Rise Above Performance Training

Rise above = kettlebells, tractor tires, sledge hammers, prowler’s, sandbags and guess what? More kettlebells! Group exercise classes consist of usually 6 people and is circuit based. Each station for 30 – 45 seconds. Up to 8+ stations focusing on different body parts while engaging the core. If your looking for Crossfit this not it. We are not doing Olympic lifts. We are not racing against the clock for reps and ranking each other. You won’t see a huge dry erase board with names of women representing workouts. What you will find is Doug Fioranelli. And he’s the Man.

What a wealth of knowledge!!! I’ve been in athletics for 30 years and through Doug, I’m still learning. He’s like a mad scientist… always making improvements to my technique. Continually improving. –Which sharpens me too. Thank you!

I lost 75-​pounds thanks to Rise Above Gym. They refuse to take any credit because they are a great crew, but Doug is the kind of patient, well-​informed trainer with a serious plan to help you achieve your fitness goals that deserves all praise.
He makes the process seamless, even from as big as I was, to hit a goal and move right into the next one. It’s a progressive training system that keeps it from being boring and makes health and wellness one of the constant priorities in my mind. This is a place free from judgements and all the typical things that make a gym unpleasant. It’s professional, clean and at the end of the day, really fun. Seeing Rise Above’s work with high school athletes is a great reminder how important a fitness foundation is to life; it’s invigorating.
I wouldn’t want to train anywhere else and no matter your needs – pro fighter, military, police, firefighter – neither should you. Kettlebells are everything and this gym does it right. To rise above is to live. Start living!

I have a crazy schedule and whatever exercise I can fit in is usually just cardio. Over the years I have steadily been losing muscle and I definitely dislike looking shaky while having to lift heavy things around the house and having to ask for help. I highly doubted that one day a week of strength training would benefit me much, however with Doug’s intense training with kettlebells, free weights, sandbags, sledgehammers, big tires, etc, I have definitely noticed a difference. I can climb hills on my bike with far less effort than before and lifting my bike on and off of my roof rack is no longer a shaky gamble. In a month of training just once a week, I have graduated to heavier weights in class as well.
Doug is unquestionably a professional. He is very aware of existing injuries or possible future injuries that can occur with strength training and he monitors posture and safety with an eagle-​eye.
And for those of you that think that strength training means no cardio, think again. I am breathing hard and dripping with sweat during every session.
Doug mixes up his exercises during each session and so there has not been a session yet where I haven’t been sore the next day. One might think that a class built around weights, etc. can be intimidating, however Doug and my fellow classmates are extremely welcoming and nonjudgmental. Everyone is extremely supportive and everyone has a good time while getting a great workout. I am thoroughly addicted to Rise Above.

Doug and AJ are pros. Whatever your level of fitness (or if you’re recovering from an injury), they can make you stronger and improve your endurance. Your first class is free so you can try before you buy.
They specialize in kettlebell and functional strength (sandbags, sledgehammers, tire-​flipping) without the ballistic emphasis that can make crossfit beginners injury-​prone.
Can you find nicer people to work out with? I don’t think so.

This place is awesome.
I recently began a search for a gym with custom tailored fitness programs near where I lived. I want to make use of kettlebells, but I wasn’t particularly concerned about specifics otherwise.
I have a desire to build strength and stamina as well as lose a bit of extra weight that I’ve managed to put on over the past few years.
Rise Above met and far exceeded my requirements and expectations.
Doug Fioranelli runs the gym with his partner AJ, and not only is he motivating and an inspiration, but for an almost negligible cost, he provides practically one-​on-​one training in a small class environment.
He is incredibly accessible and forgiving of a relative newcomer like me and his demeanor is that of a seasoned professional that is really just trying to help you facilitate your own growth at your own rate and to keep you on the path.
In short — this place by far exceeded my expectations and has been a key component of my road to prime physical and mental shape.
I couldn’t possibly recommend it more.
I’m more than a little shocked that it’s not been reviewed here before, and I am more than happy to start what I hope is a well-​deserved trend towards promoting this fantastic place.