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HOMEClassesJOIN OUR GYMAboutTrain TogetherMeet the Symmetry FamilyMAT® Chicago
Chicago's premiere Personal Training Facility
Symmetry Owner, Michael Schwartz, earned his BS Degree in Sociology from Colorado State University. For 8 years after receiving his Degree, Michael taught and lectured extensively at the National Academy of Sports Medicine.
Furthering his knowledge, Michael studied at Resistance Training University in Oklahoma City up to his Masters Level.
Michael is accredited as a Muscle Activation RX Full Body Specialist.
For the last 15 years, Michael has provided resistance training and Muscle Activation for various individuals, including those requiring extensive rehabilitation and professional athletes. Michael has also provided education for NASM & ACE.
Michael has owned and operated other Chicago fitness facilities, including Mising Link Gym and Symmetry Chicago's own predecessor gym, Symmetry Center/The Trainer's Gym.
Julio YARZAGARAY
As a personal trainer, Julio's specialty is in assisting clients in building muscular mass. Julio is also an amateur bodybuilder.
Bernie FERRO
Bernie Ferro, CPT is a professional fitness expert with hands on experience in program design and training for all age groups, in both individual and group exercise settings.
In 1979, Bernie became certified as a personal trainer by the Aerobic and Fitness Association of America ("AFAA") and has maintained his certification since that time, with a specialty in Resistance Exercise. Since 1999, Bernie has served as Consultant and Personal Trainer with Fitness Resource Incorporated and contributed to physical fitness programming, specialized for individuals and corporate groups.
Power Plate North America has issued two additional certifications to Bernie, namely one in Basic Academy Certification (2007) and Level 2 Certification (2008).
AJ LACSAMANA
A certified personal trainer through the National Strength and Conditioning Association with a degree in Kinesiology from UIC, AJ Lacsamana has over 13 years of experience helping clients achieve their goals. He started his personal training career at Xsport Fitness, then continued on to help open the Chicago location of the David Barton Gym. Most recently AJ was hired to be the Strength and Conditioning Coach for the 2018 USA Barefoot Water Ski Team and won silver at the world championships.
Through the years AJ has helped clients accomplish a wide array of fitness goals: weight loss, muscle gain, with a specialty in performance training. He has helped athletes achieve their personal bests in half marathons, marathons, and ironmans, as well as winning 1st place in 5k races. With certification through the Titleist Performance Institute (TPI), he has exclusive knowledge on how to help golfers improve their game in the gym.
Ryan MARK
Fitness has always been a part of Ryan's life. It started when he was young playing soccer and studying martial arts. Although he has always been very active, he didn't realize his true passion for fitness until his service in the military.
Being an infantry soldier in the army showed Ryan how important every aspect of physical fitness is and it was truly amazing to see many body transformations throughout basic training. It interested Ryan enough to pursue a degree at Southern Illinois University in Kinesiology.
Ryan immediately started personal training after college and also set out to achieve the personal goal of competing and winning a bodybuilding show. That experience taught Ryan a lot and made him even more interested in fitness.
According to Ryan, the best part of his job is seeing the smiles on his clients' faces as they achieve their personal fitness goals. He is always looking to further his education as his passion for fitness continues to grow.
K. Aleisha FETTERS
A certified strength and conditioning specialist (NSCA) with a master's degree in health and science reporting from Northwestern University, K. Aleisha Fetters is a proud data nerd. She trains all of her clients with an evidence-based, yet individualized approach, and believes that, given the right tools, everyone can reach--and, even more importantly, maintain--their health and fitness goals. For Aleisha, there's nothing better than helping people make lasting, empowering changes in their physical and mental health. When she's not lifting something heavy, she's usually guzzling coffee and writing about the health benefits of doing so. She's a regular contributor to Men's Health, Women's Health, US News & World Report, TIME, SHAPE, and other health and fitness publications.
Comprehensive fitness and nutrition programs
Habit-based nutrition
Muscle hypertrophy
Prenatal and perinatal fitness
Women's health and fitness
Tom LaCLAIR
Toby STURGES
For 6 years, Toby Sturges has trained and consulted clients in Sports and Conditioning, Strength Training, Post Rehab Work, Pregnancy Training, and METCON. He began his career as an ACE Certified Personal Trainer in Riverview, FL where he coached Football to children between the ages of 10-16. He then went on to train clients in both Tampa, FL and Tallahassee, FL until he finally moved to Chicago, IL. He trained a large number of clients while working for LA Fitness in Chicago until he began training clients solely on his own.
Toby received his B.S. in Sports Management from Florida State University where he was also a reestablishing father of the Zeta Alpha Chapter of Zeta Beta Tau. He then went on to receive his ACE certification for personal Training at Remington College in Tampa, FL. While certified as a personal trainer, Toby is currently studying to receive additional certifications. He looks forward to having his ACE Group Fitness Certification in the first quarter of 2017.
Toby has worked with various people from diverse backgrounds and experienced at various levels of fitness. Toby takes pride in providing his clients the tools necessary to reach their goals. Toby admits that the most rewarding aspect of his job is seeing the joy on his clients' faces when they reach their goals.
Tony HORTON
Tony received his bachelor's degree in exercise and fitness from the University of Illinois at Chicago and has been working with clients for 10 years. He is a certified personal trainer through the National Academy of Sports Medicine. Tony's training style is very dynamic. He incorporates martial arts and sport-specific training into his training programs, giving himself multiple pathways to improve all aspects of his clients' well-being, including strength and flexibility, and help them achieve their goals. Tony also has experience working with special populations, including those with hypertension, rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes. He believes any goal can be accomplished with a positive mindset and hard work.
B.S., University of Illinois at Chicago
NASM Certified Personal Trainer
Areas of expertise- Strength training, Weight loss, TRX Suspension training, Kettle-bell, Prenatal/postnatal, Cardiovascular conditioning, Flexibility training, Core conditioning, Balance, Agility, Sport specific training, Martial arts, Hypertension, and Rheumatoid arthritis management.
Open Daily.
5:30am – 8pm Weekdays
230 W. Huron Street, Lower Level
Symmetry Chicago
230 West Huron Street,
(312) 643-0929 Char@symmetrychicago.com
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