Introducing New Instructor and True Gem: Julia Neto

Julia is the nicest person. When you meet her, you feel instantly comfortable and happy to be around her. This is a quality I seek in all of my instructors, and I felt so lucky to have found this in Julia. What most people don’t realize, however, is that she teaches an extremely challenging and exciting class. She will push you hard and give you something different each time you step into her classroom. In addition to her talent as a teacher, Julia has a keen understanding of the body and how to challenge it safely – even during pregnancy – which makes her such a strong trainer.

I am extremely proud to welcome Julia to our Body Conceptions team and to introduce her to you here. (You’ll learn lots of things you might have never expected.) Be sure to try one of her wonderful classes, and get to know her a bit, too — she’s fantastic!

~ Mahri

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Julia headshot

Full name: Julia Catherine Neto

Where did you grow up?  Attleboro, MA

What’s your biggest passion?  Dancing and choreographing

Julia leap

Tell me about your career. Have you changed directions? If so, why? I’m still in the beginning phases of my career, but starting a career in fitness was not something I originally intended. I had always planned to focus on dancing first, but as my passion for fitness grew, I discovered Body Conceptions and it was the perfect blend of both! My work with Body Conceptions is definitely my focus right now, but I am lucky to be able to keep up my dancing at the same time.

Julia stag leap with weights

What do you wish you knew when you were younger? I wish that I knew that people are generally nicer and more accepting than you might think, and you don’t have to be afraid to be yourself and show who you really are.

What’s your fitness fashion style? I tend to go for form fitting clothes that I feel accentuate my best features. I also like to look neat and put together, because I believe the better you look, the better you feel!

Julia's fashion

What’s the best piece of health/wellness/dance advice you’ve ever gotten? One of my favorite pieces of advice was actually a quote that hung on the wall of the studio I grew up dancing in, that read, “Some succeed because they are destined to, but most succeed because they are determined to.” This quote has stuck with me through so many phases of my life, because it reminds me that dedication and determination are all that you need to achieve your dreams.

Julia performance

What’s your guiltiest pleasure? That would have to be nachos! My friends know me as a nacho connoisseur, and they are definitely my favorite treat!

What quality do you really cherish about yourself?  I think that I am a very driven person, and I am always pushing myself to take on new challenges and accomplish new goals. I try to encourage the people around me to be the same way, and I support them as best I can.

What’s something most people don’t know about you (that’s maybe a little funny or weird)? One thing people should probably know about me is that I am obsessed with my cat named Jimi! I am always sharing photos of him and other cats, and I’m just a major cat person in general.

Anything else about you that I missed? My family is absolutely everything to me. I am super close with my parents and I know that I would be nowhere without their endless love and support.

Julia's Family

Meet our new instructor and Broadway performer, Ashley Adamek!

It was so exciting to see Ashley Adamek at our instructor audition.  I have known Ashley through the musical theater business and have always admired her as a dancer.  And there she was at BoCo!  I’m thrilled to welcome her as one of the newest additions to our team.

Ashley has had a varied background in show business, including performing in the Broadway production of Spiderman and touring with Chicago.  These credits are impressive of course (and I tell everyone!), but more important to me is Ashley’s sweetness, strength, hard work, and integrity both in and out of the fitness studio.

Find out more about Ashley here – and definitely try one of her challenging classes (especially her Saturday morning BoCo Bootcamp!).  You’ll be in for a treat!

~Mahri

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Ashley dances in the studio

Full name: 

Ashley Adamek

Where did you grow up?  

I lived in Vernon, CT until I was 10, and then I moved to Raleigh, NC

What’s your biggest passion? 

Dancing

Ashley street leap

Tell me about your career. Have you changed directions? If so, why? 

Dancing has always always been what I love to do and always will, but the business of dancing can be tough mentally, physically, and emotionally.  It’s especially hard when you pour your heart and soul into it without any other outlet except for maybe a “survival” job that you hate but that sustains you between dance jobs.  I got into fitness because it provides a great outlet from dancing.  I can have fun with both, and my focus has shifted to splitting my passion between the two.  At the end of the day I think it’s made me have a healthier relationship with the business of dance, too.

Ashley teaches high knees

What do you wish you knew when you were younger?  

Don’t let anyone intimidate you.

What’s your fitness fashion style?  

Funky, edgy, fun!

Ashley arm stretch

What’s the best piece of health/wellness/dance advice you’ve ever gotten? 

It’s all about balance.

What’s your guiltiest pleasure?  

Cheese…and red wine…

What quality do you really cherish about yourself?  

My drive!

Ashley high punch

What’s something most people don’t know about you (that’s maybe a little funny or weird)? 

I can move my left bottom eyelid muscle independently of any other muscle.

Anything else about you that I missed?  

Nope!  ;)

Ashley headshot