Steve Neilsen, CEO of 7e Fit Spa, at his first location at Geist Reservoir. The franchise now has 7 locations and growing.

Eureka! The Fountain of Youth has been found in the Winslow Wellness Center, and it has nothing to do with Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon and his mythical spring.

Instead of magical, restorative waters, this fountain is a stream of electrical pulses that mimic the body’s natural bio-electricity to work out abdominal and other muscles. Proponents say the result of a “Torc” session, as it’s called, is an eyebrow-raising reduction in waist size that leaves them feeling, well, younger, and infused with vitality.

Drop by 7e Fit Spa at 2000 East 116th Street, and instead of good ol’ Ponce, you’ll likely bump into Stephen Neilsen, the entrepreneur responsible for bringing bio-electric body contouring therapy to Carmel. “Our biggest customers are people ages 35 to 55 who want to maintain their youth,” explained Neilsen, 7e Fit Spa’s CEO. “They’re Baby Boomers who don’t want to get old – who want to live longer and healthier and look better doing it.”

Here’s the skinny (pun intended) on how bio-electricity and a Torc session works. After a discussion with a spa technician about the client’s desired outcome, two Velco bands are wrapped around the body’s mid-section. Wire leads snaking from the Torc machine are attached to the bands at various contact points. It looks a bit like the rig used for an EKG heart exam, but this procedure is all about dropping a pant size or two, not arrhythmia.

Clients lie comfortably in a private room where a spa technician sets the appropriate Torc level. Immediately, a sensation of tingling, massage-like waves pulse across the body’s mid-section as muscles are systematically constricted. The Torc’s intensity is slowly ramped up, but never beyond the comfort level. “Torc is an FDA-approved device that contracts muscles, simulating exercise about 150 times more effectively than with exercise,” said Neilsen. “First-time users can lose one to three inches around the waist. We can also apply the Torc to your thighs or buttocks which has been very popular with women.”

Elastic bands hold digital pads in place at the top and bottom of the muscle and use electro magnetic stimulation to contract the muscles without exercise.

According to 7e Fit Spa’s website, Torc utilizes several proprietary waveforms for a strong, yet comfortable, contraction and relaxation of the muscles producing intensified results in a short period of time. It helps to flatten your stomach, reduces cellulite on thighs, and improves posture by strengthening your core muscles. Clients swear by its effectiveness.

Neilsen says a 30-minute Torc session produces remarkable results, but only for people who try it. “That’s probably the hardest obstacle – getting people to believe that there is actually technology out there that can contour your abs and take off an average of three inches in 30 minutes,” said Neilsen. “That’s because it’s almost unbelievable. But, after the first session, 80% of people purchase more sessions. The cost of trying it out is cheaper than a personal trainer.”

7e Fit Spa takes its name from eastern medicine and holistic values, including the Seven Life Energies and Seven Dimensions of Wellness. Neilsen discovered the Torc technology while researching Johari Digital Healthcare Ltd., an Indian manufacturer of medical and spa equipment. After 25 years in the health spa industry, he said the U.S. market had developed a sameness about it, and that he wanted to differentiate from the competition. With Torc, Neilsen believes he’s found the answer. “We’ve established a model in Carmel that can be replicated,” he said. “We have stores in Geist, Florida and Arizona, and our growth will be as fast as we can handle. Already, we’ve done more than 10,000 treatments in Indy in our first year.”

7e Fit Spa also is aggressively pursuing franchise agreements locally and across the country. Neilsen explained that he’s looking for operators who have a passion for helping people. While a spa/fitness background is ideal, it’s not required. Instead, the company is targeting people with drive and ambition and who understand what it takes to be successful. The entry fee is $50,000 and includes a lease program for equipment with a lifetime warranty. “A lot of applicants are doctors,” said Neilsen. “Health care reform – Obamacare – has caused decreased revenues, and they’re looking for investment options.”

Additional information about 7e Fit Spa is available online at www.7efitspa.com.