Focus Personal Training Institute - New York, New York

Kamilla Sadekova

I just completed my foundations program at Focus, and I can’t recommend it enough! The instructors are not only highly knowledgeable but also genuinely passionate about helping students succeed. The curriculum covers everything from foundational anatomy to advanced training techniques, with a hands-on approach that prepares you for real-world personal training. The staff encourages you to challenge yourself, build confidence, and truly embody the role of a fitness professional. I left feeling empowered and well-equipped.

If you’re considering a career in fitness or wellness, this is the place to start. Thank you, Focus for an incredible experience!

Teeshawn Brathwaite

I’ll start off by saying what a great experience I had at FOCUS Personal Training Institute. From the tour of the campus to the graduation ceremony the staff was amazing. Very helpful, informative, knowledgeable, and down to earth. From learning in the classroom about the body , how it works, and what’s needed for it to function correctly , to learning more on the training floor and actually applying it to building safe and effective training programs for children to the elderly clients. We actually trained each program that was built with our classmates which helped me build more and more confidence each time I trained a session. It’s so much more that I’m leaving out. If you’re looking to get into the personal Training industry and become qualified not just certified, FOCUS is definitely where you want to go. I can’t forget the job fairs that they hold for the students with some of the top gyms around . Great opportunity to sell yourself and become part of the gym of your choice. I’m very proud to be part of the June 2024 Graduating class. We did it Congratulations to my fellow classmates. Thank you to all the staff for giving me a great experience and the knowledge needed to start my journey in the Fitness Industry. Lets go FOCUS

Wei Chen

I see a lot of reviews telling you what you learn at Focus and the effect it’s had on them and i agree with all of them.

BUT if you’re like me, you’re probably questioning if going to this school is worth the money:

I have a bachelors from Fordham University, an education which some people pay OVER $200,000 for; although I do believe that college is a great experience to have, I can say for a FACT that you will get your moneys worth and MORE from Focus.

What a lot of people don’t know about the personal training industry is that it is oversaturated with trainers who are feeding bs. It’s not that great trainers don’t exist, but it’s much more common to find ones that may not even know the correct form and mechanics for a barbell backsquat.

The companies that are willing to PAY $$$ for GREAT trainers are the ones showing up to the career fairs and looking forward to meeting you because they know you are MORE than just a certification. Your earning potential as a Focus graduate is way higher than someone who just got their NASM cert. study hard and it WILL pay off. If you put in the work, it’s not a matter of luck, but a matter of time.

I’m more than confident in my ability to not just train anyone who walks through the door, but also have such a positive and everlasting effect on their lives. You don’t just become qualified personal trainers; you become educators who have the power to change someone’s quality of life forever.

You also meet wonderful people. Im attaching a class photo of my instructors and my classmates. You can tell that we are all more than just classmates. The other picture is a screenshot of my acceptance to the A1 Training Group a week after graduating from Focus.

If I hadn’t signed up for my tour with Carlos earlier this year, I’m sure by this time I’d still be struggling to get my first handful of clients.

As a matter of fact, the first client I ever had ended up booking 24 sessions with me after our initial session.

Axel Meyland-Andersen

Where do I start. Focus has been best place I could imagine. From great staff to great coaches to even better teachers, Focus has really opened my eyes for what can be done with the right mindset.
I live in Denmark and took a risk and came all the way to NYC to study as a personal trainer, with the original thought of being a sports coach with no job offers at the time. Now only 6 months later that gave me the knowledge like I was there for 6 years have sparked my interest for physical therapy, and is currently standing with 5 job offers and feel more ready than never to take the training world by storm.

If you have any doubts or questions their great staff will quickly & professionally help you and answer ANY question.
If I could I would do it all over again, and if I could add more stars I would!

David Denaci

Believe it or not, the six months I spent in Focus' 600 hr Personal Training Master Course were among the most enjoyable in my life. Retiring after a successful business career, I decided to "pay forward" by becoming a personal trainer -- what better way to share the "secret of happiness" -- have a goal, have a plan, and work the plan -- than in the gym, where results can be readily seen.

At 68 years old, I had been training for fifty-two years, but I felt I needed more theoretical background than a half-century of reading MUSCLE AND FITNESS magazine. Unfortunately, the online national certification processes offered no "hands on" training, which is a little crazy for a profession as "hands on" as personal training.

Consequently I did a little research and found Focus Personal Training Institute -- not only did they offer a uniquely rigorous curriculum split between theory and practical application, but they were located right in midtown Manhattan, a subway ride from my Brooklyn apartment.

What I found at Focus surpassed my expectations. After high school I spent an enlistment in the U.S. Army. Then I went to college and eventually graduate school. None of my formal education experiences matched the training I got in the Army, training that emphasized performance, the ability to flawlessly do your job. Focus matched that military experience, which is about as high a compliment as I can give. The curriculum, the instructors, the experience on the gym floor (50% of the 600 hours) were amazing.

Six months and 600 demanding hours later, I am fully confident in my ability to knowledgeably and successfully train all types and sizes of clients. Theory and practice came together to produce a fully qualified personal trainer and I am looking forward to spending the rest of my life in a gym helping clients determine their fitness goals, help them make a plan to get there, and motivate them to work that plan. What could be better than that?

Thank you Focus PTI!!

Jerry Barry

The 11 weeks I spent there was NOT wasted. Kyle was a great teacher; not strict or demanding at all. Definitely was patient and made sure the info was understood and imprinted in our brain. We did reviews after every lesson and we were engaged at all times. The group projects and the practical final with a random client were very impactful. I've originally taken the ACE exam, and failed due to not being prepared enough with the info. But with this course, I feel like I can "Ace" that exam!!

Molly Zaverucha

FPTI's 600-hour master course program was such a great decision for me. When I was looking into personal trainer certifications I was overwhelmed with the all of the information out there and I am so grateful that I came across Focus in my search. I am a very hands on learner, so being in person in a classroom setting 5 days a week was exactly what I needed. Focus breaks the content up in such a fun and digestible way. One half of the day is in the classroom where you learn the concepts and the other half is on the gym floor, where you apply what you in the classroom in a realistic/practical way, which is so valuable. You also have plenty of opportunities to practice training your classmates, almost every day, as well as on volunteers outside of the program for some of your practical exams, which was the perfect way to get a feel for how prepared you are to begin your career as a personal trainer. I had an incredible cohort and looked forward to seeing my classmates every single day. We also had amazing course instructors - Michelle, Felix and Jereli, all of whom provided us with a wealth of information and who made our time at Focus very enjoyable. All three of them are very passionate about what they do and were so willing to go above and beyond as a resource for each one of us. For those who are considering going through the program vs. studying for one of the certifications on your own, I 100% recommend going this route as you will feel much more prepared and supported as you step into a career in personal training. Not to mention you will have a much larger network and peer base, which will provide you with better, more advanced opportunities coming right out of the program.

Vera Dibenedetto

I recently completed a course at Focus Personal Training Institute, and I couldn’t be more pleased with my experience. The instructors are incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about fitness, offering personalized guidance that made all the difference in my learning journey. The curriculum is comprehensive, covering everything from anatomy and physiology to practical training techniques.

The facilities are top-notch, providing a professional environment that mirrors what you’ll encounter in the real world. The staff is supportive and always willing to go the extra mile to help you succeed. I feel fully prepared to start my career as a personal trainer thanks to the education and experience I gained at Focus.

If you’re serious about becoming a certified personal trainer, I highly recommend Focus Personal Training Institute. It’s an investment in your future that you’ll be grateful you made!