Philly Phitness

Philly Phitness is a one of a kind «gym»! The philosophy they incorporate goes above and beyond looking good. They help you to appreciate feeling good through various life style changes that make every aspect of life more enjoyable. I highly recommend the weekend bootcamp… when you finish dripping in sweat you are grateful that you are not still lying in bed wishing you worked out! The trainers that work here are on the next level. It is clear that each one was hand picked to deliver a unique program to the people of Philadelphia!

I can’t say enough great things about Philly Phitness. I’ve trained in other gyms and other cities and I can say — without hesitation — Philly Phitness is really as good as it gets. Perry has assembled a group of excellent trainers who not only know how to train, but also know how to interact with and motivate the people they train. No cookie-​cutter workouts here — before I started I had an hour long evaluation where my trainer, Sean Boyle, actually asked me questions about my goals, previous injuries and other important factors. He paid attention and built a workout for me that specifically addressed MY goals! I look forward to every workout and I’m seeing and feeling the results.
Not only are they phenomenal trainers but their use of technology to manage appointments, reminders and confirmations adds a degree of convenience that I have not found anywhere else.
I highly recommend Philly Phitness, Perry and Sean and am really happy to be there.

I recently relocated to Philadelphia and needed a personal trainer stat. The owner of Philly Phitness, Perry, hooked me up with Gwi, who has been kicking my butt ever since. Philly Phitness is a one-​on-​one training studio, and most times Gwi and I have an entire floor to ourselves — it’s never crowded (except for boot camp — highly recommended!). I can’t say enough about Gwi — he knows his stuff, is super personable and motivating, and always knows how to push me. As for the rest of the gym: the scheduling is easy, the equipment is quality, and the rest of the trainers as well as Perry are a great crew. If you commit to a schedule with one of Philly Phitness’ trainers, you WILL see results.

I’ve been training at Philly Phitness for a couple of months, and I could not be happier with the results.
My one-​on-​one trainer is the owner, Perry. We work together twice a week. He’s very flexible about scheduling (around my very irregular schedule), he is always punctual, and he strikes a great balance between professionalism and fun (or as he might spell it, phun). He pushes me just a bit further than I might push myself, which is perfect, and I’m seeing great results already. Every session is a little different (so I don’t get bored) with a mix of all your training favorites (TRX, kettle bells, resistance bands, &c.) Perry is also very attentive to proper form and technique, so I know I am in good hands when it comes to preventing injuries.
I’ve also attended the new Saturday morning bootcamps, beginning with a four week series to raise money for Back on My Feet, and now continuing with a $ 25/​class smaller bootcamp run by two trainers, Gwi and Wayne. This is a fun complement to my private sessions, a great way to start Saturday morning off with some friends, and a SERIOUS (i.e., sweaty) workout.
I’ve had a chance to meet most of the other trainers at Philly Phitness and see them work (and see them working out, at the fund raising bootcamps — nothing at all intimidating about working out next to a bunch of professional trainers, right?) and everything I’ve seen is great. I’d recommend any of them for a challenging yet fun and respectful experience.
Finally, the studio itself is really nice. The location is great, and the inside is deceptively spacious. There are several different floors/​rooms so even when four or five clients are training at the same time, you are in your own private room.

A co-​worker told me about Philly Phitness and set me up with Pat as my trainer. I couldn’t be happier! I didn’t know what to expect during my first visit, I had never worked with a trainer or did much weight training on my own. Pat has super nice and helpful, we went over what I wanted to accomplish, any injuries (I had a wrist injury when I started) and what to expect.
It’s been about 2 months now and I see and feel the difference, I see him once a week and continue my regular routine (running and yoga) as well. I feel stronger, look more toned-​but not bulky at all! Also my jeans fit looser! Every workout is different, he keeps it engaging and fun, but challenging!
Pat is a great trainer and I definitely recommend him to anyone!

I found out about Philly Phitness when my trainer, Holly Waters, moved there from Sweat Fitness in January 2014. First, I can’t say enough good things about Holly — she is simply awesome! She’s a great motivator, really mixes things up (our sessions are NEVER stale), and is open and able to customize exercises to your needs. For example, I was recently in a wedding and had to wear a halter top dress — Holly and I focused on back, shoulder, and arms in the weeks leading up to the event. People ask me to describe a typical session, and I can’t! They’re all different! I see Holly at 7:30 am on Mondays (most of the time) and although my feet are dragging when I show up, I always leave feeling strong, happy, and ready for the week!
Philly Phitness itself is a great concept — space dedicated to personal (or small group) training sessions. It’s made even greater by the people. Holly, Perry, Pat, Jayel and everyone else are incredibly friendly and supportive! Taken all together, it’s a positive environment and a HUGE improvement from the training floor at Sweat (i.e., lots of dudes lifting). I like how intimate and personal it is (each of the 3 floors has 2 separate spaces for training, but there’s never a TON of people around (the trainers make sure of that), and I never feel self-​conscious.
You can’t go wrong! Set up an appointment to get a tour and meet the trainers. Talk with them about your needs and your goals. Find someone you feel comfortable with. And do it all in a safe and pleasant environment! Whether you’re looking to lose weight, tone up, work on mobility or balance, or just get motivated, the trainers at Philly Phitness can help!

One more reason I love Philly Phitness:
I went to a boot camp class in Jersey earlier this week and the trainer kept pointing me out saying, «See what she’s doing? Do that!». It felt great. Perry taught me everything I know about proper form and movement. I feel confident about my workouts being both safe and effective. I definitely feel the burn wherever I’m supposed to be feeling it! Thanks Perry!

I have been training with Patrick at Philly Phitness for almost two years and he’s consistently been a really effective and supportive trainer. He always returns to my original fitness goals in our sessions and has an easygoing, yet motivating approach to training that’s both refreshing and rare in my experience.
Patrick also manages to keep our weekly sessions different (and fun) each time, which is also a nice departure from previous trainers of mine. The facilities at Philly Phitness are also cool… besides everything being new and clean, it’s a modern and atypical work out space (in a very good way) that I’ve enjoyed.

I have been going to see Patrick Henigan at Philly Phitness for a little over six months now. Pat (and the other trainers from my observations) is extremely upbeat and hits the right mix of challenging yet manageable work outs. I look forward to my time there each week and have felt a huge difference physically in just a short time. Pat listened to me: I wanted to get toned and lose some weight and he has helped me get there in a really fun and do-​able way. He mixes it up week after week to keep things interesting but he never has me doing exercises that I couldn’t do on my own. I have loved my experiences here and plan to stay at Philly Phitness for a long time… plus I’ll be in shape for my wedding now!

While I’m there I say I hate it and complain a lot, but really, I enjoy coming in to train with Pat.
I like working with Pat because he’s not a fitness freak drill sergeant. He’s knowledgeable about nutrition and fitness without trying to indoctrinate me with any new fads or diets. He’s anti-​gimmick and seems to want what’s best for each individual client. He’s straight forward and has the ability to motivate and push me beyond my perceived limits. He’s also pretty funny, which I would never say to his face.
The facility is clean and I always feel like I’m in my own private gym. Though I only train with Pat, the other staff I have run into while there are always friendly and professional with clients and each other (which seems rare at Philly gyms).
This place is definitely worth your time and $$.

So, I am overweight, not athletic and I can barely walk up the stairs without tripping. I say this because when I was looking for reviews of places I didn’t see a lot from people like me who had a long journey ahead of them. The reviews I read were from women looking to go from a four to a two or break records and run marathons. If that is your goal these guys can definitley help you with that. Everyone there is a fitness machiene. But my initial goal was to be able to jog up the subway stairs without wheezing like I’m an eighty-​year-​old. I’d worry about the rest later.
So for those like me, you have no reason to be concerned. Everyone is nice and non-​judgmental, it is never crowded and there aren’t fifty people watching you work out like when I had a trainer at a traditional gym. I started working with Jayel reguarly in early February. The rest of the review will be about her, as I have not worked with the other trainers (they all seem equally good though, from what I have seen).
I am not going to lie and tell you I «look forward» to going to see Jayel. She’s tough. I probably curse her name twice a week when I am feeling sore the next day. But, I don’t dread going. For me, that’s amazing. I almost enjoy it some days, especially when I get to throw things. Plus she is a nice person and she really pays attention to you. Both in the sense that she watches your form intently and adjusts your routine accordingly and that she remembers little things about you and your life. I know not everybody cares about that kind of but I think it helps make exercise seem less terrible. But she won’t let you slack and will call me out if my mind starts to wander (as it is wont to do). I don’t want a drill sargent who won’t listen to me when I am actually going to collapse if I don’t stop, on the other hand, if I can get away with being lazy, I will, and I need someone who scares me a little to tell me to pull it together. I need that accountability. Jayel strikes the right balance for me. Oh, I also like that she’ll still check in on you if you have to miss or if she is away. It is nice and goes above and beyond.
Pros: I feel really good! That is the biggest thing. I have lost weight, I have some muscle where was once all flab, I can see my collar bone again, my clothes fit better, I can jog up the stairs easier (well, when my legs aren’t sore from working out lol) I can do more than one push-​up (three sets of 15 last week!) I still have a long way to go, but I feel encouraged about how far I have come. Especially over the winter!
Jayel does nutrition planning, too. I haven’t taken advantage of it yet because I have a lot of expenses the next few months, but when I do I will report back on that.
Cons: It is a great facility, but it is above Underdogs. Which is awesome and delicious but not workout friendly. Sigh. So I pass it by. Sad.
And yes, it is personal training so it is expensive. But I got a lot of prices before signing up and they are the same as most of the other major players in town or a few bucks cheaper. I like that they give you a discount if you buy in bulk.

Philly Phitness has one of the best trainers in Philadelphia. Patrick Henigan is a truly excellent trainer. He is the perfect combination of tough («Pat, you are KILLING me!») and warm («Jose, you are doing SO well»), and he works with the whole person — mentally, emotionally and physically. Because of his efforts, I am stronger and tougher, I have better balance and most importantly, working out has become fun. I recommend him without reservation. Thanks Pat for everything.

I started training with Jayel in October after I found out I had a stress fracture in my femur. Not only have I recovered well, but I am in the best shape ever! I’ve lost weight and have become much stronger. I love working with Jayel and hope to be a client of hers for a long time! She is brilliant when it comes to strength and nutrition and is exactly what I was looking for. Philly Phitness is filled with friendly and knowledgable trainers who always want the best for their clients. The facility is always so clean and has a ton of equipment so you can do different things everyday. I am so happy and grateful for meeting Jayel and everyone there!

An amazing place with amazing people to work out. Inspiring and my favorite is boxing sessions with Perry! It’s like a boutique gym where you get tons of attention and the focus is on YOU! Lots of variety too so you never get tired!
A MUST recommend!

Perry at Philly Phitness helped me out a whole lot! I’m looking for a trainer who will come out to my place and when I contacted Philly Phitness, Perry volunteered to connect me with trainers in the city who might fit the bill. I thought that was incredibly considerate and just plain awesome customer service! Five stars :)

You wont find a group of friendlier trainers in the city. This isn’t a typical big box gym with trainers… this is a trainer only facility and that’s what I love the most. One on one personal attention without a 1000 people staring at you as work out. The space is clean, modern and spacious enough that you really feel like you are the only one in the gym.
I’ve been going to Philly Phitness for a few months now and am addicted. Perry and the other trainers I use do a great job of mixing up my workouts so it never feels the same from session to session. In fact… I’ve done 20+ sessions and have yet to do the traditional «lay on the bench and do chest presses». Perry uses a lot of unique and interesting techniques that really work.
Perry has a great mix of trainers and the clients are all levels as all… from beginners to people who have been training for years. I have always felt comfortable during my sessions.
Perhaps for writing this nice review… we can eliminate pull ups from our routine?

Meeting Perry was completely random, and I’m so glad it happened. I’ve never worked with a trainer before but I thought it would be a good idea to have someone add some variety to my workouts, as well show me how to do things correctly (big problem for me) so that I could actually see results. Perry is perfect for both!
He’s the complete opposite of what I was expecting a personal trainer to be — and in a good way. He really tailors the workout to meet each client’s needs and goals. Every session is different and he’s constantly challenging me. Just when I think I’m done, he motivates me to do just one more… and I’m always happy I did.
I can’t say enough good things about him. He’s extremely hard working and dedicated to his job and his clients. He’s also very accommodating! Not only does he let me schedule 6am sessions, but he puts up with my whining once I get there!
The facility itself is great too. Philly Phitness is right in center city and an easy walk from both home and work for me. I’ve had sessions when I was the only one there, as well as when other trainers were training clients and have always had a great workout. I’ve never felt intimated like I used to at a regular gym. I haven’t had a chance to meet all the other trainers yet, but I know they’re just as awesome as Perry and I’d recommend Philly Phitness to anyone!

I’ve worked out with Perry since his humble beginnings. I watched him train a guy in the gym and push him to the limits of almost vomiting, it was at that point that I knew this was the kind of innovative workout that I wanted.
I’ve had a few trainers in the past, and even during Perry, and I always come back to him. Perry brings a special element to the table that most trainers lack. It’s not about who can lift the heaviest weight, it’s about body awareness and motion, and being your physical best. Perry is a trainer who actually fixes your form, educates you on the why, and constantly keeps you on your toes. Your workouts will never be stale.
Perry is amazing, can’t say much more than that. I trust him completely with my body and health, and I know he will always help me achieve the goals that I set forth.
Do yourself a favor and realize your true fitness potential. Perry and Philly Phitness are Philadelphia’s best kept secret for now. Get on board before it explodes, because it will be a short time before he is the most sought after trainer in Philadelphia.

I started training with Perry, the owner of Philly Phitness about 8 months ago. All of my experiences with him have been awesome. He has a very unique but practical approach to fitness, and I’m sure that anyone who trains with him can benefit in a big way. From beginners, to fitness fanatics, to athletes, I have no doubt Perry can help you reach and exceed your goals. I have also had the pleasure of training at Perry’s brand new space on 17^th and Sansom, and it is nothing short of awesome. I have met most of the other trainers employed at Philly Phitness and they are great as well. They are all super knowledgeable, professional, and friendly.

I began training with Perry O’Hearn at Philly Phitness a few months ago, and I have got to say… this guy knows his stuff! He works with me to create and adapt fun and challenging routines that are perfect for my overall goals. The new facility on 17^th street is comfortable, loaded with tons of great new equipment (some of which I’ve never seen anywhere else before), and it’s easy to access from my office in center city. (the building houses Underdogs & Luke’s Lobsters (formerly Bonte’) at street level. Philly Phitness is the door to the right, up the central stairs.)
I have tried a number of different exercise programs over the years: standard weight training in a huge membership style gym, various martial arts, pilates, yoga, cross fit, etc. (In each setting I have participated in group training and one-​on-​one work). In each case I got some results, but ultimately felt limited by the structure of the training or by pain brought about by over-​training and persistent re-​injury. The movements Perry selects for me always take into consideration the physically demanding nature of my work outside of the gym as well as a few physical restrictions due to prior injury. Though I have not worked with any of the other trainers at Philly Phitness, I have met most of the staff and they are always friendly and helpful.
If you want a standard gym, look elsewhere. This place is all one-​on-​one (although limited group classes are in the works I hear). If you’re looking for a great place to put in real work with the help of a professional that is dedicated, focused, and serious about getting you to your goals in a fun, safe, and innovative way… then Philly Phitness is the place to be.
ALSO: Yes, I am actually this big of a fan & No, I wasn’t asked to write this.