FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. Q: WHAT IF I AM IN REALLY POOR SHAPE AND HATE TO EXERCISE?
A: I am the perfect match for you. I specialize in getting extremely poorly conditioned people into a exercise program safely, successfully, comfortably, and with minimal pain....no yelling, no puking. My first concern is not getting you injured. If you're looking for the screaming drill sergeant type trainer, I'm not your guy. Very few of my clients have been highly skilled athletes. Most of my clients start on the low end of the fitness scale: people who may not have exercised on a regular basis in their entire life. They know they need to do it, but haven’t been motivated enough to follow through.
2. WHAT IS YOUR TRAINING SPECIALTY?
A. I have two: 1) Training People Over 50 (see #3 below), and 2) Functional Training. Functional training makes you stronger and more proficient in movements that you use in your everyday life, whether that’s sports related, or just every day activities like walking up stairs, carrying heavy items, picking something up off the floor, standing up out of a low chair, getting up off the floor, etc. It’s training that results in the improvement of your overall strength so that your activities of daily living are easier to perform, without injury. You’ll feel better, more confident, and stronger in your movements. Basically you’re developing real world strength and balance. Only using weight machines in a gym setting can make you gym strong, but not necessarily real world strong. The majority of exercises in functional training are done standing and are multi-joint in nature. We will be training movements, not muscles.
3. WHAT IS THE AGE RANGE OF YOUR CLIENTS?
A: They usually range between 45-85. It’s the age group I have the most experience with and am expert in training. Most of my career (40 years) has been spent working with this age group. The older you get the greater the concern has to be for safety when working out. Many younger trainers can lose sight of that. That will never happen with me.
4. Q: DO YOU COME TO MY HOME?
A: Yes. That is where I work almost exclusively. Occasionally I will train someone in a gym, but most gyms won't allow outside trainers to work there. Working out at the office is sometimes a possibility, as long as there aren’t too many distractions.
5. Q: WHAT AREAS DO YOU TRAVEL TO?
A: I work primarily in the Valley, West Side, and Beverly Hills. Other areas possible are Hollywood, Glendale, Burbank, and Mid-Wilshire. Generally if you are within 20 miles of Studio City, you’re probably in range. If in doubt, ask me.
6. Q: DO I NEED ANY EQUIPMENT?
A: No. It certainly is an advantage to have some equipment, but it is not necessary. I make use of whatever equipment is available, if it's appropriate for your program. If no equipment is available, an excellent workout can still be received with what I will provide. I will bring in various size dumbbells, a mat, a stability ball, resistance bands, medicine balls, kettle bells, and numerous other training devices. Everything we need to get you fit.
7. Q: HOW MANY DAYS A WEEK ARE NECESSARY?
A: The minimum is two. For strengthening and toning, you can get achieve good results with two days a week. Three days a week is optimal, but two days a week works well. For Cardio Training and Weight Loss, three days a week is the minimum required for good results. Five days a week is optimal. I have some clients who I see once a week, but they are working out additional days on their own. The frequency of our sessions is totally up to you.
8. Q: HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO SEE RESULTS?
A: It varies with each individual, but it only takes a few weeks to start to see a difference. The further out of shape you are at the beginning, the faster you will see results. You will begin to feel stronger and see better muscle tone very rapidly. You can't get in shape in a day or a week, so I don't attempt to achieve that. So often people try to do too much too soon. They end up so sore or injured that they never go back to working out. We will start out at level that is appropriate to your physical condition. I will gradually increase the work load to match your rapidly improving condition. Safely. Smoothly. Comfortably. You will be amazed how smooth the transition is from couch potato to workout warrior.
9. Q: IS SOME TYPE OF AEROBIC ACTIVITY (RUNNING, WALKING, STAIRMASTER, BIKING, ETC.) PART OF THE WORKOUT?
A: That depends on you. The ideal situation is that the client does cardio training outside of our training sessions. That could be before or after our workout, or on the off days. That way the full hour workout can be focused on strengthening and toning exercises. These exercises require more supervision than most cardio exercises. However, if the client is unable to do the cardio work necessary on their own, it can be included as part of the training session. The program will be customized to fit your situation. The important factor is that you are getting cardio exercise, whether it's on your own or during our training sessions.
10. Q: HOW ARE THE WORKOUTS STRUCTURED?
A: While every program is totally customized, a typical workout focusing on functional strength training will consist of 3 phases.
Phase 1 (5-10 minutes):
Movement Prep: Dynamic warm up with some light calisthenics, mobility and activation drills.
Phase 2 (40-50 minutes):
20 to 40 Functional Strengthening and Toning exercises covering the entire body, with focus on your specific needs.
Phase 3 (5-10 minutes):
Cool Down - Stretching and Flexibility exercises.
11. Q: HOW LONG ARE THE WORKOUTS?
A: Generally the workouts are 1 hour in length. Longer sessions are an option: 75 minutes, 90 minutes, up to 2 Hours.
12. Q: HOW ARE PAYMENTS HANDLED?
A: In most cases I will e-mail you an invoice at the end of the month for the sessions completed that month. Some clients prefer to pay more frequently, i.e., weekly. I am open to various arrangements. I accept PayPal/Venmo/Checks/Cash only.
13. Q: WHAT IS YOU CANCELLATION POLICY?
A: I require 24 hour notification for any cancellation. Late cancellations (<24 hours) will result in you being charged for the session.
14. HOW DO WE GET STARTED?
We’ll start the process with a phone conversation to exchange some basic information. From there we can set up a free comprehensive consultation, where we’ll review your fitness goals, medical history, exercise history, and other pertinent information. I’ll be able to survey the exercise space or home gym where we would be working out. That way I’ll know what equipment or facilities are available that could be included in your fitness plan. If we decide to work together I will formulate your custom exercise prescription for your specific needs and we’ll set up the time for your first workout.
1. Q: WHAT IF I AM IN REALLY POOR SHAPE AND HATE TO EXERCISE?
A: I am the perfect match for you. I specialize in getting extremely poorly conditioned people into a exercise program safely, successfully, comfortably, and with minimal pain....no yelling, no puking. My first concern is not getting you injured. If you're looking for the screaming drill sergeant type trainer, I'm not your guy. Very few of my clients have been highly skilled athletes. Most of my clients start on the low end of the fitness scale: people who may not have exercised on a regular basis in their entire life. They know they need to do it, but haven’t been motivated enough to follow through.
2. WHAT IS YOUR TRAINING SPECIALTY?
A. I have two: 1) Training People Over 50 (see #3 below), and 2) Functional Training. Functional training makes you stronger and more proficient in movements that you use in your everyday life, whether that’s sports related, or just every day activities like walking up stairs, carrying heavy items, picking something up off the floor, standing up out of a low chair, getting up off the floor, etc. It’s training that results in the improvement of your overall strength so that your activities of daily living are easier to perform, without injury. You’ll feel better, more confident, and stronger in your movements. Basically you’re developing real world strength and balance. Only using weight machines in a gym setting can make you gym strong, but not necessarily real world strong. The majority of exercises in functional training are done standing and are multi-joint in nature. We will be training movements, not muscles.
3. WHAT IS THE AGE RANGE OF YOUR CLIENTS?
A: They usually range between 45-85. It’s the age group I have the most experience with and am expert in training. Most of my career (40 years) has been spent working with this age group. The older you get the greater the concern has to be for safety when working out. Many younger trainers can lose sight of that. That will never happen with me.
4. Q: DO YOU COME TO MY HOME?
A: Yes. That is where I work almost exclusively. Occasionally I will train someone in a gym, but most gyms won't allow outside trainers to work there. Working out at the office is sometimes a possibility, as long as there aren’t too many distractions.
5. Q: WHAT AREAS DO YOU TRAVEL TO?
A: I work primarily in the Valley, West Side, and Beverly Hills. Other areas possible are Hollywood, Glendale, Burbank, and Mid-Wilshire. Generally if you are within 20 miles of Studio City, you’re probably in range. If in doubt, ask me.
6. Q: DO I NEED ANY EQUIPMENT?
A: No. It certainly is an advantage to have some equipment, but it is not necessary. I make use of whatever equipment is available, if it's appropriate for your program. If no equipment is available, an excellent workout can still be received with what I will provide. I will bring in various size dumbbells, a mat, a stability ball, resistance bands, medicine balls, kettle bells, and numerous other training devices. Everything we need to get you fit.
7. Q: HOW MANY DAYS A WEEK ARE NECESSARY?
A: The minimum is two. For strengthening and toning, you can get achieve good results with two days a week. Three days a week is optimal, but two days a week works well. For Cardio Training and Weight Loss, three days a week is the minimum required for good results. Five days a week is optimal. I have some clients who I see once a week, but they are working out additional days on their own. The frequency of our sessions is totally up to you.
8. Q: HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO SEE RESULTS?
A: It varies with each individual, but it only takes a few weeks to start to see a difference. The further out of shape you are at the beginning, the faster you will see results. You will begin to feel stronger and see better muscle tone very rapidly. You can't get in shape in a day or a week, so I don't attempt to achieve that. So often people try to do too much too soon. They end up so sore or injured that they never go back to working out. We will start out at level that is appropriate to your physical condition. I will gradually increase the work load to match your rapidly improving condition. Safely. Smoothly. Comfortably. You will be amazed how smooth the transition is from couch potato to workout warrior.
9. Q: IS SOME TYPE OF AEROBIC ACTIVITY (RUNNING, WALKING, STAIRMASTER, BIKING, ETC.) PART OF THE WORKOUT?
A: That depends on you. The ideal situation is that the client does cardio training outside of our training sessions. That could be before or after our workout, or on the off days. That way the full hour workout can be focused on strengthening and toning exercises. These exercises require more supervision than most cardio exercises. However, if the client is unable to do the cardio work necessary on their own, it can be included as part of the training session. The program will be customized to fit your situation. The important factor is that you are getting cardio exercise, whether it's on your own or during our training sessions.
10. Q: HOW ARE THE WORKOUTS STRUCTURED?
A: While every program is totally customized, a typical workout focusing on functional strength training will consist of 3 phases.
Phase 1 (5-10 minutes):
Movement Prep: Dynamic warm up with some light calisthenics, mobility and activation drills.
Phase 2 (40-50 minutes):
20 to 40 Functional Strengthening and Toning exercises covering the entire body, with focus on your specific needs.
Phase 3 (5-10 minutes):
Cool Down - Stretching and Flexibility exercises.
11. Q: HOW LONG ARE THE WORKOUTS?
A: Generally the workouts are 1 hour in length. Longer sessions are an option: 75 minutes, 90 minutes, up to 2 Hours.
12. Q: HOW ARE PAYMENTS HANDLED?
A: In most cases I will e-mail you an invoice at the end of the month for the sessions completed that month. Some clients prefer to pay more frequently, i.e., weekly. I am open to various arrangements. I accept PayPal/Venmo/Checks/Cash only.
13. Q: WHAT IS YOU CANCELLATION POLICY?
A: I require 24 hour notification for any cancellation. Late cancellations (<24 hours) will result in you being charged for the session.
14. HOW DO WE GET STARTED?
We’ll start the process with a phone conversation to exchange some basic information. From there we can set up a free comprehensive consultation, where we’ll review your fitness goals, medical history, exercise history, and other pertinent information. I’ll be able to survey the exercise space or home gym where we would be working out. That way I’ll know what equipment or facilities are available that could be included in your fitness plan. If we decide to work together I will formulate your custom exercise prescription for your specific needs and we’ll set up the time for your first workout.