Ashley Aylsworth, owner of the new Flex Fitness in downtown Tama with just a small portion of equipment available for members use in the location in downtown Tama. News-Herald/John Speer

“I want to give people in need an affordable, with classes and education-based way, to live a healthy lifestyle,” Ashley Aylsworth says of her new Flex Fitness business in downtown Tama. Open just six weeks, she already is closing in on 200 members signed up for use of the well-equipped studio at 210 West 3rd Street.

For those looking to improve their fitness and those already in condition there’s plenty of brand-new, state-of-art equipment to train. There’s 10 pieces of cardio- equipment, assorted stretching and weight equipment assembled in the double storefront.

And it’s open 24 hours a day for convenience of the members who are issued a pass cared to swipe to gain entrance.

Then there’s the class offering: core and more, cycle, yoga HITT – High Intensity Interval Training and weight lifting. Nutritional classes aimed at providing information on quality foods are planned.

Ashley herself is well-educated in these areas, has studied in the nursin filedg and will have additional instructors on staff.

Exterior of Flex Fitness at 210 W. 3rd in downtown Tama. News-Herald/John Speer

She was a personal trainer while attending Upper Iowa University at Fayette, Iowa and managed fitness centers similar to her hew one in Tama at West Union and Fayette. She has had nursing training and has competed herself in body building competition and Spartan Races which involve an obstacle course.

While a trainer at Upper Iowa she had a famous client, Chris Soules, from Bachelor television program fame.

Ashely ays she is appreciative of the City of Tama;s support in her effort to open Flex Fitness. The Tama City Council approved her business to benefit from incentives in the Downtown Revitalization Program.

Ashley is employed full time in housekeeping at Meskwaki BingoCasinoHotel. She came to the Tama area to join her boyfriend, Josh Giannetto, who is employed at Van Wall Equipment, rural Toledo.

Ashely says her personal motivation in the health andphysical fitness area was inspired by her aunt, Jeanne, who died of cancer. Th Flex Fitness logo used by Ashley has a red banner intertwined in remberance of her aunt.

“The Bachelor” Chris Soules with Ashley Aylsworth, who served as his personal trainer while she was at Upper Iowa University at Fayette. -Photo from Flex Fitness Tama Facebook page

The Flex Fitness location: Some of the businesses and proprietors remembered located in the 210 West 3rd location of Flex Fitness include Norton’s Music Store- Don and Phyllis Norton.; Tama Paint Store- Lee and Joan Fisher; Dr. George Murphy, Chiropractor.; Sears Catalog Store- Keith Shaw;2nd Hand Store- Don and Muriel Rank. Know of others? Let The News-Herald know.