Question 1

What makes Stepp Up Fitness different from other personal trainers?

Accepted Answer

Stepp Up Fitness truly stands  out from the pack thanks to our partnership with the Movement  Performance Institute, a world-renowned physical therapy and  return-to-sport clinic. MPI provides high-tech, doctor-developed  strength, running, gait, and cycling testing to high-level athletes, and  thanks to our partnership, we can provide them to you.

Because everyone deserves to know how their body works - and how to get it into the shape they want.

So what does this mean? In  addition to our many in-person and virtual services, we offer the  highest level of fitness evaluation in the industry, giving you the most  complete picture of your health and wellness.

At Stepp Up Fitness, everything  is 100% tailored to your needs, goals, and lifestyle, backed by the  latest scientific research into human performance. We don't do  flavor-of-the-month diets and workouts, broscience, or TikTok "fitness"  trends. Try us and see the difference we can make in your life!

Question 2

What's the advantage of 1-on-1 training?

Accepted Answer

Group classes (yoga, pilates, spinning, etc) are wonderful ways to get  fit and we highly recommend you work those into your fitness routine.  The downside is that they are basically one-size-fits-all. So if you're  looking for the fastest, easiest, and most personal way to get the  results you want, 1-on-1 training is hands-down the best option. Our  workouts are designed specifically around you and no one else. Your  goals, your body, your lifestyle. Plus, we take care of all the details  for you, from picking the right types of exercises and equipment,  tracking your progress, and giving you the resources you need to make  informed fitness decisions. All you have to do is show up.

Question 3

Can't I just work out on my own?

Accepted Answer

Of course you can! And in fact, we encourage it. Studies show that  getting at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise a week does wonders  for your body. It lowers blood pressure and cholesterol, increases  energy levels, helps maintain a healthy weight, increases mood, improves  sleep...the list goes on and on. The advantage of spending at least an  hour a week with us is that we make sure you're using your time in the  most effective way possible - and you get a guide for what to do with  those remaining minutes each week. Time is one of the only things you  can never get back, so we want to make sure you're taking advantage of  every minute.

Question 4

I feel fine - what do I need training for?

Accepted Answer

First of all, that's great news. You should feel good about yourself, because it means you're doing a lot of things right. But also, one thing we find helpful is to remember that your body is like a car - it needs regular maintenance.  Oil, tires, brake pads, fluids...these things all wear out. And the more  years a car has, the more important that maintenance is, the more  costly breakdowns become, and the more difficult it is to get it back  into peak condition.

Add to this what the research says: a 2022 study  in JAMA Network Open found that adults who met the recommended 150  minutes per week of moderate physical activity had a 31% lower risk of  all-cause mortality compared to inactive adults — and higher amounts  produced even greater benefit. And a landmark Mayo Clinic Proceedings study  found that each 1-MET improvement in cardiorespiratory fitness was  associated with a 13% reduction in mortality risk, regardless of age.  Staying fit isn't just about feeling good today. It's one of the most  powerful things you can do for the decades ahead.

Our bodies are no different.  Minor issues under the hood, either detected or not, can snowball into  major problems if not taken care of. Thankfully, personal training can  discover and correct many of these issues. You'll feel better, live  better, age better, and your body will be ready to move for decades to  come.

Question 5

Why do you charge more than trainers at large commercial gyms?

Accepted Answer

While there's nothing inherently  wrong with large commercial gyms, the fact is trainers at these  facilities are forced to spend most of their efforts on sales - not  fitness. They are paid based on how many sessions they sell and are  often given quotas for the number of sessions they have to sell in a  month, regardless of fitness outcomes. Clients are a volume business to  them.

At Stepp Up Fitness, each client  is treated as a whole person, not a number. Your goals are our  priority, not the number of sessions we can convince you to buy.  Whatever it takes to help you achieve your goals in a setting that's  enjoyable and empowering for you is what matters.

In addition, Stepp Up Fitness is  a boutique, semi-private facility. What does semi-private mean? It  means you're not working out in front of dozens of people at a time. The  only other people in the facility besides us are the small handful of  doctors, physical therapists, and clients of The Movement Performance  Institute - a renowned physical therapy and return-to-sport clinic.  There's no judgment here; just support and encouragement towards  becoming the healthiest version of yourself.

Question 6

What should I wear to my assessment / workout?

Accepted Answer

For workouts and especially our  assessments, it's important we be able to observe the precise way your  body moves, so please wear comfortable, close-fitting athletic apparel  and sneakers. Please avoid baggy clothing if you can.

Specifically for our running and  gait tests, the camera system we use requires us to closely monitor  your body, so please wear shorts and low-cut socks. These tests are also  much more accurate if done without a shirt. For women we recommended  you wear a sports bra. If you are uncomfortable with removing your  shirt, that's ok, but we will ask you to roll it up to mid-chest level.

We understand that not all  clients may feel comfortable with being observed with a no/rolled-up  shirt, and we will never force you to do something that you don't want  to. But remember, we are a small, private facility staffed by  professional trainers and doctors whose only motivations are to see you  succeed. The actual time spent without a shirt is around five minutes.

Regardless of activity, not allowed at any time are: sandals, open-toed shoes, dress shoes, heels, barefoot.

Question 7

Should I eat before a workout? During a workout?

Accepted Answer

You should always have plenty of  water prior to your workout. And unless you are specifically training  during fasting, a little food also can be beneficial (simple foods like  bananas, granola bars, trail mix, etc). To avoid gastronintestinal  upset, try not to eat a significant amount of food closer than one hour  to your session.

During the session, we recommend  you drink regular water, or electrolyte water if it is a particularly  intense session. You may eat a small snack if you choose, but it isn't  necessary. However, if you are planning on being particularly active after  our session, it's not a bad idea to have something small when you are  finished like a protein or granola bar. For our clients doing  significant resistance training, eating a carbohydrate-rich snack after a  workout is recommended.

Question 8

What does a typical workout look like?

Accepted Answer

At Stepp Up Fitness, there is no "typical" workout, because each program  in individualized. But in general, in an hour visit, you'll have 5-10  minutes of warm-up, about 45 minutes of training (stability, resistance,  circuit, agility, power, etc), and another 5-10 minutes of cool-down  and stretching. During the workout, we keep track of all your metrics -  things like reps, sets, weight, effort, heart rate - so you can just  focus on exercising. And within 24 hours of your workout, you'll get a  performance report from your session, detailing what went well and where  we can still improve.

Question 9

How long will it take to see results?

Accepted Answer

This is one of our most common  questions, but also one of the most difficult to answer, because it  depends on your individual fitness goals and current fitness ability.  For example, it's a bit ironic, but someone just starting their fitness  journey is going to see results faster than someone who's been training  for years.

But in general, we measure  progress on a monthly scale. Assuming you put in the time and effort, in  about a month, you'll start to feel a real difference in your body. In  two, you and other people will probably start noticing changes in the  way you look. In three or more, you'll be so fully into your new routine  that on days you don't workout you'll probably crave it.

The most important thing to take  away from this is that ultimately, what you get out of fitness will be  what you put in. This is why at Stepp Up Fitness we focus so heavily on  your personal needs. We'll design a program that fits with the  lifestyle, commitment, and effort you're able to put in. Whether it's  once a week, three times a week, or even once a month, we'll find  something that works for you.

Question 10

I've never worked out before - where do I begin?

Accepted Answer

Great question! There are so many fitness options out there that it can  be very overwhelming, so we're here to help. All of our new clients  start with a fitness and wellness assessment. We'll discuss your goals,  workout history, and lifestyle so that we can understand your individual  needs. Then we'll assess your posture, gait, cardio, and baseline  strength levels to indentify exactly what to target in order to achieve  your goals. Finally, we'll try out a few exercises so you get an idea of  how we'll proceed. At the end of the session, you'll come away with a  plan of action, whether you want to pursue it on your own time or  combine it with further training sessions with us.

Question 11

Do I need clearance from a doctor first?

Accepted Answer

Before you start training with  us, we'll give you a questionnaire that helps identify if we require any  prior medical clearance. This step is mandatory to help keep you safe,  and can be completed digitally before your visit. But consulting with a  doctor or other medical professional prior to any new exercise or diet  routine - whether with Stepp Up Fitness or somewhere else - is always  highly recommended.

Please note that as a general  fitness practitioner, we can do a lot to help you get stronger, fitter,  and more active. However, we are not a physical therapy clinic and  cannot diagnose or treat specific injuries or illnesses. If you do need  help for an injury, we can perform a baseline assessment and provide you  an exclusive referral to our partner, the Movement Performance  Institute, a renowned physical therapy and return-to-sport clinic.

Question 12

Is there an age limit?

Accepted Answer

On the low end, yes. Due to California liability law, we do not treat  clients under the age of 18. However, on the upper end, no! Like they  say, age is just a number, and in fact, we specialize in working with  older adults (50+).

Question 13

Do you do in-home or in-person site visits?

Accepted Answer

We do, but because they take so much time compared to our in-person and  virtual sessions, we have a limited number of openings per week. If you  are interested in in-home training or consultations, please contact us first to talk more details.

Question 14

What is your cancellation policy?

Accepted Answer

Life happens, we get it. But our training sessions involve a lot of  preparation before you even set foot in the facility, so it's important  that we be able to use that time efficiently. Clients may cancel or  reschedule with no penalty up to 24 hours before their session. Any  cancellations closer to the session will result in a bill for the full  session if we are unable to accommodate a reschedule for that same day  or week.

Question 15

What if I'm running late to my session?

Accepted Answer

In order to use your time most effectively, and to make sure we can give  all our clients equal treatment, it's important that we start sessions  on time. That said, if you're running late, just let us know! Any delays  less than 15 minutes can be added on to the end of the session if  there's no client or business booked after you. If there is, or if you  are more than 15 minutes late, we'll do the best we can with the time  available.

Question 16

What data do you collect during a workout? Is it private?

Accepted Answer

Unless you specifically ask us otherwise, during your sessions we will  track your sets, reps, weight/resistance, effort, heart rate, and any  other factors relevant to each exercise. All of this is kept private and  is visible only to you and us. We do not sell any of your data, and  will delete any records upon request.

Question 17

Do you film or photograph the sessions?

Accepted Answer

By default, we do not film  clients for outside use (YouTube, Instagram, etc). However, we may, with  your consent, film or photograph parts of your assessment or workout to  give you visual feedback of your form and progress. These images/video  will be saved so we can track your performance over time. If you would  like us to delete these records, just ask.

We are open to your filming yourself for your own outside use as long as it doesn't get in the way of your training.

Question 18

What is the Movement Performance Institute?

Accepted Answer

The Movement Performance  Institute (MPI) is a state-of-the-art clinical facility dedicated to  understanding the biomechanical basis of healthy and disordered human  motion. Run by the renowned Dr. Christopher Powers, MPI provides  in-depth biomechanical evaluations as well as rehabilitation and  consultation services for persons with musculoskeletal complaints or  those looking to enhance physical performance and/or prevent injury.

Through our partnership with  MPI, Stepp Up Fitness is able to offer both general personal training  services to clients and access to MPI's gold-standard strength, running,  and biomechanical testing facilities.

Frequently asked questions