Ari Weller is a teacher and personal trainer who integrates body, heart, mind, and spirit in his individualized fitness sessions. Ari's work called Integrative Movement, is a complete training philosophy resulting in total physical fitness and a mind/body awareness not readily achieved in modern fitness techniques.
In 1991, Ari Weller graduated from the University of Arizona and entered the field of radio advertising. In five years, he lived in four cities: Tucson, Phoenix, San Diego, and New York. Yet while he was extremely successful in ad sales, it did not match his zest for the pursuit of health and fitness. He left his job at Z100 New York to find himself and follow his passion.
In 1996, Ari became a personal trainer at Equinox Fitness in New York City. At Equinox, he trained under Rich Barretta learning and mastering various techniques to aesthetically chisel the exterior of the body. Through his success as a top trainer at Equinox he also began writing contributing articles for Details Magazine, Fitness, Men’s Journal and Time Out New York. Although Ari had a thriving clientele, he recognized the limited creative freedom and environment working for large chain gyms. He trusted his skills and became a freelance trainer.
As a freelancer, Ari’s technique and philosophy began to evolve. He began to realize that the stereotypical method of bodybuilding created a visually appealing physique but neglected the vital internal body. At the same time, Ari himself was dealing with a number of injuries as a result of training in these methods.
Searching for ways to heal himself and for a deeper knowledge of the art of physical training he began to study the core internal systems. Through the influence of exercise teacher and friend Emory Moore, Ari was introduced to the top Yoga, Pilates, Gyrotonic, Martial Arts, Meditation, and Qigong teachers in New York. A whole world was opened up for Ari and his work. He developed a weekly yoga routine studying Iyengar, Vinyasa, Kundulini, and Ashtanga. He began studying Pilates and became mat certified at Power Pilates. Ari was also attracted to the genius of Gyrotonic and was certified through master teacher Juergen Bamberger.
Through Ari’s exploration and experience he began attracting major public personalities such as Sean "P Diddy" Combs, supermodel Chandra North, comedian Marc Maron, entertainment mogul Benny Medina and talk radio star Robin Quivers. Ari’s work has been featured in The New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, Self Magazine, W Magazine and New York Magazine. He was also featured on the national television shows Extra and Today. Ari's philosophy and style were recognized by the esteemed real estate development corporation, The Sunshine Group, to design and develop a unique workout space at the new 10 West End Avenue building on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.
In 2006 Ari took a short leave of absence from the training profession to become the Director of the Elat Chayyim Center for Jewish Spirituality at the Isabella Freedman Retreat Center. Though he was not training clients, Ari's life in the woods of the Berkshire mountains offered him new creative tools with which to grow his physical training philosophy. Snowshoeing, ultimate frisbee, hiking, rock scrambling, open lake swimming, trail, road and mountain hill running are now part of his personal and professional regime.
In September of 2008 Ari will be leaving the retreat center to return to his private fitness training practice. He and his family will be living in the Hamptons of New York to offer his method there and he will also be available to see clients in New York City.