This review is long overdue (and coincidentally quite long). I've been working out with Nyrene since January 2016 (so 11 months now) and have loved every. single. session. I'm nervous to leave her a 5 star review for fear of the rest of SF finding out how awesome she is :(
For me, results are the best gauge of a trainer's effectiveness, and Nyrene delivers results. Through a combination of our sessions + Equinox classes + Barry's classes, I've steadily gotten closer to my fitness goals. I've worked out with prior private trainers before and Nyrene has been the best.
My motivations for working out with a trainer - Learn how to properly strength train / use proper form, lose fat / gain muscle.
Breakdown on what I care about when working with a trainer:
//Qualifications
You can find her certifications here: http://www.n-training.com/about/
+ She's constantly learning how to be a better trainer, whether it's through additional certifications or trainings
+ Really knowledgeable about anatomy. While we're working out she gives me adjustments to truly activate intended muscle groups.
+ She works out consistently and is super fit herself! It's like the saying goes - you can never trust a skinny chef ;)
//Program
After an initial assessment, Nyrene develops a program for tailored for you and your goals.
+ Sends me workouts right after session - awesome because I can re-use when working out without her!
+ Location - Nyrene comes to you. It's super convenient. At first, I thought it would be weird to strength train outside, but I've REALLY loved it. There's nothing like a good workout in beautiful SF weather. She'll also occasionally come to my apartment, but I prefer working out outside. She's flexible to client preferences.
+ Variety - I get bored with workouts easily. No two sessions with Nyrene have been the same, and we rarely repeat exercises. I feel there's a great diversity of equipment and exercises in our sessions. Equipment she uses: Barbells, kettlebells, dumbbells, sandbags, medicine balls, TRX, and probably more that I'm forgetting.
+ Difficulty - I work out ~4x / week and generally 2x with Nyrene. Her sessions always. kick. my. butt. It's insane...I can barely speak at the end. What's important to note is she challenges me, but doesn't push me over the limit. I'm almost always sore after our sessions.
+ Goal oriented - She asks me about my near-term and long-term goals and remembers them. Wedding? Holiday party? Special event? She'll plan your program accordingly.
+ Progress pics - Nyrene will periodically take progress pics of me...I love seeing the progress!
//Personality + Attitude
Rapport with a trainer is incredibly important for me. I trust them to help me get stronger and reach my fitness goals.
+ Positive attitude / energy - Nyrene is always incredibly positive and upbeat. This is really important as I feed off her energy. No one likes working out with a trainer who's always having a bad day. If she's having a bad day, I never know it...she's always bringing a positive attitude to work
+ Efficient - Nyrene isn't one of those trainers you see outside or at the gym who's just hanging around chatting with her client during a session. She is efficient and doesn't let you procrastinate :) I love this about her! You're paying good money for your trainer to TRAIN you...she makes sure I maximize my time with her. That said, she's very friendly, and we have great conversations.
+ Patience and encouragement - I cannot emphasize how much I appreciate this enough. Her sessions are hard. They push me and challenge me (which is why I keep going back for more). One of the things I love about Nyrene is she doesn't give up on you. When sets get hard, she's always there to encourage you to finish. "That's okay, take your time." "You can do it, only 3 more." "It's all mental, you can keep going!" Another thing I like is she doesn't modify reps in the middle of a workout even though it's hard. If we're supposed to do 15x, she doesn't drop it to 10x even though I'm struggling. It's psychological for me, but I like that because if she were to make it easier, it would be like her saying "I don't think you can do that many reps."
+ Lead by example - Nyrene is really inspiring as she's in great shape herself (check out her instagram). I always ask what her fitness routines / secrets are because she's in such great shape, and she tells me "When I work-out, I'm very efficient, and I maximize my workout. I've worked hard for this body." I LOVE that. She's worked hard for her goals, and inspires me to do the same! read more