By Atharva Shah
Recreation Ambassador

The personal training process at MIT Recreation was exceptionally smooth, efficient, and valuable. Once I was officially registered in the program, I received a detailed intake form that asked about my scheduling availability, trainer preferences, fitness goals, and relevant background information. It was clear that my trainer read this thoroughly and prepared accordingly, which made the session feel highly personalized from the start.

Scheduling the session was straightforward; the trainers were flexible and worked with me to identify a time that fit well with my academic and extracurricular commitments. The session took place in the MIT Athletics varsity gym—an excellent facility with a wide range of equipment and a strong training environment.

Because I am currently in functional rehab following an ACL reconstruction last December, my primary goal was to strengthen my leg muscles safely. My trainer was very attentive to this, designing exercises that targeted the areas I wanted to develop while avoiding undue strain or risk. The workout was challenging yet controlled: I felt the expected muscle fatigue of a productive session without any sharp or concerning pain.

The session balanced familiarity with novelty. We incorporated exercises I already knew, which helped ease me into the program, while also introducing new, thoughtfully selected movements that I plan to integrate into my regular training routine. Throughout the session, the trainer demonstrated deep knowledge of technique and biomechanics, consistently monitoring and correcting my form.

Overall, this was an extremely positive experience. I worked hard, learned a lot, and felt supported the entire time. I would enthusiastically recommend MIT personal training to any student, faculty member, or affiliate considering it, and I am looking forward to scheduling future sessions.