Yoga Chuck has classes for diverse groups

Celebrating its recent grand opening, Yoga Chuck's Health and Wellness Studio of Tiffin brings diverse yoga classes to all age groups, especially the Geri-Fit strength training class for older adults. Chuck Burmeister, owner of the new fitness studio, said he always had wanted his own space. So last year he decided to purchase a building to be able to put his studio together the way he wanted. "I wanted to make it mine," Burmeister said. He became a yoga teacher in 2009 after yoga helped him through his diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. "Yoga turned my life around," he said. Since then, he has been helping older adults throughout the community, specifically teaching classes at Allen Eiry Center. Burmeister started Geri-Fit last year — the first licensee of the evidence-based health promotion program in Seneca County. The program originated in Cleveland in 1994. The 45-minute strength training workout is performed using dumbbell weights ranging in weight from 2 to 5 pounds. Participants see an improvement in strength, balance, flexibility and gait, but more importantly, the program helps to manage chronic disease such as type 2 diabetes and pre-diabetes as well as lessen chronic pain conditions such as arthritis and back pain. Burmeister said he wants to help people be able to walk properly and get them to a stand from a seated position. "I know how much yoga helped me; I'm here for the underdog," he said. "I get more enjoyment out of helping the elderly and the disabled." Even though he has his own space, Burmeister said he will continue to teach classes in the community. Besides Geri-Fit classes 1:15-2 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, the studio offers Hatha yoga (beginner and advanced levels), gentle chair yoga, power yoga, a men's yoga class, and Movement for Mobility — a yoga class for those with advanced medical conditions such as Parkinson's, MS or cancer. Also, the studio is to provide a Power Plate — a vibrating plate for proprioception training and neuromuscular synchronization for enhanced training purposes.