I don't write too many Yelp reviews, but I felt it necessary to write about Success Fitness Studio. I had horrible sciatic pains starting from my lower back and running down my left leg. I could barely walk, I would wake up in the middle of the night, and I was in excruciating pain every time I sat down and stood up. I tried acupuncture which helped a bit. I went to a doctor who prescribed me anit-inflammatory pills and sent me to physical therapy which didn't help at all. My doctor told me the next step was steroid shots or an operation. I'm a healthy 36 year old, and the thought of getting a back operation was crazy to me. I met with Success Fitness after someone recommended me, and he told me within 3-4 months I would be pain free. It was a slow process, and it took more like 6 months to be completely pain free, but I am. I have moved on from the basics, and am now doing strength and agility exercises. Their philosophy makes sense and I've learned exercises and stretches that I will do on my own for the rest my life. I'm an absolute believer in their practice and I am extremely grateful for what they have done for me. I would HIGHLY recommend checking them out if you are having back pain or other injuries that general conditioning isn't curing. DON'T get surgery before meeting with them!
I have trained with Santiago since 2005 and have achieved excellent results. After several back surgeries, Santiago is one of the few trainers I trusted to strengthen my core and tone my body without injury. He is highly experienced, extremely knowledgeable, and a wonderful person who genuinely cares about his clients. I recently moved out of the city and drive into the city 1.5 hours to continue training with him 3-4 days a week. His studio also has a very comfortable atmosphere. Everyone should have a Santiago in their corner!
Success is the workout of the future! Santiago has designed the perfect space, designed a brilliant workout philosophy and has partnered with super trainers that are 100% client-focused. The fitness world, especially in Manhattan, is filled with high-pressured salespeople, gimmicky pricing structures and trainers who are more focused on themselves than the client, not Success Fitness, Santi, Liz and Sergio; they are the real deal.
As someone who travels 60% of the time, I have found the workouts easy to remember and replicate wherever I am. Both my husband and I swear by the "matrix" we learned at Success and make it a daily part of our life now. This brief routine (only a small part of the regular workout) has completely eliminated my chronic back pain and the obvious stiffness one feels after a 9 hour flight.
The team at Success are both fun to be with and focused and a refreshing change from most other NYC gyms. You have to try to believe it!
