By Amy Lewis

Main Street Fitness, a 24-hour commercial gym co-owned by brothers Josh and Michael Henderson, is now offering specialized sports training for local youth. Josh Henderson, a performance coach certified through Overtime Athletes University (OTA University), recently launched the classes aimed at enhancing athletic performance for children aged six and up.

“In these classes, I focus on how to weight lift and train for your specific sport through strength and conditioning,” Henderson said. “For example, for someone playing baseball, we’d work on rotational force for throwing and hitting, but that wouldn’t be as effective for someone playing football or basketball who has to be able to change directions on a dime.”

Henderson has been active in organized sports since the age of five, participating in baseball, football and basketball. His dedication to fitness is not only professional but personal, driven by his three active young sons.

In addition to his role at Main Street Fitness, Henderson serves as a member of the Brantley Volunteer Fire Department and as a youth minister alongside his wife Chelsea at Word Of Faith Church in Brantley. His brother and co-owner, Michael Henderson, has been in the fitness industry for 12 years. Michael, certified as a personal trainer, began his career after studying at the University of South Alabama. He has worked in various locations including Troy and Eufaula, before partnering with Josh.

The gym offers a variety of services, including 24-hour access, tanning and fitness classes such as flex and stretch, which are particularly popular among older community members. The addition of youth sports training marks a significant expansion in their offerings.
Bobbie Phillips, the Brantley Parks and Recreation Director, is a strong advocate for the youth training program.

“My oldest is 12,” Phillips said. “He’s already working with Josh, and you can tell a big difference.It’s helped so much with his coordination and strength. My seven-year-old will start in July. So, I’ll have both my kids enrolled. If you want your kids to prosper in sports, you should really go with Josh.”

The training classes are structured by age groups and tailored to different sports.

“Different levels of training are offered for different age groups,” Henderson said. “The younger ones would work mostly on running and mechanics of body movement. Then as they move up to the older group, it would be more focused on how to do things for their specific sport.”

Kristy Bolling, the head volleyball coach at Highland Home School, praised the program. Using fundraising and parent contributions, they enrolled the entire volleyball team for training.

“We’ve been doing it since April and will continue through June. Josh helps by working on mobility, agility and speed for the upcoming season,” Bolling said. “We’ve already seen some huge improvements and definitely an improvement in confidence.”
As the youth training program continues to grow, the brothers aim to inspire and cultivate athletic talent, helping young athletes achieve their full potential both on and off the field.