Your Girlfriends' Guide to Women in Business: The Little Black Book Fall Issue 2016 | Page 29

These Girls Fire are on A written by Nicole Breen ngela McCaffrey and Caitlin DiRuggiero met in 7th grade when Angela was new to the Montclair Kimberley Academy and Caitlin, having been there since kindergarten was “Big Man on Campus.”. some advice to train in Pilates to develop the intrinsic muscles in their cores to help them run further. It was then that they found a local studio in San Diego that was teaching the Lagree Method, a form of exercise created by fitness visionary Sebastien Lagree that is based on Pilates and combines strength, endurance, cardio, balance, core and flexibility training in each and every move. “Within 2 months, our bodies morphed,” “I wanted to stay on her good side, so I they describe, “and we were able to run 20 kindly let her take my oatmeal raisin cookie,” miles with no problem.” Angela recalls sentimentally. “I’ll never let Amazed by the results and the power of this her live that down.” training method, affectionately deemed She and Caitlin have been best friends ever “Pilates on crack,” the team decided in since. After graduating from college, the two 2012 that their home area “had to have this moved out to San Diego with some other workout.” They decided to sell all of their friends for a change of pace from the east belongings and move back to New Jersey to coast life. After a good friend was diagnosed start it up. with cancer at age 22, they decided to run a In 2013, Corefire Montclair opened its doors marathon to raise money for the Leukemia and has been growing since. Just this past and Lymphoma Society. September, the duo opened their second “We felt really far away from home, both Corefire location in Ridgewood and they plan emotionally and physically,” Angela shares, to continue to expand their brand. “but we really wanted to be connected to What is their hope for the future of Corefire? our friend’s struggle through the healing The pair plans to continue to provide the process.” “safest, most efficient and effective workout Sharing a mutual hatred for running, the for every body, every age, every level of duo set out to challenge themselves to do fitness.” They hope that Corefire continues to something neither thought possible, but be a fun, warm and welcoming environment, both thought necessary. but on a deeper level, want it to be a place “We knew it would be an extreme challenge that encourages self compassion, hard work for us but we figured if our friend could and discipline in the most non-judgmental battle cancer we could train our somewhat way. healthy bodies.” “At the end of the day, we’re all on our own But the pre-training runs proved to be difficult and they both continually would get “stuck” less than halfway through. Neither would give up, so they finally took physical and mental journey towards selfbetterment,” shares Angela. “We hope that this exact mindset is felt as soon as people walk through our doors.” for advertising information email: [email protected] // {29}