It’s not every day that you get to meet a trapeze artist, but that’s precisely what happened when we sat down to speak with Theresa Racicot. Once upon a time, they soared through the air with the greatest of ease with their partner-in-adventure, Mike. Today, they've transitioned to solid ground, dedicating themselves to keeping Medford active and healthy at Reimagym – the ultimate gym for anyone who is not a fan of the gym!
We spent time with Theresa to learn more about Reimagym and what they and Mike enjoy most about living and working in Medford.
We always start with the question: If you're originally from Medford, tell us where you grew up. And if you grew up elsewhere, what brought you to our fair city?
I was born in Malden and grew up in Maine, but my grandmother lived here in Medford many years ago in the area where Wegmans is now, so you could say I have Medford roots. I found my way back to Medford by way of Washington D.C., where my spouse and business partner, Mike, and I worked as circus artists and taught flying trapeze through a company called The Trapeze School of New York.
We left D.C. and moved to Medford in 2012, first living in the Medford Square area, then later, we found our home in South Medford, where we’ve been living ever since.
And where you’ve made your business home! Tell us about Reimagym!
Well, in a nutshell, Reimagym is the gym for people who don’t like gyms! So many people don’t feel comfortable in a traditional gym setting for a variety of reasons. Even as fitness professionals, we can relate to feeling intimidated or uncomfortable in the fitness world, and we wanted to do something to change that. So we reimagined the gym as a place where everyone, regardless of body type, exercise experience, gender, or gender identity, could feel welcome, and Reimagym was born.
We have two main offerings: Small group personal training, with a maximum of four people in a training session led by a coach, which is a popular option. We also offer fitness classes in the traditional sense but with fun names like “Sweating to the 80s,” as well as strength training classes, mobility fitness, and flexibility classes. One of our member favorites is “Aaaah The Recovery Class,” which I like to describe as rolling around the floor and decompressing at the end of the week, and includes gentle stretching, some foam rolling, and deep breathing.
What does ReImagym have in store for the Fall? Are there any events we should mark on our calendars?
One way people can give us a try is our upcoming “21-Day Fall Into Fitness” special, which is essentially an intro to the studio for $89. You’ll get to try out a little of everything we offer, including one personal training session. There’s no pressure to join; we simply want to invite people to connect and see if we’re the place for you. We’ll take you through workouts at a pace that works for you, which is our opportunity to figure out the best starting point for you!
What are some of the things you enjoy about your residential and business neighborhoods?
I love that everything's close and within walking distance in South Medford; I can walk to a couple of different places with various food options or quick shopping. I’ve also walked from our house to Reimagym, and I can also hop on the bus. Plus, we’re close to the Green Line Extension. As a one-vehicle household, having so many public transportation options is great.
Much like South Medford, the Salem Street Business District is very walkable, and there are plenty of stores where you can quickly grab groceries or anything else you need. We walk our dog in the neighborhood and have gotten to know many of our business neighbors, and we often give Reimagym members a gift card for one of the neighboring coffee shops for their birthday.
What are some of your favorite spots in Medford?
When it comes to food, we are big fans of Pinky’s Pizza on Main Street, especially because they have gluten-free pizza. We also enjoy Asian cuisine and love Sei Bar and Tom Yum Koong.
As for outdoor locations, we’ve gone with some ReImagym members and friends to take kayaks out on the Mystic River from the PaddleBoston kiosk by the Condon Shell. We’ve also held events at the Medford Farmers Market and attended concerts at the Shell, which is a beautiful area.
If your best friend told you they were considering a move to Medford, what would you tell them?
I’d start with, “I hope you're getting a place near me!” I’d share that the people here are great and that Medford has a small-town vibe. As someone who embraces progressive values, I find comfort that we've elected individuals who champion forward-looking ideas into office, embodying our community's spirit. We’re a wonderfully diverse community of different cultures and ethnicities. And as a queer person, I've found more acceptance here than I did in the town where I grew up.
Ready to reimagine your fitness routine? Embrace the Autumn of Opportunity and join Reimagym's '21 Days Fall into Fitness' this October.
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