Smiles encompassed faces and laughter filled the room during the grand opening celebration of the Fullbody Fitness Club in Brentwood.
“This is a lot more fun than a gym. It’s new, exciting and for what it offers it’s not that expensive,” described Debra Smith, one of the many happy members.
Considered an experience, owner Darieth Chisolm points out that her new venture is not a gym. She describes her fitness club as a unique variety of alternative fitness methods geared to challenge and awaken both the body and the spirit. “It is a new and unique way for fitness lovers to work out,” she said.
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| SO INVIGORATING—The owner of Fullbody Fitness Club, Darieth Chisolm receives Aerial Yoga instruction from guru Maddy Landi. (Photos by Diane I. Daniels)
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The 4070 Brownsville Rd. facility offers new and unique exercise programs, including JUKARI Fit to Fly and Fit to Flex, an inventive blend of Cirque du Soleil artistry and Reebok athleticism.
Relatively new concepts, JUKARI Fit to Fly and Fit to Flex are a combination of body resistance and aerial acrobatics. The workout is said to create the sensation of flying while strengthening and lengthening the body through cardio, strength, balance and core training. The choreographed interval training classes are designed to burn calories, while moving, suspending and bouncing your way through a heart pumping workout with moves. Equipment used for the dance trapeze style exercise is called the Flyset. Considered a versatile piece of body-weight leverage equipment it is designed especially for JUKARI Fit to Fly and has the capability of rotating 360 degrees.
One of the first facilities in the US to offer both the JUKARI Fit to Fly and JUKARI Fit to Flex, Chisolm’s goal for the club is to provide her members a change of pace and a fun, unique workout experience. In addition to the Aerial Fitness and Silk Dance she offers Aerial Yoga, Yoga, Zumba and Pole Fitness classes. “At Fullbody we mix stainless steel and silk, Latin and Brazilian rhythms, earthly vibrations and R & B Music,” she said.
Filled with natural light and a combination of white and mirrored walls, Chisolm pointed out that the ropes, bands and block equipment are used on a thick padded flooring to help protect joints and knees. In the midst of her own workout she said members have lots of room to spin, fly, climb, drop, jump, swing and dance their way to a better them.” She also stressed that she has a dedicated team of personal fitness instructors. “All of our instructors are professionally trained, licensed and certified in their respective fitness fields. Each is CPR-certified and participates in continuous training and education,” she said.
Not just geared toward adults, Chisolm recommends getting youth involved in Aerial art. “The aerial apparatus and flowing aerial fabric is exciting to them and when they watch they like it,” she said. Concerned that often inner city youth can’t afford to take gymnastics or participate in similar types of programs, she said Aerial Art is affordable and a way for youth and teens to explore their physicality and creativity when gravity is not a factor.
Known in this region as a WPXI Channel 11 news anchor and for her mistress of ceremonies, commentating and speaking abilities, Chisolm once related her passion as teaching, coaching and inspiring others to transform their lives. She served as a coach focusing on personal and professional development.
“At Fullbody we believe there is beauty in strength and that being healthy is the greatest gift you can give yourself and the people in your life,” she said. “The experience is transforming. It is a way to expose oneself to new and healthy experiences.”
Always possessing an entrepreneur spirit and interested in providing beneficial services to people, Chisolm figured one of the best ways to meet her challenge is through Fullbody. “This facility is not about me,” clarifies Chisolm, “it is about people opening their self-up to new experiences. It is about awakening.”
A former runner, and avid user of Yoga and student of Aerial Yoga and Aerial Fitness and Silk Dance, she said Fullbody Fitness is a great way to bring everything under one roof and a way to bring the “best of the best” to the community.
Pleased with the pricing structure, Smith a member from Coraopolis said the $99 class structure is fitting for her budget. They offer an array of classes throughout the day. Membership packages can go between $39 to $99 depending on one’s interest and budget, Chisolm pointed out. Drop in classes are also available. She suggested going to their website; www.fullbodyfitnessclub.com to learn more.
Located in Brentwood Towne Square mixed in with a variety of stores and with the mall behind her, Chisolm said the facility location is convenient for people to get to and from most areas in the region. It’s close to places east like McKeesport and Pleasant Hills; south like Mt. Lebanon, South Hills, Mt. Oliver and Knoxville, close to the South Side, North Side and Downtown and within 30 minutes to Wilkinsburg and Monroeville.
Paula Spence and Charla Pettis-Murphy, Zumba instructors from McKeesport and Aerial Yoga instructor Maddy Landi, founder and director of the performance company kNOTDance are excited that Chisolm had the vision to bring such a facility to the Pittsburgh vicinity. “Members here are the first in the city to experience and explore this variety of new and unique exercise programs,” Landi said.
Excited about the collaboration of Reebok and Cirque du Soleil coming to the Pittsburgh area with their two new fitness programs from sports giant Reebok to introduce the concept to her members first, Chisolm is enthusiastic about how the fitness routines can change the health and fitness of people. “This is a good way to exercise and workout; why not have fun doing it?”
(Fullbody Fitness Club: 412-692-1600.)
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