Do you like to engage in exercise-exhibitionism?…read more Then you'll really like Tim Hayes Fitness, as the training takes place in the open...in fact, you can choose in which of the many beautiful London parks you can actually work out. And I take advantage of this opportunity quite a lot: living in North London I have so far had training sessions in on the Heath, at Waterlow Park, at Whittington Park...and the most unusual, but also a quite effective location was the grand staircase leading up to the Arsenal Stadium. When I first wanted to sign up, I spoke with Tim Hayes about my goals, my motivations and my availability. He then set me up with Mustafa, one of the trainers in North London, and soon after I met up with Mustafa for a coffee/tea to discuss my needs. I right away had a good feeling about Mustafa and signed up here and there...my first session was the following weekend. The first and all the subsequent sessions have been spot on ever since. Mustafa is a really nice guy and he's making you work really hard - which is good, because after all it's winter right now and you better work up a sweat, or else you'd be freezing. Also, Mustafa was/is a professional boxer and so he sometimes incorporates boxing into his sessions. To be honest, I'd never watched a boxing game in my life, but I'm liking this a lot. It made me realise how intense this sport actually is and how much of it is actually good technique, as opposed to strength (as with most sports!). Aside from the occasional Kettlebells or medicine balls, the training is mostly body weight training, which is what I wanted. (So don't sign up for this, if you want to beef up!) So, expect to do a lot of lunges, squats, press-ups and crunches...or any kind of variations on these. In fact, I find it amazing, as to how many different exercises there are - I believe we've not yet done the same exercise twice! The other thing that I really about Tim Hayes Training is that you can bring a buddy for free...which is exactly what I do. Usually, my neighbour Dan and I meet Mustafa on a Sunday morning and we let him torture us.

Training with Tim is amazing. It's energizing, life and body changing. I recommend him very highly…read more Noura

Dave is a super nice guy…read more I'm sure he's also a great trainer, for some people. We weren't the best match (and that's totally ok) -- so here's the rundown of my experience for those looking to make an investment on a personal trainer. I reached out because of the reviews on Yelp in April 2014, 6 weeks after having a baby. The package price: for a 6-week program I paid £1200. This included 12 sessions. You can do the math, that is very expensive. In my post-baby haze I somehow thought this was reasonable and hoped beyond hope it would get me on a path back to a fitter bod. A #mombod, but a fitter one nonetheless. I figured "you get what you pay for, right?" and I signed the contract and forked over the money. Pros: *Dave is well organized, punctual and polite. *He never canceled a session and booked many weeks in advance. *As mentioned, really nice guy. *He's in good shape. Walks the walk, etc. Cons: *The gym (Vault Gym) is well located to Shoreditch/The City but also in a basement and full of very intense workout people. I often felt very out of place amidst the protein shakes, multiple personal trainers, etc. *Speaking of those shakes - Dave is an Herbalife consultant. There's nothing wrong with this, I just don't like feeling like I am paying for a sales pitch. I believe he really believes in the products, but I believe in real food. *"Assessments" were a bit part of what I was after. Not just the electronic readings from a scale. Real measurements. I didn't feel these were really adequate given the cost. Getting weighed every few weeks with comments like "ok, really need to start dropping the weight" isn't terribly helpful. *Meal advice - very basic. After all this -- I would've said 4-stars. Honestly, he seems like a good trainer but just maybe not a personality fit for me, and that's totally cool. I got 6 weeks of some tough workouts and accountability that was a nice jumpstart. I lost a few kilos and felt stronger. So why 3-stars? A few months later I got this email: I wanted to let you know that I am offering a 25% reduction on six-week plans booked before Christmas. The sessions need to be booked in outside of peak hours (anytime between 9am and 4pm, monday to friday). I would need to see you twice a week for six-weeks for maximum effect. (12 sessions in total). I will also provide you with an eating plan and regular assessments throughout the six-weeks. Usual price = £900 Deal price = £675 Hmmm, what? My exact same package a few months earlier, and in non-peak times, was £1200. I felt a bit swindled, to be honest. Did he not realize I had paid the premium price and he was now telling me that the "usual" price is £900? Maybe I'm missing something but it certainly left a bad taste in my mouth...beyond the protein powders. There is my honest feedback, of which I've been sitting on for a long time to make sure it was really legit and not the hormones! Personal trainers can be a really big investment and I feel I owe it to the general public to tell it straight. My suggestion if you are interested is to do some research on the rates. Best of luck on your fitness journey!

Before I started seeing Dave I had some experience of personal trainers in normal gyms (eg, virgin…read moreactive) and I'd always found it a bit underwhelming they would normally get me on the treadmill or cross trainer for at least 10 minutes (often more) and surely I could do that by myself, and they could never explain the answers to my questions about health and fitness. So seeing Dave for the first time was quite revelatory. During the first session he had diagnosed my lower back problem simply from performing some tests, and had quite accurately assessed my diet problems from my body fat measurements. A couple of years on, and thanks to the bespoke work out programs to perform by myself on 6 week cycles, seeing Dave once a week for an additional training session, and taking his advice on diet and supplements, I don't feel pain in my lower back any more, I'm the strongest I've ever been, am running half marathons, sleep properly and have far more energy. Plus my body shape has changed. And I'd only been to see him in the first place to get stronger for rugby

Jason offers personal training sessions at a time and venue to suit you, whether in your local gym,…read moreat home, before or after work. For me each session is an hour long including warm up and stretch. I choose to have my training in the park, which means each time is totally different, with a seemingly infinite resource of exercises to stretch, tone, strengthen and exercise my body. Jason is very inventive, using portable equipment together with nature and other 'props' like a jungle gym in the park, to provide variations to exercises in order to challenge me. This flexibility of routine means that I am never bored doing the usual mundane or routine reps that one associates with training and dare I say, its actually fun (well sort of)! Jason knows anatomy and the workings of the human body, which ensures that I exercise safely and correctly whilst maximising results. He is able to tailor every session according to my needs and depending on my progress or in case of a medical condition or injury. He can also devise programs if you are looking to meet certain goals (eg running a marathon, exercise during pregnancy), covering diet as well as fitness. I have trained with Jason for over 2 years and have found him very personable and easy to get on with. I would definitely recommend him to anyone looking to improve their health and fitness (and indeed have done so).

After two children and three stone, I decided it was time to get back in to shape. I found Jason…read morethrough a friend and was incredibly impressed by his website, so decided to give him a go. The team at Doggett Fitness have been amazing through my journey to become fit again. Jason is incredibly passionate about what he does and this comes across in our training sessions. I've leaned so much, not only about getting in shape, but also about how the different muscles connect and work. I feel confident I have the tools to continue exercising on my own and the knowledge I gained from Jason will benefit both me and my family for the rest of our lives. Jason is very imaginative when it comes to exercise. No one session is the same which means I never get bored and the exercise certainly doesn't feel like hard work, although it must be because the results after just 3 months are amazing! I have muscles in my arms that I haven't had since I was 18. Fiona does the admin side of the business and is such a pleasure to speak to. She's been really lovely about working with me and my incredibly restrictive schedule.

I have tried virtually all of the top gyms in London and whilst I have been inspired by the places…read moreand the music I've never truly found a trainer that gets me hooked. I can safely say after training with Izzy for over six months she is incredible. Motivational and pushes you but at the same time makes you feel super powerful and like you can hit any goal. I've followed her to numerous gyms and if money was no object would go to all gyms she trains at. Thank you Izzy!!

Despite a number of reservations about hiring a personal trainer, I am so pleased be working with…read moreWildcat Fitness. LJ is a true professional and has the ability to be incredibly motivating and is very knowledgeable. Her love of fitness is really quite contagious, which is a position I never thought I would be in! I especially recommend the consultation session - each session we have done has been tailored so that I get the results I want whether it be toning, weight loss or over-all fitness. I can't wait for my next session and would highly recommend Wildcat Fitness to anyone looking to train, get on board now before everyone here's about it!!

I started working out with LJ in order to help me improve my fitness level before climbing Mt…read moreKilimanjaro this September - a particularly hard feat, as I am not a huge fan of the gym. But LJ approached each session in such a personal and passionate way, that I'm amazed to say our sessions have become one of the highlights of my week! LJ is very thoughtful about each session, and takes the time to explain why we are doing certain exercises and how they will specifically help me achieve my goals. Most importantly, LJ is both extremely supportive while still always pushing and challenging me to work harder than I thought I could. Just try one session with LJ and I think you'll find that, if nothing else, you will be taken in by her positive energy and obvious passion for personal training. Highly highly recommended!

My experience with Ultimate Performance (UP) has been excellent. My trainer, Mike Roson, is…read morefantastic and has helped me every step of the way. He's designed my workouts, he's defined the shape of my meal plan with targets for each of the main macronutrients while leaving it up to me to choose the foods to achieve those targets, he's easily contactable for any questions that arise while I'm away from the gym, whether it be related to training tips or supplements to use to aid recovery. The gym itself has top notch equipment and since every client in the gym is working one-on-one with a personal trainer, I've never experienced overcrowding. Oh, and make sure not to miss the (chocolate) protein shakes after your workout! Bottom-line: it is expensive and requires discipline, but UP will give you what you need to almost guarantee results as long as you commit to their program. And you and your trainer will define what "results" means for you. Areas to improve: no overnight lockers means you must bring everything with you each session. Given the high-end product they offer and the price point, I'd love to see the protein shakes included as complimentary ;)

Where the excuses stop and results begin". This was truly my experience with this gym. There is no…read morefaf. A pure results-driven gym. Location: Great location. Right in central London, so it's likely to be close to your office. Facilities: The gym is fully equipped with all types and variations of equipment. Training schedule: I came in as slightly experienced in weight training. However I still learned a lot and saw quite a big transformation within 12 weeks. Price: The reason why I have rated 4 instead of 5 is because I found the price to be quite high relative to other gyms.

My friend took me here with her once and I was dead afterwards! This guy works you to the core…read morewhich I guess is what he is there for! This small studio has everything you need and all delivered to you by a professional personal trainer. You can find Adam White on Marsham Street in Wimbledon. Only go if you are prepared to work out hard and spend a little bob for it!

I booked an hour training session with Adam on a whim - his sign is outside of the building where I…read morestayed in London (Oakwood, great suites and close to all the cool stuff in Westminster). Adam's personal training studio is in the Oakwood building. I workout almost every day and think I'm in pretty good shape but Adam was able to find my weak spots within minutes of beginning our session. I was huffing and puffing in no time and loving every minute. Adam is easy going, personable and really knows his stuff. If you can get an hour with him, book it.

great training - makes it fun but really see the benefits week on week. Dan is superb.read more

Ok, so I've only had 2 sessions with Dan from Believe Fitness. But I've tried personal trainers in…read morethe past and hated every minute of the session. Dan made the session fly by and I felt muscles ache the next day. My partner and I do a joint session and we are enjoying it so much that we've arranged to train with Dan three days a week. Highly recommend Believe Fitness. Update: it's now been several sessions and we still enjoy it and better still have the results to show that this is money very well spent.