Personal Training FAQ

Q. How do I get started?

Once you have supplied me with the necessary information about yourself by email I will then contact you directly and from that point on you deal directly with me on all matters. All consultations and sessions are set up by skype or phone. You then have three options: 1) set up a Evaluation/Consultation; 2) schedule to start training 3) schedule one training session. Because consultations are free, I ask that you give me the courtesy of an advance call if you are unable to make your appointment.
Once we have met or had a session (or sessions), you can decide whether to continue.

Q. Once I begin, am I obligated to continue?

No, you are never under any obligation to continue unless you have actually scheduled a session or sessions. In that case, you must adhere to the cancellation policy guidelines addressed below.

Q. When Must I Make A Payment?

For the first two weeks, payment is expected before a session can be scheduled. After that payment can be made at any time up to and including the end of the session. Payment options vary from paying one session at a time to purchasing session packages.

Q. How can I pay for services?

We have an online system which allows you to monitor your account with us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We accept checks or credit card payments – Visa, MasterCard and American Express. All online information is completely secure and encrypted for your safety. Generally cash and paypal are the accepted methods of payment.

Q. What if I cancel a session?

Once you have scheduled session, you must cancel the session more than 24 hours in advance or you are responsible to pay the trainer fully for that session.

Q. What happens if I am late for a session?

The trainer is not obligated to make up time due to a client's lateness. More than 1/2 hour lateness constitutes a late cancellation and the trainer is not obligated to conduct the session. In some cases a trainer will wait and work with you for the remaining time. But this is solely up to their discretion. In either case you will be charged fully for the session.

Q. How many days a week do I need to work out?

This question can only be answered effectively after you have talked with a trainer. It depends upon your current conditions, goals, schedule, budget and your trainers availability. You may "need" to workout with a trainer four days a week, but only have the time or budget for two days a week. In these cases, I will work to teach you a program that you can do on your own for the days that you cannot work with a me. This, of course, necessitates your willingness and ability to implement such a program.

Q. How long are the sessions?

Personal training and yoga sessions are one hour, unless stated otherwise. Massage therapy sessions are 60 or 90 minutes. Nutrition sessions vary depending on your program, between 30 minutes to one hour.

Q. What should I wear to my session?

Personal training: comfortable exercise clothing and sneakers.
Yoga: comfortable exercise clothing and bare feet.
Massage: you may remain fully clothed wearing a loose t-shirt and long loose pants. You will be continuously covered throughout the massage therapy session.

Q. What should I eat before I work out?

Try to avoid eating a full meal right before your session. If you are hungry, a small piece of fruit (apple, banana) about 30 – 40 minutes before your session will give you the energy you need for the hour. Make sure you drink water to hydrate before and after your session. After your session, a good mix of protein and carbs will get you on the road to recovery; a smoothie protein shake is the perfect answer!

Q. I don't have the discipline to train on my own, but I want to make my fitness a long-term commitment. How long of a period should a trainer work with me?

Some trainer/client relationships extend over many years. How long an extended period of time you work with a trainer depends upon many factors. These include the interrelationship between you and a trainer, availability, scheduling and logistics.

Q. I can workout on my own, but I need to learn what to do and how exercise correctly. Will a trainer work with me on this basis?

Yes. A trainer will evaluate you, access your needs, develop a diet plan if needed and work with you over a number of sessions to teach you fat loss and toning/building exercises necessary for you to achieve your goals. You will come away with a program tailored to your needs and can workout on your own. The number of sessions needed for this depends upon your fitness needs, how quickly you master the movements and your budget. You can always schedule an additional session or sessions later for a refresher or to upgrade your program. I am responsive to occasional follow-up phone or email questions for no additional charge.

Q. I have done everything, but I still can't lose weight. Is there anything you can do for me?

Losing body fat effectively is the result of a combination of a specific diet and calorie burning aerobic exercise carried out consistently for a particular duration of time. Often when you think you are doing "everything," one or more elements specified above is either not being carried out correctly or is not being carried out at all. Sometimes folks will try a variety of fad diets one after the other for short periods of time and then give up. Or they may get on the treadmill at the gym for 15 minutes two times a week and wonder why they can't lose fat. Body fat reduction or "getting lean" is the single most requested goal of clients. We will work together on an effective diet and fat-burning exercise program and will discuss how long you need to achieve your goals.

Q. I've been working out on my own for a long time, but have stopped making any progress in muscle gain. can you help me?

Yes. Most people who have been working out on their own for a long period of time eventually hit a plateau and stop making gains in muscle mass. Often, genetics plays a role in this. That is, when someone comes close to or reaches their "genetic potential," muscle gain slows down and sometimes stops altogether. However, even taking genetic factors into account, we find that in most cases plateauing is due an inability by someone to push themselves to greater heights in their workouts and/or to find new types of routines. Without steady increases in muscle "overload" and varying of types of routines, gains will not be made. A trainer will help get you out of your rut.
To sustain this program to achieve results. I will then help you to attain the discipline and motivation to carry it out.

Q. I do hundreds of sit ups but still have no definition in my abs. How do I get a six pack?

Getting abdominal definition is only partially accomplished through specific ab workouts involving crunches or flexion of the abdominal muscles. For the most part "definition" of abs is accomplished the same way that "definition" of any other body part is accomplished: by losing the fat that obscures the muscle and building the muscle. Losing the fat is done through diet and aerobic exercise, not abdominal crunches (or sit ups). But even if you lose the fat, to see a nicely developed six-pack, the ab muscles need to be developed. This is accomplished by intense ab crunches with or without added resistance for about eight to fifteen repetitions, four to eight sets, about three times a week.

Q. After I start working with a trainer, when will I begin to see results?

This is an impossible question to answer without knowing your present condition and training history. There are many variables including your specific starting point, genetics, and metabolism as well as your consistency, commitment and time you are willing to put into training. You will get results commensurately with what you put into your training and diet. Also, we can set up programs that are aimed to work very quickly, but involve exceedingly stringent dieting and training. Generally I like to suggest that, if you are starting from a very low level of fitness, you take it slower at the beginning so you can accustom your body gradually to a training program. I want you to be fit and fabulous for your lifetime.

Q. Will you create a written fitness plan for me?

We will fully support you in creating an weekly workout program to complement your nutrition and fitness routine with us and keep you accountable for it. However, we are unable to provide you with a fully written routine if we are not with you to watch your form and make sure you’re exercising safely. Certain exceptions may apply, but we want to make sure you remain injury free!