A pioneering fitness studio in Pasadena is revolutionizing senior exercise through bungee-assisted workouts, adapting the concept from Thailand to serve those with physical limitations. Martha Bustos, recovering from her second hip replacement and currently using a walker, opened Bungee Fun FITT Studio on January 4, 2025, drawing on her experience with rehabilitating her right hip from 2022.
The concept emerged after Bustos, a former track and field, softball, basketball, and tennis coach with a master’s in kinesiology, found traditional gyms lacking. “After that surgery, I noticed that gyms do not cater to senior students. The compliance was just not there. And they wanted to set me up with a private instructor. But even there, I mean, I would notice their focus was not on me looking around, oh, do this, do that, but not really focus on my needs,” she explained.
Similar to the Silver Sneakers program for adults 55 and older, Bustos’s “Soaring Seniors” program uses a specialized harness system. Each station incorporates “a link, a carabiner, a swivel, and then bungee cords, and then another carabiner, and then the harness,” engineered to support 500 pounds. Basic setups use eight bungee cords providing 134 pounds of support, with single cords offering 17 pounds of resistance, doubles 34 pounds, and triples 50 pounds. Additional cords are added based on participant weight — for example, a 146-pound person requires one extra cord.
Participants begin with a 15-minute registration session, documenting weight and height for proper harness sizing (S, M, L, XL). The 45-minute workouts for seniors follow Bustos’s “Move to Improve” methodology, featuring instructors Taylor, Lisa, Star, Ashley, Rick, and Jackie leading warmups with “lunges, butt kicks, everything” before progressing to choreographed routines. Instructors call out moves like “knee up, knee down, knee up, knee down, and then around the world” to music, with participants advancing from Level 1 to more intense Level 2 classes.
Comparing the experience to “The Twilight Zone” episode “Kick the Can,” where seniors regain their youthful abilities, Bustos noted, “They’re going to be moving to improving and at the same time doing things they hadn’t done in a long time.” Participants report burning 300 calories per session on their Fitbits.
The studio, which opened to the public on January 7 before a temporary fire evacuation, fills a regional void — similar facilities exist only in Utah, Arizona, and Oklahoma. The timing proved prescient, with recent class-action lawsuits against LA Fitness and 24 Hour Fitness regarding Americans with Disabilities Act compliance.
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Operating through word-of-mouth rather than social media, the studio offers bronze, silver, gold, and platinum memberships under the “Let’s Heal Together” campaign, providing year-long discounts. Weight restrictions range from 90-260 pounds, with strict safety protocols including liability waivers. Each class is recorded, and participants receive photos of their achievements, particularly the popular “Star” pose where they “jump and fly up in the air”.
Bustos, pursuing partnerships with Ultimate and LA Care (preferring Ultimate), sees her own journey — being told she couldn’t “cross your legs… do burpees… do squats” — as testament to the program’s importance. New participants must complete a mandatory two-day introductory class (Level 1) before advancing to Level 2, ensuring proper progression in what she calls a “low impact cardio assisted workout”.
The studio also offers a Bungee Fitness Studio app for class registration and has a six-hour cancellation policy. Participants are advised to wear athletic sportswear or padded bike shorts for comfort. Those who have had surgery in the past six months or are pregnant should consult a physician before participating.
For anyone who menstruates, you’ll know that your hormones can affect how you feel at different times in your cycle. However, did you know these hormones can also impact your athletic performance? If you didn’t, you’re not alone — a 2019 study conducted by researchers at St Mary’s University in Twickenham, England, analyzed more than 14,000 female Strava members. 72 percent of women said they have never received any education regarding exercise and their menstrual cycle.
Women’s Health Week
This article is part of Tom’s Guide’s Women’s Health Week — a series of content that explores how technology and the right workouts can support and empower women through every phase of life.
If you have a ‘normal’ menstrual cycle — the monthly process where the rise and fall of certain hormones prepares your body for a possible pregnancy — then you will have, on average, 450 periods throughout a lifetime. So, it makes sense to understand what’s happening in your body and how movement can help. Research has continually found that exercise can help to beat a bad mood and even boost dwindling energy levels.
Founded in April 2024, Vault Strength Club (VSC®) is redefining wellness culture in South Africa. Born from a desire to create more than just a fitness group, VSC® blends movement, lifestyle, and meaningful connection into one inclusive, empowering community. From humble Saturday runs to collaborations with major brands and dynamic events, the club has rapidly grown into a thriving hub where fitness meets friendship, and every member plays a vital role in the journey
What inspired you to start your community, and what’s your vision for VSC®?
Vault Strength Club (VSC®) was founded in April 2024 out of a desire to create an inclusive space that combines fitness, lifestyle, and meaningful connections. I’ve always been passionate about building communities that offer more than just physical activity, it’s about creating a movement where individuals can connect, grow, and elevate one another. Our vision is to redefine wellness culture in South Africa, curating a space where fitness, social connection, and personal development intersect.
Vault Strength Club
How has VSC® evolved over time, and what significant milestones have you achieved?
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What started as casual Saturday runs quickly evolved into a thriving community. In under a year, we’ve celebrated several milestones, building a consistent, committed community that shows up weekly. Hosting successful collaborations and events with leading brands and organizations such as Under Armour, Women’s Warehouse Charity Foundation, 247 Represent, LITA Water, Revive Electrolytes, Raising Queens Foundation, Red Bull to name a few, Launching our own merchandise line to further solidify our identity and expanding into fitness-focused events like padel tournaments, hikes, and social gatherings to deepen engagement.
How do you foster a sense of community and camaraderie among your members?
We are intentional about creating an inclusive and supportive space. Beyond our weekly runs, we host padel tournaments, celebrate members’ weekly achievements by checking their stats and awarding their efforts every Saturday, and encourage members to support each other throughout the week. Our leadership team ensures that every individual feels like a valued part of the movement.
What are some of the biggest challenges facing fitness communities in South Africa, and how do you address them?
Key challenges include safety, inclusivity, and accessibility. Running and fitness spaces can sometimes feel intimidating, which prevents new participants from joining. We deliberately foster a non-judgmental environment where everyone feels welcome. Additionally, safety is paramount, whether during our runs or the larger events we host with brand partners and organizations. We prioritize ensuring our members feel secure at all times and making sure nobody gets left behind
What’s your take on people saying fitness communities have become the dating site of their dreams, has your community had some blooming love?
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At VSC®, our focus is on fostering meaningful relationships rooted in fitness, friendship, and collaboration. We’ve seen strong friendships, partnerships, and professional opportunities develop within our space. Our goal is to cultivate a supportive, inspiring environment where genuine connections thrive.
Vault Strength Club
What’s your philosophy on training and coaching, and how do you stay up-to-date with the latest research and trends?
Our philosophy is holistic and sustainable. We believe in balancing physical performance with mental well-being, proper recovery, and consistent effort. I personally stay informed by engaging with fitness professionals, and continuously integrating new methodologies. We also pay close attention to local and global wellness trends.
Original article appeared on GLAMOUR’s May issue 2025
If you’re serious about strengthening your back, but don’t have weights at your disposal, might we suggest the inverted row? This bodyweight exercise—which involves lying beneath a bar and pulling yourself toward it while keeping your body in a straight line—is a surefire way to ignite a ton of upper-body pulling muscles while also smoking your core too. That motion can help build strength that translates over to tons of daily tasks, like walking an energetic dog or opening a heavy door, to name a few.
Evan Williams, CSCS, CPT, founder of E2G Performance and strength and conditioning coach for the Milwaukee Bucks, has both his general population exercisers and professional athletes do the inverted row in their workouts. “It’s a good alternative to the traditional pull-up,” he tells SELF. And unlike the classic pull-up, which is a pretty advanced move, there are tons of ways to scale the inverted row to varying fitness levels, making it accessible to a bunch of different exercisers.
Below, all you need to know about this stellar move, including which muscles it works, how it compares to the pull-up, the best inverted row alternatives, and how to do inverted rows at home.
What muscles does the inverted row work?
When it comes to the muscles worked in the inverted row, the biggest is your latissimus dorsi (lats, the broadest muscle in your back), Williams says. You’ll also fire up your rhomboids (upper back muscles that attach to your shoulder blades) and trapezius (traps, another upper back muscle that attaches to the shoulder blades, and also extends up into the neck), he adds. Your arms get in on the action too, with your biceps working to complete the pulling motion. And so does your core, Williams says, since your midsection helps stabilize your body as you complete your reps.
Are inverted rows better than pull-ups?
The inverted row and the pull-up work pretty much the same muscles, Williams says, so it’s only natural to wonder how they stack up to each other.
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The truth? The inverted row isn’t “better” than the pull-up, Williams says. It’s just different. The inverted row works more horizontal pulling strength and power, which comes in handy for everyday tasks like walking a dog that’s really tugging on the leash or heaving open a big door, he explains. And the pull-up hones your vertical pulling strength and power, which translates to things like climbing a rope or scaling a rock wall.
The traditional pull-up delivers more of a challenge to your back and arm muscles than the traditional inverted row because you’re pulling your full bodyweight (versus just a portion of it), so if you’re wanting to really maximize your strength and power gains, the pull-up might be the way to go. (That said, there are many ways to crank up the intensity of the inverted row—for example, by elevating your legs on a box or step or adding a weight vest for increased resistance, Williams says.)
.jpg "Want to Do a Pull-Up? This Bodyweight Exercise Can Help You Get There")
