I've been researching personal training in my area and I found Raffi and omg he is an amazing trainer. He came to my complex and was very knowledgeable, considerate and encouraging. He really knew how to work with my body type and my goals. Ive been trying to get more lean and cut and he organized a workout that best suited my needs. Very friendly and I felt safe with him training me. I definitely will be training regularly with him for now on. Thank you so much! Much love and gratitude read more

I heavily considered not leaving a review because I feared criticism from the trainer, but I felt so bad after our trial session that I felt the need to say something. Our session was good, but I needed time to deliberate before moving forward - it was a bit commitment and I needed some time to reflect. The trainer got incredibly heated, first going on about how great his services were compared to everyone else and then shaming me for not committing on the spot and wasting his time. I let the trainer know that I am unemployed and rely on my parents for financial support, so I needed to deliberate with them before proceeding further. I felt belittled for communicating my needs, and received harsh criticism from the trainer about being "a waste of time." It should be noted that on the website, the first session is advertised as a "no obligation free workout." But the session took place in a paid gym. He paid for the day pass, which I was very grateful for, but upon completion, I refunded the money back. Still, I continued to receive verbal abuse from the trainer post session (see screenshot below) Final thoughts: don't offer no-commitment complimentary sessions on your website if you're gonna accuse people of wasting your time and shame clients. UPDATE: I've continued to be harassed by the trainer. Completely unprofessional. read more

Prime Performance Pasadena - Messages sent from the trainer - Trainers Near Me

Raffi continues to be the best trainer I've used. He holds a reputable trainer certificate. He has a relevant BA. Demonstrated expertise. A personal commitment to exercise. He wants you to succeed. He's honest, patient, and has excellent training skills. And he's super flexible. I'll never use another trainer. Ever. read more

Raffi is hands down the best trainer I've ever worked with! He's knowledgeable, motivating, and truly customizes every workout to fit my goals. In just a short time, I've gotten stronger, leaner, and more confident. If you want real results with someone who genuinely cares about your progress, train with Raffi--you won't regret it! read more

Spent 6 months training with him and had a great experience. He went above and beyond and was accommodating with the schedule. I lost over 40 pounds in that time and learned a lot about weight training and health overall. I really appreciate the time and effort he puts into each of his clients. read more

I came across Raffi on yelp due to his great reviews and decided to give him a try as a late birthday gift to myself. I had never invested in a personal trainer before so when I went in for the free fitness assessment I didn't know what to expect, but I'm not new to weightlifting either so I figured he would have to really impress me well way beyond what I already knew for me to consider it worth sticking around. When he gave me his sales pitch and I signed on for my first month I was hesitant, so I never would've expected that I'd still be his client almost half a year later which has flown by in no time, and that the experience I'd get would be beyond anything I could have imagined or expected initially. Raffi is just a phenomenal trainer. He doesn't write this on his bio for some reason (hopefully he takes my advice and adds it eventually) but the guy has actually been in the industry for an insanely long time (over 20 years?) and has a proven track record of success and awards working at many other popular gyms as the top or one of the top trainers there before going independent. Apparently he's trained over 300 clients from all sorts of backgrounds over the years, and the experience shows. After making crazy strength gains the first couple months of our training, some of my old long term shoulder tendonitis caused by my rounded computer posture flared up and got in the way of our progress. Raffi immediately knew what to suggest however and took the time to quickly adapt my training program completely to work around my injuries while addressing my muscle inbalances that had caused them. In less than 2 months, I made a full recovery and was back to training chest and shoulders at 100% strength, and my overall posture and shoulder rounding is significantly improved. In the past I usually gave up after running into my tendonitis issues, but today I am lifting heavy again and pain-free, much in part thanks to Raffi's training. I've stayed with Raffi all this time for multiple reasons. Most importantly, I've gotten great results. My strength and endurance has gone up tremendously, I've had gains in muscle size across all groups, and I've converted a significant percentage of my initially high body fat to muscle and am finishing a very successful cut in time for summer, losing about 5% body fat. Second, I feel like I'm always learning and achieving something new. Raffi adapted and evolved my training program countless times, and is always showing me new ways to hit muscle groups in different ways and varying intensities so that I never feel like we are falling into the same routine that I could just do myself. His depth of knowledge on all sorts of training methods and techniques is truly impressive. He really takes the mental burden off of managing my program and makes all the considerations required to allow me to just channel all my focus and energy into pure execution while he takes care of the rest, and the value of that cannot be understated; it's what allows me to stay consistent and committed which is what's needed for achieving real results. Lastly, Raffi has been through a lot in his life and has the life experiences to match, which makes him a really interesting and compassionate guy to talk to. My initial impression the first time I met him was that we'd have nothing in common to talk about since we come from completely different walks of life, but I was wrong. Over the months, we've had conversations about everything from music and books to self improvement and life philosophy. It really helps the time go by quickly even though I don't consider myself much of a talker at all, but it was easy to open up to Raffi because he makes you feel like you are talking to an old friend who genuinely cares about you and your goals beyond just working out. So yeah, it's tough deciding on a trainer but if you give Raffi a chance like I did I guarantee you'll be in great hands. Now let's get back to making gains read more

Long overdue review, but happy to report that the weight I lost and endurance I built working with Raffi is still here months later! Raffi was flexible and worked to create a workout schedule and training plan that fit my budget and needs. He was very generous with his time and our training sessions always focused on what I needed vs. a set amount of time. I learned a lot from working with Raffi - it is evident that he is extremely knowledgeable and knows what is necessary to get results quickly, without starving myself or working out crazy amounts of time. I worked with Raffi for two months over the summer, twice a week. I lost 5 lbs of pure fat, have kept it off and continued to lose more weight on my own using what I learned about nutrition and strength training from him. While 5lbs may not be much to some, I lost this weight after having a serious plateau and dealing with a back injury from a previous trainer. With Raffi, I quickly saw results and the graphs moving in the right direction...fat lost and muscle gained! I was able to keep working out with my injury and Raffi's background in PT played a huge role in my recovery. Workouts were tailored to help me gain strength and mobility while also targeting weight loss. Raffi is truly a master of his craft! Work with him if you are interested in learning how to do things correctly and want to see results. Super grateful! Let my InBody results speak for themselves! read more

Prime Performance Pasadena - Results circled in Yellow results w/Raffi. Data before was from a previous trainer. The difference is clear!! Raffi knows what he is doing! - Trainers Near Me

I can't say enough great things about Raffi. He is very knowledgeable about health and fitness and will be supportive of your goals. He helped me shed some pounds not only through his training sessions but with his positive attitude. He keeps you motivated when you are down and reminds you to keep going. Whatever your fitness needs are he is supportive of you in and out of the gym. If you want to invest in your health I would recommend Raffi. read more

I've been training with Raffi for about two months. I wanted to strengthen my body and feel I am definitely much stronger since I started. I love that during our sessions he ensures that my technique/form is always correct while performing various exercises. Raffi has a great sense of humor, he is easy to talk to and my workout sessions go by quickly! Raffi is a super cool trainer, just the right combination of push and encouragement. read more

UPDATE: After reading Raffi's response to my post, to clarify a few things...I did not lose 6 lbs (like it was commented by Raffi). I lost a total of 3 lbs upon completion of the program. I stopped following the meal plan (cutting out most of the carbs). I felt that I was eating more than I was burning during my workouts. Also, it was mentioned that I needed more "stability" exercises, (ie i did lots of planks, lifting 30-50 lbs for seated rows, lat pull downs, etc.)....it would have been great if homework was given for these routine tasks. To feel motivated, the workouts could've been more creative to make it more fun. I wanted to wait and gather my thoughts before writing this review, so it is a bit overdue. I guess I didn't have that 5 star view that EVERY single person had. I stuck with Raffi for 24 sessions and worked out 3 times a week...inconsistently as it was around the holidays. My husband found Raffi through extensive research. And we decided to give him a try because of all the positive reviews. Because I was working through a medical procedure, it was a bonus that he took some physical therapy courses in the past. I worked out with Raffi for free the first time and he took my measurements. I did not join during my first work out. He was very pushy, which I did not appreciate. Also, the prices were very expensive. But in the end, I decided to try a month to month plan after cutting a deal. PROS: - Punctual: Raffi is good about being on time. - Professional: He gets back to you in a timely manner, whether it's through text, email or phone. - Attentive: He gives you all his attention when it is your turn to work out. - Informative: Tries his best to educate you for nutrition, techniques, etc. CONS: - My fitness routine seemed very repetitive, and it became very boring. - I wasn't challenged properly. Even though I had voiced my opinion that I could be pushed further, I felt that he wasn't hearing me. - Short workouts. After exactly 30 minutes we were done most of the time. -Not too personable. My goals were to get stronger and lose weight. I wasn't too happy about the weight loss part but I will say, because of Raffi, I did feel like I had gotten stronger. I decided to stop after 2 months because I didn't want to pay a steep price, for doing the repetitive workouts. And I felt that my muscles were getting complacent. Also, because the meal plan that I received was very general. I just felt that this wasn't right for me. read more

12/04/17 After 1.5Year with Raffi, I have officially lost 100LBs!!! With his nutrition plan and training program! I am ecstatic at the results!! I never thought that in 1.5 year my life, my body and mind would be so different. If you are ready to change your life, start with Raffi! read more

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The best decision I've ever made in regards to leveling up my fitness. Raffi is a brilliant trainer who I felt definitely listened and considered my goals-- posture correction/improvements, more mass in lower body, a more solid core and ab definition, plus increased cardiovascular endurance-- and the results are proven evidence that his method works. What I appreciate most about Raffi is that he's very present and observant, so he was able to see my potential and has been pushing me to my MAX capability (taking my body to a level which I never knew I had!) I'm a personal trainer myself who recently moved from nyc back home to Pasadena. I found Raffi while looking for spaces in Pasadena that offer gym rental space for independent trainers looking to bring clients in for training. I came across Prime Fitness Pasadena and was intrigued by the new clients assessment workout. I met Raffi for my free workout and was very much impressed with his wealth of knowledge for training styles, plus the exercises he took me through had an immediate impact on my body. After our session I felt my posture had already made some improvements and my glutes were feeling the pump. After an hour with Raffi I realized how much of a positive investment it would be for me to take him on as my private trainer/coach. I purchased my first month right on the spot- it was a total no brainer. Even though I can create my own programs, I found that I still wasn't getting myself to that next level. Two months in and I'm already seeing rapid results, and I'm feeling stronger, more flexible, my cardio/endurance has improved and improved and I'm able to put up more weight on those back squats. ;-) Looking forward to what the next few months bring! read more

If only I could give him 6 stars!! I had a weak ankle that I kept spraining/twisting over the last 5 years and I finally signed up with Raffi. In just 6 sessions he was able to strengthen my ankle so much that I was able to start jogging again without fear of spraining. He also got me back into my workout journey after a 2 year slump and I dropped weight. If you want a personal trainer with a physical therapist, Raffi is your guy! read more

Oh man am I sweating every time I leave the gym. Raffi Is amazing, he is so patient with my many questions and silly behavior. Real respectful and I have a lot of respect for him. When I met him I realized he was able to bridge the gap between my goals, and where I'm starting specifically based on my current fitness at the time. I've gotten so much stronger and dropped 20 lbs in the last 6 weeks! He evolves the workouts to where I hit my peak performance at every session and I'm sweating up a storm. The sweat is really telling the tale, I've never sweat this much having trained with any other trainer. I finally found the right trainer and I'm looking forward to the rest of my journey here and can't wait! read more

Can I give him 9 stars? Please. The guy is really good. I'm a 68 years old man who neglected his fitness for over 10 years and Raffi is bringing me slowly back with my strength and stamina. He is a delightful training companion and as a bonus: he really knows his profession/business. He is worth every penny. read more

Raffi has been an amazing trainer! I randomly found him on Yelp and he is such a gem. I didn't want to write a review until I've worked with him for awhile, but it's been a few months now and I've lost 15lbs and dropped 2 sizes. He has such a positive energy and is an all around great person. Besides the workouts, I love that he explains things. He has a a lot of knowledge about the body, it's functions and the science of exercise. I like to know why I'm doing certain things and to understand the mechanics behind the workouts. He also informs me of what not to do, which is also very important. Besides the workouts, he also helped me with a basic meal plan, which has been super easy to follow. I rarely write reviews, but Raffi definitely deserves a stellar review! read more

Raffi feels like a friend you've known for most of your life and the two of you just so happened to meet up again at the gym. His approach is genuine and focused on your goals -- and thankfully without the clipboard to remind you of the progress from week to week. I genuinely look forward to my days working out with Raffi and some of the conversations we've had while doing so! read more

I took a session with raffi the other day and i had a lot of fun working out under his knowledge. I am an athlete so i am usually super active but building muscle has been a little difficult, he helped me understand why and trained me based on that. I will keep him by my side as a trainer for sure and i would recommend you to try this amazing experience with him. read more

I started training with Raffi in February. So far it's been great! I've lost weight and started to gain strength. Raffi is a great trainer, and all around awesome person, very flexible with hours, and very accommodating. I look forward to the progress I will make seeing what the next months turn into!! Would definitely recommend Raffi for your personal trainer. I know he will do everything in his power to help me reach my goals!!! read more

I've been training with Raffi for almost 3 months now. If you are serious about getting in shape then he is the guy you should talk to. Every workout is a challenge, and every time you leave, you feel accomplished. It is clear he studies his craft, as he is constantly giving new exercises to keep your muscles guessing and improving. Worth every penny. Thanks Raffi! read more

I would highly recommend Raffi to anyone who is looking to make health and fitness a priority in his or her life. Raffi designs highly effective, tailored workouts that expedite fat burn and weight loss. His sessions are focused and efficient; and he's very attentive in terms of coaching form. He's also knowledgeable about fitness and healthy eating in general, and offers helpful advice on how to stay active between sessions. The sessions are designed in a way to motivate you and see results, which has proven effective for me. The sessions can feel intense at the time, but you really appreciate it days and weeks after. In summation, Raffi is a great trainer who will help you achieve the goals you set for yourself. He's also not a yeller, and I like that. read more

I met with Raffi, told him my fitness goals, he set up a fitness plan for me that worked great with my schedule and the results are amazing. Don't waste your time call this guy he will help get you in shape ASAP. Gym facilities were great. If your serious about getting in shape call this guy. read more

I have been regularly going to LA Fitness on my own, but needed a program to specifically improve my core strength, learn how to stretch correctly, and add exercises to maintain my general condition. At 65 years old, I realize that my body is in a different state than folks in their 30s and 40s. Raffi recognized this fact and developed a program that met my goals. He carefully watched my form for each exercise, adjusted the intensity and duration of the workouts to my ability to avoid injury, and provided me with a daily meal plan to supplement my workouts. Raffi answered all my questions in person, by text, email, and phone and even followed up during the week to check on how I was doing. That's what I call a full service personal trainer! There's no doubt Raffi is a superb trainer, experienced, and can patiently and clearly communicate his knowledge to his clients. read more

I worked out with Raffi for 4 months and had a great experience. The nutrition plan and workouts helped me reach my goals faster than we had anticipated! He switches up the workouts often and is accommodating of schedule changes. The gym just got a ton of new equipment which is great to use. Raffi will definitely help you on your fitness journey. read more

Where can you find a great trainer that cares about you and tries to be as flexible as possible to your situation? Stop searching around. There is easily one available at Prime Fitness. Raffi is very knowledgeable and dedicated to the fitness world. He would try to understand your needs, strengths and weaknesses to propose a well rounded program to unleash your hidden potential. I have enjoyed my time training with him and he would watch out to have you close to fatigue but stop right at the edge of max growth. In addition, he always advocates natural progression without any supplements. This would bring you further and stronger in life. Send him a msg and you would be surprised at you progress in a few month down the road. read more

Great experience working with Raffi to jump start my fitness journey. He is just the right amount of pushing you to your limits, and making workouts fun so you want to go back. He carefully worked around an old shoulder injury, and now I have more strength and range than I have had in two years. read more

I have known Raffi since high school. The one thing that I've always understood about him is that he is dedicated. He is dedicated to his craft, his body and even more so to others. He does not play around when it comes to helping others. He has been an inspiration to me. Even in high school his knowledge of how the body works and utilizes nutrients was already present in his mindset. He will push you to be more than you thought you were and leave you feeling amazed at what you can do! I'm excited that this man chose this path in his life. You are about to WORK and SUCCEED! read more

Raffi doesn't mess around. No gimmicks, no BS, just a custom workout tailored for you to achieve the results, he keeps it simple and you will get a great education in physical fitness as well. Very responsive, flexible and accommodating. Also just a cool guy to talk to while you work out. I highly recommend. read more

Amazing workouts!! I've hired several other personal trainers in the past. Raffi by far is the most knowledgeable trainer that I've met and also has challenged me with workouts that I've never done before. I thought that I've done pretty much every workout that you can think of but man was I wrong. He truly cares to give you the best results and is on your team. I wake up feeling sore as hell and so far loving my results and my energy has sky rocketed! Thanks Raffi! Looking forward to continue my workouts with you! -Kat read more

just started training with Raffi a month ago and I've been noticing my strength and endurance first and foremost. Not really concerned about body fat loss, just want to get stronger. Thought it be the easier route but it's work! The thing is, I never would have thought it could be this impactful to my day. My stress levels are down and I'm even feeling good during and after the sessions, not so exhausted anymore, Raffi you're the best! -D read more

Raffi is a great trainer! I hv been working out with him for more than two months, lost almost 10 pounds, and can see the progress and transformation significantly. I become stronger and learn to eat on point under his diet instruction. Thank you! read more

Raffi is absolutely the best trainer I've had. I hire trainers periodically and never have I had a trainer who cares this much about my personal fitness goals. He carefully plans each workout and gave me a diet plan based on my goals. My body has morphed into what I've wanted for so long because of his expertise on training muscles in the way that works with your body. Even when I injured my back at work and had to be off training with him to heal, he suggested treatment for me so that I could heal quickly. That kind of care from a personal trainer is something I have not experienced until meeting Raffi. I definitely recommend him! read more

As the saying goes, you get what you pay for. Although Raffi's prices are a little higher than average, I received high-quality training, nutritional guidance, and variety in my workouts. Over a 4 month period of time, he helped me trim down, lose weight, and build strength. Also, he's very responsive and flexible to your schedule which I appreciate. Regardless or your personal fitness level (great, average, or poor), I'd recommend finding out how Raffi can help you reach your fitness goals. read more

I never thought I was the type to get a personal trainer. I am so glad I went with Raffi. I highly recommend him to anyone who is new to strength training or (like me) was only focused on cardio and not seeing results. After only a few weeks, I saw results in my endurance and muscle tone. Raffi was also very flexible and accommodating with my schedule. A quick text and he responded right away. Finally, Raffi is good with every fitness level and knows how hard to push you without being obnoxious. I do not respond well to the "boot camp" type instructors who think insulting you will motivate you. Raffi is not like that (but I suppose he would use that style if you ask). Raffi was more of a coach and very easy to talk to. I urge anyone who is considering a personal trainer to at least attend his free fitness assessment. read more

If you're serious about hitting your fitness goals I highly recommend Raffi. No BS - to the point - great workouts every week. Will help you lay a foundation that you can use going forward, which in my opinion is as valuable as the workouts themselves. read more

I love Raffi! I started with him in April after putting on about 15 lbs. I started at around 26 percent body fat and within about 2 months of 3-4/week sessions went down to 18 percent. This is the only workout program I have ever stuck with - the results are amazing, Raffi does a good job at mixing up the routines and the commitment is reasonable. Also, the gym is very low-key and not intimidating at all. read more

I first saw Raffi training clients at my gym almost every day I would workout. Not only did I see him push his clients but he also looked the part, fit and strong, which I personally feel is important in a trainer. (One who practices what they preach) I had already been training for months but I wanted an extra push and accountability. I decided to reach out to Raffi and started training with him immediately. Now, I have to say, training with Raffi is NOT easy, he works you hard and has high expectations, which is exactly what I was looking for. On the same hand, I've never had more amazing workouts! My strength increased, I lost inches and weight doing solely strength training, no cardio, and I feel amazing! In the middle of our time together, I got an injury unrelated to Raffi or our workouts. I felt discouraged and worried this would set me back in my progress, but after communicating with Raffi, he assured me we could work around this injury and I would still see progress. He was right! Raffi is extremely knowledgeable and results-driven. There are so many components to finding the right trainer, including things like professionalism, energy, etc. Raffi is ALL OF THAT and I couldn't be happier. One of the most important things I realized is that even though I was able to push myself without a trainer, It took Raffi's help to really get me to the next level. At certain points when weight got too heavy, he was there to push me and assist me, both physically and mentally. He paid close attention to my form and even the slightest changes he'd have me make would better isolate certain muscles and result in more efficient workouts. It wasn't until he helped me break through those barriers that I finally began seeing more significant changes. I feel really grateful for Raffi's help and expertise. If you're on the fence, try a session with Raffi and I guarantee he will change your mind! read more

Working with Raffi has been so helpful. I would spend a lot of time at the gym not getting the results that I wanted, but in only a few months of following Raffi's workout and diet plans I had dropped significant body fat and gained strength. Raffi is very available by text and email and super accommodating when I need to reschedule my workout times. For the holidays, he was very helpful giving me a diet plan and workouts to do while I was traveling. He is incredibly knowledgable and has helped me create a diet plan I can actually stick to and a routine that fits some of my mobility issues. I would definitely recommend Raffi to anyone who is serious about getting results. read more

Raffi is over all amazing! Came in here to focus more on weight loss and needed some guidance. Raffi puts in a lot of efforts in his clients and is very flexible. I asked him a lot of questions on different types of foods I should be eating, meal plans, diet regime etc. He is so knowledgeable and gave me such good tips on what I should be doing. He is very approachable and pushes you to work hard. Raffi is an awesome trainer definitely would recommend. read more

Working out with Raffi has been really great and definitely made me stronger physically also mentally! He's a very knowledgeable trainer and will answer all your questions when it comes to fitness, health, and nutrition. I highly recommend Prime Fitness if you're looking into building muscles, toning up, leaning down, or simply just want to start living a healthy lifestyle! read more