Musical theatre’s leading man Josh Piterman has opened Australia’s first fitness centre PITFIT specialising in creative functional fitness for performers, dancers and actors. Everyday Australians wanting achieve great results in an energized and fun environment can also get involved and visit the studio on PITFIT Open Day on Saturday 22 November 2014.
A merger of two loves, PITFIT represents Josh Piterman’s love of performing with a love of fitness. Bringing a sense of the theatrical and playfulness to the fitness world, PITFIT’s fitness philosophy is based on functional fitness, which is designed to aid and strengthen the muscles we use in our daily lives – which can be a very different story for performers.
PITFIT boasts of growing clientele including cast members from Wicked, Grease, King Kong, Les Misérables, and performers such as Rob Mills as well as former footballer Wayne Carey. Piterman has also transformed the bodies of many everyday Melburnians, who enjoy the creative flare and point-of-difference that PITFIT offers.
PITFIT fills a large gap in the entertainment industry by offering tailored functional fitness programming for our busy and hardworking entertainers, who, like footballers or any other athletes, require personalised and specific training for their field.
“We often hear people comparing dancers to athletes,” said Josh Piterman, PITFIT founder and creator. “But unlike athletes, performers like myself have never had access to completely tailored strength and conditioning programs designed to help them move more dynamically and powerfully.
“There’s also a very serious side to PITFIT. I’ve witnessed a lot of preventable injuries happen on the stage – including a few close calls myself – simply because performers, although technically trained, haven’t had a specific strength and conditioning program designed to develop their mind-muscle connection.”
“And, like the arts, PITFIT is creative and fun. Performers like all of us, need to be inspired by a blend of competition and fun and that’s exactly what PITFIT is all about.”
Piterman is working towards national recognition of PITFIT’s flagship program for entertainers: Perform Stronger for Longer. Although a long journey, recognition of the program from music theatre producers and the entertainment industry as a valid means of injury prevention could see a reduction insurance premiums for productions and will change the landscape for performers in an incredibly positive way.
On stage, Piterman is known for his leading turns as Tony in West Side Story, The Ten Tenors classical music group, An Officer and a Gentleman and The Drowsy Chaperon opposite Geoffrey Rush in Australia. Abroad, Piterman had a successful stint on the West End playing Corny Collins in Hairspray. Piterman also boasts an extensive career in fitness and wellbeing.
He attained “Master Trainer” status at the Australian Institute of Fitness and was 2013 Institute Champion. Piterman also completed work experience with the AFL’s Melbourne Football Club’s strength and conditioning department. In 2013, Piterman was appointed as an Ambassador for the Australian Institute of Fitness, sharing the honour with the likes of Michelle Bridges.
PITFIT is located at 2 / 82 St Kilda Road, St Kilda. An Open Day will be held on Saturday 22 November 2014: 8.00am – 1.00pm. For more information, visit: www.pitfit.com.au for details.
Image: Josh Piterman in West Side Story – photo by Branco Gaica