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Perk of the Week: Personal training

Northeastern faculty and staff can get one-on-one instruction from students who are certified as fitness instructors.

A personal trainer kneels on one knee to pass a weighted ball to a woman doing sit ups on a mat on the floor.
Personal training sessions are available for faculty and staff at all stages of their fitness journey. Courtesy of Northeastern Recreation

Whether your goal is to keep up with the pack in a marathon or to keep up with your grandchildren at the playground (which, honestly, may be more challenging), personal training is available for faculty and staff at Northeastern University.

A perk to help you reach your fitness goals

“Working with someone one-on-one will hold you accountable in your fitness journey,” said Baye Samodal, a fitness coordinator in the university’s recreation department who oversees the personal training program.

Faculty and staff with a university recreation membership can sign up for one-on-one or small group training with a certified personal trainer.

Start with a personalized assessment

All new clients must purchase an initial assessment package, where you receive a total of three sessions that include an assessment to determine current fitness level, a discussion of training goals and the creation of an exercise program. It currently costs $100 for faculty and staff.

“The initial assessment gives a baseline so that the client knows where they started and, when reassessing, can see how they’ve grown,” Samodal says.

Flexible and affordable options

Following the assessment, clients can book individual sessions for $35, five sessions for $150 and 10 sessions for $300.

Small group training — a five-week program that meets once a week for 50 minutes and can include from five to 10 participants — costs $30 for five sessions.

“As you’re building your fitness, you’re building relationships with other people in the program and the trainer as well,” Samodal says.

Train with friends, stay motivated

Partner/group training is also offered for those who would like to train with a friend or a small group of friends for a reduced rate. Sessions will be designed and conducted for the group’s goals.

Certified student trainers lead the way

The trainers are all Northeastern students who have taken a semester-long, preparatory health-science course that includes both lectures and hands-on learning. They have also passed the certification exam to become a personal trainer.

“Right now in the fitness industry there’s so much info online, lots of influencers, and lots of opinions,” Samodal says. “All of the personal trainers have a really good foundation of fitness. These students are really great!”