ASTRID BENGSTON
In her North End studio, Bengston is surrounded by kettlebells, stability balls, and foam rollers — all trappings of her aptly named Bodytalk Factory. A 28-year-old former rhythmic gymnast from Sweden, she's been helping locals incorporate proper biomechanics into their lives, enhancing their skeletal and muscular alignment and strength, for about a year and a half. Her own history with one-on-one coaching — and with injuries — has influenced every bit of her business model. "Healing myself, and figuring things out the hard way, sparked my interest in doing the same for other people."
Here's how it works: Bengston first takes a photo to get a read on your posture, then takes video of simple movements — walking, squats, lunges. Whatever inconsistencies or quirks she notices inform your new training regimen, be it simple stretches or intense Pilates-style muscle work.
But her life outside the studio isn't all steamed veggies and lean protein; she happens to be married to jm Curley's gourmet-junk-food Jedi, chef Samuel Monsour. "Can you put it in a sandwich? Can you fry it? Done," she says of Monsour's credo, laughing. "It's a good balance. Sam's got this 'fuck it' mentality, which is a great complement to the OCD-level stuff I do all day."
_CASSANDRA LANDRY
