by AMANDA WINTERS

Sequim Gazette

Two months after her partner in business and life died in a boat explosion, Marie Tomita is continuing what they started together at Lifetime Wellness.

In January, Tomita and Keith Bryant opened Lifetime Wellness, a toning salon and fitness clothing and supplement store, in Rock Plaza at the corner of Old Olympic Highway and Sequim-Dungeness Way.

They set up shop with five motorized therapeutic exercise machines separated by curtains for privacy, racks of fitness and organic clothing, and a line of supplements. Tomita is a distributor of Isagenix dietary supplements.

On Jan. 31, Bryant, 78, sustained fatal injuries when a propane tank exploded on his boat in John Wayne Marina. Tomita took a month off before deciding to reopen the business. Now, she’s ready to get back to work.

‘Gentle exercise’

The motorized machines work as a five-part exercise regimen for people who can’t or don’t want to go to a gym for rigorous exercise, Tomita said.

Customers spend five minutes on each of the machines, which move their bodies to increase flexibility, mobility, improve blood circulation and strengthen muscles, Tomita said.

“It looks almost passive but is really safe for everyone and it’s effective,” she said.

People with medical limitations such as heart problems, high blood pressure, arthritis or multiple sclerosis often can’t do conventional exercises, she said.

But the therapeutic exercise machines move the body for the patient to provide for a “gentle exercise” routine that gives some of the same benefits as conventional exercises, Tomita said.

A starting point

Joyce Dorstad, a new customer at Lifetime Wellness, took advantage of Tomita’s first-treatment-free offer April 4.

She said when she was told she needed to exercise more she went out and took a long, rigorous walk. The next day she was extremely sore.

Tomita said the gentle movement of the exercise machines could provide her with a good starting point for graduating to more rigorous exercise.

Sometimes there is minor muscle soreness the following day, but no real strain, she said.

The machines target different areas of the body, including the waistline, thighs, arms and lower back.

There also is a full body vibrating bed that leaves everyone “tingling and glowing,” Tomita said.

For more information on Lifetime Wellness, call Tomita at 683-2464 or go to the toning salon at Rock Plaza, 10163 Old Olympic Highway.

Reach Amanda Winters at awinters@sequimgazette.com.