★ 5

Two and a half years ago, I threw out my back (because I'm in my 40s). I did a search of places nearby and found Project Strong and I'm SO grateful I discovered this gem.

As others noted, what makes PS stand out is that it's *truly* customized for where you're at and what you need. We started with the true basics, getting my core strength back. Then we progressed to building strength and stamina. I now work out three times a week with Chelsea, who's absolutely incredible. Her knowledge of body mechanics is top-notch and she always keeps me challenged (even if I sometimes grumble about it, lol). When I think back to where I started to where I am now, it's a bit mind-blowing. (PS does regular assessments, so you have hard data to track your progress.) And after what's now hundreds of workouts, Chelsea somehow manages to keep it fresh.

On top of that, Chelsea's a great person -- with equally great taste in music. I've also worked out with Crystal and Marylou, who are also both great, but Chelsea's my girl. ;)

The facility is also well maintained and clean. Most of the time, it's just me and Chelsea in the gym, but there are times when other are there and it never feels crowded.

tl;dr -- Give PS a try. You won't be disappointed.

Source: Google

★ 5

Almost three years in and joining Project Strong is one of the best choices I’ve ever made.

I had basically stopped exercising altogether due to back and shoulder challenges. Marylou and team at Project Strong customize a program and can work around any injuries, health issues, etc. I’m stronger and healthier in every sense now than I was a decade or more ago. I look forward to the gym and always feel great for having gone.

Special thanks to my primary trainer Chelsea. She’s the ideal combination for a personal trainer of supportive and slightly evil.

Source: Google

★ 5

Marylou and her team of trainers are life-changing.

I say they are life-changing because when I started in October 2023 (33 years old), I was feeling weak, had migraines, was out of shape, and was just tired every day. I was at a point in my life where if nothing changed my health was going to continue going downhill. When I met with Marylou and Niki for my self-assessment (a general fitness and health goal of meeting new clients) I felt welcomed and they were very professional. I told them that my main goal was to get stronger physically and have more energy.

Since that initial assessment, all of my training sessions have been tailored to my goals and where my fitness level is. Each session is so positive and it's like talking to a friend. I recently had a follow-up assessment to see my fitness growth and I have increased all my fitness checks (like heart recovery and basic workouts) in 3 months by over 100% in some categories! I didn't need the test to know I had improved as I saw it in my everyday life but it was so satisfying to see my growth. I am not tired after work every day, have lots more energy, lost weight, gained muscle definition, and have very few migraines!

I continue to look forward to going to each of my sessions. I highly recommend Marylou and her team to meet your fitness goals!

2025 Update -
Still having an amazing experience at Project. I’ve now worked with Chelsea and Crystal for the past year or so and have enjoyed working with them so much! It’s so much fun meeting with them. Chelsea is professional as well as funny conservationist! Crystal is also amazing with her quiet and funny personality. Whoever you meet with, you will not be disappointed!

Source: Google

★ 5

I can’t believe I’m writing this, but after 7 months at Project Strong, I am officially a workout person—and I love it! The biggest shock is that I actually look forward to booking my sessions, and I even get sad when I have to travel and miss a day. It’s a small miracle.
My main trainers are the dream team: Chelsea, Marylou, and Crystal.
• Chelsea is a fantastic trainer; she's so easy to connect with, but don't let that fool you—she will challenge you and get your heart rate going!
• Marylou is equally amazing and constantly pushes me to do my best. Her end-of-session stretches are the absolute best part of my week.
• Crystal is also a wonderful trainer, and honestly, you can't go wrong with any of them. The slight difference in their styles is actually a huge benefit, and I love having the option to train with a few different people.
If you’re just getting started with strength training, take my advice and try their 25-minute package. I did that for two months to build the habit and stamina, and it worked perfectly. Now I’m crushing the full hour sessions twice a week!

Source: Google

★ 5

Over all project strong is a great place to go. I had a few scheduling issues using the app and webpage but Marylou is lightning fast to respond and get you back on track. Everyone I have met that works their are very nice, go out of their way to help and explain all the exercises to you. Have been seeing Chelsea since December thanks to her I have seen a great improvement in my overall muscle and core strength. I recently had a major surgery so a regular gym was out for me. Chelsea has the ability and knowledge to work with me to make my surgery a thing of the past. She has a remarkable ability to both motivate you and push you to do more in a manner that makes you want to push yourself to do more

The only somewhat negative with project strong is the scheduling it needs to be improved. It is not really user friendly in my opinion. There is a lot of back and forth trying to schedule a block of appointments.
I would recommend project strong for the older crowd, those coming from an injury or surgery or those who haven’t really exercised for a long time. The develop a program for you not just some generic one size fits all.

Source: Google

★ 5

The entire team at Project Strong is amazing! Mary Lou quickly replied to my request for more information with a personal phone call that helped me identify the right plan for myself. On day 1, Crystal and Sophia listened with great care as I went through my evaluation. I looked forward to my personal training sessions and each trainer provided support and helped adapt my training for arthritis in knee and shoulder. Some days I needed a little pick me up, others I came in super motiviated or needed that extra push. Sophia added in fun variety and encouraged me to try new things such as battle ropes and Chelsea pushed me even when I thought I couldn’t do more. They cheered me on…. every time. Through my 3 months, I laughed, I cried, I felt every muscle (and know their names now) and lost pounds and many inches. I shifted to a home program as I leave the area. Most importantly, the Project Strong team restored my faith that I could still learn and say with confidence “I do strength training”. When I visit California, I plan to schedule individual training sessions to continue my journey. Thank you!

Source: Google

★ 5

I've been with Project Strong for over a year now, and the experience has been nothing short of incredible! Marylou and her team are phenomenal. I reached out to Marylou to help me get back into a workout routine with a focus on stamina and strength training, and since the initial evaluation, every session has been meticulously tailored to meet my needs.

The 1:1 attention is invaluable in keeping me motivated, focused, and always pushing me to challenge myself. I've seen a tremendous improvement in both my strength and stamina, which is continuously reinforced by the objective data they collect throughout my training.

What sets Marylou apart is her ability to motivate me to reach my maximum potential—she truly knows how to push me without overwhelming me. By far, Marylou has been one of the best trainers I've ever worked with, and I’m excited to continue my journey with her and the rest of the Project Strong team!"

Source: Google

★ 5

I never thought I’d be the type to have a personal trainer; I’ve struggled all my life to get active since I am naturally a couch potato. But I had an injury a year ago from lifting my kid that landed me in physical therapy for 6 months. I was told I had some muscular imbalances and that I needed to start doing strength training regularly, otherwise I was likely to get injured again. When physical therapy was nearing its end last Dec, I did not feel confident that I could exercise alone without re-injuring myself, so I decided to find a personal trainer. I wanted someone who would take the time to understand my body and knew what exercises would be needed to help correct the imbalances, as well as watch me do them to ensure I was doing them correctly.

So far it has worked out great and I’m so happy I found Project Strong. I’ve been working out there once a week for about 5 months now and I am pleased at how far I’ve come. I look forward to my workouts. Marylou is my primary trainer but Crystal fills in when Marylou is out. Both of them are excellent. I feel an obvious improvement in my strength and endurance. Marylou always changes up the workouts; sometimes I'm on the Pilates Reformer machine, sometimes lifting weights, sometimes doing rows, sometimes doing body weight or stabilization exercises on a Bosu. Marylou pushes my limits to keep me getting stronger, but she listens to me and modifies exercises when I tell her it doesn’t feel good or if it seems to be tugging on the area of my old injury. She takes a lot of notes, so I know she is intentionally keeping track of where I’m at with certain exercises (e.g. what weight the machine was set to, etc).

Most importantly, Marylou does all this without judgment. She is all about positive reinforcement (encouraging words) instead of admonishment. On weeks when I struggled to get through our workout, she gently encouraged me to fuel up with a drink, e.g. juice, prior to coming the next week, to see if it would help since she thought my energy levels might just be more sensitive to lower blood sugar. (It did help!)

I intentionally chose Project Strong when I decided to transition to personal training because their website talked specifically about working with postpartum women and recovering from injuries. I wanted a gentle approach to getting fit. I didn’t want a boot camp-style regimen that would leave me in tears afterwards, especially since my only prior experience with personal training at a large gym elsewhere had left me feeling so ashamed and judged for my lack of fitness. At Project Strong, however, I’ve never felt judged for starting out at a very low fitness level. All my incremental progress is celebrated.

Before I started my workouts with Marylou she did an initial body assessment where she took measurements and pictures to see where there were misalignments. She also tested my range of flexibility.

It's hard for me to imagine getting the same level of care anywhere else. I love Project Strong!

Source: Google

★ 5

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.

Source: Google

★ 5

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.

Source: Google

★ 5

I have been working with Crystal and Marylou at Project Strong in recovery from a severe ankle sprain and fracture for the past three months. Through our time together, they have helped me regain my balance and strength after having lost much of my muscle mass while in a cast. Their training has been excellent - even over Zoom! I would highly highly recommend them to anyone who is recovering from an injury, or just looking to get better balance and strength back.

Thank you both!

Source: Google

★ 5

👌🏽

Source: Google

★ 5

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!

Source: Google

★ 5

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.

Source: Google

★ 5

My husband and I found Mary about 6 months ago. We are in our 70s and decided we wanted (and needed) to build strength and increase our flexibility. We train twice a week, and what a change this has made in our lives! We are not "natural" exercisers but Mary has inspired us to keep it up! We often work with Crystal too. She has been delightful to work with, and manages to keep us on task in such a friendly and encouraging way. So far, we have only worked with Mary and Crystal, but we would not hesitate to work with any of their team. Our 6 - month progress report was beyond what we hoped for! Strength, flexibility, and balance – all improved! We feel like we are in the BEST of hands.

Source: Google

★ 4

Source: Google

★ 5

A year ago, I was exhausted, out of shape, and carrying extra weight. I hadn't always been like that, but life had gotten busy. I had been trying on my own to get it together, but was struggling with too many demands on my time. I had never been to a personal trainer, but thought that maybe the accountability would help. Still, I must admit, I was embarrassed to expose to someone how out of shape I had gotten, and actually thought, “I should get in shape before I go to a personal trainer!”

Fast forward one year…I am training for my second road race and have lost ~15 pounds. I am strong again, both physically and mentally, and I owe it all to the fact that I was lucky enough to find the best personal trainer on the planet. Seriously. Marylou is “all in.” She is totally engaged in your personal progress and is supportive beyond compare. She even came to my first road race with her son and stood in the rain to cheer me on! She is incredibly gentle, but tough, and manages to find a strength within you that you may not even know you have. She is super knowledgeable about the body and knows more exercises than you can imagine. Each visit is something new. She focuses on core strength and balance—two things I was surprised to find I had lost when I first started seeing her—and my glutes! Well, they’ve never looked better. 😊

Bottom line, I absolutely love Marylou. Finding her will forever be on my list of “most important life-changing events,” and for better or for worse, she will likely have to see me every week for the rest of our lives. I am so grateful that one year ago, in a haze of desperation to get back in shape, the Google gods guided me to Marylou. Who knows, maybe they are shining on YOU right now…

Source: Google

★ 5

Source: Google

★ 5

Marylou is wonderful! I trained with her throughout my third pregnancy and had great results. My fitness goals during this time were to avoid re-injurying my back (due to my expanding belly), avoid diastasis recti and to stay active and strong during those nine months.

Through personalized and challenging (in a good way!) work-outs I was able to meet all three goals and probably ended my pregnancy stronger than when I started! I could tell that she was very knowledgeable in how to adapt my training sessions as I progressed through my pregnancy. I really wish I had known about her during my first two pregnancies.

In addition, she is just a very friendly and wonderful person, and our conversations were just as helpful and enjoyable as the actual workouts.

Source: Google

★ 5

Marylou is the most kindness and the most patient trainer I've ever met. I have been with her for 6 months now and she has never made me feel bad for my guilty food pleasures.

I feel stronger and much, much more flexible than ever. I can now do 20 man push ups and that is a success story in itself. Thank you Marylou!!

Source: Google

★ 5

Marylou is top notch. She is knowledgeable, professional, motivating and all-around incredible. When working with her, you sense her commitment and dedication to helping you meet your fitness goals. She is aware of your needs and is always making sure she is there to help you meet your goals.

My husband and I began working with her in April (twice a week). Although we came in with different fitness goals, Marylou was able to tailor our workouts so that we both worked on the areas we needed to in the hour we spent with her. We have seen wonderful results in our endurance, strength and flexibility.

What I appreciate the most about Marylou is how she is consistently aware of my needs and goals. Whether it is offering ideas on how to incorporate stretching and strengthening at home, to healthier meal plans to follow. I feel as if she always has my needs in mind and is continuously supporting and mentoring me.

Seeing Marylou is my favorite part of the day!

Source: Google

★ 5

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!

Source: Google