1. WHERE DO YOU PROVIDE SERVICES? Independent Fitness serves the Greater Boston Area, primarily the City of Boston. Clients who live more than 30 minutes from South Boston who are interested in services should contact us. Travel and time costs will be considered on a case by case basis.
2. WHAT TYPE OF CLIENTS DO YOU WORK WITH? I work primarily with older adults (commonly considered 55+, although this is not a cutoff!) and baby boomers, a group that encompasses a large, diverse percentage of the population. Clients can range functionally from being very frail and in need of ongoing assistance, including using walkers or being in wheelchairs, to being very active and athletic. If you are thinking about exercising but believe you will need a program that can accomodate special health concerns, or can be taken at a personalized pace, then this is the right program for you.
3. WHAT CAN I EXPECT IF I SIGN UP FOR A CLASS OR SESSION? Once you contact me about your first training session or class, I will send you a medical clearance form for your doctor. There are also a few other forms I will ask you to fill out so I can learn more about you, your daily life, your goals, and any health conditions. After I hear back from your doctor, we will schedule an initial session to discuss putting your training plan together.
4. DO YOU TAKE INSURANCE? Most insurance will not cover personal training, although some plans do have health and fitness incentive programs. Therefore, while I cannot process insurance claims, I can provide receipts to be submitted to your insurance company for reimbursement if available under your particular plan.
5. WHY DO I NEED TO FILL OUT PAPERWORK? It is my goal to provide my clients with an exercise program that maximizes their abilities while being cautious of any limitations. This means I need to know a little about your background and, for that reason, there are a few forms to be filled out before your first session.
6. DO I HAVE TO GET CLEARANCE FROM MY DOCTOR? Yes. It is important for every client to receive medical clearance from their physician. This way, your physician can provide any restrictions to your program and inform me of any medications that could affect your exercise performance. Also, your physician may also want to keep track of your progress.
7. MY SENIOR CENTER ALREADY OFFERS EXERCISE CLASSES. HOW IS THIS DIFFERENT? All fitness classes are great, and congratulations to you if you are already participating! But most fitness classes for older adults try to fit a wide range of functional abilities into a single class. What this can mean for you is that the class could be either too advanced or not challenging enough, which would not allow for you to make the most progress you can. Independent Fitness offers one-on-one personal training in your own home that is built around your personal goals and functional needs and constant communication about both. Independent Fitness group classes are tailored by functional level as well, and your goals are taken into consideration in your class recommendations and overall exercise plan.
