Health

Sweat it out alongside models at NYC’s secret fitness spot

Among the industrial kitchen supply stores that litter the Bowery is a rather inconspicuous brown door that could possibly be carbon-dated back to 1977.

Behind the not-so-sleek portal and up a flight of stairs is an airy studio where controversial fashion photographer Terry Richardson honed his creepy craft for 16 years.

Justin Gelband assists a client during a training session.Lisa Elaine Held/Well+Good

Richardson and his flannel shirts are no longer in residence — but the sexy, sun-soaked space with tin ceilings and exposed brick is still besieged with walking mannequins.

Instead of working it for the camera, they’re working out with trainer Justin Gelband, who was dubbed “The Model Whisperer” by T Magazine.

Gelband’s buzzy new fitness studio, which opened in February, is aptly called ModelFIT — but you don’t need a contract with IMG to work out there.

And if you’re lucky, you might sneak a peek at Karlie Kloss, Anne V or Taylor Swift toning their tiny waists.

“I had always heard of Justin from the Victoria’s Secret models on the Internet,” says Sasha Martynyuk, a 25-year-old Russian catwalker with Elite Model Management.

“I always wanted to work out with him. And then I found out about ModelFIT on Instagram,” says the lithe Russian. (Karlie Kloss enthusiastically espouses the wonders of ModelFIT on the photo-sharing app.)

Martynyuk immediately signed up for 10 classes, and says it’s the best workout she’s ever had. After all, Gelband, a North Jersey native with a bald head and prominent dark brows, seems to have a monopoly on honing the hindquarters of Victoria’s Secret Angels and Sports Illustrated swimsuit models — including Alessandra Ambrosio, Miranda Kerr, Kate Upton and Erin Heatherton.

Now mere mortals with $40 and a pair of sneakers can sweat like a supermodel with the mannequin master, whose 50-minute classes range from sculpting to boxing to cardio.

“This studio is for the public,” Gelband, a former swimmer and soccer player who has a degree in exercise science from Rutgers, tells The Post.

In his trademark woolly hat, he pads around the studio’s wood floor during a recent “Sculpt” class, adjusting clients’ form. Resistance band pulls, squats, leg lifts, abs- and butt-strengthening exercises are all incorporated into the workout, which is meant to target the small muscles that are often overlooked and underworked.

“Think strapless dress,” says Gelband, as he tells the class of about 10 to grab resistance bands attached to a ballet barre. He instructs students to extend the band over their heads, in an effort to tone the problem area around the arm and back and create a sexy, sinewy silhouette.

Lifestyle publicist Rachel Krupa, who splits her time between the Lower East Side and LA, says she started working out at ModelFIT because she was seeking a svelte physique. “If you have all of those supermodels, you know you’re going to get lean and not get bulk,” says Krupa, 34, who also does pilates, yoga and spin classes.

“There are a lot of lanky model types, but there are also ‘regular’ people,” she adds. “The people are super friendly. It’s actually really not intimidating.”

She also got more than she bargained for with Gelband, who told her right away that she was strong and should be doing his advanced classes.

“Justin adjusts you so you have correct form all of the time, and that is key for me.”

Krupa’s only regret?

“I wish he would open a studio in LA.”

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