Hang out, get fit

Achieve balance at ArtFit Oregon in Newport

By Gretchen Ammerman

Oregon Coast TODAY

The sight was immediately arresting — broad swaths of silk in bold colors cascading from the ceiling in the foreground, large hoops, or lyra, in more color combinations hanging in the background. When the kids began to arrive, the ArtFit Oregon Studio in Newport took on an almost kinetic energy. I happened to be there on an Open House night, and the healthy number of guests included many regular students of instructor Sharon Jones, who opened the new space in August of this year with husband Mike Jones.

“We have many outstanding students and we have three 12- to 14-year-olds that are just amazing that will perform at the Open House” Mike said. “They were our first clients and in eight months they have excelled and they are so fun to watch.”

But I wasn’t there just to watch, I wanted to give the workouts a try, as students of the gym range in age from seven to almost 70.

We started on the silks, which I was assured I didn’t need prior experience to experience.

“You don’t already have to be strong to get started,” Mike said. “Sharon starts you out by tying a knot in the silks and as you build strength, she will untie the knot.”

Despite the fact that I was absolutely killing it, completing each move with grace and precision, I gave up my space to others so that they could practice enough to reach my level. That’s my story and I’m sticking with it.

Sharon fell in love with aerial silks, and later pole fitness, belly dancing and lyra, roughly seven years ago when the couple were living in Texas. After about two years of training, she became an instructor.

The couple moved to Oregon, where Sharon has family, last year. After renting space in another facility for a few months, they purchased the former Newport News-Times building, which had enough space to offer a range of fitness options which also include pole fitness, tribal belly dancing, creative conditioning and focused flexibility.

“All of the classes work in relation to one another to build strength and confidence, “Mike said. We slowly plan to add other things like a Med Spa, which is a machine that tones your body that Sharon is certified to train people on, massage therapy and a Silks Yoga class.”

Though she has a gymnastics background, when Sharon first began doing the aerial exercises, she was looking for a new way to restore her earlier level of fitness.

“What really drew me in was that you get strong extremely fast, while still having fun,” she said.

Sharon’s students can show their stuff at public shows, which the couple take on the road.

“We have a portable rig so we can set up anywhere with clearance as high as 20 feet,” Mike said. “It can be used for aerial silks, lyra and pole fitness. They are a great thing to add to art shows, wine tastings, holiday events like New Year’s Eve parties and things like that.”

With proper training, aerial fitness can be a great, low-impact way to maintain fitness almost lifelong.

“My mentor was in her 70s,” Sharon said. “There is no age limit. If you get on the internet you’ll see ‘seniors’ doing amazing things.”

Amanda Hajek, after trying other ways for daughters Juniper, aged six, and Fern, aged nine, to get their wiggles out, has happily landed at ArtFit Oregon.

“We just started last week and now we’ve been back three more times,” Amanda said. “Sharon is a really great teacher for the little kids. She’s really gentle and patient and has a great way of showing the moves.”

Fern and Juniper have taken both the silks and lyra classes.

“They are really fun and good for people that have a lot of energy,” Fern said. “They also give you core strength.”

“I like that I get to stretch,” Juniper added.

After watching how much fun her daughters were having, Amanda soon signed up for her first class.

And she was not alone.

“We have a dad who has started joining the classes after bringing his daughter in, too,” Mike said. “He’s already getting really good.”

Shortly after taking the class myself, we were surprised by a visit from my sister and niece. We spent early Saturday afternoon at the studio, where my husband and niece took a class together. They, this time all joking aside, absolutely killed it.

ArtFit Oregon is located at 831 NE Avery Street in Newport. Classes are currently offered Tuesday through Saturday. For more information, go to artfitoregon.com or call 806-535-9472 or 806-790-1680.