Business shapes up

Mentor fitness center offers different ideas.

By Dave Truman, Business Writer

The News-Herald, February 28, 2001

Renee M. Bolz learned an important life lesson from the death of her husband 10 years ago. “I had two kids, at the time (ages) 7 and 8,” the Lakewood resident said. “I knew then that there is no job security anywhere and anything can happen to anyone at any time.”  With those cold, hard facts laid plainly before her, Bolz decided to take control of her life. She began with night and weekend classes at Cuyahoga Community College and eventually left a career in sales to start Total Body Image, a women’s fitness club in Cleveland.

Bolz scraped up what savings she had and invested in fitness equipment. As her client list grew, she invested the profits back into the company, growing her service offerings piece by piece.  “My goal was always to get into business for myself,” she said. “I was very successful with sales and marketing, but when I gained weight, I needed assistance.”

Bolz said she got the assistance and dropped from a size 14 to a size 8 exercising at CCC, where she also picked up the certification needed to operate Total Body Image.  The women’s fitness center offers a workout facility with personal attention, various spa treatments and Endermologie.  Bolz’ s business added a Mentor location a couple months ago with Endermologie as its focus, but she said she kept the total fitness center model intact because the treatments work better with a complete program. “Everybody is looking for the quick fix,” Bolz said. “One thing doesn’t work by itself.”

Endermologie is a technique designed to remove the appearance of cellulite. It was developed in Europe 15 years ago and is approved by the Federal Drug Administration, Bolz said.  The treatments’ success in building business had Bolz thinking about a second expansion into Beachwood.  “I was never comfortable walking into a (gym),” she said. “Most of my clients are the same way.”  Large clubs that cater to men and women often have the feel of a “meat market,” she said. Total Body Image features small rooms and serves women.  When Bolz discovered Endermologie at a health products fair last year, she invested $40,000 in the equipment and training and brought it to her Cleveland gym.

A treatment takes 35 minutes and must be repeated – about 20 sessions over two months at a cost of $1,600 to $2,000 – to be effective. To maintain the effect, the treatments should be repeated once a week thereafter, she said.

“It is the same principle as massage, but 400 times stronger,” Bolz said. “The skin feels smoother and softer and (clients) have more energy.”  Clients wear a full-body stocking as Bolz runs the vacuum-like tool over their body.  Jeanne Gibson, 49, of Concord Township, said she began using Endermologie for health and cosmetic reasons and saw results after several weeks of treatments.

“I have a big birthday coming up and I wanted to look as good as I possibly could,” Gibson said. “I am also doing it to help stave off osteoporosis.  “I’ve lost three inches – and I am not a large woman.”  Bolz said the treatments work best on women with less than 40 percent body fat.  Beverly Kelly, of Concord Township, said she is using Bolz as her personal trainer.  “I have always exercised at least three to four times a week and I was embarrassed in shorts,” she said. “This had really helped.”  Endermologie also has a relaxing effect on people, Kelly said.  “I have a regular massotherapist, but I stopped seeing him because this works the same,” she said.

Bolz said she is currently looking to add a certified massage therapist to her staff to handle additional clients in Mentor and Cleveland.

Total Body Image also offers nutritional and exercise programs, massage therapy, aromatherapy, cardiovascular and weight training, as well as facials and other services.

To contact Total Body Image call (440) 578-7777.

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