (718) 264-8787 or visit their website at BodyByBerle.com<\/a> for more information about its services.<\/p>\n

Clients are provided a free trial workout to better understand the experience and decide whether it will work for them.\n<\/p>\n

Each $45 session includes personalized instruction from Nautilus Certified trainers for the entire duration of the session, and no more than two sessions are scheduled at a time in order to provide a private atmosphere with no crowds.<\/p>\n

Clients are also provided a personal diet coach to approach their fitness goals not only through exercise, but nutrition as well.\n<\/p>\n

While the gym has been around for 40 years, Berlinger said Body by Berle isn\u2019t going anywhere and encouraged those interested in getting in shape \u2014 regardless of age, gender or fitness level \u2014 to try it out.<\/p>\n

He said he never would have believed his gym would be around for 40 years, nor that he would still be in such good shape thanks to the workout regimen outlined through his research on the Nautilus machines.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m going to keep going,\u201d he said. \u201cI never thought I\u2019d still be here, so I\u2019m going to keep doing it.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Body By Berle, a personal training center providing one-on-one instruction in the Fresh Meadows Shopping Center, has been…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":135475,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[37],"tags":[57531,13530,57532,9,24,63,122,124,123,57533,15473],"class_list":{"0":"post-135474","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-queens","8":"tag-body-by-berle","9":"tag-fitness","10":"tag-fresh-meadows-shopping-center","11":"tag-new-york","12":"tag-new-york-city","13":"tag-nyc","14":"tag-queens","15":"tag-queens-headlines","16":"tag-queens-news","17":"tag-richard-berlinger","18":"tag-training"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/135474","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=135474"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/135474\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/135475"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=135474"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=135474"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=135474"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}