New Fitness Studio Hopes to Promote Butler Main Street

One of newest Main Street businesses is hoping to bring patrons together in fun and fitness to feel better about themselves.

, a group fitness studio, is owned by Maribel Invernon, a massage therapist for the past seven years and life coach. Invernon, a Butler resident, said she was inspired to open the studio at 190 Main Street because of the impact fitness and wellness has had on her own life.

"I had a lot of spotty self-image issues and weight issues," Invernon said.

Invernon said her issues stemmed from a divorce three years ago and the death of her uncle, who died from complications due to obesity, two years ago. She turned to fitness to improve her own life and also began taking courses to become certified as a life coach, which she said helped change her life for the better.

Now, Invernon is hoping to bring happiness to others with what she has learned.

"I want to empower women to take control of their lives," she said.

Invernon said that after she decided to open the business, she immediately began looking at spaces on Main Street "because I live here and because I think the town needed something like this."

"I've been living here for about three years and I think it's a great little town and I think it has a lot of potential," she said.

She said she is hoping on Main Street.

Fuze Wellness opened its doors on May 18 to the public after one month of renovations. Unlike many traditional fitness studios, Fuze has no mirrors. Invernon said she felt the women-only studio should be designed to make members feel as comfortable as possible while they are there and that she knows from personal experience that mirrors can often distract those working out to be concerned about how they look.

Vicky Rios, 37, of Butler, a member of the studio, said she feels comfortable working out at Fuze.

"Fuze is a great place to go and work out. It's all females and what I love the most is that there's no pressure if you can't do something," she said. "You're able to go at your own pace and still get the workout that you need."

The studio offers group classes only, which include Zumba, Power Yoga, Bellydancing, Core Yoga, Gracy & Power and Kickboxing. As membership continues to grow, Invernon is hoping to offer more classes. Members can pay to drop in a class ($13), for set numbers of classes or for monthly membership.

Invernon said she decided to bring the massage therapy room and life coaching elements into the business as well because she feels that all three can work together to help a person feel good.

"I think the three aspects, together, can really help people feel better about themselves, both physically and emotionally," she said.

Invernon is hoping to get certified in Zumba so that she can teach the class herself and also use her fluency in Spanish to cater to Spanish-speaking residents of Butler at her studio.

She said she decided on the name "Fuze" because she feels like she is bringing together physical wellness with emotional, inner wellness.

"I'm trying to create balance from the inside out," she said.