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TESTIMONIALS
Kyle Black
Doesn’t get much better than Stoyan; I've been lucky to train with him for a couple years now. It would take more space than this review will allow for me to praise the informed, professional, and dedicated approach he has pursued in our sessions. He continues to help fine-tune my training and nutrition, set realistic goals for my physical development, and personalize each step of the journey with periodized routines and diet plans. Stoyan’s genuine passion for health and fitness is infectious; it gets me pumped up every time. He takes additional effort to demonstrate exercises, chart my progress, and address limitations. There aren’t a lot of personal trainers out there who have knowledge about physical therapy to ensure that I’m moving and performing my best to minimize the risk of injury. He makes investments in my success and is excited when we hit new PRs. I respect his mental fortitude, sense of discipline, and focus which keeps me motivated to push harder each time we meet. We spend a good amount of time honing in on the mentality and mindset of the gym which has been useful not only for the work I am doing there but also in my everyday life as a classical musician and administrator. Few coaches can offer their clients the privacy of a fully equipped home gym. The thought of stepping into a public gym for the first time without any knowledge is partially what kept me away for so long. I’ve been able to build up foundation of knowledge and strength free from the judging eyes of others which gave me the courage to head out on my own for the first time this past year without the fear I used to experience. Just one of the many reasons I choose to work with Stoyan over the hundreds of other coaches and trainers out there looking to attract new clients. I’m proud of the changes and ongoing transformation. Huge improvements to my physical and mental state of well-being all made at the “Fortress of Fortitude.”
Juanita Webster-Freeman
Stoyan is THE BEST! He’s an incredible coach and an amazing person! As a pro athlete in track and field who was top 8 in the US in the 2021 Olympic trials, I've worked with a lot of coaches and I’ve seen a lot of things, but what Stoyan brings to the table is something else. Stoyan’s tremendous amount of knowledge and experience, his versatile expertise in physical training, as well as physical therapy, his unmatched meticulous and professional approach to everything he does, and his impressive appearance and presence all blend together to create a combination that is quite unique and extremely hard to beat. Working with Stoyan, I got the opportunity to gain a much better understanding of my overall health and fitness. I really enjoy how he breaks down proper body mechanics of the way I am lifting and my overall movement competency, and teaches me how to improve those and be more effective and efficient. I love the fact that Stoyan is so well-versed in physical therapy – he constantly assesses my mobility, stability, balance and coordination, and works with me on optimizing my quality of movement. This has been a total game-changer for me as it helps me perform better and stay injury-free. Stoyan is very engaged and attentive throughout the sessions, he’s always giving his full attention, focusing on the way I’m moving and performing each exercise, and constantly provides me with invaluable insights. Stoyan has a great eye and his attention to detail is unparalleled – nothing gets overlooked, no aspect is neglected, which always guarantees exceptional quality and results. What I like most about Stoyan has got to be his presence and personality. As a top-level athlete, I’ve been around many impressive individuals, so it takes a special type of person for me to trust and respect, and to follow their lead. Stoyan looks like he means business and he definitely means it. He is not one of those coaches that only talk a lot but can’t back it up. Stoyan is an athlete, he lives and breathes the lifestyle, and leads by setting a great example first and foremost. Stoyan’s focus, dedication and discipline, his passion, his drive, his character and entire mindset are all amazing qualities I admire. It feels great to be around someone like Stoyan, who inspires you to be better, helps you push yourself even harder, and brings out the best in you. I know that’s exactly what I need. I can now set new professional goals to conquer and I'm excited for what's to come moving forward as I continue this amazing journey with Stoyan as my coach. Thank you, Stoyan, for all your help!
Rupesh Kumar
Stoyan is more than a fantastic coach and trainer, he is also a great mentor and role model! Meeting him was one of the most transformative experiences of my life. I saw Stoyan walking down the street and was very impressed and inspired by his physique, the way he looks and carries himself, so I asked him for some tips. He was very friendly and down-to-earth, he invited me for a free consultation and we started working together. I was looking to improve my training because I wasn’t getting the results I wanted. He took the time to ask me questions and really get to know me first. Then he performed a thorough evaluation of the way I moved and created a very specific program to help me fix all the issues we found, so I can move better, stay healthy and not injure myself. He helped me learn how to do different exercises and how to perform them safely and efficiently. He also taught me so much about nutrition, sleep, recovery and all aspects of fitness, including how important the mindset and mentality are. He created both a training and a nutritional program that are specific and personalized for my needs and level. I love that Stoyan always talks about how important the mental aspect is - that discipline and consistency are everything, that you need to stop making excuses, that you should welcome challenges because that’s the only way you can grow. Being around someone who brings that energy, who has that mentality and actually does all those things himself is very powerful and motivational, and really helped me through some difficult times. I see Stoyan as a mentor as he helps me and inspires me to improve and become better in all aspects of life, not just fitness. I think what sets Stoyan apart is his passion for fitness and his work ethic. He’s always very professional, writing everything down, tracking all your sets and reps, timing your rest, tracking your nutrition, and always holding you accountable and pushing you to be better. I haven’t seen another coach or trainer as thorough, passionate and dedicated to his craft and his clients as Stoyan. You can tell that he loves what he does, that he really cares about his clients and is fully invested in helping them change their lives.
Parker Simon
Stoyan transformed my physique and my drive. He taught me the fundamentals of weight training from the ground up and put 25lbs of muscle on a hard-gainer – something I never believed possible. He knows his craft, creates a genuine relationship of training and consultation wherever you're at, and is a great guy to work with. It makes me smile to see the positive impact he's had on his other clients too; what other reviews are saying about Stoyan fully resonates with me. Training with Stoyan was one of the most impactful experiences in my life.
Rumy Y.
Stoyan helped me change my life! Ever since I can remember, I’ve always struggled with my body image. I’ve always felt overweight and didn’t like the way I look. As a professional pianist, I started playing when I was 6, and have spent the majority of my life sitting in front of a piano, so I’ve never had time for much else, let alone to learn about health & fitness, exercising and nutrition. I was also always scared of hurting my fingers or wrists, which would be catastrophic for my career, so lifting weights was out of the question. Over the years, I’ve tried many different things, different diets, my entire life I’ve been constantly depriving myself of the things I want to eat, even starving myself for years, always feeling miserable, with little or very temporary effect. I also went vegan for over 10 years and that helped, I lost some weight, my allergies got better. I started doing yoga regularly, which also helped me feel better overall. But it still didn’t feel quite right. I still didn’t look the way I wanted to, I was still depriving myself of a lot of things, feeling hungry all the time, my diet was still very restrictive, I was missing a lot of nutrients. I just didn’t know what to do. I felt lost and hopeless. I finally turned to Stoyan for help and he started teaching me about nutrition, about training, sleep, rest & recovery, how everything is related, how it’s all a lifestyle and I need to build new, healthy, sustainable habits, in order to truly change myself and transform my life. Stoyan’s holistic, educational approach has been truly eye-opening. It helped clear years of misinformation and confusion, things finally started to make sense, and I realized all the mistakes I’ve done in the past. I really like how Stoyan’s coaching is very personable and tailor-made for me, and he gives me options, so I can choose what works best for my specific situation and lifestyle. Seeing Stoyan himself doing everything he teaches, day in and day out, leading by example, always trying to get better is quite impressive. I find his passion for health & fitness to be infectious, and his personal example, dedication and discipline– very inspiring. It’s been about a year since I began working with Stoyan and I’m happy to say I’ve never felt better! I am in my 40s and I am in the best shape of my life. My body looks toned and lean and, for the first time, I love what I see in the mirror. I feel healthier, stronger, have more energy, my digestion is much better, my sleep has improved! Fitness helped me develop a better mindset, become more confident and mentally strong. All of this was possible because I finally decided to trust professionals and reached out to Stoyan. Having him as a coach made all the difference for me. I am a working mom so I simply don’t have that much time to do all the research myself and sift through the vast pool of information available on the subject. Stoyan has so much knowledge about health and fitness and it was easy for me to ask him and get a quick and informative response. Also, working out by practicing the correct form for each exercise is essential in order to get results and prevent injuries. We decided to go with weight training and there is no way I would have done this correctly without his help. The meal plan and exercise routine that Stoyan recommended for me were right on target- easy to follow and the results are well worth the effort. What made it different from everything else I have tried before was the consistency and steadiness of the results. I am finally experiencing lasting progress.
Pedro Martinez
If you're looking for a dedicated coach to help kickstart your health and fitness journey, l cannot recommend Stoyan highly enough! From the very beginning, Stoyan took the time to understand my personal goals, limitations, and preferences, crafting a custom-made fitness and nutrition program that addressed all aspects of my wellbeing. I've felt immensely supported throughout every step of the way, and have made a lot of progress in just a few months (see below). His attention to detail and holistic approach to health and fitness are second to none, and I highly recommend him to anyone who's looking to transform their mental and physical well-being.
Chase Burton
Overcrowded gyms and people hogging the equipment isn't my jam, so I was lucky to find Stoyan who has a small gym set up in his living room. Flash forward 7 months later, my diet is completely transformed, I'm walking an average of 5 miles a day, and I look forward to weightlifting sessions every time knowing that it's all part of a long journey to keep my body strong and optimized. Stoyan Yanakiev is passionate about what he does and he never misses a beat - he's 100% committed to the fitness lifestyle. He talks about what it takes to push yourself and I'm happy to say I've been pushing myself like never before when it comes to fitness and my diet. I hurt my back at the end of last year and the pain was excruciating at times where I didn't want to get out of bed. I was fed up and started looking for a personal trainer nearby. Enter Stoyan. Stoyan helped me ease into a totally new world of lifting weights, changing how I eat, paying attention to how I use my body when picking things up, etc. and within a few months, my back started to heal and to this day I experience zero back pain. I feel great and I have more energy throughout the day, allowing me to work longer hours in the film industry. I've truly enjoyed working with Stoyan and I'm grateful for his knowledge and passion.
Kiran Lekkala
I have been working out in the gym, for the last 4 years, but I never made any progress on the weight sets, nor was I able to build more muscle. If I wanted to learn an exercise, I just used to watch YouTube videos. I had a considerable amount of body fat and I was one of the many people who thought it’s easy to put on muscle and lose fat at the same time. I couldn't eat more calories of the fear of putting on more fat, nor could I be smart about having a little less, but more nutritious food, of the fear of losing muscle. Some days I used to deadlift 225 lbs and some days I couldn't even deadlift 135 lbs. I can honestly say that I was disappointed and discouraged. I did take some weight training lessons in my University's Physical Education department but they were very general. Even before that, I knew the basics of nutrition and weight lifting. Due to the vast amount of information available, it was extremely difficult to extract and apply something which would work for me personally, and this is not mentioning all the misleading articles which hover around. When I met Stoyan, I slowly realized that the human body is so complicated that tiny changes we make in our lifestyle take a significant amount of time to see the results. One thing which really made me feel that he was a bonafide source is that he follows and preaches the knowledge he gets from Dr Aaron Horschig, Stan Efferding, Chris Duffin etc. who are the leaders and pioneers in systematic training and muscle building and this made me trust Stoyan even more. I've been taking lessons for about 4 months from Stoyan. I started with a lesson every week (sometimes every other week) and from last month onwards I have been doing 3 lessons every week. I had an average physique initially, but after meeting Stoyan, my body started changing. I have been losing a pound every week and until today, I've lost about 18 pounds. When I look at my body in the mirror, I feel so strong, confident and proud of myself. I'm very grateful to Stoyan for helping me make this happen.
Albert Chernogorov
Stoyan has been a real game-changer for me. He fixed up my workouts and showed me better ways to eat. His advice was just right for my needs. I can see and feel the difference, and I truly believe he cares. I highly recommend him.
Carol Delgado
If you're looking for a fitness trainer who will educate you, show you what works best for your body type, and guide you to the right direction in your fitness journey, look no further. Stoyan is an amazing trainer. He actually listens to his clients' needs and wants. He will create a routine for you that works. From the very beginning, you can tell he's set a goal for you already. Stoyan is someone you can trust and a trainer who will get you to where you want to be. He is very knowledgeable in nutrition and anatomy, you will learn a lot from him. I'm glad I got the opportunity to work with him. You won't regret working with him either.
Tommy Dierkes
I recently had the pleasure of receiving a fitness consultation from the highly experienced and knowledgeable fitness professional, Stoyan Yanakiev. As someone who was determined to kickstart the new year with a holistic approach to fitness and sought additional guidance in the realms of diet and nutrition, I couldn't have been more impressed with Stoyan's expertise and comprehensive approach to achieve success in my long-term goals. Stoyan stands out for his holistic perspective on fitness, addressing not only physical strength but also emphasizing the importance of mobility, flexibility, and overall well-being. From the outset, it was evident that his approach was tailored to understanding my individual needs and goals, and not just a 'one-size-fits-all' approach that I experienced with other trainers and coaches. One of the key highlights of my consultation was Stoyan's incorporation of mobility and flexibility drills. Instead of jumping straight into a generic workout routine, Stoyan took the time to assess my current level of mobility and flexibility. This initial step allowed him to gain insights into where I was on my fitness journey and establish a baseline for improvement. Stoyan's expertise in the field was evident as he seamlessly integrated various exercises and assessments to gauge my range of motion and identify areas that required attention. His keen observational skills and personalized approach made me feel confident that I was in the hands of a true professional who genuinely cared about my overall well-being. In addition to his technical proficiency, Stoyan's passion for fitness and genuine interest in helping clients achieve their goals shone through. The consultation with Stoyan was not just about a workout plan; it was a collaborative effort to design a holistic fitness and nutrition strategy tailored to my specific needs. I highly recommend Stoyan Yanakiev to anyone seeking a comprehensive and personalized approach to fitness and wellness.
Erika Ishii
Stoyan is a fantastic trainer! Challenging workouts and pushes my PRs, but also SO encouraging and supportive! Also likes superheroes as much as me so he understands what inspires me!