Home
Who we are
Our Philosophy
Services Offered
Start to Finish
In the News
FAQs and Workouts
Contact Us
Links

The 100 Best Trainers in America

If you've ever tried to pick a trainer, you know that there is no Zagat guide that tells you which ones are the very best. That is, until now. This summer Men's Journal polled 11,000 certified trainers in the 20 largest cities in the country. After we tallied the votes, we got off almost a thousand phone calls and e-mails to researchers, fitness directors, gym managers, doctors, and physical therapists to double- and triple-check the nominees. Here's the definitive list of America's top fitness gurus.



ATLANTA
Scott Hilburn the Forum 678-904-1940 Trains Olympic athletes and regular guys with fast, intense strength workouts.
Brad Hodgson Peachtree Center Athletic Club 404-523-3833 Emphasizes flexibility to transform the body from the core out.
Andrew Johnston Independent 404-431-2287 Focuses on posture and performance.
Paul Rodgers IQ Fitness 404-869-8003 Subs full-body movements using cables for more traditional exercises.
Todd Townes Independent, Alpharetta, GA 678-467-0540 A golf specialist, he teaches flexibility and core stabilization.

BOSTON
Mike Boyle Mike Boyle's Strength & Conditioning, Winchester, MA 781-729-1333 The Hub's choice for sport-specific training.
Anthony DiLuglio Punch! Gym, Providence, RI 401-621-7474 The Nation's top kettle bell gym.
Hank Drought Personal Trainers Strength & Conditioning Consulting 617-375-6911 Excels at injury rehab, power lifting, and plyometric training.
Roberta Lenard Lenard Fitness 617-666-1196 Specializes in keeping clients' muscles in balance.
Michael Wood Velocity Sport Performance, North Attleboro, MA 508-369-5430 Taught the speed arts to everyone from high schoolers to fast linebacker Ray Lewis.

CHICAGO
Michael J. Sokol One-On-One Fitness 312-642-4235 A former tax lawyer, he focuses on creating doable, functional workouts for the regular guy.
Mark Cibrario the Trainer's Club, Northbrook, IL 847-562-1611 So good at functional training that other trainers seek him out for advice.
CC Cunningham Perform Enhance, Evanston, IL 847-288-3870 Cunningham's expertise: prepping adventure travelers for their next extreme vacations.
Clint Phillips Fit Chicago 312-371-6107 Uses unorthodox techniques, such as having you push his car, to keep workouts varied and fun.
Michael Sena Energy Training Center 312-965-4506 Shows how to fit good nutrition and strength training into even the most hectic lifestyle.

CLEVELAND
John Black Black's Health World 216-252-1695 His sessions, in which he aggressively manipulates the weight loads on traditional leg excercises, have made him and his gym an institution.
John Henry Creel Mind & Body Fitness, Beachwood, OH 216-464-6117 Uses plyometrics, resistance training, and active stretching for a fat-burning workout.
Ed and Frank King King's Gym, Bedford, OH 440-439-5464 The brothers built their reputation on explosive plyometric programs and sport-specific training.
Jeff and John Palsa Chagrin Fitness, Beachwood, OH 216-464-2350 Yoga principles meet Pilates and weight training in the Palsas' ultimate core workout.

DALLAS
Everett Aaberg Telos Performance Center, 972-386-2582 Has mentored most of Dallas's top trainers, disseminated his expertise through books, videos, and lectures and cofounded one of Texas's finest workout facilities.
Jason Brown Telos Performance Center 972-386-2582 A biomechanics fanatic, his evaluations are thorough enough to satisfy the NFL draft combine.
Kurt Chacon the Studio 214-533-2634 Improves the posture, flexibility, and neuromuscular coordination of serious golfers.
Michael Dawdy Baylor Tom Landry Fitness Center 469-441-2311 Endurance specialist preps clients for triathlons, marathons, and other ultra-endurance races.
Jason Harnden Larry North Fitness 214-526-6784 Creates resistance training-based workout cycles for NHL players and their fans.
Corbin Lawson Premier Club 214-891-6600 Compresses weightlifting and cardio into an intense hour-long workout that whips clients into top shape.

DENVER
Dave Fujii Greenwood Athletic Club, Greenwood Village, CO 303-281-9779 A former bodybuilder, Fujii is Denver's go-to guy for traditional weight training.
Gregg Hoffman Bodies by Hoffman 303-765-1095 Focuses on athletic conditioning and post-rehab.
Ray Khan Kick Fit Athletics 720-363-2379 Specialties include Filipino martial arts, Thai kickboxing, and Pilates, in addition to weight training.
Wendy McClure Body Dynamics, Boulder, CO 303-944-8463 Uses balls, bands, and weights to prep clients for the slopes.
Peter Seamans Flatiron Athletic Club, Boulder, CO 303-819-1792 Spends his days training with weights and his evenings teaching Turbo Vinyasa, his own yoga creation.

DETROIT
Edwin "Skip" Bunton Body Specs, Wyandotte, MI 734-260-3561 With a background in PT, he attracts injured athletes of all skill levels.
Kirk Vickers Triad Health and Fitness, Farmington Hills, MI 248-615-1652 Former Red Wings trainer assesses clients' posture and movement, and continually works to keep clients in muscular balance.

HOUSTON
Dinah Anderson One-2-One Training Center 713-524-0300 Former bodybuilder combines core work with weights and yoga.
Roger Applewhite Independent 832-654-9481 Teaches muscle mechanics en route to improving clients' functional strength.
Samir Becic Bally's 713-521-3113 Conducts Houston's fiercest mixed martial arts sessions.
Bob Talamini the Houstonian 281-279-5144 Stresses balance and multiplane movement while prepping clients for activities such as kayaking and surfing.
David Taylor the Fitness Company 713-784-4032 A training veteran who specializes in cardio and post-injury rehab workouts.
Kenny Winston Anytime Anyplace Fitness 281-220-0452 Brings weight training and boxing-focused cardio workouts to wherever his clients want to train.

LOS ANGELES
Tanja Djelevic Independent 310-995-2150 With expertise in physiology and sports psychology, Djelevic shapes up your body and your brain.
Greg Isaacs Greg Isaacs 360 310-476-9200 Developed T3, a program incorporating tread/spin, free weights, and yoga.
Yumi Lee Independent 323-864-4041 Lee integrates body sculpting, kickboxing, indoor cycling, and Reebok core training into her workouts.
Tom Marshall the Sports Club/L.A. 310-473-1447 Creates individualized gym/at-home programs with an extensive assessment program.
Ed Monaghan Combative Arts Academy/Boulevard Health Club 310-652-8701 Area SWAT team members have worked with him to hone their martial arts skills.
Gunnar Peterson Independent 310-888-0009 Jennifer Lopez's trainer teaches functional fitness at his 5,000-sq-ft home gym, which includes a basketball court, putting green, and climbing wall.
Gregory Joujon-Roche Holistic Fitness 323-969-8135 Keeps things fresh with unique routines, such as one-on-one basketball with a set of weightlifting after each game.
MIAMI
Derek Dodd Active Lifestyles, West Palm Beach, FL 561-601-6103 Creates outdoor workouts -- think speed drills with kayaks -- that take advantage of his Florida locale.
Bonni Doherty Independent 786-385-9777 A certified physical therapist who focuses on balance, breathing, and stretching.
Eddy Goicolea Independent 305-528-9065 Wrote the book on partner training, in which you use a friend for resistance to expertly train opposing muscle groups.
Yaxeni Oriquen South Beach Ironworks 305-531-4743 The no. 1 female bodybuilder in the world will get you ripped.
Dodd Romero Bod by Dodd 305-740-7772 Lures star clients such as A-Rod and Denzel Washington with his high-tech equipment and low-key gym.
Juan Carlos Santana Institute for Human Performance, Boca Raton, FL 561-620-9556 Probably the country's leading practitioner of functional training.
Cavakia Therlonge South Beach Ironworks 305-531-4743 Specializes in nutrition and guarantees fat loss in eight short weeks.

MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL
Nyantu Bolo Essentials 4 Fitness 612-623-4440 The king of high-rep, muscle-specific rippage.
Christine Bongiovanni Independent 952-945-9090 A former Ms. Olympia contestant who firmly believes in the power of the squat.
Lonna Mosow Lonna Mosow's Workout Center, Eden Prairie, MN 952-941-9448 Uses a Pilates foundation to build strength and flexibility.
Snype Myers Independent 651-253-2039 Conducts brutal, strictly regimented, hour-long sessions that have been known to make women cry and men lose their lunch -- all in the pursuit of startling, body-transforming results.
Jim Yungner the Gym, Plymouth, MN 763-553-0171 The old-school bodybuilder brings his "work hard and sweat" philosophy to folks trying to drop 30 or 40 pounds.

NEW YORK CITY
Rich Barretta the Gym 212-889-3003 A former bodybuilder who specializes in everything from hardcore conditioning to body sculpting.
Scott Berlinger Chelsea Piers 212-336-6000 Believes the mental aspects of training are as important as the physical.
Mark DiMuzi o the Sports Club/L.A. -- New York 212-355-5100 A leading advocate of the philosophy that diet, sleep, and stress relief matter just as much as heavy weight and rep count.
Mike Gostigian Olympian Fitness 212-560-7114 A former Olympic pentathlete, he preps clients for goals such as a marathon or a starring role in a big-budget action flick.
David Kirsch Madison Square Club 212-683-1836 Combines strength training, conditioning, nutrition, and a neo-Zen approach.
Pat Manocchia La Palestra 212-799-8900 The place to go, if you've go the money, to train for the New York Marathon.

PHILADELPHIA
Jim Hart 12 Street Gym 215-546-1854 An expert in kinesiology and a master chef, Hart goes grocery shopping with his clients to teach them how to read labels and ID "fake" health foods.
Pete Mattis Sweat Gym267-251-3701 Designs programs integrating yoga, martial arts, weights -- and trampolines.
Roger Schwab Main Line Health and Fitness, Bryn Mawr, PA 610-527-2200 Doctors love Schwab for his dedication to rehabilitation.

PHOENIX
Eric Bell New Body Personal Training 602-703-9007 Stresses active recovery, in which clients do a quick calisthenic or cardio exercise after sets.
Bob Lutfy Independent, Scottsdale, AZ 602-421-4760 A bodybuilder, Lufty keeps it simple: lots of weights. J.R. Rosania Healthplex 602-295-0652 Exhausting cardio circuits that will have you ready for any race.
Dean Shallberg Fitness West 602-321-8984 Makes nutrition the cornerstone of every client's program.
Mark Verstegen Athletes' Performance, Tempe, AZ 480-449-9000 Nomar's trainer offers one-week Core Performance training programs to the public at his elite training center.

PITTSBURGH
Robert Fitzpatrick the Rivers Club 412-391-5227 The Steelers recently hired him to improve the running mechanics of their players.
Eric Hibler Practical Fighting Concepts 412-429-9208 World Extreme Fighting veteran schools serious fighters and fitness fanatics in mixed martial arts.
Tammy Lowrey-Ridgley Three Rivers Fitness 412-621-8380 Applies the injury-prevention wisdom she honed working as an athletic trainer for NFL Europe.
Gary Wateska Independent 412-799-0508 Brings muscle fatigue-based workouts to your home.

SAN DIEGO
Paul Chek Chek Institute, Vista, CA 800-552-8789 Creates holistic, personalized fitness and rehab regimens for X athletes, famous and not.
Todd Durkin Fitness Quest 10 858-271-1171 Uses physio balls, steps, and strange positions to morph standard exercies into multimuscle tests of strength, balance, and joint stability.
Derik Farnsworth Independent 619-606-1598 A champion bodybuilder, he uses adapted power lifting techniques to add bulk to his clients.
Pete Koutrouba Frog's Club One 858-674-4480 Specializes in adding muscle to enhance posture and keep the body aligned.

SAN FRANCISCO
Jim Karanas Club One 415-477-3000 Developed Performance Max, which combines rowing, spinning, and indoor bicycle racing.
Callum Keith-King Gold's Gym 415-552-4653 Applies cardio techniques developed when he was training pro hockey players.
Richard LaRocca Body Tonic 415-440-1800 Recent winner of the "Hercules hold" in a Strong Man competition emphasizes power lifting.
Terrell Lambacker Crunch 415-543-1110 Ex-marine creates authentic boot camp workouts using body bars to simulate rifles.
Ron Martin the Sports Club/L.A. -- San Francisco 415-633-3900 Specializes in minimizing the muscular imbalances that play havoc with a golf handicap.

SEATTLE
Jason Anderson Seattle Athletic Club 206-443-1111 Has a circuit training drill great for weight loss.
Doug Davis Pure Fitness 206-224-9000 A competitive bodybuilder, he uses progressive resistance training (i.e., the weights constantly get heavier) to rework body composition.
Joe DeShaw Zum 206-443-3933 Developed interval-training exercise class that focuses on core, posture, and muscular alignment.
Christy Peterson Pro Sports Club, Bellevue, WA 425-885-5566 Renowned in the Seattle area for rehabbing athletes and medically supervised clients.
Debbie Smith Bellevue Club, Bellevue, WA 425-688-3150 An Ironman triathlete, she focuses on yoga, indoor cycling, and running.

ST. LOUIS
Michael Jaudes the Fitness Edge 314-993-3343 With an emphasis on nutrition, he shadows clients from the weight room to the supermarket for a truly full-service experience.
Joe Olivastro 8300 Exercise, 314-432-2639 Works closely with doctors on pre- and post-operative rehab; also specializes in functional training for general fitness.
Michael Robinson Magna Fitness 314-963-7800 St. Louis Cardinals and beer-league softballers swear by his strength-training techniques.
Reiko Sherman Reiko One-on-One Fitness 314-725-6748 Trains young and old with a focus on cardio and flexibility.

WASHINGTON, D.C.
Yaz Boyum Definitions Personal Training Plus 202-424-1050 The pro bodybuilder doesn't just stress pumping iron; she's also the Beltway master of physio balls and dynabands.
Jason Hadeed Elite Athlete Training Systems, Rockville, MD 301-972-0558 A no-nonsense trainer who actually puts clients on probation if he thinks they're not working up to their potential.
John Philbin Philbin's Family Fitness and Athletic Training Center, Gaithersburg, MD 301-527-0500 Has trained pro football players for more than 25 years and is as proficient in traditional resistance work as in trendy techniques like "multijoint functional training" (he'll have to explain).
Jonathan Ross Aion Fitness, Bowie, MD 301-367-6843 A specialist in getting monumental results by breaking down programs into small, attainable goals.
Robert Sherman F.I.T. , Bethesda, MD 301-656-0885 An expert in flexibility and stability training, Sherman also works directly with Reebok to develop fitness programs.


« back