jenna dosch/view Jana Forsythe, owner of The Firm Fitness, 5803 W. Craig Road, Suite 104, shows some of the machines that target specific areas of the body and are designed to break down cellulite, increase blood circulation, improve flexibility and strengthen muscles.
jenna dosch/viewBrenda Haslam, owner of Migun thermal massage, which shares space with The Firm Fitness, demonstrates the arms and chest machine, which concentrates on toning and strengthening muscles in the arms, chest, shoulders and back.
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Jana Forsythe, owner of The Firm Fitness, admits that it's not always easy to get newcomers to try the motorized therapeutic exercise machines at her place of business, 5803 W. Craig Road, Suite 104.
But it took her a while to get used to machines, as well, and once she started to see results, she was hooked.
Originally from Oklahoma, Forsythe, a Las Vegas resident since 1999 who also works in construction, first heard about the isometric movement machines from her mother.
"My mother had been doing it for a few years. It's something you see a lot more on the East Coast and in the Midwest, and now it's working it's way out here," Forsythe said. "It's kind of a combination of isometrics and physical therapy, and it's perfect for people who might have health limitations or a condition that prevents them from exercising in a traditional gym environment."
The Firm Fitness brand of workout also can be complementary exercise for those who are looking to increase energy and flexibility while firming and toning muscles, she said.
The center, which has shared space with Migun thermal massage at the corner of Craig and Jones Boulevard for about three months, consists of 10 exercise machines that clients rest on while the machine's movements provide the workout. Some machines slowly stretch, like the Body Bender, which raises and lowers the legs from the waist to tighten muscles in the abdomen. The Vibrator machine works on complete body toning, gently vibrating a variety of body parts to increase blood circulation.
"Some people like certain machines more than others, but we encourage that they use them all for the total experience," Forsythe said.
Clients typically use the machines for 50 minutes -- five sessions on five different machines -- twice a week, changing up which machines they use on each visit. Forsythe instructs on the proper positioning and movements of the machine before clients settle in for their workout.
It may seem like a different kind of exercise to newcomers, but the relaxed vibe at The Firm Fitness fits well with the type of wellness promoted by Forsythe and Brenda Haslam, owner of Migun.
"The heat therapy beds are about overall health and detoxification, so we're a good match here in this space," Forsythe said. "It's a very relaxing area, and we're getting ready to have a chiropractor join (the office), as well, so we'll be offering a lot in one place."
Like Forsythe, Haslam said she enjoyed the benefits of her business.
"I have two herniated discs in my neck, so I've had pain and loss of feeling in my arms," she said. "Once I was on the beds, it really got the circulation going and all the feeling has come back. That's why I decided to open this, because I had that kind of experience. This is the only Migun site in Las Vegas."
Haslam said the heated beds also can help lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and that Migun is endorsed by the American Chiropractic Association.
"It's a good mix here because you can come to The Firm Fitness and have a workout, and then get a treatment at Migun after and you're set for the day," Haslam said.
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