Innovative Exercise Techniques Set Clayton's Levity Fitness Apart

At Levity Fitness, on Oak Street in downtown Clayton, the sky is the limit on what owner Ilima Heuerman plans to do for her clients.

Although Levity has been open for a little more than a month, Heuerman already has a goal of expanding her personal training repertoire, adding aerial silks and other uncommon training methods.

“I can do anything in here,” she said. “That sets me apart from a lot of places, even personal training studios because they don’t have the equipment and most personal studios don’t have group rooms for training and also the big expanse and all the aerial stuff I will have going on…I can do anything.”

Heuerman, who has lived in Clayton for 10 years, began the business in her garage in 2008. She was able to train and work from home, while taking care of her two kids.

Her house is across the street from the , and curious parents would inquire about her training.

The business began to grow by word of mouth and Heuerman looked for a more spacious space. After teaching classes in recreational facilities in Concord and Pleasant Hill, she wanted a studio of her own.

“People are willing to pay for the individuality and the care that I provide them. What I liked and what I thought of doing with my studio space is that I could bring that cost down and care for more people. And that was a big reason I wanted to have a studio."

A recent client, Ryan Lowe of Clayton, has worked with Heuerman for the past month. He attends TRX classes, which is suspension bodyweight training, every Monday and Wednesday to supplement his own training for triathlons. 

“One of the key differences of what she does and what you get at a regular gym is her classes are very small,” said Lowe. “Even though I go to a group TRX class, it is very much like personal training. So that is very nice for me. Also the programs that she has there, like Pilates, and including TRX, are less focused on things you would get at a regular gym like just lifting weights, but rather using your body weight as leverage and use that as your resistance.”

Heuerman, a native of Haleiwa, Hawaii, went to College Park High School in Pleasant Hill. She graduated from the University of Southern California in 1999 with a degree in biological science.

After college she worked as a marketing coordinator for a company in San Francisco. “It was a great job,” said Heuerman. “But I didn’t get any physical action… I missed just moving.”

Her vocational change came when she had her two children. “I like to move so when I was home taking care of my babies I started doing Muay Thai training and Pilates training. I got addicted and then I got certified. It was a like a snowball effect."

Heuerman went on to receive certifications as a personal trainer, in Pilates Mat and Reformer advanced and in TRX Suspension Training. She found Levity's current home in March 2010 and after more than a yearlong process was able to open in late May.

Heuerman, who also writes fitness columns for the Clayton Pioneer and Clayton Patch, has given motivational speeches at multiple events and would like to do more of that.

However, for the moment, Heuerman’s main goal is continuing to expand her business in Clayton and see how far it can take her.

“The sky is the limit. That is the beauty of having a multifunctional facility with all this equipment that doesn’t entrap people into a box.”

Training contracts are for three months at $45 or six months at $40 and classes are two or three times a week.

Group classes, including TRX, Zumba and Pilates Reformer, also are available.