Getting Strong to the CORE

Febuary/March 2004

by Trisha Miller, Discovery Feature Writer (source: Cascade Discovery)

Beating his friends while conquering the ski slopes in Canada is just one benefit Bend resident Charlie Cushman attributes to his recent work outs at Central Oregon Resistance Education. “We have this ski trip every year— this has helped big time,” Cushman explains. He is pleased to add he has noticed a lack of sore, early-season legs after a day on the hill.

Other visible changes Cushman has seen in the last month include the loss of a pant size and gaining muscle throughout his entire body without stress in the back or joints. The difference, the long time member of traditional athletic clubs explains without hesitation, is “the personal assistance CORE provides,” and using machines that have no stress on the back or joints. Cushman or any other client at CORE will never have to wait for a machine in the 1,500 square-foot facility in the Old Mill. The vaulted ceiling building features windows surrounding the gym in an open air space for a private workout on the 12 MedX and SciFit machines.

CORE owners Tom and Tammy Sliney have been in the area for over a decade. Both are certified personal trainers and Tammy is a decorated body builder.

CORE is only one of three places in the Northwest—with the others in Portland and Seattle—to offer the MedX equipment, which was developed for minimal stress on the joints. Invented by the same man responsible for Nautilus, Arthur Jones, MedX is a hybrid line with each machine featuring a patented compound weight stack, to allow two-pound increment changes, which is ideal for beginners, mature or otherwise weak individuals. But, while affording low minimal settings, each MedX machine provides 300 to 500 pounds of total resistance and even 1,000 pounds on its leg press. The biomechanical design utilizes a resistance curve, an effective method of varying resistance levels while mimicking joint angles to eliminate strain.

“As you age, your biggest problem is a loss of muscle tissue because we become sedentary,” Tom explains. When there is a loss of muscle tissue, the body’s metabolism slows, he says, and strength training can help rebuild the muscle tissue.

Workout gimmicks and diet fads are exactly that, he says—gimmicks and fads. “It’s so simple, but people make it so complicated,” he said. “If there is a fountain of youth, it’s strength training.”

The Sliney’s suggest their clients work out one to three times a week for an hour session at CORE. The session entails a short warm-up on a SciFit stationary bike or elliptical machine followed by a total body workout on the 12 pieces of MedX equipment. The trainers preset each machine to your body size and strength, so there is no guessing. Having balance in the body and working it efficiently is the workout philosophy at CORE. “Life’s about efficiency,” Tom said. “This is the most efficient way to work and the best way to isolate the muscles.” After working the entire body, there is a two to three day recovery period, so the body is well rested for the next CORE workout.

Central Oregon Resistance Education is located at 616 NW Arizona in the Old Mill District in Bend. Information: 389-6595.