Ross Steiner Personal Training

In an effort to improve my mountaineering and climbing strength/​conditioning and take my performance to the next level, I started working with Ross in September of 2015. It’s shaping up to be one of the best decisions I’ve made! Not only is Ross thorough and knowledgeable, he is also super patient and consistently pushes me to train my hardest. As a result of our work over the past four months, my legs have never felt stronger. To supplement my training with Ross, I’ve been doing road and mountain runs and have just begun to up the mileage. During this past weekend, for instance, I did a hilly, 9-​mile run (the first full road run of that length in about 7 months) with one of my fastest times ever. The run, in fact, felt pretty easy, and I was surprised at how easily I was able to tackle the hills; my legs felt solid throughout, and I had a lot left in the tank afterward. I think such strength and endurance will serve me well in the mountains! It’s been nice to also see my climbing strength increase as we alternate upper body sessions, focusing on my core, back, shoulders, chest, etc. I haven’t been climbing consistently enough lately to really move up in grades, but I’ve been feeling a lot more stable and controlled on the climbs.
Besides helping me to get stronger, Ross has also helped a great deal with my shoulder and hip mobility. Not only have I become more flexible during the past few months, it’s amazing what Ross can do in a single session. For instance, I was struggling last week to fully drop into some of my back squats. With just a few minutes of a couple of Ross’ hip and ankle mobility activities, I was able to sit at least several more inches into the squats!
I’m excited to continue working with Ross for the next 5 months (through the end of June) as I prepare for another expedition. I’ve never been more motivated. Let’s go!

As a trainer and fitness coach myself, I hired Ross to help me gain more of an athlete’s perspective in my own strength training. His experience working with the Stanford Athletic program and running Mission High School’s strength program, have given him a unique perspective on how to safely and successfully make an athlete stronger, faster, and more powerful.
He has a sharp eye for proper assessment and form, making sure that clients are performing each exercise correctly at all times. Even with my issues surrounding a previous shoulder injury and knee surgeries, Ross was able to not only keep these joints safe and pain free, but also greatly help in strengthening them for my current sports.
Ross is constantly looking to improve his programming knowledge and education as a trainer. He consistently looks for a better method for athletes to try in reaching their goals. He has a wide range of mentors and teachers for himself, so the learning process is an infinite one for him.
On top of all of this, he is a damn good guy. He always comes to the session with a pre-​planned program, a big smile, a positive outlook and a focused drive for successfully coaching you to your next goal. In other words, you look forward to the ass kicking workout with him.

Ross is a great coach and I highly recommend him. I was looking for specific program design, coaching and motivation, and Ross was a perfect fit. He did an evaluation and designed a program specifically for me. I was able to follow along and keep track of progress in an app where I received all of the workouts. This enabled me to combine sessions with Ross and training on my own. I lost 20 lbs, have greatly improved my flexibility, strength and even slightly improved my sense of humor. Ross is very personable, has a passion for strength training and doing it the right way. I highly recommend him. He also coaches in the Diakadi facility which is the nicest gym in San Francisco. It’s a training only gym where everyone is very motivated, the facility is clean and it has nice amenities such as orange infused water. It’s really a motivating place to be.

Ross is an exceptional outlier talent, and I feel privileged to have worked with him at DIAKADI these past few months. Having always struggled with my lanky physique, Ross put me on a holistic weight training program that evenly added muscle mass to my body every step of the way. He was always encouraging, on time, and generally cool to hang out with. A true professional.
Due to external circumstances I have moved to the south bay and can no longer see Ross, but if I were back in SF I’d resume seeing him in a heartbeat. I could really tell what a difference his program made as moving heavy furniture was way easier than I ever remembered. If you’re on the fence, do the initial consultation and meet Ross in person. You won’t regret it!

Ross is the best! He is a great motivator and so fortunate to find him on Unilocal.He is inspiring and fun, which for me was really important for me to find in a trainer. I feel strong and just better about my body. I am so pumped to see more results in the coming months.

I originally started working out with Ross to get in shape for snowboard season and a big pow pow trip to Baldface.
I loved the training so much, we never stopped. Not to mention I was in the best shape of my life for this years trip to Baldy.
We’ve now been working together for 9 months and I can’t speak highly enough about Ross and the overall training experience. He’s super professional, knowledgeable, and a total pleasure to hang/​workout with.

I started working with Ross after gaining 47 pounds over a 5 year period. Ross immediately designed a program to improve my fitness (which enabled me to improve during my cardiovascular activities). Since tennis is my primary sport, my workouts with Ross were designed to improve my performance on the tennis courts. Ross also emphasized the importance of nutrition and referred me to Manuel Villacorta (MV Nutrition). Today I am 32 pounds lighter and in great shape. We will continue to work together and I highly recommend Ross Steiner to anyone serious about fitness.

Ross is the rock star of trainers! I’m a climber and wanted a training program that would not only get me stronger and leaner, but that I could also do on my own as well. Ross has done exactly that. He does his research and customizes each program specifically to each person’s goals.
Many trainers are focused only on the training aspect, but Ross looks at each person holistically. He explains how important both diet and training are to meet your goals. Being able to track both my workouts and how I’m fueling my body has been the change that I’ve been missing in my years of working out!
Initially I was only planning on working out with Ross for a month and then hoping to carry out the workouts independently, but I’m so impressed with the results that I’ve already seen that I’m going to continue working out with him. He has high expectations for himself as a trainer and high expectations for his clients. This attitude has changed my own expectations for myself and it pushes me to work out harder each time. It’s great having the baseline to be able to compare back to as you continue to drop pounds and lift more and more weight.
I would recommend Ross to anyone! The man is an athlete who loves training athletes! He will kick your butt in the best way possible! What are you waiting for?

I have been training with Ross for almost a year now and I couldn’t be happier with our results. I HIGHLY recommend him!
Not only is Ross patient, knowledgeable, and fun, but he understands how to train post athletes. Most of my life I have been a leaner guy with a very fast metabolism. Not only did Ross design a workout routine that would help me pack on muscle and gain mass, but he also has been very patient in creating custom meal plans for me.
Ross always has a positive optimistic energy about him, but don’t let his gentle energy fool you. He definitely know how to motivate, push and demand the potential he knows you have! I have gained mass in my shoulders, chest, and back and have seen progressive results in my legs!
If you’re looking for a trainer that can understand where you are at at ANY fitness level, then Ross Steiner is your guy!

I highly recommend Ross.
I’m a person that has had trainers in the past but have always gotten injured one way or another. I had a back surgery back in the early 90’s that harmed me instead of helped me. At this point, I’m much better but every other trainer that I’ve had has had me do exercises that have tweaked my back. This hasn’t happened with my workouts with Ross and I am grateful that I am getting great, sweat producing workouts without any injury.
Plus, Ross is a great guy. What more could you ask?

I have been training with Ross twice a week for the past 3 months.
Ross knows what he is doing. He is always on time. He is a friendly, and a real guy.
After working with him for 3 months, I have lost 10 pounds, lost approx 3% bodyfat, and lost two inches around the waist. My jeans prove it. This is a great accomplishment for me as I am a 45 year guy with a terrible metabolism.
He has also helped point me to all links where I learned how to manage my diet better. I was shocked on how much I was doing wrong.
Ross is right — workouts are good for building stronger core, and right diets are good for getting rid of your fat in your body.
Ross has been very attentive to me and very patient with me. Since I am Deaf, he has managed to communicate with me using gestures and showing me different poses. He never got annoyed.
He was very pleasant to work with, and I feel I am getting a right start in my «getting fit» program with him. I wish I found him much earlier so I can build my body better.
I know it takes time to get to goals that I have, and I am pleased with my results so far.
If you are looking for a fitness coach that will motivate you, help you get to your goals, and motivate you, he is the guy.

I just finished my first 10 sessions with Ross. As a once upon a time athlete (and someone that for years scoffed at personal trainers), Ross has helped to intervene in my last decade of excess smoking and bourbon. He is on time, not a douche,
positive, non-​judgmental (that first workout opens your eyes) and will make you work. And as someone who was looking at 50 with dread, I now think I may be able to balance a career without turning into a complete fat f$&k.
You ever see a trainer on his phone or laying on the ground as you work? That ain’t Ross.
My highest recommendation.
Do it.

I’ve been training with Ross 2x per week for the past 8 months. Ross is a great trainer with a diverse background in training that can match most peoples goals. Ross takes the time to understand what your goals are and customizes your workout to help you reach your goals. He also is great at helping to keep you accountable to your goals. Each workout session includes a post-​workout summary that is emailed to you with a 1 – 5 score of how you did. I find this to be a motivator and there are times that when leaving I will tell him «that was a 5 start workout.» I find this to be a motivator during the workout because I always want the top score.
Ross worked with Stanford football so you can get a full body training type of workout if that’s what you’re looking for or you can get a more traditional «put on muscle» type of workout.
During my time with Ross he’s always very attentive to form– but not annoying correcting a million times through the lift. In the past I’ve had neck issues and he’s aware of this as he develops my workouts and constantly monitors my motion. He extremely professional, on time, and attentive during the sessions.

My wife Ellie has been training with Ross now for about 6 months. She has shown dramatic results using the «Ross method» of training. Even though she curses his name after every session, deep down she knows her body is changing (for the better), and it shows. He plans his sessions very carefully; it is obvious he does plan your workout tailored for your body; unique to you and not for the masses. Even during the session; his encouragement and support is un-​ending; he get’s you thru it, and gets YOU to do the work you thought you could not do. She also had a long standing ankle injury, she was quite immobile for a long time. He has taken the time to help her become more mobile and increase her range of motion. This was a big stumbling block for her getting back into a workout regiment, he made it so much easier for her. In the short 6 months she has seen him; many of our friends see a different body shape in her and have noticed considerable change.
I have had the benefit of also working with Ross, and I have to say he also had me cursing his name not after the workout, but DURING the work out too. I could NOT do many of the exercises that my wife had already accomplished, but I tried my best to keep up. During my workout session, I wanted to pay him compliments while I worked out, I just couldn’t… mainly because I could not suck enough Oxygen to make my vocal cords work. I was working that hard… Now that I think about it, I couldn’t suck enough Oxygen AFTER my workout either… but he gave me a great workout for sure.
All kidding aside, I strongly recommend seeking out Ross to be your Trainer… he Will also be your Confidant… your friend… your Guru… your Mentor… but during your workout just call him «GOD»…It’s easy to remember, you will be screaming «Oh God, Oh God» anyways as you do your Millionth squat (ass to the grass), your 10 minute Plank (arms shiver much?), your 75^th leg kick (with the same leg), your Heavy Rope drill (I really don’t care if I can make big waves), your Goblet squats (don’t ask), the never-​ending Balance ball (we are NOT training for the circus), and every variation of moving a Kettlebell (moooooo).

Ross is kicking my ass a couple times a week at the moment. He harps on form, pushes me on my goals, and doesn’t let me quit. He’s also super into it, unlike other trainers who look like they wanna be somewhere else. Worth the $$$.

I’ve trained with Ross (2−3x a week) for the last several months; the results exceeded my expectations.
Ross has a broad range of exercises that build strength, tighten muscles and increase your metabolism. His workouts hit muscle groups from different angles and he structures the program in a way that the workouts are incredibly productive, focused and well, the time flies.
He’s intense, demanding (if he thinks you respond well to that motivation… because I do) and never loses sight of the importance of a good sense of humor.
Signing up to train with Ross was of the best fitness decisions I’ve made in a long time. If you’re serious about getting in shape, Ross Steiner should be your next call.

Ross is a very passionate and dedicated personal trainer! He definitely likes to have fun and enjoy his life (don’t get me wrong) but he is also the most accomodating trainer from a scheduling standpoint. His balanced approach (to fitness, as well as to life) is also very refreshing.
Ross is the most organized personal trainer. He has his own software that tracks my exercises and results to ensure that we consistently step up each session and are always making progress. His star rating and emailed reports after each session are very motivating and encouraging.
Although I sometimes dread his deadlifts (only because they are tough!) I don’t know where my legs would be without them! GO ROSS!

I was recommended to DIAKADI gym by a friend and was paired up with Ross after filling out the questionnaire. What I was looking for was someone to be a «coach» and help me get ready for my first Tough Mudder. Ross delivered exactly on my goals. In fact, he went above and beyond.
Ross researched the obstacles I’d be facing with Tough Mudder and built a program around that just for me! He pushed me to finish that last set, that last pull-​up, that last 5secs in planks. Things that I would have skipped had I trained on my own. I also learned to climb a rope! I’ve never climbed a rope in my life and now I run up that thing like a boss. (Everybody else training was secretly jealous and started incorporating the rope in their program too.)
For three months, I trained with Ross three times a week for about an hour. I saw a 4% drop in my overall body fat percentage & was noticeably stronger. I Ieaned out and got toned. Fit is the new skinny and I couldn’t be happier about my body! :D
I finished Tough Mudder in 4hrs without skipping any obstacles (WOOTl)!! I would work with Ross again in a heartbeat. Great dude with a good heart and wants to see you achieve your goals. I’d encourage you to reach out and give him a try.
— Kelly W.

I’ve worked out with 3 other trainers in the last 10 years and I finally found Ross. I’ve been working with him for 4 months and every week I see clear progress and enjoy our sessions. He is by FAR the BEST trainer I’ve ever worked with.
Here were my trainer requirements:
1) Will track and measure my results. –Ross uses a cool app and every week I can see where I started in the very beginning and where I am today in a nice little graph. What could be more motivating?! Ross meticulously tracks my progress and actually responds to what the data is telling him.
2) Not caught up in some exercise/​diet fad. Ross isn’t a trainer on autopilot teaching some religious view on eating and moving. He knows his stuff, so if you asked him for a Paleo diet and a series of Crossfit routines, he could probably give that to you. But I really wanted someone who would look at my personal history and understand what my specific body needed. Ross began by doing a full fitness/​strength assessment and then he built a custom program based on my specific goals. Across the last 4 months he has evolved my program as I’ve made progress. I’ve seen such amazing results with Ross and it’s because he started by understanding where I personally needed to focus.
3) Motivation necessary. No mocking or breaking me down. I show up every day and try as hard as I can in my workouts. I need to believe I can do it, not feel bad about myself. Ross doesn’t put up with me being a «negative nancy» on myself. He helps me believe in the process and pushes me in encouraging ways.
4) Professional Personal Trainer –smart, in shape, and focused. First, Ross is constantly learning. Most recently he worked with the Stanford University football team for awhile. He is always looking for new fitness knowledge and he’s truly passionate about his work. Second, Ross is in ridiculous shape. He practices what he preaches and runs fitness experiments on himself. Lastly, during our sessions I actually work out. We do chat about life and we’ve gotten to know each other, but not at the expense of me getting a ridiculous workout.
On top of all that, Ross is a huge sweetheart. He cares about his clients, he coaches high school football in town and cares about his athletes, & he cares about his family. He’s just a real standup kind of a guy. Go see him! Provided you are willing to work hard, he’ll get you where you want to be and you’ll enjoy the process.

I worked with Ross for 4 months and it was well worth every penny! :-)
The reason that I chose him over all the other trainers I interviewed was that he was very thorough with our first consultation. He took all these measurements, weight/​body fat, and outlined exactly what his program was about.
Ross is very straightforward and very motivating. Each workout was very challenging and he just made you want to work harder!
I’ve gained 10 lbs lean muscle mass by the end of our time together. With his coaching, I’ve been able to continue the core workout pointers that we worked throughout the 4 months we worked together.
Overall, you can’t go wrong with Ross! He’s a great trainer, wonderful no-​attitude guy that can help you reach a level of fitness that you’ve never reached before! :-)