How many people do you take in a group environment?

If there is one coach on the floor, sessions are capped at 4 and if there are 2 coaches on the floor, sessions are capped at 6.

I noticed that the price per session is $50+tax. Is that $50/person or $50 for up to 4 people to split?

Group sessions are $50/person+tax per person regardless of group size.

Do you have any morning groups that already exist to join or do you have to come with a group already?

We actually don’t have fixed groups. Clients book on a first come first serve basis. You can join as an individual or coordinate with friends to book in the same group.

How do you time your sessions? What's your schedule?

We open at 6:15am and book on the hour. Workouts are 1-hour long. In the afternoon, we book every hour starting at 1:30pm. The last workout starts at 7:30pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 6:30pm on Tuesdays and 4:30pm on Fridays.

How much gym experience do I need to “fit in” with a group session?

None! We have many clients with minimal gym experience. We start teaching you exercises and cues in your Initial Assessment and continue to do so at all your future workouts.

Do I need to bring anything to write down weights, reps, etc. from my workout?

Nope. We have a folder with all your workout information. We track this info to safely and appropriately progress your workouts from week to week.

Do you only offer one style or workout or program?

No, we write workouts and programs for each client. We base our programming on your Initial Assessment, goals, current ability, interests and needs.

Can I just do 1-on-1 coaching or do I need to do a group?

No you can’t. All clients start with a couple 1-on-1 sessions but eventually all clients are moved to group workouts.

So you don't offer bootcamp-style workouts?

Nope. We offer traditional strength and conditioning with free weights, machine weights, bands and bodyweight. Each person in each group will have their own workout therefore it doesn’t matter who else is in your group.

I’m looking to improve my Olympic lifting/CrossFit/strongman, can you guys help with that?

Not really. We don’t specialize in this style of workouts and suggest you look for a different facility in the city for this type of training.

What can I expect at a “typical” training session? Walk me through a quick overview, how long it is, format, etc.

All workouts are 1-hour long. You’ll come in, get changed and jump on a piece of cardio equipment to start your general warm-up. Next, you’ll move to a couple dynamic stretches that will target tight muscles found in your Initial Assessment. After that, you’ll do custom muscle activation/isolation exercises to target weak muscles found in your assessment. Next comes the bulk of your workout which can include squats, deadlifts, overhead presses, pull downs and core exercises. Lastly, you can finish with a cool down and more stretches.

How many sessions per week does your typical client do?

We have clients train 1-3x/week at JKC and we also have clients train less often, like 1-2x/month but they’re working out on their own and come in for check-ins.

My private health insurance covers kinesiology services, can I get some of my training sessions covered under this?

Yes, all of our coaches are Certified Kinesiologists. We can provide you with receipts that you can submit for reimbursement.

My physio/chiro/RMT says I need to work on my mobility, is this something you can learn in a group training session?

Yes, we can prescribe mobility exercises based on findings/recommendations from your therapist.

Who would you say is your typical client?

Our niche market is the general population looking to improve their quality of life through fitness. Our clientele normally find themselves between 30-65 years of age and we’re almost 50/50 males/females.

Do the coaches at JKC hold any strength and conditioning certifications?

Yes, our coaches are Certified Kinesiologists with the Canadian Kinesiology Association and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialists with the National Strength and Conditioning Association.

I'm worried that in a group session, I would get lost amongst the other clients. Is this something I should be worried about?

That’s understandable, but no, there is no need to worry. Our groups are small and kept small for a reason. We value quality coaching and smaller group sizes allow our coaches to keep a keen eye on you throughout your entire workout.

Do you guys offer memberships to walk in and use equipment?

Not at this time. Workouts are by appointment only.

I am not interested in weight training, just cardio. Can I just use the treadmill for my session?

No, this is not a service we offer at this time.

I noticed you have multiple trainers/coaches on your website? Does it matter who I see?

Nope. All our coaches are trained to have consistent knowledge and have the ability to coach you similarly through any exercise or any workout. Our coaches look after all our clients, meaning, regardless of who you see, you’ll still be coached through the next progression of your workout.

I want to train for a bodybuilding/bikini show. Is this something you can help me with?

No, this is not a service we offer. We suggest looking for a different facility/coach for this type of service.

Craig Whittle

Personal Strength Training by Jon-Erik Kawamoto

I chose JKC because I row/coach teams in the St. John’s Regatta and was looking to add strength training to our program. My wife is also running friends with Julia, so I got to meet Jon a few times and heard lots of good things. I like JKC over other gyms because of the level coaching I receive and the gym atmosphere. The energy in the gym helps me through the tough workouts.

Keir McIsaac

Personal Strength Training by Thomas King

I recently turned 40, and I have been training at JKC since the summer of 2020. My partner Michael had already been training at JKC, so it came highly recommended. We had set up a home gym at the start of the pandemic, but needed to mix it up after the first lockdown. JKC differs from other gyms because of the personalized workouts. Jon, Thomas and Craig are great at challenging me to do more than I would on my own.

Kristy Howard

Personal Strength Training by Thomas King

I’m 40 years old & started training at JKC in 2015. The gym I was working out at closed and my husband recommended JKC. JKC meets you where you are in your fitness journey and tailors the work to help achieve your goals. I’ve trained with Jon & Thomas pre pregnancy, while pregnant and now post baby and they have helped me enormously to stay fit through all life phases.

I joke with the guys often that I’ve seen no change in my fitness level since joining the gym, but the reality is I’m in far better shape at 40 than I ever was at 30 thanks to them.

Carly Wallwork

Personal Strength Training by Jon-Erik Kawamoto

I’m 30 — started at JKC Aug 2016. I moved to NL to open lululemon and we chose Jon as one of our store’s ambassadors, did one workout and have raved about it ever since! The JKC team can adapt a workout no matter what the situation — injuries, new goals, you name it! The trust and expertise can’t be matched!

log overhead press

Lisa Spurrell

Personal Strength Training by Jon-Erik Kawamoto

I had tried JKC based on the recommendation of a parent of one of my students. I originally started by attending Saturday drop in classes. I was hooked. I decided to join full time when I I had taken a year off from teaching and it was the best thing I have done for myself.

First and foremost the trainers at JKC are extremely knowledgeable. I feel like they are as dedicated to my success as I am. The workouts are tailored to me, my skills and my goals. This is important. Jon and Thomas truly want the best for their clients no matter what level of fitness they are starting from. I also like being able to book a session at a time that suits my schedule. This also helps keep me accountable. Once the session is booked I am not likely to cancel!

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