Drumming Up Better Health

“My goal is to help at least one person every day to be positive and focused on their health,” says Kyle Lewis, co-owner of the Healthy Vibes for You nutrition club at 2137 Market St. in the Centre Market area of Wheeling.

Kyle, his wife and co-owner Kahlie, and his team of wellness coaches have operated the nutrition club and healthy shake shop for about two years now. In addition to his nutritional shakes, Kyle offers cardio drumming classes for his customers and the general public.

Kyle leads the group in a workout.

What is cardio drumming? It’s an hour-long exercise class that’s fast-paced and fun for all ages. “When people think of ‘cardio,’ they only think of running. This is cardio that’s different and fun,” Kyle promises. This fitness craze has grown in popularity over the past two or three years, according to Kyle. The class requires minimal equipment — an exercise ball and a set of drumsticks. No drumsticks on hand? No worries — a set of sturdy wooden spoons will work in a pinch. Healthy Vibes for You provides the plastic tubs that serve as bases for the “drums.”

Drummers at a cardio drumming class.

The class is a fusion of aerobics and high school band practice. The hour flies by as participants work up a sweat to the sounds of Taylor Swift, Queen, Lady GaGa and other pop artists. Kyle keeps the group motivated with his enthusiastic personality and upbeat sense of humor. Cardio drumming class is donation-based, and Kyle encourages anyone who is interested to come and give it a try. “It’s fun for everyone from kids to grandparents!” says Kyle. “Movements can be modified to suit any fitness level.”

If you’re looking for a quick, healthy meal replacement before your workout or a post-workout energy booster, let Kyle or one of his team whip up a Healthy Vibes specialty shake for you. “Each shake is 250 calories or less, and contains 21 vitamins and minerals and 20 grams of protein,” Kyle tells Weelunk. “It’s a perfect quick, healthy meal option.” The shakes come in a wide array of flavors to please any palate. They are vegetarian-friendly and also come in options for vegans and those on gluten-free diets.

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Kyle prepares a brownie batter flavored meal replacement shake.

Healthy Vibes for You also offers personalized wellness coaching to help clients achieve their nutritional goals, whether that’s losing weight, gaining muscle mass, or striving for some other ‘non-scale’ goal. Throughout the year, Healthy Vibes for You offers Body Transformation Challenges for clients with cash prizes awarded for the greatest improvements in physical fitness.

If channeling your inner Keith Moon or Dave Grohl while simultaneously getting in shape sounds like something that might help you hit your fitness goals, bring your ball and sticks and join the group on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7 p.m. inside Health Vibes for You. Kyle is looking for a nearby church, school or office building willing to house the class during cold weather, as increasing class size is making it a bit crowded inside the shop. In addition to finding a new location for the Tuesday/Thursday evening class, Kyle has plans in the works to expand the cardio drumming classes to the campuses of West Liberty University and Wheeling Jesuit University.

Healthy Vibes for You is offering Weelunk readers a special deal — if you visit the shop for the very first time and tell them you learned about them in this article, your first shake is free of charge. Tell Kyle that Ellen sent you!

For more information about Healthy Vibes for You or any aspect of their wellness coaching, stop by the shop or visit their Facebook page.

• A lifelong Wheeling resident, Ellen Brafford McCroskey is a proud graduate of Wheeling Park High School and the former Wheeling Jesuit College. By day, she works for an international law firm; by night, (and often on her lunch breaks and weekends) she enjoys moonlighting as a part-time writer. Please note that the views expressed in her writing are solely her own and do not necessarily reflect those of anyone else, including her full-time employer. Through her writing, Ellen aims to enlighten others on causes close to her heart, particularly addiction, recovery and equal rights. She and her husband Doug reside in Warwood with their clowder of rescued cats, each of whom is a direct consequence of his job as the Ohio County Dog Warden. Their family includes four adult children, their spouses and several grandkids.