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Andrea Ferry is attempting to take every single exercise class in Wash-ington. Since she moved to town six weeks ago, her schedule has been packed with so much danc-ing, lifting, jumping and running that she’s dropped 10 pounds from her already petite frame.

What’s Ferry been training so hard for? Saturday’s grand opening of Reebok FitHub Georgetown (1251 Wisconsin Ave. NW), where she’s the fitness ambassador.

It’s the brand’s third such con-cept store in the U.S. — there’s one in New York and another in a mall near Boston. The fitness ambas-sador at each store is responsible for sending customers home with not just the right gear but also new ideas about where and how to work out.

“I’m finding instructors who are fitfluential,” says Ferry, who’s been inviting her favorites to teach classes at the store. At least once a week, the racks will be rolled to the sides to make room for a free workout.

Even when the store doesn’t have a scheduled event, Ferry — a certified CrossFit coach — hopes to give customers more than they

Andrea Ferry, center, fitness ambassador for Reebok FitHub Georgetown, leads impromptu kettlebell workouts at the store.

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bargained for. People who have been wandering into the FitHub since the store’s soft opening last week have been greeted with a fit-ness challenge: How fast can you do 10 burpees? (Ferry’s best time is just under 17 seconds.)

That’s only the first question. Ferry also wants to hear shoppers’ fitness goals, so she can custom-ize her FitHub tour.

All tours start with a walk along a wall of graphic T-shirts, including several with D.C.-specif-ic designs ($20). Just past a man-

nequin holding dumbbells is the store’s CrossFit section, which showcases how seriously Reebok takes its partnership with the con-ditioning program.

FitHubs are designed to resem-ble CrossFit boxes (that’s CrossFit lingo for gyms), with rings and ropes dangling from above, ket-tlebells and medicine balls hang-ing out in cubbies and jump boxes taking the place of chairs.

There’s also a giant board, sim-ilar to what boxes often use to post the workout of the day. On this one,

phys ed fit

Details The main event for the Reebok FitHub Georgetown grand opening on Saturday is a series of CrossFit workouts for all levels starting at 1 p.m. See details at balancegym.com/reebokfithub. Also on the schedule for this month: a cross-training Burn class from Washington Sports Clubs at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, a YaLa dance workout at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 24 and a 5K training program that kicks off at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 30. v.h.

Reebok Thinks Inside the Boxcustomers can see information that Ferry has scribbled about upcom-ing events and pick from a collec-tion of cards with sample Cross-Fit workouts.

Reebok’s CrossFit apparel is geared specifically to that style of training — men’s shorts have drawstring waists that won’t ride up with a barbell, long socks pro-tect shins from bruising, and sports bras leave extra space in the back for large lat muscles.

Even the shoe collection empha-sizes the CrossFit connection. The most prominent pairs ($85-$120) are ones made to withstand the rigors of heavy weightlifting and rope climbing.

But there are also plenty of products for other kinds of exer-cise, says Ferry, who points out the reflective details in the run-ning gear and the feminine touch-es in the dance line. At the back of the store is the “Classics” sec-tion, which features retro Reebok designs.

Ferry expects customers to aggressively try out the gear. Changing rooms have diagrams on the walls showing how to do squats and lunges. Customers can also use the agility ladders paint-ed on the floor, or go for a test jog.

That’s how people can ensure that a workout will actually work, Ferry says. vicky hallett (express)

Physical strength can play a role in an executive’s ability to punch through that glass ceiling.

That’s why Jennifer Maanavi and Tanya Becker, founders of the barre-based workout program Physique 57, will be warming up attendees at the Fortune Most

Jennifer Maanavi, left, and Tanya Becker founded Physique 57.

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Powerful Women Summit in Washington this week. The event also will feature appearances by Facebook’s Sheryl Sandberg, Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan and Yahoo! CEO Marissa Mayer.

“Our mission is to show women they’re stronger than they think they are,” says Maanavi, who joined forces with Becker in 2005 to launch Physique 57, which has since become an established fitness business with studios in New York, Los Angeles

shower, while Becker has found a move she can do even when going through paperwork: She lies on her belly and lifts her upper body like cobra pose in yoga.

“It feels so good after sitting,” Becker says.

It also feels good to be successful in a male-dominated field. Although men own the major gym chains, women have a real opportunity in boutique fitness, Maanavi says.

“We had to prove we had a busi-ness and not a hobby,” she says. Now, everyone can see how strong they are. vicky hallett (express)

and Dubai, as well as a book, DVDs and online workouts. (D.C. could be in contention for a future studio; it’s where Maanavi’s in-laws live.)

They know how tough it is for busy women to make time for exer-cise. Even working in the fitness industry, both of them manage to squeeze in workouts only when they’re scheduled — or sneaked in at any available moment.

Maanavi does pushups before bed and hamstring stretches in the

Ready to Reach the SummitPhysique 57 founders head to D.C. to help women find strength

Find CrossFit-specific gear and classes at the brand’s new store