Frequently Asked Questions

What is HYBRID?

Hybrid Strength Club is a Personalized Group Training facility. Our #1 priority is the optimization of your performance and movement patterns. This priority holds the key to unlocking all of your efficiency, strength & power potential to achieve all of your short-term and long-term goals, injury-free.

Hybrid is a training system designed to integrate the body and mind. Describing Hybrid to friends and family without experiencing it can be very challenging. Some common terms and phrases used to quickly describe HYBRID are:

  • “Holistic Strength Training”
  • “It’s like getting the attention of One-On-One Personal Training in a Group Training setting”
  • “It feels like “functional Chiropractic”.
  • “The best of old-school training, gymnastics, martial arts, and yoga all in one”
  • “Training for the modern professional”

I’m not sure I want to join HYBRID. Can I just drop in and try out a class?

There are there are many circumstances that the answer to this question is yes for example, like when one of our veteran members or staff members can vouch for someone's Movement IQ. The reason we do this is to lower the risk potential injury due to flexibility, mobility, or a simple misunderstanding of our movement language. We would love to talk with you about you being a good fit for a drop in. 

I haven’t worked out in a really long time. Will HYBRID be too challenging for me?

Absolutely not! One of the many great things about HYBRID is that every workout program can be scaled or modified to suit any fitness level. This is what we teach in our Foundations of Strength Course. We teach our students how to make each workout appropriate for their individual fitness level. In order to continually make progress one must be on a continual learning curve as one gets stronger. This is why having a teacher and coach rather than a trainer is vital to your success. What this means is that a new HYBRIDian and a veteran HYBRIDian can do the same workout and work on themselves and not using a cookie cutter training style.

I really want to strengthen my “core.” Will HYBRID help?

Yes!  While you will not see crunches at HYBRID, we know that a weak trunk and poorly stabilized spine is the single most significant limiting factor in all human movement and sports. To this end, our programming specifically addresses trunk or “core” strength. 

I don’t want to lift weights because I don’t want to get too muscular. I just want to burn fat.

If you are worried about this myth of bulking up instead of losing weight, read this article. But the short answer is no, lifting weights will not bulk you up.  In fact, it will help you burn more calories and look better naked.

A combination of bodyweight and weightlifting exercises will be programmed for most classes. We use gymnastic movements, rings, kettlebells, sleds, tires, ropes, walls, automobiles, barbells, bands, rowers, medicine balls, dumbbells, and much more.

If this makes you nervous, don’t be!!! This is why we teach you the 5 principles first, so that you can apply them to your mind and body… and in return, bulletproof yourself from injury. This will make it so you can do all of this fun stuff while strengthening your body and reducing the risk of injury. Did you know that injury is one of the leading causes of people to NOT achieve their goals?

What types of movements and exercises will I be doing?

Classes are approximately 1 hour. The first 15-20 minutes are dedicated to warm-up time, and mobility work. We then go over the movements/exercises of that day’s programming, and help you scale (if needed). Then the class begins, and typically lasts between 15-25 min depending on the day. The remainder of the time is left for cool-down or skill work.

How are the classes structured?

If by “cardio” you mean sustained heartrate cardio, the answer is no… Sustained heartrate cardio is not supported by research to have the overall health and aerobic benefit, compared to high intensity, interval training. The widely touted measure of aerobic stamina and endurance is VO2 max, the amount of oxygen that your body can consume during sustained aerobic exercise — medium intensity stuff like distance running or biking.  There is a common misconception that long bouts of aerobic exercise are the only way to build stamina and endurance, but this simply isn’t true.

In the same way, muscles must be taken beyond their limits and torn to stimulate growth, your ability to process oxygen must be pushed out of equilibrium in order to increase your capacity to process it. Running at some level below your aerobic threshold (i.e. less than 100% VO2 max) will do little, if anything, to increase this ability. To push it out of equilibrium and induce growth, you have to workout at 200% or more of your aerobic ability. In metabolic terms, you need to work the high-intensity phosphagenic and glycolytic pathways in order to improve the medium-low intensity aerobic pathway.

What about cardio?

We program trainings Monday-Saturday at HYBRID. That doesn’t mean you need to workout 6 days per week.  Everyone’s path will be different at HYBRID. The number of times per week you should train will get determined during your Foundations of Strength Program. This is based on several factors such as goals and schedule availability. This prescription varies between 2-6 times per week.

How often should I go to HYBRID?

How long will it take to see results?

This really depends on you, and is always proportionate to time availability, work ethic, and consistency. Someone that is dedicated and wants results instantly can achieve it fast. If you are willing to change your nutrition and stay consistent with your attendance, the average person can start to see physical changes in as little as 4 weeks. Members often notice other changes even more quickly. They experience more energy throughout the day, better sleep, better focus, and less stress after only a few sessions.

Is HYBRID for health, athletic performance, weight loss, or aesthetics?

HYBRID is a complete regimen that will improve health, healing, flexibility, athletic performance, body fat loss, and build strength, all in one. Whatever your goals may be, HYBRID will help you achieve them faster.

Do I have to be in shape before I can start HYBRID?

No. It will actually be more beneficial if you start HYBRID without any knowledge of how to exercise. You get to learn the important principles and fundamentals right off the bat. This will allow you to develop a great base. Exercising without coaching can lead to improper form, muscular imbalances, and higher risk for injury.

Is HYBRID for athletes only?

HYBRID is for EVERYONE! We focus on functional movements. These functional movements are essential human movements that we use every day. Any movement and any workout can scaled to fit each individual’s needs. Bottom line, everyone will benefit from HYBRID….at any age or fitness level.

Will females get bulky training at HYBRID?

This is the biggest fear that most women have when exercising. That is why you mainly see women on the cardio machines in the gym and not in the weight room. Women need to incorporate strength training more than men because they are at higher risk for osteoporosis. Your bones are not going to get stronger by hitting the elliptical every day.

Also, testosterone is required for a person to develop large muscles. Women have 1/10 the testosterone as men which makes it impossible to develop huge muscles naturally. The huge and buff women you see in body building magazines are taking testosterone injections, eating a diet geared towards “bulking”, and working very differently than we do here at HYBRID. Have no fear of getting bulky; it won’t happen.

HYBRID will actually give women the look they are after. Our program will help you burn fat and increase lean muscle mass.  This results in a lean and “toned” body, much like a dancer rather than a bodybuilder.

Many people have previously hurt or tweaked their lower backs, knees, shoulders, etc. and are therefore afraid to exercise those areas. The problem with avoiding those hurt areas forever is that they never get strengthened. This is a disaster waiting to happen. You create muscular imbalances by training other areas of your body and avoiding the problem area. You become stronger everywhere else, but at the same time that problem area gets weaker in comparison. This actually increases your chance for that area to be reinjured. HYBRID is frequently used as rehab for injuries. Many people have come to us, unable to Squat (get yourself up from a seated position), Deadlift (picking up your groceries), or Press (putting something up on a shelf).  HYBRID teaches you how to move properly and exercise with correct mechanics, which in turn helps you to regain functional capacity.

I can’t go to HYBRID because I have back problems and/or knee problems.

I’m just visiting Sarasota, but I’ve been training for a long time. Can I come to a HYBRID class?

We welcome experienced trainees from all over the world. If you’ve been referred and preapproved by one of our current students, you will only need to contact us to schedule a 15-20 min “get to know you” meeting, and sign the appropriate paperwork prior to your first class. You can print off our waver and bring it with you.

If you are not referred by one of our students, you will need to schedule an appointment for a free consultation.

How many people attend your classes?

We try to keep our class sizes down to 10 or less. Once a class is consistently exceeding 10+ attendees an RSVP request will be assigned to that class.

Do you have a shower for me to get ready for work?

No. We do have two good sized bathrooms to accommodate our on-the-go members.