Raw Fitness

Hiring Jane as my personal trainer was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
For context, I’m a former athlete that had spent too many years living the «cube life». I wasn’t terribly out of shape but knew I needed to get back at it and wanted to do it the right way. There are so many gyms and classes to choose from but I didn’t want to bounce around without really building a foundation.
I signed on with Jane and we did two sessions per week. I also did 1 additional strength training and 2 – 3 «cardio» sessions on my own per week. In just under four months time, I lost 15 pounds, dropped 7% body fat, lost 3 inches off my waste, and more importantly have been taught skills that I will get to keep forever. Better and faster results than I could have ever imagined.
Jane has extensive knowledge on how to train intensely but safely. She also knew when to really push me to my max, or slightly ease up (I can admit, that really kept me going).
Jane was a great coach and the commitment is really not that hard. Unlike another review I read, you really just need to show up on time and bring a positive attitude. It’s simple and was fun. If I wasn’t moving, I would have absolutely continued working with Jane.
The alternative would have been following a friend to the gym and learning sloppy habits or bouncing around through various classes. Working with Jane was the RIGHT choice.

Raw Fitness is a great gym! Tucked away in a small brick building, Raw Fitness separates you from the everyday grind for an hour of smart, intense training. It doesn’t take long to feel like one of the regulars here as Jane and the other gym members are all motivating and positive people. I joined the gym because I was looking for a strength training regimen in which I didn’t have to continually come up with effective workouts on my own using boring and redundant weight machines. Jane’s classes definitely fit the bill and have exceeded my expectations. I’m with the small group training, so I just have to show up and know I will get in a quality workout while receiving enough one-​on-​one attention to stay focused. I highly recommend Raw Fitness if you are looking for a unique routine that is mixed up enough to keep working out interesting and motivating.

I have «worked out» at many local gyms, but I have never felt stronger since joining Raw Fitness. Training at Raw Fitness has built my strength, endurance and confidence. Jane, owner and coach, is motivating, experienced and no-​nonsense. She teaches and expects good form, pushing me to do try things outside of my comfort zone and leading me to be able to do things I thought were unlikely… Pull ups, rope climbs, Turkish Get Ups are just the beginning. I recommend Raw Fitness with great enthusiasm! Bridget

I have just completed my first month at RFP and if you asked me a year ago if I thought it would be fun to wake up at 5:15am to go work out, I would have said you were crazy… BUT I actually look forward to waking up before the sun rises to do the small group training workouts. I’ve worked with many trainers over the years and I get more personalized attention in the small group training class at RFP than I have with other trainers in 1:1 sessions. Jane is a super patient teacher and spends a lot of time making sure that you are using proper form and doing everything correctly. Looking forward to the next few months and seeing improvements in strength, and body fat loss!

If you want to race for reps, I’m sure there’s a Crossfit gym out there for ya somewhere. (Best of luck with the «coach» who learned everything in a weekend course… Yikes!)
If you want to learn to train safely, properly and optimally, talk to Jane. One workout is all you need to see her coaching is head and shoulders above anything out there these days. I have had many trainers in the past, from a Thai street fighter turned muay thai champion to an NFL hall of famer and everything in between. Jane and RFP have met and surpassed the very high bar I set for them, providing a noticeable improvement in my strength and skill in just a few months. All good trainers are happy to adapt their workouts to you and your abilities and Jane is no exception; she will tailor every single activity to help you get as much as you can from every single workout. All she asks in return is a good attitude and consistent effort, which is a pretty small price to pay for access to a wealth of information, help and feedback.
Jane’s careful instruction, unending enthusiasm and meticulous precision have been a great revitalization of my workout routine. To top it off, high standards bring a family atmosphere and a sense of camaraderie to RFP, making it easier to get through even the toughest of drills.
No matter your current fitness level, if you’re serious about improving, this is the place to be!

I have been training with Jane since she opened in 2013, but I have known Jane for years. I went to her because I wanted to get stronger for cycling and I knew she would know how to do it. I didn’t want to try to fit as many exercises into 30 minutes, or do intervals — I can do that at my own gym. I wanted to build strength properly. And I did. I have also changed my body shape — which is a bonus! Jane is great, I appreciate her knowledge. A must try for someone to take their fitness to the next level.

Jane is an outstanding trainer — period. She is fun, intelligent, safe and understands exercise science like no one else I’ve met. The workouts are great — never have felt better and really fun (sledge hammers on giant tires!). It never gets old at Raw Fitness and you will be in the best hands possible.
Jane also is very focused on safety for her clients and is extremely responsive if you have an injury or «hurting part» — she will always modify and watch over you carefully during a class.
She demands focus and commitment from her clients — just like what she is giving you. This isn’t for people who want to hang out or aren’t committed.
Try her out if you are committed to change.

From a «technical» perspective, Jane is excellent. She understands kinesiology very well, and when she is in a good mood, communicates her knowledge very clearly. If you want to learn the *right* way to perform exercises, particularly those involving kettle bells, she’s tops. She introduces variety by changing up the «ladders» (the number and order of repetitions) more so than changing the exercises themselves. As a result, the exercise variety can get a little stale. The ‘repetitiveness’ of the workouts coupled with Jane’s belittling attitude — she demeans clients who ask questions she perceives to be dumb, and she is draconian about procedural and administrative rules — casts a shadow over the workout experience. This client-​service «blind spot» is a shame because, as I began, she’s very talented when it comes to exercise mechanics.

If you are looking for a regular fitness routine to help you become stronger, more flexible and more energized, then go to Jane. Jane isn’t like other trainers. She brings fitness back to the basics with kettlebell swings, shoulder presses, turkish get-​ups, squats, lunges, push-​ups, etc.
Jane knows what she’s talking about, because I have never been as strong as I am now, and I’ve only been training with Jane for about 9 months. Raw Fitness has been a great addition to East Cambridge. Jane offers reasonably priced small group training sessions, private personal training as well as nutritional coaching. The classes are tough, and Jane certainly pushes you to «toughen up» and do more than you think you’re capable of handling. You’ll come out of each class feeling accomplished.
Jane also truly cares that you’re performing the exercises correctly and designs a program for each client based on their capabilities. In addition to a great attitude, Jane has a tremendous amount of knowledge that she wants to share with her clients to help them achieve their goals. The small group training classes are fun, small (8 people max), and refreshing. While we perform similar exercises from week to week so that we can progress, Jane always mixes up the routine. Each workout is new, challenging and seriously gets your heart rate up! You’ll definitely be pleased with the results.

If you have worked with other sports professionals in the past and not had the experience you are looking for… you should work with Jane at Raw Fitness. Jane is not like other trainers I have worked with, Jane will get you the results you desire but will do that while teaching you how to work out the right way. Now that doesn’t mean she goes easy on you… I can assure you she doesn’t. Her ability to motivate, teach and push you to do more than you thought you could is a tremendous combination for success. If you are looking to push yourself, I promise you will get what you need from the experience… a great workout with someone who will teach you how to get the most from yourself physically!

Raw Fitness has been a fantastic addition to the neighborhood. Even though I have a gym in my building, it is worth it to train with Jane. She has great focus on both fitness and keeping you motivated. I go there for strength training, but there are other types of programs available. The cost is reasonable for the very individual focus. I definitely recommend that you give it a shot, usually the first class is free.

There are few things I’ve stuck with for years, but Jane is one of them. She is motivating and encouraging, and expertly dances that fine line between making a workout challenging and making it fun. I also appreciate that she prizes form over almost everything else… yes, she wants you to do a pushup, but she wants you to make sure you’re doing a good push up, not some saggy, sad thing that’s going to hurt you in the long run. Combine that with the variety of her workouts, the beauty of the Esplanade, and the camaraderie of the group, and you’ve got a formula for fitness that can’t be beat.

Jane isn’t a cup of warm tea on a nice brisk morning. She’s more of a good cup of coffee when you need that extra kick in the butt.
I’ve had numerous trainers, some good and some not so good. Jane, she’s good, really good. She knows her stuff and is a trainer who cares more about working to your own ability than forcing you to half ass a work out. She cares more about seeing improvement than collecting your payment (although she deserves to be paid on time).
I enjoy her salty and sweet approach to training. My first day she gave an example of how to scale a wall properly and then had us start. I made a comment about being short (an excuse for not scaling a wall) and she stood in front of me and said, «Are you kidding me? You can do it.»
It’s fun to work out with her but it’s also worth it. I’ve already seen improvement in my endurance in running and can now actually complete monkey bars. We work outside on The Charles and it’s pretty impressive what is available around you to get a good workout in.