Frequently Asked Questions of All Shapes and Sizes

Because all shapes and sizes are welcome here with us!

We help YOU build a more fit and healthy YOU!

Isn't personal training expensive?

We get that a lot, actually, so don't feel bad about asking.  We're glad you did.

Just like any service, you can spend a lot of money or a little money, depending on the provider and your needs.  The important thing to consider is the value you receive for the money you spend.

For instance, in personal training, you're paying for the expertise, training, and experience of someone who has focused their professional life on learning how to help others improve their health and wellness.  You're paying them not only for their knowledge, but for their ability to help you get the results you desire.

So, yes, you'll spend some money, but if you learn from the expert and get results you couldn't get on your own, then it's money well spent.

And we have programs that can fit most any budget. Together we will come up with an affordable plan that you're comfortable with.  That could mean more workouts on your own that are pre=planned and we limit our in-person work together. 

Don't let the price come between you and your fitness goals.  We will figure it out together.

How long will I have to use a personal trainer to really get results?

Maintaining your health and wellness is a lifelong journey.  Our goal is to help you achieve independence in your own health and wellness.

What makes you qualified to be my trainer?

All of our trainers are certified with one of the accredited personal trainer organizations.  Each is experienced in health and wellness, and believes in the personal touch and relationship building that is the hallmark of Raeann McCarty's training philosophy.  All of us strive to continuously learn more, to stay abreast of the latest discoveries, and best practices in the fitness industry.

In addition, each of our trainers has studied personally with Raeann to absorb the best of group fitness instruction, one-on-one program development, injury prevention and accommodation, strength and conditioning techniques, adapting programming to different populations (age, ability, fitness level, different personalities, etc.), and ensuring that during it all, each client stays safe and progresses towards their goals..

We collaborate as a team regularly to share triumphs and challenges as instructors,  and those of our clients, so that each of us provides the highest level of service to those who've chosen to work with us. 

You are the reason we work to be the best at what we do....because you deserve it.

I've got a bunch of injuries already, so how am I going to be able to exercise?

The simple act of living results in each of us developing a unique set of micro- and macro traumas that accumulate in our bodies.  We each have physical damages that must be accounted for as we decide to get more out of our bodies and improve our health.

The first thing we will do is take a full inventory of what you already know about how your body functions, as well as run you through some light assessment activities so that we can observe how your body moves and what accommodations need to be made to account for any prior injuries.  This will help us jointly decide when and how it is safe to exercise.

Our experienced trainers not only know a whole host of exercise to benefit each client, we also know the modifications to them, so that we can meet you where you are in your physical fitness journey.  Safe progression is the key, and we'll not ask you to do any exercise that you're body is not ready for.  

We will also provide you with unique strategies to keep you active as you recover from any injury.

Be sure not to begin any new physical activity without first checking with your medical provider.

I'm so out of shape I can't even begin to think about using a personal trainer or doing anything related to boxing.

First of all, see the above answer about how we will begin our work together.

Secondly, no one is ever too out of shape to take action to improve.

No matter where you are, we will meet you there and help you improve,  Don't worry about improving your fitness before hiring a personal trainer.  We want to help you in these beginning stages of your journey, as this is often the hardest part.  We ask that you trust us to provide you with the lifelong tools that will help you achieve your optimal health.

Remember, progress, not perfection.

How often should I expect to have work with a personal trainer each week?

We recommend scheduling at least one workout each with with a trainer, as well as scheduling your workouts on your own.  Most of our clients prefer two sessions each week to stay accountable and stay on track towards their fitness goals. 

1-3 in-person sessions per week is common and often depends on much you are willing to exercise on your own.  Frequency of sessions can decrease over time as less accountability is required by the client.

I don't like other people seeing me work out.  Is a group class really something I should be thinking about?

It doesn't have to be.  You have several options to choose from.  You may enjoy starting with individual training rather than group fitness.  Your personal trainer can help you ease into feeling comfortable in a group workout setting, if group fitness is something that you wish to participate in.

It's very common for us not to feel comfortable in our own bodies, especially when we want to change it as we improve our health.  Don't let this stop you from taking action anyway.

We believe in the beauty that is each of us, and that anyone who take actions to get more fit is not only beautiful, but smart.

And believe it or not, most fit folks in a gym admire people that come in to take action for themselves and their loved ones.  Ridicule is only for the weak.

What should I expect in my first few wokouts?

The first few workouts will vary from person to person.

There are a variety of factors, including previous exercise experience, comfort level, previous injuries, current pain levels, current medical condition, and goals, etc.

Having said that, as a general rule, you should expect to gain clarity on what is achievable under the current conditions, as well as increased belief in your own ability to achieve your goals with our help.

You you might be a little sore. :)

This is a "getting to know your body" phase, reacquainting your body with moves you might not have done in awhile, as well as introducing it to something new.  The trainer is also learning how you move and figuring out the best ways to help you move better.

People often fear that they will be crushed in the first few workouts, and that just simply isn't the case.

Will you give me any exercises to do on my own at home or on my own at the gym?

Absolutely.  At home exercises can certainly be provided as part of your personalized training plan. We personalize a program just for you, and will show you how to properly, confidently, and safely do each exercise.

It is important to exercise outside of our time together, so we will  learn the exercises together, and send you home with a plan to execute on your own.

We encourage and help you get in a minimum of 2-3 exercise sessions each week, whether with us, group fitness class, or on own your own.

What about the diet part of it all?  can you help with that?

Of course.  Nutrition plays a large part in reaching your fitness goals.  As the old saying goes, "You can't out exercise a bad diet."

We are happy to provide you  with nutrition advice and guidance as part of your fitness plan.

If you're interested in a full nutritional program, we suggest you contact a licensed nutritionist for that level of support.

I have a major health concern (i.e, high blood pressure, diabetes, degenerative disk disease, PARKINSON'S, etc.), can I still work with you?

Clients often come to us after being diagnosed with a major health concern like high blood pressure or diabetes, and we always encourage them to check with their medical provider before beginning any new exercise routine.

We are prepared, educated, and experienced in modifying physical activities to various medical conditions.

We always closely monitor heart rates and will experiment with exercise variations to find what works best for you.  For instance, sometimes focusing on strength training, along with nutritional changes, can see significant improvement for major health concerns.  

It's all part of a personalized plan that we develop together, and you are encouraged to run it by your medical provider.  We have extensive intake and tracking systems, personalized to each client, and we monitor and update them regularly, so that all of our clients get the personalized attention they deserve.

We have found that what we do for our clients far exceeds what most trainers do.  It's that personalized touch that sets us apart and helps our clients achieve their fitness goals.

my child is training for a specifc sport (pre-season training), can you help?

We use a strength and conditioning model for most people trying to improve athletic performance.  We modify this basic model with sports-specific activities, and based the client's current condition and goals.

My child is not very athletic.  I just want them to be more active and find an activity that they enjoy.  can you help?

We use creative ideas and strategies to make physical activities fun and desirable, especially for kids that haven't had a lot of exercise in their life.  We've found that by introducing it in a positive, fun format, that not only does their health improve, they have fun in the process.  It can be as simple as a one-on-one personalized game, to a group activity that has everyone moving and laughing.  

Music helps many of us move, so we do our best to use the music our clients enjoy.

will working with you and your team improve my mental health?

Multiple studies have shown that increased physical activity has a positive correlation to improved mental health.  Here's a link to the U.S. government's database on related studies.

Our minds and bodies are connected, after all.  It only makes sense that impacting one will have an impact on the other.

Social interaction, scheduled accountability, positive energy, empowerment, creating a routine of physical activity, and having a mentor help you achieve your goals, all help promote the release of neurotransmitters, including dopamine (happy hormone) in the brain.  

Please be sure to check with a licensed mental health provider before beginning any new physical activity.

my child has a learning challenge. will something like this be right for them?

We've done a lot of work with children with diagnosed disorders, and have found that personal attention, gamification, and positive reinforcement helps get them--and keep them--moving, and enjoying it so much that they keep coming back for more.

Autism spectrum, ADD, and ADHD are the three most common that caregivers contact us about, and social interaction and improving musculature are two of the most common benefits parents report to us after having worked with our team..

Having been diagnosed late in life with ADHD herself, Raeann is especially in tune with what similar clients need,  having not had such resources or attention when she was younger. As she said in a recent interview, "Believe it or not, boxing is great for people with a learning challenge.  I have ADHD myself and think that's part of the reason I was drawn to this type of sport to begin with.  And we never work beyond a client's learning curve, and almost everything we do is modifiable--both physically and mentally."

I have a parent who is older and not in great physical condition and I'm wondering how you can help someone like that?

As we age, it is as important as ever that we remain physically active, so that we can retain the highest level of quality of life as long as possible.  "Move it or lose it" really rings true when we're talking about this.

We modify exercises to be sensitive to physical limitations.  We focus on improving strength and balance to increase muscle mass and bone density, and to improve posture and body alignment.

Stretching, important when we're young, becomes essential as we age, and we really incorporate that into all of our routines for our more seasoned exercisers.

Every client receives positive mental encouragement (at no extra charge!) we've found that many older clients respond especially well to this positive energy.

Do you and your personal trainers travel outside of harrisonburg?

This will vary, trainer to trainer, but it is very possible.  If not possible, online personal training through video chat or phone support is an option.

do you offer private, in home personal training?

Most of our training sessions are done in an established gym environment.  However, it is possible, after having built a relationship based on trust and client actions that moving to a more convenient-to-the-client location can be discussed.

I'm recovering from a recent injury?  When could I start training?

First, talk to your medical provider.  Once they clear you, we will develop modifiable exercises to help you gain or maintain your cardiovascular health.

I'm finishing up a physical therapy program and want to continue exercising.  can you factor in what I did in physical therapy and create a sustainable program for me to continue?

Yes, bring that list of what you've been doing and we'll start there, and then progress them accordingly.  It is very common for someone to enjoy the benefit's they received from successfully completing a physical therapy program and want to continue that positive trajectory.

Can I work out with a friend?  A group of friends?

Friends make everything better.  Invite them along to a group fitness class, or sign up together for a partner training package.  Heck, if you can get a buddy or two to join together, ask us for a bit of a discount and I'm pretty sure we'd be happy to comply.   Thanks in advance for doing yourself and your buddy a favor.

I've never boxed before and know I'll feel uncomfortable.  How will i know this is a good fit for me?

We totally get how boxing may feel awkward and uncomfortable at first, especially if the only boxing you've ever seen was on TV or in the movies.  Our non-contact, boxing inspired workouts offer great cardio benefits, as you'd expect.  But you'd be surprised to learn they also improve balance, dexterity, agility, strength, flexibility, hand-eye coordination, spatial awareness, confidence, physical power, mental health, bone density, and a whole slew of other things that accompany improved physical well-being.

We promote a friendly and welcoming environment, especially during this learning process.  You're not gonna show up and get the hang of it the second you try out your first boxing combination.  Give yourself a little grace, and enjoy the learning curve, but we're pretty confident that once you give it a shot, you'll be punching for life.

can i have online only workouts made for me?

Absolutely.  In-person training or group workouts are not required.  If you never want to meet in person, we can still create a personalized plan that you can do on your own via phone consultation or online video discussion.  However, be advised that one of the best benefits of working with a trainer comes from the personalized assessment of how your body moves and being able to modify exercises accordingly, so not having that assessment does present some exercise execution issues you need to be aware of.

This boxing thing intrigues me.  what are all the individual boxing class, boxing coaching, boxing group classes, etc available?

We offer 30 minute one-on-one boxing coaching, small group boxing classes (great with friends!), beginning and intermediate 6-9 week boxing technique programs (designed to improve overall fitness), and partner boxing (share the costs!), and everything in between.

You need never have boxed, nor ever even thought about boxing, before trying one of our training sessions.  Come on!  It's fun.

what type of boxing do you teach?

That's easy enough.  I'm trained in and teach only one type, Muay Thai, and all of our instructors teach the same.  This style uses all "weapons of the body." so expect to do uppercuts, elbow strikes, jabs, cross, hooks, knees, kicks, push-kicks.

There is no sparring.  Our clients are striking mitts and bags.  This is non-contact fitness program, not a form of combatives.

do you do kicks in your workouts?

Using the whole body in a workout enhances the overall effectiveness of an exercise program, so using the lower body helps our clients achieve their goals quicker.  Kicking motions are included in most of our workouts, but everything is modified based on individual client needs.

We practice Mauy Thai kicks that can be aimed a the notional lower leg, thigh, mid-section, and head for those that are interested.

do you do contact boxing? and is your training dangerous?

We only perform non-contact boxing.

There is always a risk when performing any physical activity.

what will we be punching at when we're "boxing"?

In our group classes and one-on-one sessions we use a combination of heavy bags, mitts, and hand-eye coordination trainers like speed bags, double-end bags, and slip bags.

Is this going to be like the les mills body combat group fitness workout?

That organization has built a huge brand by helping people achieve their fitness goals.

There are some similarities to what we do and what they do, but our structure is much different.  Our offerings include one-on-one coach instruction, and personalized feedback, and we have targets to strike.

what are the benefits of a boxing based workout?

Our non-contact, boxing inspired workouts offer great cardio benefits, as you'd expect.  But you'd be surprised to learn they also improve balance, dexterity, agility, strength, flexibility, hand-eye coordination, spatial awareness, confidence, physical power, mental health, bone density, and a whole slew of other things that accompany improved physical well-being.

When can I start training with you?

There's no time like the present.  Just fill out the form below, and we'll contact you within 24 hours to schedule for initial, free consultation.