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Great Bones
By Jennifer Hemmeyer

One in two women and one in four men older than 50 years will sustain bone fractures caused by osteoporosis, but the Rasmussens at Great Bones have developed a system to shake up these statistics. A year ago, Martin, Art, and Phyllis Rasmussen opened Great Bones. They offer a 30-minute, customized, strength training experience through the use of two machines.

The Biodensity machine provides four exercises that strengthen the major muscle groups in the body. This machine also measures both muscle strength and bone performance for each client on a weekly basis. Graphed results are then emailed to the client.

The Power Plate machine is a vibrating plate on which clients perform stretching, balancing and core strengthening exercises. It also facilitates massage, which greatly diminishes the usual muscle soreness associated with strength training. The Power Plate is where each session becomes tailored to a particular client’s goals and needs. Martin, Phyllis and Art work with each person to determine what he/she is trying to accomplish, and then demonstrate the stretching, balancing and strengthening poses that will be the most effective.

These machines, along with an assortment of plants, make up the Great Bones shop. A board displaying client progress on the Biodensity machine hangs on one wall. Clients quickly see 100% gains in strength and sign their names on this board. “You have to feel it to believe it,” states Martin, inviting me to place a foot on the Power Plate. It vibrates at 30 Hertz a second, requiring muscle engagement.

The Density machine provides a quick but surprisingly thorough strength workouteach

Martin says that convincing people that they don’t have to spend countless hours in a gym is the most challenging aspect of this job. “Technology has caught up with strength training,” he says, “which now delivers maximum benefit in a short amount of time. While the benefits of whole body vibration have been around since the 1960s, used first by the cosmonauts, the technology hasn’t always been available to the public.” Martin and his parents are three of only four trainers in Oregon certified in Power Plate.

Client Katie Hogue says, “at first glance, the power plate exercises look like a gimmick, but once you try the work out you will be hooked! Each exercise only lasts 30 seconds, but it's a very tough half-minute. You are working every tiny muscle fiber in your body for each exercise and you come away from your work out feeling muscle fatigued but not tired.”

Not just for the elderly—Martin coaches a client working to improve his core strength with the Power Plate.

After working in Los Angeles for five years as a Land Use Planner, Martin realized he needed a change. “I went from having my best body in college while being a Super Slow Strength trainer to being on blood pressure medicine at age 28,” he explains. Art and Phyllis spent a winter training with their son and experienced first-hand the benefits of this work. They’d owned an RV park in Northern California and were, like Martin, ready for a career change. Once they discovered the Biodensity machine (which had been designed specifically by a man whose mother was struggling with osteoporosis), they knew that creating a business to help people reach their peak condition was possible.

The Rasmussens train all sorts of people, from dragon boat enthusiasts and runners to seniors who want to confidently walk up a flight of stairs. “The vast majority of our clients,” says Martin, “are females. They know they want to keep doing what they love well past retirement.”

Although people can come in for individual sessions, most clients sign up for a long-term plan, committing to maintaining optimum health and strength. “Our osteoporosis clients are the most dedicated,” explains Martin, “and they usually sign up to work with us on a yearly basis.” This population has received the best results from weekly sessions.

“When I first started with Phyllis, I couldn’t get up off the ground; she had to help me onto the machines,” explained Lanette Spencer, a long-term client. Lanette started working with Phyllis a year ago, as she recovered from stage three breast cancer. She had extreme neuropathy in her feet due to the chemotherapy. After a few weeks at Great Bones, the neuropathy decreased markedly, allowing Lanette to get off her pain medication. She also has osteoporosis and used to need to take the elevator at work. “Now I can take the stairs very quickly,” shares Lanette, “and my strength has increased 152%.” As someone who has never loved the gym experience, she really enjoys being able to gain great benefit from a half hour, and is excited before each visit.

Being based in Cedar Mill allows the trainers at Great Bones to work with “great people who love being healthy,” says Martin. They provide an alternative to going to a gym and have found that many people like trying new things. While they initially got one or two walk-ins a month, they’ve had five this past month, so they’re hopeful the word is spreading. They have one client who drives in from Happy Valley, but the rest come from the local community.

Martin, Phyllis and Art live in the Beaverton area and thoroughly enjoy the outdoors. “Staying active has always been an important part of our lives,” Martin says. He recalls cycling with his parents since he was ten. Over the years, they’ve covered thousands of miles on their bikes. “Our first real experience with Oregon was when Martin was thirteen,” recalls Art. “We rode our bicycles from Astoria to Crescent City.” Martin has a passion for dragon boat racing and has developed a Great Bones program specifically to prepare his team for the upcoming season.

When asked what they envision for the future of this family business, Phyllis shared that, “it would be fun to have a shop in each neighborhood.” Currently however, the Rasmussens are Great Bones, from the operations of the business, to the marketing, to the one-on-one personal training.

The Rasmussens belong to both the Beaverton and Tigard Chambers of Commerce. Great Bones is located at 485 NW Saltzman Rd. Give them a call at 503-575-9261 to schedule your two free introductory sessions. Read articles about the Great Bones equipment and osteoporosis, peruse client testimonials and schedule your visit at www.great-bones.com.

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