Last spring I was looking for a personal trainer and gym in the Glenview area. I chose Activation Fitness because it has small group training, is reasonably priced, and the music isn't too loud. The personal trainers are knowledgeable and professional. The equipment in the gym is clean and in good working order. The muscle activation work has been very helpful for my posture, lower back pain and plantar fasciitis. In a short amount of time I lost 7 pounds without starving myself. I'm so glad I found this hidden gem! read more

I have been working with Steve at his fitness studio in Glenview for 5 years. Over that time, Steve has really helped me improve my strength and stamina. I have historically been prone to injury, but Steve has been respectful of my limits so that I do not hurt myself, while still encouraging me to make progress. He is an extremely conscientious and talented trainer and his facility is small and well-maintained. I look forward to working with him as my trainer for many years to come! read more

I started going to Activation Fitness when the state started to open up gyms for personal training after full quarantine for COVID-19, back in June 2020. My old gym was closed at first and I wouldn't have been comfortable in a large gym setting anyway. I decided to do a weekly training session with Steve. The small gym appealed to me, especially with everything that's going on. I've been impressed with the cleanliness and social distancing. Steve is a great trainer who knows the right way to push and motivate without going overboard. He's focused on injury prevention and that's very important to me. If you are looking for a great workout with a trainer in a small gym setting, I would recommend Activation Fitness! read more

My wife and I work with Steve. He tailors our workouts (either once or twice a week) each week and we've seen remarkable progress over the last 18 months. Steve has a unique mix of patience and "pushiness". Having an appointment on the calendar always gets me out of the house and to their gym and Steve always pushes me to work out a bit harder. when I'm there I highly recommend trying a work out. You'll be sore but satisfied afterwards. read more

"I am a professional violinist and sustained an injury almost 20 years ago to my neck that caused continuous pain. Over the years I saw physical therapists, sports medicine doctors, chiropractors, and a napropath-despite months and years of therapy the pain had never receded until my current trainer recommended MAT and Activation Fitness over 8 years ago. It has changed my life completely. After a few initial weeks of extensive therapy I am now on a flexible schedule with appointments when needed. I am able to practice, teach and workout on a regular basis and even play competitive tennis-things I could never have achieved together prior to Activation Fitness." -- Deb Ponko read more

Activation Fitness has been life changing for me! I have been dealing with headaches for years that would drag on for days. I would use heat, ice, massage, stretch, you name it and relief was only temporary. I just accepted that every month, I would just deal with 3 day headache, not fun. Then, I happened to be talking to a client at work one day and they spoke so highly of how muscle activation helped them with their hip issue when all else had failed them. I was intrigued because it sounded so different from everything I've tried in the past, so I gave it a try. I consulted with Steve over the phone and based on my history he thought muscle activation could work. We started weekly sessions for 6 weeks, but already half way through, I noticed I didn't have the neck and shoulder aches and pains I typically had that would turn into an awful headache for days. Here I am 7 months later and no 3 day headaches! It's been a game changer for me. I am continuing my sessions every other week now with success and thrilled how I feel. Everyone needs MAT in their life! read more

I was able to get in to see Steve the other day for the first time. I could instantly tell that MAT would be helpful for me. I have constant back/shoulder stiffness and most of the time dull pain. Steve worked with me for an hour and I felt completely rejuvenated after the session. I could move in ways I haven't been able to in the past year or so just after ONE SESSION! We talked a little about MAT and I came to the conclusion that IT JUST MAKES SENSE. I will definitely be going back as soon as I can. Thanks Steve! Great work! read more

I worked with Steve for several years prior to my hip replacement. He helped me strengthen up for recovery from the surgery, which I came through perfectly. He had tips for coping with limited mobility and told me when I was wasting my money to work any further before the surgery. I respect any medical practitioner that knows when to quit, and especially one not covered by insurance-it shows integrity. I plan to start tune up visits when my travel schedule permits. My wife also visits him regularly to maintain her knee, which has occasional pain. The combination of home exercises and visits keeps her knee in good shape. read more

I have been working with Steve for the last few months, and am extremely pleased with our progress. I have had several hip surgeries over the past four years, and am still battling hip pain that didn't get resolved through surgical intervention. I was referred to Steve by an athletic trainer, and he has been diligently working with me to restore my muscle balance and help me minimize my pain. I am feeling better, with less pain and quicker recovery time when pain is triggered, and I am confident that continuing to work with Steve over time will get me in a much better place. As an aside, Steve maintains the highest safety standards in his gym during the pandemic so don't let the pandemic preclude you from getting started. I would recommend Steve and his well-vetted staff to anyone! read more

I have worked with Steve for about 1 year now. I initially began doing MAT work with him for a lot of structural imbalances that had created pain and dysfunction, and difficulty maintaining a regular and vigorous exercise routine. The technique, which I don't totally understand, was VERY effective, and as I felt that he understood my body's mechanics very well by that point, it was just a few months before I moved on to begin combining the MAT work with weight training. I am SO MUCH STRONGER, and experiencing none of the pain that had plagued me for years. Steve is a very good listener, and makes sure you are not aggravating any parts of the body that had been previously problematic. The gym itself is small, with not a lot of traffic at the same time, so I have felt very comfortable resuming our workout routine after the stay-at-home order was lifted. read more

If you're looking for a customized fitness program with an experienced, compassionate, and knowledgeable professional to support your athletic or healthy living goals, help you reclaim strength and mobility post stroke or orthopedic rehab, or accelerate your return to pre-pregnancy fitness, look no further. The friendly trainers at Activation Fitness--a private studio in Glenview with its own parking lot--are the real deal. In particular, I can't say enough good things about Mary Nimrod, my personal trainer. For the past 15 years or so she has helped keep me strong and balanced by focusing on core strength and injury avoidance. And because she's so knowledgeable and stays current with the latest health and fitness research, she's always finding new ways to mix things up to challenge and strengthen my body. In a given session with traditional gym machines, for example, she might also incorporate elements of Pilates or yoga for core work, balance, and flexibility, boxing for strength and cardiovascular endurance, and sport-specific drills to support my tennis habit. Another session we might use free weights, medicine balls, TRX, stability ball, bosu, or bands. Mary is also a great listener who is attuned to the mind-body connection. I highly recommend her! Full disclosure: The studio doesn't have all of the bells and whistles of one of the "big box" gyms--you won't find a juice bar here, or fancy locker rooms--but that's kind of the point. Owner Steve Dam has created something much better. read more

So sorry for the long review but I feel a health related review warrants a little extra detail..... If you need are dealing with an injury or are looking for a legit & accredited personal trainer I strongly recommend Activation Fitness. In January I suddenly started experiencing pain in my right knee. When I do exercise ;-) am a runner, basic weight at home sort of gal & had not used a personal trainer in the past. Additionally, I was searching for a personal trainer for my mother who is, in her 60's, extremely out of shape, overweight, unmotivated & clueless about how to exercise properly. I found a couple of potentials on yelp & other searches but after calling & speaking with Steve I decided to meet him in person for an interview. I was very interested in his Muscle Activation Techniques (MAT) credentials but was having a hard time grasping how MAT worked. The best way I can briefly describe it - the technique involves getting your body aligned and balanced and activates all your muscles. So when you are exercising, walking etc. you are not putting undue stress on any part of your body. This is done by examining the range of motion & strength of your problem areas on a massage therapy bed. Followed by specific resistance exercises or application of pressure to specific muscles to get them working fully. I also referred to the founder of the technique, Greg Roskopf, website & found that he had posted videos on You Tube. It is pretty technical stuff so it is not exciting but was very helpful for me & my mom to understand. After just 1 MAT session I felt significant improvement in my knee. Steve advised me on proper shoes, exercises I should avoid and after 3 MAT sessions I was back to normal! I then started "regular" personal training sessions1 or 2x per week to get in shape for a February ski trip. I skied 6 full days without any pain or injury! In February, my mom started seeing Steve - hooray! Her injuries, from past car accidents he was able to work on with 3 or 4 MAT sessions. Years of chiropractic or massage therapy never resolved her problems. He has gotten her to start training regularly. She is actually motivated & able to exercise without complaint of injury or pain. It is amazing to me, she is feeling terrific & energy is increasing too. I feel that the knowledge of MAT gives Steve (and his staff) much more thorough knowledge of the body so that there is an added advantage of effective & safe training than with less educated personal trainers. I think this was crucial for my mom - it allowed her to feel confident & safe in his training regimen. We have been so happy with our results we are both trying to train with Steve 1 or 2 x per week - he is very supportive, super accommodating, low pressure & a honest guy. I like the "small" studio environment - I do not need to deal with the gimmicks, divas or cheese-balls at the gym. read more

My entire life I have been very limited in my body's flexibility. After working with Steve Dam, I immediately began seeing tremendous improvement in my muscle strength and my body's overall flexibility. Even when I experience any neck or back pain, Steve's consistent attention and expertise makes all the difference so that I can live a pain-free life. On the personal front, Steve is a kind, supportive, energetic, approachable and very bright individual who really knows how to make a positive difference. I will continue to recommend Steve to all my friends and collegues who are looking to improve their overall quality of life. Best, Jon read more

Steve and Activation Fitness are the best! I started going to Steve many years ago for a herniated disk,. I didn't want to have surgery if possible so I worked with Steve and through MAT and careful strength training he helped me get off pain medication and strengthen the muscles around the injury. I continued to go to Steve for the next 10 years and as my constant strength coach he has helped me through the other injuries I encountered over the years. Whether it be a bad knee (from volleyball) or a complete physical rehab after heart valve replacement, Steve talked to my Doctors, researched what was the safest way to approach physical rehabilitation, measured my progress and encouraged me to keep working. I would never have seen the progress I have experienced without Steve and Activation Fitness. read more

My daughter is a collegiate runner who worked with Steve to improve her running form and address the injuries that prevented her from finishing her cross country season. Steve worked with her busy schedule, addressed her muscle weaknesses and gave her exercises to work on between visits. She's back to running pain free and her form is more fluid than it's ever been. read more

I have been working with Steve Dam and Activation Fitness with great success. Steve helped me through 3 hip replacements and numerous injuries. As a physician I know that the principles behind MAT make sense and even better, when applied they work. I can't say enough good things about Activation Fitness. They are well worth trying prior to any surgical procedure for pain. I have found enough relief here to be pain free and have normal mobility. A real gem! read more