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Business & Tech

Spring Into Fitness: Personal Trainers on Mercer Island

Mercer Island has several personal trainers who can create a personalized plan for anyone of any age in a jiffy.

As the weather warms and sunny days become more of a probability than a possibility, most people start thinking about shedding winter weight and getting into shape for summer. One great way to get in shape without falling prey to injury is to hire a personal trainer to help you set up a fitness plan tailored to your specific needs and goals — and Mercer Island has several great local choices.

Corey McGee, who teaches classes at the, was certified as a firefighter and EMT before learning to teach Crossfit and moving to Seattle 7 years ago.

“Crossfit combines functional movement (i.e. a movement you’d do everyday, such as squatting to sit in a chair) with high intensity cardio and constantly varied movements to provide a workout that covers you from head to toe,” said McGee. “My personal training is the same thing, conditioning and cardio, except they’re on a one-on-one level.”

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McGee notes that he believes the best advantage to personal training vs. taking his Crossfit classes is in the education clients receive.

“People going into a gym don’t know what do or where to start,” he said. “I teach them what they need to know to do a workout safely, by checking their form, making sure they aren’t doing some exercise high intensity when they’re not ready for it. I take the guesswork out of working out.”

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McGee charges $75 per hour for personal training, while his Crossfit classes are $120-$175 per month. Hi business is listed and he can be reached personally at corey@mercerislandcrossfit.com.

The name of Mindy Landsman’s personal training business says it all. was established 8 years ago on Mercer Island after Landsman, who has a PhD in Education and Linguistics from Stanford, got help from a personal trainer with her scoliosis, herniated discs and arthritis at the Stroum Jewish Community Center in 1997.

“I got into (personal training) because of the pain I’d experienced, and the relief I’d gotten after being a personal training client for 4 years,” she said. “It changed my entire life.”

Landsman attended Lake Washington Technical College to get her certification via the American Council on Exercise (ACE), and opened her south end home on Mercer Island to clients in 2003 after loading it full of fitness equipment.

“People thought I was joking when I said I was going into this, because I’m not an athlete, but most of what my clients have, I’ve had—I’ve had rehab, and I get it when it comes to pain, so I work mostly with seniors, ages 60-81.” 

As a baby-boomer herself, Landsman adds that strength training, cardiovascular workouts, flexibility, and good balance are critical in preventing disease and maintaining lifelong health and well-being. Landsman notes that exercises are far more effective when taught one-on-one with her clients.

“Very few people know how to do form correctly,” she said. “Even a healthy person needs a trainer so they don’t waste time exercising in the wrong way—I know what areas to work on and teach my clients to progress gradually so as to become stronger in a safe and effective way.”

Though her initial consultation session and evaluation is free, Landsman charges by session packages, from $240 for 4 sessions to $360 for 6 sessions and $600 for 10 sessions. Apart from her , Mindy can be reached personally via email at getfit@mindysfitness.com.

Eric Weber trimmed himself from a hefty 250 to a svelte 187 pounds in 6 months after he discovered personal training while working as a basketball coach. “Remember that gym coach who tells his class to run laps and then can’t do it himself?” asked Weber “I was that guy when I was coaching varsity girls basketball in Sammamish.”

After graduating from UNLV with a degree in physical education, Weber said he was living his dream as a basketball coach, but soon discovered that coaching was all-consuming.

“Former athletes tend to put on weight easily,” Weber said “I didn’t like how I felt, so I made diet and exercise a priority.”

Weber became a certified personal trainer through the National Exercise and Sports Trainers Association (NESTA) in 2006, and was tagged soon after to do a Kinetics exercise program for employees at Starbucks corporate headquarters in Seattle.

“Howard Shultz was trying to keep healthcare costs down through this regimented fitness and nutrition program,” he said. “But in 2008 I decided I should go into business for myself.”

Since he’d taught preschool, summer camp and youth and adult basketball at the Stroum Jewish Community Center, Weber set up a personal training area there and also began teaching teen boot camps there, as well as teaching adult boot camps in Tukwila and at the Boys and Girls Club.

“I’m like a traveling salesman,” adds Weber. “I train people wherever they need me, whether it’s in their home, or the SJCC or Ironworks gym in Bellevue.” But Weber notes that personal trainings strength is in giving clients the tools they need to work out themselves. “You can challenge your clients more one-on-one, giving them that personal attention they need to incorporate fitness into their lifestyle.” 

Last August, Weber was teaching boot camp at Islander Middle School when a man collapsed on the track with a heart attack. Weber administered CPR while his boot campers called 911.

“The guy was in great shape," he said, "he survived and is doing well now, but since I’d been working with those boot campers for three years, we’re a tight unit, so (saving his life) was a team effort.” 

Weber charges $75 per hour for personal training. Learn more about Weber's .

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