ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, January 14, 1996 TAG: 9601150003
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV16 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 1.
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG
SOURCE: TERESA OGLE SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES
A big-band remix of "Johnny B. Goode" booms across the 1,900-square-foot aerobics studio, bouncing against the shock-absorbent wooden floors and mirrored walls.
Twenty-one women move from one exercise combination to another, sweating and laughing. The back wall is adorned by informational bulletins, clothing racks, posters advertising athletic shoes and a heart-rate chart that outlines the recommended rate for different exertions for ages 20 to 80.
The music slows as the women march in place, automatically turning toward the chart in the back of the room. Stephanie Deasy, the studio owner and class instructor, calls out, "We'll be taking a six-second count; start at one."
One of the older athletes looks at Deasy and asks, "What will I do next year? I'll be off the chart."
She won't be the only woman in the class to hit 80. In fact, in this group, 26-year-old Deasy is the only woman who isn't a senior citizen.
Four years ago, as a newcomer to Blacksburg, Deasy decided to open an aerobics studio and gym.
Today, the Body Shop in Bonomo's Plaza off University City Boulevard pulses day and night with loud music, colorful leotards, and dance and aerobics combinations for women of all age groups, from senior citizens to teen-agers.
The studio has 275 members who work out an average of three to four times a week under one of the studio's six instructors. The staff also includes two supervisors for the studio's nursery so mothers can exercise without distraction.
Deasy's fascination dates back to her childhood when she visited an aerobics studio with her mother. "I just never gave it up. It was something I could do and feel comfortable doing. It gave me confidence, and it was fun," she said.
While declining to discuss specifics, Deasy said the business has been profitable. The average membership, after a $39 initiation fee, costs $24 a month, with special rates for students and seniors.
Her best decision in running the studio, she said, was to change her clientele from both sexes to women only.
The age of her customer base also has evolved since she opened. From serving a largely student crowd, Deasy and her instructors now find their workout classes full of locals - from career women in their 20s and 30s, to senior citizens, to children. Her goal, she said, is to promote overall fitness and health for women in a comfortable atmosphere.
For the four years The Body Shop has been in business, the "Over 55 and Fabulous" group has met for aerobics three times a week at 8:15.
Providing services to active senior citizens is a potential market for businesses in Blacksburg, which has received high ratings in several national publications as a good place to retire. The town now has fewer residents over 62 than similar towns, but they are generally more affluent and spend more than in other communities, according to town officials.
"They inspire me," said Deasy of her class. "They laugh and have fun, but they also work hard. They're upset when they don't break a sweat. They have a clear sense of purpose. They're there for their health."
The class includes 30 to 35 minutes of aerobics, for the cardiovascular system, and 20 to 25 minutes of weight training, which increases muscle and bone density. Bone density is extremely important to women past menopause.
"They're not there temporarily to see if they can drop a dress size," Deasy said. "Everyone loves to learn. They want me to explain why we work each muscle and how they will benefit from strengthening it."
Anne Cennel, a retired physical therapist who belongs to the senior group, says the class is wonderful. "I get physical and mental stimulation here. They know exercise physiology and anatomy. Nobody's forcing. No one says, 'Touch your toes.' They say, 'Lean and reach as far as you can.'''
But it's the women in the class who make it exciting, "The ladies are fit," said Cennel. "I mean their stamina is amazing."
Deasy likes teaching a class "in which nobody's worried about who has the best body. "The women have life experience to fall back on. They ... don't worry about superficial things. ... Despite personal tragedies, they always come, and they come with a smile on their faces."
Many of the women in the class have friendships stretching back 20 years or more. "They're a tight group," said Deasy.
Deasy, who has credentials in several national fitness groups, takes pride in offering her students personalized attention. "I'm motivating people to be good to themselves and to feel good about themselves. I know every individual by name."
LENGTH: Medium: 85 linesby CNB