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JAHS in the
News
The following
article appeared recently in several Maryland local editions
of The Gazette:
The
Gazette
Lifestyles
Section
Thursday, October 24, 2002
The skinny
on the Durekes
Couple's
JAHS
Publishing Group looks to follow in the footsteps of successful
fitness center
By Sarah Schaefer
Special to The Gazette
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Photo:
Oswaldo Jimenez/The Gazette
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Margaret
and John Dureke, holding their eight-month-old daughter,
Destiny, show off their collection of books, tapes and
a clothing line at their office in Hyattsville.
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If
Margaret Dureke were a superhero, she'd probably be called
the "Moxie Motivator." But in reality, Margaret has come close
to superhero status without the need of fancy names or special
powers.
Margaret
-- author of Words and Phrases of Wisdom" and "How to Succeed
Against All Odds" and owner of JAHS Publishing Group in Hyattsville
with her husband, John -- has become an icon to many Washingtonians
who struggle with healthy living and obesity.
In fact, hundreds of people from across the region have lined
up to watch Margaret sweat it out at local health fairs, including
NBC4's annual health expo.
Despite
the acclaim and admiration, Margaret said her success is the
result of hard work, not special talents or skills. In "Words
and Phrases of Wisdom," Margaret said, "I can tell you that
there is absolutely nothing special about me except that I
am not a quitter."
Don't
let Margaret's modesty overshadow her accomplishments.
Since
1994, Margaret and her husband, John, both natives of Nigeria,
have operated JAHS Odiche Fitness & You, a small fitness center
in Hyattsville. The tiny storefront is where Margaret shares
her weight-loss success story with her patrons, all the while
extolling the virtues of hard work and. healthy living."
Margaret
and John immigrated to the United States in the early '80s.
They met as college students and were married in 1987. Margaret
continued her studies at the Washington College of Law at
American University.
In
the early '90s, Margaret began a career in the legal world
but quickly felt the itch for "creative freedom."
Said
Margaret; "I get bored easily, so the question was, 'What
do you do in America, when nobody knows you and you have no
connections?'"
Margaret
said her husband was surprised when she told him of her desire
to open a fitness studio and leave her career in law. John,
who has authored "The Goodluck Bird" and "The Horrors of War
from the Eyes of Children," wondered how it would all work:
-- Margaret was very overweight and had no fitness training.
Still, John knew Margaret would not let her "morbidly obese"
condition and lack of fitness experience stand in the way
of her new goal.
After
creating a business plan, Margaret developed her own style
of fitness training and became a certified aerobics instructor.
In 1994, the couple opened a small space off of Knox Road
in College Park and, began promoting the fitness center.
Now the family-oriented fitness center attracts dedicated
patrons from all over the county.
Lisa
Johnson, 38, of Hyattsville met Margaret six years ago. When
she came to Margaret's center, she was overweight and unable
to have children. Today, Johnson has lost 60 pounds and gave
birth to a son, Frank Jr., last year. Johnson said Margaret's
positive message coupled with the studio's non-competitive
atmosphere kept her coming back.
"When I came to their studio for the first time and saw the
'before' and 'after', pictures of Margaret on the walls, I
thought, 'That's real.' I wasn't embarrassed when I came here,"
she said, cooling down from a long workout. Johnson is only
one of the, many people who credit Margaret with making a
positive change in their lives. The Nigerian couple has made
a name for themselves in the Washington fitness world, but
their journey to success, Margaret said, was long and sometimes
difficult.
"No success is overnight," Margaret said, relaxing in the
studio's office. Margaret said their dream started like many
others, with little more than an idea and the desire to help
people.
Many say she has done just that. Catherine Rowell, who joined
JAHS in 1997, said she became hooked on Margaret's program
from the very start. "I felt stronger, more energized and
I was happy," Rowell said.
Rowell,
39, now teaches classes at the Hyattsville location and promotes
the program at local events.
When their fitness business began to stabilize, the enterprising
couple expanded their operations over the years to include
JAHS Active Wear and the JAHS Publishing Group.
Margaret
has begun a series of promotional appearances and has been
scheduled to deliver several motivational speeches in the
coming months.
"I'm booked all the way through March," she said.
Somehow most people figured that.
To
purchase Margaret and John Dureke's books or for more information
on JAHS, visit www.Jahspublishing.com
or call 301-864-2800.
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