--- New! ---
See the new Boston Globe article on senior fitness featuring PTI and long-time PTI client Wendell Sykes
The New Studio at PTI
Yury Klimovitsky founded PTI in 2003 after 20 years in physical education and sports training. Yury and the other PTI trainers have many years of experience training people at all levels, including world-class competitive athletes, people seeking to improve their general health and fitness levels, and people with disabilities.
Yury holds advanced degrees in sport training and physical education. He started his career at the Olympic Training School in Ukraine as the Head Track and Field Coach after spending time as a member of the Ukraine National Track and Field Team. In the US since 1997, he has trained many people seeking improvements in general health and fitness as well as competitive athletes.
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Wonderbarre
In addition to personal training, PTI is also pleased to offer its special Wonderbarre classes. These intense one-hour classes combine yoga, Pilates, ballet, and orthopedic stretching to produce a flexible, toned body. Check out the Wonderbarre class schedule online, where you may also sign up for a class. Or, you may call 978-897-2300, or email wonderbarrepti@yahoo.com to sign up for a Wonderbarre class. Note that for an introductory period, your first class is complimentary. Please call or email to make a reservation for your first complimentary class.
Personal Fitness Training...
We'll get you in shape - one workout at a time.
Each individual - male or female, young or old, competitive athlete or weekend golfer - has unique health and fitness goals. Personal Training International (PTI) fitness trainers will help you meet your goals by creating a unique personal fitness program for you, based on your current fitness level and your busy schedule.
What is the PTI training approach?
PTI trainers use a functional fitness training approach tailored to your specific needs. An individual approach is developed, based on careful observation of your performance on both a long-term basis as well as on a minute-by minute basis during each session. Your program will be adjusted according to your response to each training session. These adjustments, along with regular encouragement from your trainer, will maximize the effectiveness of your training time, resulting in consistent progress toward your goals.
What is functional training?
Functional fitness training is a whole body regimen that concentrates on training muscles to work together to prepare your body to perform real-life activities without pain, injury, or discomfort. Unlike workouts using specialized exercise machines, functional training challenges the body to work collectively as a whole, training the smooth, rhythmic motions required by daily activities - such as walking, lifting, pushing, climbing - or by sports. PTI fitness trainers analyze your posture, movements, muscle strength, balance, and coordination to create personalized workouts. Workouts typically involve guiding you through a wide variety of movements using your body weight and/or small equipment - such as free weights, balls, resistance bands, low hurdles, and balance boards - for resistance. The goal is to develop integrated movement where your muscles fire in the sequential patterns required for the activities important to you in your life. Functional fitness training improves strength, balance, stability, agility and quickness.
The advantages and disadvantages of functional training.
Functional training is effective for everyone. Most importantly, it develops small muscle groups as well as the major groups that are associated with them.
- Functional training enhances balance, agility, coordination and power.
- Some exercises can simultaneously develop multiple muscle groups, providing a more time-efficient workout.
- Since the exercises are not limited by machine constraints the user’s range of motion is determined only by individual physical limitations.
- The possible range of exercises is limited only by the knowledge of the trainer and the capabilities of the person being trained.
- Once learned, functional training exercises are transportable to the home or in a hotel room during travel.
- For those with a limited capability to perform everyday tasks like getting up from a chair, climbing stairs, or getting into a car, specific functional training exercises can significantly improve those capabilities.
- Functional training can be used to prepare for or recover from major surgery such as hip replacement.
The only real disadvantage of functional training is that, especially initially, it requires the guidance and careful observation of a personal trainer knowledgeable in the techniques.
How does functional training differ from machine-based training?
Machine-based training uses a range of machines, each designed for the strengthening of one or more muscle groups, which constrain body part motions so that almost all of the applied effort is provided by a selected group of muscles. Normally the resistance of the machine to motion is adjustable according to the capability of the user.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of machine-based training?
Machine-based training is most effective for body builders who need to develop specific major muscle groups. However machines can be used by beginners after initial instruction to strengthen specific muscles. In general, machines are easy to use, require minimum supervision and if reasonable care is used are safe. The amount of resistance can be adjusted to fit the needs of each user and after initial training, a standard fitness program is easy to follow.
The disadvantages include:
- A full workout is relatively time consuming.
- Small muscles essential for balance and joint protection are not developed because of the constraints provided by the machine; also, most machines permit only a limited range of motion.
- Each machine can develop only one or two muscle groups.
- Full machine-based training requires a large and expensive number of machines.
What about cardiovascular exercise?
A complete fitness program includes both strength training and cardiovascular exercise. Most people can manage their own cardiovascular exercise with advice and guidance from their personal trainer. For some people, outdoor brisk walking, jogging, or running can provide sufficient cardiovascular exercise to raise heart rate to between 60 and 85 percent of maximum for an extended period. Typically, however, cardiovascular exercise involves at least some use of machines, such as treadmills, rowing machines stationary bicycles, stair climbers, and cross trainers. An advantage of some machines for cardiovascular exercise is that they reduce impact stress, which is important for exercisers with specific joint deficiencies.