RED BANK, N.J. — A Red Bank Catholic University graduate is opening her own Pilates studio, with a logo she created in memory of her childhood friend, Mya Lynn Terry, of Oakhurst, who died of childhood leukemia at just 10 years old.
The young woman is Paige Comerford, who grew up in Ocean Township.
Comerford, 21, is a recent graduate of Clemson University in Clemson, South Carolina, where her studio, Pilates Social Clemson, is located.
Paige and Mya were in the fifth grade at Ocean Township Middle School when Mya, along with both her parents, lost her life to cancer after a five-and-a-half-year battle with the disease.
“Pilates Social Clemson’s logo features a butterfly in honor of my childhood friend, Maia,” Commerford said. “Maia inspires me and the entire staff at Pilates Social Clemson to always make purpose a part of our passion. In her honor, we will donate a portion of our profits to charities that support our mission to make a difference in health, wellness and much-needed medical research.”
Maia died in April 2013 at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.
“During her decade, Mia inspired hundreds, possibly thousands, of people with her positive attitude towards life and constant desire to help others,” her obituary said.
Mya is also a published author, “The Day I Got My NG Tube” by Mya Terry, available on Amazon.
Prior to her passing, Maia was a member of the Ocean Township Girl Scouts and enjoyed swimming, soccer, making movies on her iPhone and iPad, crafts, cooking, gardening and biking. When she grew up, Maia wanted to be an oncology nurse, open her own restaurant or take care of pets.
Learn more about Maia: The Maia Lynn Terry Foundation
Comerford said she started Pilates after it helped her recover from an illness while in college.
“I’ve always been an avid runner, logging many miles a day, but after an unexpected diagnosis of a rare neurological disorder during my sophomore year of college, I was no longer able to tolerate high-intensity training. The low-impact, high-intensity Reformer Pilates workouts helped me recover my muscles and improve my health,” she says. “When I couldn’t find Reformer Pilates close to campus, I eagerly sought out opening my own studio downtown. I am thrilled to be opening Pilates Social Clemson in my beloved Clemson community, and I hope this program can help others on their journey to health and wellness as well.”
Her studio is scheduled to open in August this year.
Clemson has a large enrollment of New Jersey students, so Pilates Social Clemson is seeking two assistant managers and multiple reformer Pilates instructors.
To apply or for more information, visit pilatessocialclemson.com and follow @pilatessocialclemson on Facebook and Instagram.
Pilates Social Clemson is located in downtown Clemson, South Carolina, behind Roar and Backstreets at 114 Earle.
