I play hockey and as I have gotten older, I needed to get stronger to avoid injuries and stay in the game. However, I am not a 'gym person'. Project Strong was what I needed. I just show up at my time and they take me through it. It doesn't matter which trainer I have-they are all knowledgable and actually make it enjoyable. I don't need to figure anything out, be motivated, know the correct weights, or any of it. And, I have gotten stronger! My game has improved, I can hold my own now and I haven't had an injury in ages. Not only that, but this has made a huge difference in my everyday life. Balance, squatting, lifting, etc. I was not expecting to feel this much better overall. This I one of the best things I have ever done for myself. read more

When I first started at Project Strong, I wasn't sure what to expect. I had tried different programs and gyms before, but my biggest concern was always my history of injuries. I've dealt with a lot of setbacks in the past, and I was nervous about getting hurt again. From day one, Chelsea put me at ease. She took the time to really understand my background, my limitations, and my goals. Instead of giving me a one-size-fits-all workout, she designed a program that was tailored specifically for me. She made sure every exercise was safe, effective, and helped me build strength without aggravating old injuries. That level of attention and care made all the difference. Fast forward, and I've lost 57 pounds so far -- something I never imagined was possible when I first walked through the doors. More importantly, I feel stronger, healthier, and more confident in my body than I have in years. Chelsea challenges me in the best way: she knows when to push me a little harder and when to adjust so I don't risk reinjury. It's a balance I've only ever had with one other trainer. Chelsea is not only knowledgeable and professional but also incredibly supportive. She celebrates every milestone with me, big or small, and keeps me motivated on days when I might not feel like showing up. Project Strong as a whole has created such a positive and encouraging environment, but having Chelsea as my trainer has truly been life-changing. If you're looking for a trainer who understands how to meet you where you are, works around your obstacles, and still helps you achieve amazing results, Chelsea is the one. I'm so grateful I found her and this program. It took me a year to write this review because I selfishly wanted to keep my time slot and trainer! But there are other trainers that are really excellent too so try out their services and be amazed on how your body can perform and transform. read more

I first found Project Strong when I was looking for some personalized help for recovery of my knee after dislocation. Having had some mediocre experiences with other personal trainers for the same thing before, I was specifically looking for trainers that had backgrounds in physical therapy, sports medicine, kinesiology, etc. that could provide well-informed, wholistic training to strengthen muscles to support my knee. When I went in for an evaluation, I was impressed by the depth of knowledge from the trainers about how all the muscles affected each other and how various differences with my hips or posture could affect the amount of strain on my knee. They immediately identified which muscles seemed weaker and caused other muscles to overcompensate, leading to uneven support around my knee, and then created a targeted plan for me to strengthen those muscles. Each of the trainers are very detail-oriented and particular (in a good way) about proper form to make sure the correct muscle groups are being targeted in each exercise. They are also very good about explaining what the adjustments are for and why they are helpful. Since working with them, not only do I see a significant difference in those weaker muscles getting stronger, I've also developed a much better awareness of my body and have started to learn what small adjustments to make to prevent injury, both while working out and just doing day-to-day things. A side pro- I really appreciate their scheduling system where you can select sessions with different trainers based on which times work best for you, which really helps accommodate for my varied schedule. Not only does that allow you to work with different trainers (if you want), it is also much easier to make adjustments compared to working with a single trainer and having to coordinate around one schedule. Highly recommend read more

I have been pretty weak (carry 1-2 lbs at most) and nonfunctional (not much physical activity) due to surgeries in my shoulder and neck. After almost 2 years of personal training, I noticed I was stronger physically. During my recent ACL knee reconstruction surgery, I was able to use crutches with minimal effort and use my core muscles to transfer myself off the hospital bed to the wheelchair easily. Plus I have more energy to do my physical therapy exercises. Marylou, Sang and Nikki have been great to work with. They understand my limitations and find alternative ways to work on my strength and flexibility. My ACL recovery has been progressing much faster than expected with their help! read more

working with Marylou, Chelsea Nikki and Busra is the best combo ever. This team of super women is so supportive, and they make me enjoy going to the gym so much. I can't recommend Project Strong enough, the program is super custom and the vibe is one of a kind. Thank you for everything read more

Marylou and Crystal are amazing trainers who work to customize a program unique and suited to your needs. I came to Marylou a year postpartum but still feeling as weak as I've ever been, pulling my back regularly with an active toddler, and having no idea what I needed to feel better again. Marylou was extremely supportive, and immediately knew exactly what was going on with my postpartum body and what muscles I needed to train. I felt my strength come back session after session, and feeling the strongest I've felt in a long time. They're also very Covid conscious and have a beautiful studio. Highly recommend! read more

I've been doing personal training with Project Strong for more than a year now. Over that time, Marylou, Crystal, and the other instructors have helped me get stronger, avoid injury, work on my nutrition, and stick to my goals. I didn't go in with any issues other than wanting to get stronger, lose weight, and have someone to help me stick with it. While I haven't gotten to where I want to be yet, I have certainly noticed improvements in all areas of my wellness. Obviously having a pandemic in the middle of our time together was disruptive, but the Project Strong team has been flexible and persistent in doing what we can. Between virtual sessions, outdoor workouts, and 1:1 indoor masked training, my exercise goals haven't slipped as much as they otherwise would have. No matter your needs, the trainers at Project Strong will be able to help you. read more

Marylou is an incredible trainer and it's a joy to work with her. The workouts are creative and tailored to push me without going past my limits. I credit her with the huge improvement in strength and stamina that I've seen this year. read more

I've been training with Project Strong since my first pregnancy 6 ago. I love my workouts-they're challenging, specific to what my body needs and fun. I'm not always able to make it to the studio for my workouts but it's great to have the option to do a Zoom workout instead. I've trained with both Marylou and Crystal, and they are both fantastic trainers. If you're looking for a place that is supportive with knowledgeable and experienced trainers, this is the place for you. I do recommend booking your sessions ahead as they fill-up fast and it's not always easy to get in at the last minute. read more

A year ago I injured my shoulder which caused an impingement. Physical therapy and a cortisone shot proved to be unsuccessful. The doctor then referred me to a surgeon. I decided surgery wasn't for me and was destined to find a personal trainer to help me with my fitness goals during my recovery. That's when I met Marylou. During our consultation we discussed the injury and my goals. She quickly put together a plan and after a month my shoulder felt a lot better. It's been about 4 months now and I feel great!!! Marylou is very understanding, detailed, and will keep you in check. Her workouts will push your limits and produce results. I highly recommend her as a personal trainer!! read more

Marylou at the Project Strong team have been a great fit for me. As someone living with RA, it's hard to find knowledgeable folks who take their time explaining the steps while also listening to their clients ProS does both while pushing me enough when needed. Highly recommend their service & support! read more

When I first found out I was pregnant, one of the first things I decided to do was invest in a personal trainer. I have a weak lower back and I had heard from some friends that training regularly helped them during their pregnancy, especially warding off typical pregnancy pains. I am SO glad I found Marylou. The first workout is a full assessment of body fat, posture, etc which she then uses to create a specially formulated workout just for you. I had knee surgery a couple of years back (torn ACL from skiing) and always knew that I probably over-compensated with my posture. Well, it's true! And Marylou not only confirmed that but also created a stretching regimen to help. The best thing I appreciate about Marylou is that she is incredibly analytical. Every workout, she has a scheduled regimen tailored to you on her laptop. Throughout the week, I let her know how I feel (my lower back feels tweaked, the last workout left my right side really sore, etc) and she changes up the workout according to my feedback, which she encourages. Finally, Marylou is a pleasure to be around! It's hard to find someone who is not only excellent at what they do, but also a nice and caring person! I've gotten to know her 2 adorable sons and her husband. I'm 2 weeks away from my due date and I plan to bounce back after my pregnancy with Marylou afterwards. Do your magic, Marylou!! Oh! I forgot to mention that my husband also now trains with Marylou after I started. And now my boss' wife trains with her too! She's not only for pregnant women, her style and expertise is for all people looking to get fit. read more

Marylou is wonderful! Personable and listens to you! She very quickly assesses your ability and special needs, therefore making your workout WORK for you! I've been a part of her Mom & Stroller workouts and they've been great for fitness and for a bit of baby/mama socialization for a bit afterwards! read more

After having my first child, I was determined to get my body back in shape - enter Marylou. What sets Marylou apart from trainers I've used in the past is I felt she instantly connected with my goals and although she pushed me hard with each session, I always felt it was connected to the end result. Never did I once feel that Marylou used a generic routine that she had all her clients on, but I truly felt her methods were tailored to my specific body and needs. Marylou used both our sessions as well as informed advice to help me not just drop the pounds and tone but also address my long term health and fitness. I was always amazed at her well rounded knowledge of fitness and approach to well being. In addition to the results I had (high school skinny - thank you!), I always enjoyed my time with Marylou. She is a positive person, always professional, always shared a sincere sense of wanting to help me meet my goals. I would highly recommend Marylou...in fact, now that baby is grown up, I plan to start on more sessions with her! read more

Marylou is simply amazing!! She really helped me kick start my health program. Her techniques are unique and creative -- I never feel as if I am doing the same exercises and routines, it is always different and feels new. She encouraged me to think of my program in a holistic way, and helped me come up with strategies around nutrition that are customized to me. Even when I am traveling, she shared routines I can do in my hotel room, and always pushes me to go beyond my comfort zone as she has a better understanding of how far I can go than I do! She is very professional -- and the tools she uses with her clients make interacting with her easy and straightforward. I love my workouts with her -- she is awesome! I trust her immensely, and highly recommend her. read more

I came across Marylou when I was searching for pre-natal fitness programs. The idea of using a personal trainer hadn't crossed my mind at first, since I don't exercise regularly, and I assumed it would be over my budget. I was also worried that a trainer wouldn't really help me progress, and that I'd be paying for sessions that were "too easy", simply because I'm not a fitness fanatic and was already pregnant. I didn't have to worry! I am SO glad to have met Marylou. She is friendly and professional, and very knowledgeable about what exercises are appropriate for all stages of pregnancy. Marylou is also attentive to posture, and spent time analyzing the way I stand and walk to understand where my body had asymmetries, and take those into account when designing various fitness routines for me. Each session is thoughtfully planned and organized, and each week, we built upon things that we had worked on previously. I could feel myself getting stronger. Her enthusiasm for fitness rubbed off on me, as I started incorporating vigorous walks and gentle weight exercises into my daily life. I really credit Marylou with the fact that my postpartum recovery was quick and easy. Marylou does fitness training for all kinds of people, including men who are pretty built already. I would recommend her without hesitation to anybody who is looking for a trainer, regardless of their prior experience and fitness level -- Marylou will do an excellent job customizing to fit your needs. read more

This is going to be the first Yelp review I've ever written ever! Marylou is extremely knowledgable and friendly! I found out that she used to live in San Diego(where my in-laws are) then relocated here and got interested. After the initial meeting, I instantly felt I could really trust her so I quickly decided to move forward with her. I trained twice/week with her for a couple of months so far and I really appreciated all the training and in-home program she created for me! Not only her 1-hour session has always been effective, she also helps you develop more awareness of your body. The way she focuses a lot on what you can do at home and helps you adjust the intensity is super cool as you can continue doing this 7days/week! read more

I've been working with Marylou for several years. She has helped me become stronger and more flexible. She addressed and continues to watch and guide me re: my weak spots and I have not had any injuries since working with her. She is very knowledgeable and gives clear direction. She watches carefully to be sure I'm keeping proper form. I also appreciate how she switches up my workouts - it's never the same routine twice. I highly recommend Marylou! read more

I came to Marylou to help me kickstart postpartum weight loss. Not only did she help me with this, but during her evaluation, she was able to identify issues that had been lingering for several years due to an old knee injury and added in exercises to help me address them. I appreciated her thoroughness and ability to customize a program to meet my needs, goals and ability. I looked forward to my workouts with Marylou. She always kept things interesting and challenged me just the right amount. She has such a positive attitude and is a pleasure to be around. If you are looking for a trainer who is knows their stuff and truly cares for their clients, I highly recommend working with Marylou. read more

I've been training with Marylou for almost 3 months now, and I've seen huge progress on building strength and improving posture. I have round shoulders for as long as I remember and since training in recent months, I noticed I'm standing straighter with chest opened. I'm also able to plank for almost 3 minutes! That's a huge progress for me and I'll continue training with her. read more

I've been training with Marylou since September 2016, and can't say enough great things about her. I was about 5 weeks pregnant at the time, and wanted to find a trainer who specializes in prenatal exercise. Marylou was exactly that. She is very experienced in prenatal training and always customizes our workouts based on how I am feeling and how my body is changing. She pushes me, but makes sure that I am still in my comfort zone at all times. Her style is very encouraging and gentle, unlike those loud trainers at the gym who are always yelling. I'm so glad I found Marylou, and I can't wait for her to help get me back into pre-baby shape! I would highly recommend her for anyone, whether you're pregnant or not. read more

Marylou and her team are AWESOME. I have been working out with her for almost half a year now and they always kick my butt. I started seeing her last summer when I could go to her constantly and saw results right away. Now being a college student in the city, I always look forward to my weekends and breaks where I can see her and workout. I also got my boyfriend to come with me to do group sessions and he has gained a new love for working out. We both always have a great time with her while we workout, while she pushes us to become stronger. I am always bound to be sweaty and sore after Marylou!! read more

Marylou is amazing. I commend her and recommend her without reservations. As a 74 year old woman with multiple issues (both physical & medical), I am very careful about who touches my body. Marylou is extremely intuitive and each session adjusts her instructions to fit my needs. She has an amazing capacity to make minute adjustments in her instructions to fit my needs at the time. In other words, if something we are doing hurts somewhere, she will have me made a small change in what I am doing and the pain will disappear. When I met her, I thought she was too young. Wow, was I wrong. I have worked with other trainers through the years and have never found anyone as skilled, excellent, and intuitive as Marylou. And I am getting stronger! In addition to everything else, she is a genuinely nice person. read more

Marylou was my personal trainer here in San Diego until she moved out of the area. I have not yet found a replacement comparable to her, and wish she were still here. Marylou took her role as a CHEK Practitioner and Holistic Lifestyle Coach quite seriously. She was a great motivator, always encouraging me in my physical training and more often than not, as a life coach as well. Her knowledge and depth of experience contributed toward the improvement of both my strength and overall body awareness. I can honestly say that I am stronger today because of her. Marylou worked diligently to create individualized training plans just for me, while cognizant of any body issues, injuries, or areas of weakness that I may have had. On a more personal note, Marylou is one of the most caring, kind, and positive persons I've known. I consider her a true friend! read more

I have thoroughly enjoyed my time training with Marylou, Yashvee and Sang! I love how I am pushed each session but still feel strong and capable of doing the workouts. I also enjoy how the workouts are things I am able to do in my home gym. Each of the women are very encouraging and seem to truly care about my strength and well-being. Highly recommend Project Strong! read more

I have been working out with Marylou at Project Strong since 2017. At the time, I wasn't exercising regularly and was having a hard time finding an activity that I enjoyed enough to do consistently. And if I'm being honest, I really wasn't into exercise at all. I wasn't sure if using a personal trainer would be a good fit for me, so I set a goal of trying it out for 6 six weeks. She really listened to what my goals were and worked with me to help me feel comfortable. And now 4 years later she's still motivating and challenging me. We're always doing different exercises, not the same old boring routines, which helps me stay interested and even excited to exercise. She's also flexible and is able to help me through those days when my body is just not feeling right. I can honestly say that I am the most fit I have ever been. It was one of the best decisions I've made and I am so happy working with Marylou. read more

My wife and I are very happy with Marylou. My wife has been training with her since week 10 of pregnancy. She was new to exercising when we started and doesn't like to be pushed too much. Marylou did a fabulous job adjusting to our needs and getting my wife in shape. We've gradually scaled up from once a week to three times a week, exercising all the way until the due date. Marylou is always attentive, punctual and focused. She has given us a lot of great pregnancy tips throughout the experience and allowed me to sit in on all the sessions (when I am available). We highly recommend Marylou (for prenatal fitness training in particular). read more

Marylou is amazing! I went there suffering from severe back pain. I have tried chiropractic and physical therapy, but none worked. After few weeks with her, I am feeling great, and I forgot all about my back pain! She is nice, knowledgeable and flexible. I totally recommend her read more

My husband and I (both in our late twenties) have never seriously considered having a personal trainer, however Marylou has been so awesome to work with that we have decided to continue on with our training. We originally signed up for one month to help me safely gain back leg and core muscle after a lengthy knee surgery recovery. While we both have very different goals and needs (My husband has been focused on upper body / core.), Marylou has put together awesome programs for both of us that have us seeing results after just one month of working with her! She's also been able to swing it so that we arrive together, and one does their workout while the other focuses on cardio/ stretching and then we switch. This has been great because it allows us to go together, even though we are at different places and focus on different areas. On a personal level, she's been great to work with and is very supportive during the workouts. She'll push you, but safely and with support. She's also just fun to hang out with Our experience has included: * Initial meet and greet where she does a body / posture assessment. (Bonus points for focusing on posture!) You'll also do a light workout to gage where you are. * Discussion of personal goals and some areas she thinks you should focus on as well. * From there, she puts together a program specific to you. We honestly cannot say enough great things. If you're considering starting a personal training program - we highly recommend meeting with Marylou for an assessment! read more

It's actually not easy to find a wonderful prenatal trainer. That said, I knew I was going to be impressed with ML when during our initial consultation, she asked all the right questions. ML takes her time to get to know your goals and concerns and make sure that she tailors the perfect work out. I was working out 2 to 3 days a week through most of my pregnancy (up until 38 weeks) and felt amazing. My work outs were always varied (instead of the same few sets over and over) and I felt like I was truly getting a full body work out without pushing things too far (very easy to do when you're pregnant). Not only is she a wonderful trainer, ML is an absolute delight to visit with - I found myself always looking forward to our sessions! read more

I was lucky enough to be matched with Marylou as my trainer when she relocated to SF Bay Area. She was a trainer at the gym I was a member at. I had just been released by my doctor to resume activity after a couple sports injuries. She did a full assessment and based my workouts around recovery as well as strengthening, preventing further injury and increasing cardio fitness. I found out I was pregnant just before starting to train with her and she incorporated prenatal fitness into my workouts. She varied the workouts and kept me motivated. I completely and wholeheartedly recommend her as a personal trainer, the best I have worked with! read more

I just started training with Marylou and she is FANTASTIC!!! I love all her workouts. She is very sweet and friendly. She gives you her undivided attention and pays attention to proper form. In such a short period of time, I can see a difference in my body. My body is becoming more toned and defined. I've had other trainers before and none like Marylou. She's exceptional at what she does. read more

Marylou worked with me right after i had back surgery and had finished with physical therapy. She took over my work outs and I felt I was in the best of hands. She came well recommended by many of my friends but she exceeded my expectations. She improved my posture and my strength and was a pleasure to work with. Unfortunately for me she moved to San Francisco and was hard to replace. I loved working out with her and would highly recommend her. ~Silvana M. read more

Mary Lou was my personal trainer for 2 years and still would be if she didn't move to San Fransico. I loved her positive attitude and looked forward to seeing her every Tuesday and Thursday morning. She always changed up the workout, so I was never bored. She is very knowledgeable in her field and professional in her business. Although Mary Lou was always very professional, I couldn't help but feel she was a friend. She has such a great personality and is a pleasure to be around. I highly recommend her to anyone lucky enought to have the opportunity to work with her . Sharon W. read more

Marylou is an amazing personal trainer and I'm so glad I've used her throughout the start of my pregnancy. I've always used a personal trainer from my gym, but since I found out I was expecting i decided to look for someone who specializes in prenatal workouts. From there, I found ML on Yelp. She's not only knowledgeable, but she will customize her workouts to get you ready for labor and birth. I feel that Marylou has so much experience with training pregnant women and it shows during our sessions. I always felt comfortable and safe working out with her as she tries to keep an ongoing engaging conversation during our sessions. This method actually helps the trainer gauge if the workout is too strenuous for you or not, since you're suppose to be able to continue a normal conversation during the course of your workout. Also, I love that she has young kids of her own and have shared so many tips and advice throughout the period I've been training with her. Plus side, I always get a good night of sleep after working out with her. I cannot recommend her enough and I promise it's a great investment in hiring a prenatal trainer in the long run. read more

I cannot help but speak very highly of Marylou. From my very first interaction with her I could immediately realize her superb expertise and qualifications. Marylou made an excellent impression on me with her phenomenal knowledge in physiology and nutrition that I knew right away I could trust her fully, and that I was in "good hands". Before I met Marylou I had been struggling for a long time with extra pounds and inability to restore my strength and energy that I once knew. I was fairly active, even improved my diet, but it seemed like nothing could help and I was spinning my wheels in one place. After I received a very detailed personalized assessment by Marylou, we began a customized program that helped me achieve results as soon as a couple of weeks. It was like a miracle, and I was truly elated. Marylou helped me see the light in the tunnel and believe that I still had a chance to reduce my weight and improve my overall health. In addition to the regular workout regime, she also made many recommendations concerning my diet, so the benefits were multidimensional. The training sessions with Marylou are quite versatile as she incorporates new exercises and routines on a regular basis, so I feel that every part of my body has an equal chance at getting a great workout. She believes in a customized approach and truly applies this in practice. To top it all off, Marylou is very friendly, encouraging, and has a great sense of humor, which makes the time spent with her a real blast! I cannot be happier that I found Marylou! I would highly recommend her to anyone who is looking for quality workouts and excellent results. Thank you so much, Marylou! read more

I love Marylou and highly recommend her as a personal trainer. It all started after I had my baby. She has helped me regain my strength and work the way back to my pre pregnancy weight. Her approach is holistic and she knows your capabilities and limits. After several unsuccessful attempts with personal training, she has definitely turned it around. Thank you, Marylou!! read more

Marylou has been my trainor for 6 months now and I feel stronger and more flexible than ever. She is patient and kind and never has she made me feel bad for my guilty food pleasures. Marylou is supportive and works with you and your food plan at your pace if need be. I am so happy to have found her through yelp and I hope you to make the right choice and see her too. Thank you Marylou! read more

I have trained with Marylou for over a year and her workouts are always great! She always challenges me and keeps it varied, which is something I look for in a trainer. I love that I didn't have to join a gym just to workout with her. She is also great about scheduling sessions, I have a job that can run late and she is always flexible about it. I would recommend her to anyone looking for a trainer! read more

I have been training with Marylou for about 6 weeks and would recommend her highly. After just 2-3 weeks I was already feeling stronger. Her sessions are interesting and challenging and are tailored for individual needs. She soon learns how to push clients in a safe manner to make progress toward goals. One of my goals is to have fewer aches and pains as I go through my day (I am likely in the upper age range of her clients) - and I am already seeing incredible progress - as well as feeling stronger. Marylou is a joy to work with and I would not hesitate to recommend her to anyone looking for a personal trainer. read more