| ReCharge
Wellness Provides Center for Health Resources |
By Anthony Paradise
Observer Staff Writer |
| People often find themselves torn in different directions
about how they should live a healthy lifestyle. |
| If a person isn't nursing an injury, maybe he or she wants
to lose weight or relieve an aching back or reduce daily stress
levels. In a world with trendy diets pulling people one way
or another, it can be difficult to know who or what to trust. |
| It's a problem Dr. Bruce Short wanted to address when he
opened his new business, ReCharge Wellness, in Herndon on
Aug. 1. The business brings sports therapy, personal exercise
training, massage and nutritional consulting under one roof. |
| Short came up with this idea after recalling when people
approached him with health questions. He didn't always know
whom to send them to for advice, leading him to open a business
with people he knew. In fact, they were individuals who already
had established their own health-related companies but didn't
have a place to work out of. |
| Short emphasizes a method he came up with called sports
therapy, which incorporates chiropractic techniques, massage
to break down scar tissue, physical therapy, pilates, and
strength conditioning. |
| The strength conditioning, according to Short, is more of
a mental strengthening that helps a person's core stability
through additional conditioning. This form of conditioning
features working with a rocker and wobble board, along with
a physio ball to improve overall strength and core muscle
stability. |
| Although Short is pleased with what's available, he still
would like to add on to the current services. "I would
like to expand with acupuncture," Short said. "We've
incorporated what we've wanted." |
| The rates for Short's services are normally paid by health
insurance companies, but those without insurance can pay $45
for each visit. Short said there are other payment packages
available, including paying $450 up front for 12 visits, and
group rates can be discounted if a person participates in
other programs. |
| Another service provided is by Bluestar Fitness, founded
and taught by personal trainers Donald and Laura Poindexter.
According to the Poindexters, their sessions, which cost $65
for each hour, will have private personal training, plus private
lessons for kickboxing and self defense. |
| Laura Poindexter competes in national Tae Kwon Do tournaments,
and Donald Poindexter studies various disciplines of martial
arts. |
| In addition to the personal training, kickboxing and self-defense
lessons, the Poindexters educate their clients through different
seminars. These seminars, which are 90 minutes long and cost
$30 each, are "core stabilization," the strengthening
of the deep abdominal muscle that supports the spine, "fitness
through empowerment," advice on nutrition and exercising,
and "foam rolling," using pressure to help tight
muscles. |
| A seminar called the dynamic back school will be held in
January for $185. It's a four-week session that discusses
lessons on back care by examining anatomy and proper stretching. |
| Although the Poindexters have many options, it all represents
one objective. "Our goal is not to only train them, but
to empower them to lead a healthy life," said Laura Poindexter. |
| Traditional massage is provided by Carrie Durham, who comes
to ReCharge after working for a year at Salon Nordine in Fairfax.
Durham, who obtained her state certification through AKS Massage
School, uses traditional massage techniques and sets a relaxing
mood by using sensual oils and lotions, along with playing
soothing music in the background |
| Another method Durham incorporates is Ashiatsu, in which
she soothes people by using her feet while hanging from wooden
bars attached to the ceiling. Whether employing traditional
massage or Ashiatsu, Durham feels she provides a service that
helps the mind and the body. |
| "It benefits emotionally and physically," said
Durham. "Mentally, it's a sedative for high-strung people,
especially in this area after waiting in traffic for so long." |
| The rates for the massages are $40 for 30 minutes, $65 for
an hour and $90 for 90 minutes. |
| Michele Powers, who went to Johnson and Wales University
in Rhode Island before becoming a registered dietitian, runs
a company called Nutrient Chef. Powers stated her ambition
for her clients is, "To work toward lifestyle changes,
developing a healthy eating plan and enabling them to prepare
balanced meals for their family." |
| For $35, Powers will have a consultation where customers
can discuss their goals. From there, she'll come up with a
plan and offer several programs to individuals. |
| It costs $75 for hourly appointments, which is more extensive
and includes such items as doing calculations, designing a
meal plan and teaching lessons on other trends, such as eating
on the run and how to make a quick and healthy meal. |
| Powers also performs cooking sessions that range from $200
for two hours and $250 for three hours. The workshops include
picking up groceries, discovering recipes, and receiving instruction
on meals the client can take home to enjoy. |
| Short believes his organization will prosper because it
offers many options for customers. "Things have followed
the plans with how it should have," said Short. "It's
a great group of people and I think it will succeed since
we're so unique." |
| ReCharge Wellness is located at 1041 Sterling Road, suite
101 at the intersection of Sterling Road and Elden Street
in Herndon. |
| It's open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and
accessories, such as custom pillows, fitness balls and all
nutritional supplements, are on hand. |
| To make an appointment, call 703-481-4400 or visit www.rechargewellness.com. |
