This post is part of a series on the relationship between small businesses and their communities. For more posts in the series, visit the What Is Working: Small Businesses page.
As the owner of a fitness studio, my goal is to create a place where people can share the camaraderie of working out and encourage one another to overcome their personal fitness challenges. Before we opened in Southfield, Mich., no one around here had ever heard of Power Plate training and many people told me that vibrational exercise was just a gimmick. People believed that weight loss, cardiovascular health, and strength training were only achievable by lengthy gym sessions and heavy weight lifting.
When I first started personal training, I did not realize how many people had health issues. From Rheumatoid Arthritis, to Muscular Sclerosis and back/hip/knee issues, my clients all sought me out to use the Power Plate. Power Plate training uses the principles of Acceleration Training to stimulate the body's natural response to vibration. These vibrations transmit waves of energy throughout the body, activating muscle contractions between 25 and 50 times per second, enhancing overall performance in as short as 20 minutes.
When we opened our doors five years ago, I only had 50 clients. I never fathomed that so many people had pain associated from everyday life. When new clients would come in, they all told stories of painful surgeries, physical therapy that they just finished, and aches and pains related to getting older.
As my business began to grow, so did my experience. I started putting together workouts specifically designed to certain injured areas of the body. I catered to my client's individual needs providing one-on-one personal attention and specialized workouts for their ability. I designed each workout starting off slow, then gradually increasing vibrations and incorporating free weights, body bars, kettlebells, and resistance bands to help increase ones core strength, cardio endurance, flexibility, and balance.
One day a client of mine asked if I was familiar with Muscular Sclerosis and Parkinson's. I told her no, but decided to meet with her friends. We agreed that they would be a case study to see how their bodies would take to the vibrations. After six months, both displayed an increase in circulation, heart health, balance, flexibility and muscle strength. Power Plate training promoted faster recovery of damaged muscles, tendons, decreased pain and improvement of their joint function.
I knew that I needed to reach out to the medical community and started working with local doctors requesting patient referrals. I provided doctors with evidence of reduced joint inflammation, better bone health, increased circulation, lymphatic drainage and weight loss. By tailoring each workout to my client's fitness level, they achieved better overall health. Everything you can do on the floor you can do on the Power Plate. Workouts are twenty-five minutes starting with stretch, cardio, balance, strength training and core. At the end of the workout, the client finishes in a massage which helps reduce lactic acid and promotes lymphatic drainage.
Being a Hispanic woman, I know that I am lucky to have my independence. I must admit that I am very patriotic and grateful for the military and veterans for my freedom. That being said, military clients and veterans have shown improvement in muscle strength since the vibrations cause the legs, chest, arms, and abs to contract simultaneously causing the body to fight the vibrations. This makes the workout much more intense essentially getting a lot more done in a lot less time.
I am very fortunate to have the most amazing clients. We truly are a fitness family. Most clients have been with me from 2-5 years. When new customers come in, they are welcomed by my staff and clients. Before I am able to provide them with information about my facility, my clients talk of their experience and the benefits they have received from vibrational exercise, my expertise and the one-on-one personal attention they receive at Vital Performance Power Plate Studio.
This blogger graduated from Goldman Sachs' 10,000 Small Businesses program. Goldman Sachs is a partner of the What Is Working: Small Businesses section.