Personal Training Institute Offers One-on-One Training

Susan Howell of Garden City has been to health clubs where she felt like just another person on a treadmill. At Personal Training Institute, located at 181 Seventh Street, Howell says she gets specialized one-on-one training that few other clubs offer.

She likes the VIP treatment, as well as receiving varied, high-intensity workouts. "They are very goal-oriented here," Howell said.

Personal Training Institute, or PTI, offers customized one-on-one fitness programs and nutritional consultation to clients looking to improve their overall health and general lifestyle. Founded in 1987, the program features a combination of custom-tailored workouts, nutrition counseling, motivation techniques and advanced exercise equipment.

PTI members run the gamut from first time exercisers to advanced athletes, although many have health issues or are undergoing physical therapy. Each member works out under the direction of a trainer. The members wear heart-rate monitors to measure their physical output. The goal is to achieve 75 to 85 percent of one's target heart rate.

The Garden City franchise is run by Morgan Williams (known simply as 'Morgan'), who is the manager and fitness director; and Jaclyn Zepernick, marketing director. In all there are 10 trainers, a nutritionist and four staffers who run the spinning class. PTI has been on Seventh Street for two years. Prior to that, it occupied a second-floor studio on Franklin Avenue.

Clients are required to make appointments because each trainer works with you during the entire 30-minute session. "We talk to them the whole time," Zepernick said. If you are late for an appointment, the staff will contact you. "We will call you, email you, text you. We want you here," Morgan said. "Other places, they don't care if you come or not."

PTI designs routines for each client, varying them each time. One session might feature boxing, for example. Progress charts are kept on each client so that if you see a different trainer one day, he or she knows what was previously done. "We all share our expertise. We all focus on the same protocol," Zepernick said.

Many health clubs offer personal trainers. Here, it is a requirement. But what separates PTI from many other health clubs is the nutrition consultation. PTI's belief is that great results can only be achieved when combined with a healthy diet. PTI uses the Tanita scale, an industry standard in weight loss. Tanita has developed a body composition meter-integrated scale that helps users measure their internal body fat ratio and internal age.

A $299 per month Basic Body membership at PTI comes with eight personal training sessions, a bi-weekly nutrition counseling session, unlimited group spinning classes and unlimited use of cardio machines.

The more advanced Body Pro membership ($399 per month) entails 12 personal training sessions, weekly nutrition counseling sessions and unlimited group spinning and use of the cardio machines.

Hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Saturday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. The facility includes a child's play room so parents can work out while their child colors or draws.

PTI offers corporate and student discounts, and referral discounts. For information, call 294-3020.

PTI claims a 91 percent approval rating among current clients. Count Howell as one of them. "I just like the one-on-one training here," she said.