The journey to better health and a higher level of fitness and well-being is a puzzle for most.
Providing people with the pieces to put their personal puzzle together is what Charles Paz and Guivia Lorena Uchida do at FitElements Studio.
The downtown fitness center is part of a growing trend of boutique-style endeavors that are neither massive health clubs, hardcore operations in warehouse-style buildings or exclusive one-on-one training facilities.
And while personal training is part of FitElements, most of the offerings are in small manageable classes that give participants the benefit of one-on-one attention without forking over the big bucks that personal training sessions command.
“We keep our classes small and manageable so we can pay close attention to form and helping people get it down right,” Paz said.
FitElements is at 237 East Yosemite Avenue in downtown Manteca.
You won’t find high tech machines there. They use basic equipment that is essential to building basic strength, flexibility, and endurance.
Uchida noted improving one’s health and well-being is a puzzle. You have to have the right pieces to make it work.
She teamed up with Paz, a former football player and 1998 East Union High graduate, after she was one of his clients in another gym where he previously worked as a trainer.
Unlike other trainers she had worked with, Uchida said Paz took extra care to make sure she got the form down and understood the “why” behind movements.
“It changed my life,” she said of workouts under Paz’ direction.
Today Uchida — who has adult children — gets compliments from women about her muscle tone.
“Lifting weights doesn’t mean you have to develop big muscles,” she said.
If that is your goal, they can help you reach it. Classes, though, are geared toward making overall improvements in health.
They have had clients that, after a few months, have been able to shake asthma issues and even be able to get diabetes under control.
“People learn they can have control over their lives,” Paz said.
They invite people to stop by their fitness center just over a block west of the Manteca High campus and talk about their fitness goals. They will find workout areas in a cozy setting in a historic brick building that has no intimidating equipment.
After an initial meeting everyone is offered to come back and try a class at no charge. If they like it they can continue on a month-to-month basis.
“We require no contracts,” Paz said. “Your commitment is your contract.”
The classes are almost all in the single digits. Paz and Uchida wouldn’t have it any other way.
“We want to provide the individual attention as people workout,” Uchida noted.
FitElements offers classes and training sessions Monday through Thursdays and on Saturdays. There are early morning sessions as well as late afternoon into the evening.
They also offer a popular kids boot camp on Mondays and Wednesdays at 3:30 p.m.
For more information call 209.834.6684.