×

BalloFlex Fitness available in Salem

SALEM — Laura Solmen holds seated fitness classes at the Memorial Building for assisted living, nursing home and other clients bi-weekly for $5 per class.

She works for BalloFlex Fitness, and she started with it last October in Salem.

“It’s seated fitness for everyone,” she said.

“My idea was nursing care, people with mobility issues, women, people looking for something different to do and feel more comfortable working from a chair.”

She said people with hip or knee surgery can benefit along with others including people who live with fibromyalgia, or are wheelchair bound, have mobile and balance issues, are self conscious about weight, lupus, recovering from car accidents, prefer a group class to a gym, have arthiritis issues and more.

They should check out BalloFlex, she said.

The website says, “It’s low impact and fun.”

Specifically, BalloFlex is a seated chair fitness activity that incorporates elements of music and dance.

Solmen, who is an licensed practical nurse, holds classes in Mineral Ridge and Louisville and began her program by marketing in assisted living and nursing care facilities in the Salem area.

“So far I have a small group,” she said.

Meeting twice a month, her next classes at the Memorial Building will be June 7 and 21 at 6 p.m. The one-hour classes include 30 to 40 minutes of exercise topped with juices and a light snack afterward.

She said people stay later. “I wanted people to socialize. People may be home alone and we stay the whole time.”

Solmen said the music centers around the 1960s and 1970s and part of the her job as a trainer is to see what type of music people want to exercise with.

She said the 60s and 70s music crosses a lot of generations and she’ll throw some country songs in if requested.

While she has been a personal trainer for nine months, the BallooFlex Fitness program was founded by Julie Buckeye of Cuyahoga Falls nine years ago, Solmen explained.

On her social media page, Buckeye said, “BalloFlex is more, more then a fitness program” and helps those with chronic back pain, and limited mobility.

As an athlete and dancer, Buckeye was injured in an accident and while in a wheelchair had trouble keeping in shape and exercising. She fixed that and started BalloFlex Fitness.

Solmen recalled her mother gave her DVD that got her interested in the program.

BalloFlex, she explained is movement through music and another word for dance.

The Memorial Building is handicap accessible and the $5 per class keeps it affordable for those who can’t afford classes otherwise, Solmen said.

For more information, visit balloflex.com, or call Solmen at 330-472-0411.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.39/week.

Subscribe Today