MADISON, Wis (SPECTRUM NEWS) -- A premier Black men’s wellness center is re-opening amidst the pandemic. The goal: Serve clients in a creative and critical way.

"This is a wake up call that we as African-American men have to get ourselves in better or ideal health so that we can fight off  these future viruses that are coming down the pike," says Rebalanced-Life Wellness Association's founder, Aaron Perry.

Perry knows Black men are disproportionately at risk for COVID-19, so he found a way to ensure they look great— and feel good—  after they leave JP Hair Design, Madison's largest Black barbershop. 

"Research indicates that it is required to have 30 minutes of regular physical activity daily, so we figured why not combine that with men finally getting that haircut that they were basically robbed of getting during the pandemic," Perry says.

The clients— two at a time— can arrange for a cardio appointment at Rebalanced-Life Wellness Association, which is next door to JP Hair Design. All of the equipment is free to use.  

"More than anything, we just love seeing  the guys coming in and giving us a try because this really is our new normal," Perry says.

Perry also works with SSM Health to find hundreds of masks for Madison's Black barbershop clients. He says that was a serious concern for the community he serves.

"They [owners] could not find masks or PPE, so we needed to do something. That’s one of the areas that I’ve always stated: Men don’t reach out often. So when they do, we have to listen,"  Perry says.

Perry says masks are now required at all area Black barbershops, and he says it is important to have them available to anyone in need.

You can learn how to sign up for the free cardio appointments, here.