I have never written an online review in my life--not for a bar, restaurant, or hotel, and certainly not in support of an exercise-related experience. I've never been compelled to...until now. I stumbled on Physique out of a combination of desperation and laziness (impending bikini season and the fact that it's three blocks from my apartment were probably the biggest factors), and the positive reviews on citysearch pushed me to check it out. Like some of the other reviewers, I've worked with numerous trainers at a number of city gyms, and I was skeptical. And just like those same reviewers (although I admit I was convinced that *I* would see through the hype), I wrote out a check within fifteen minutes of meeting Dave. I worship Dave. He seems to have an impressive academic and scientific background with regard to fitness and nutrition BUT doesn't bore me with endless explanations of this tendon and that muscle, blah, blah, blah. There's also no repetitive rep counting or log books or "upper body today lower body tomorrow" type of patterning, which is refreshing. Each of my sessions has been different from the one before it and has incorporated a whole-body approach. There's a feeling that he's actually personalizing it--a lot--based on my abilities/goals and not some playbook. My naturally thin body type has deceived many trainers before into thinking I was in decent shape, but not Dave: he saw immediately that I had horrible posture, poor flexibility, a humiliating lack of coordination, and ZERO strength. It's hasn't happened overnight, but I'm starting to see improved strength (5 lb. weights to 10...woo-hoo!) and feel more toned. There are probably other trainers who could've gotten me there, too, but none of them took as personal an approach as Dave. I'm just about to finish my first 6-week program, and I've already signed up for round two. Yes, I'm totally drinking the Physique Kool-Aid, but trust me: you will, too.
Pros: Relaxing studio, great music, no work-out dread
Cons: Feel guilty getting on the elevator after a training session, so when Dave's watching I take the stairs
more