Santa Monicans can now train like the pros
By Melody Hanatani | Santa Monica Daily Press
The workout regime of Manny Ramirez, Dustin Pedroia and Matt Hasselbeck is now available to the top dogs from the nonprofessional sporting field.
The Athletes' Performance Institute (API), which has trained some of the biggest names in sports, including the past three NFL No. 1 draft picks, is making its famous fitness program available to high-level executives who are enthusiastic about staying in shape but might not have the time to hit the gym.
The first Core Performance Center, owned by API founder Mark Verstegen, will open in Santa Monica in early September, located inside a nondescript building on Santa Monica Boulevard, closely following the institute's philosophy of offering privacy and comfort to its clientele.
"(This center) helps the rest of us who want to achieve in the game of life," Verstegen said.
Verstegen, who is the director of performance for the NFL Players Association, founded the Athletes' Performance Center in 1999, responsible for training teams including the Italian national soccer team, and the Los Angeles Dodgers. A graduate of Washington State University, Verstegen previously served as the assistant director of player development at Georgia Tech.
The Core Performance Center combines the intimacy of a personal trainer with the space of a typical gym. All members upon entry undergo an evaluation period during which a nutritionist drafts a blueprint for a suggested meal plan and a trainer customizes a workout plan that caters to the client's physical abilities and time availability.
Unlike a regular gym, each client comes in during scheduled sessions, receiving during that time their own workout machines, leaving the members free of worries about fighting off others over equipment. The computer-operated machines, which were designed by Core Performance staff, store the fitness plan for each member, accessible by inputting their phone numbers onto a touch screen.
"Every person owns their own station," Anthony Slater, the head performance specialist said. Slater spent six years as a trainer for API.
The equipment takes each member through a 25-minute routine, explaining via monitor how to do a particular workout. The fitness apparatus records every session, allowing trainers to evaluate the progress, meeting with members every few months to fine-tune the workout plan if necessary.
The routine is followed up with 30 minutes of cardiovascular activity. The entire visit on average takes about one hour, capped off with a nutritional drink.
"Just because you're not an athlete doesn't mean you can't train like one," Slater said.
The price of membership depends on the needs of each client. The club offers about 100 different packages that can be tailored to an individual based on their goals and needs. Costs are higher than a regular gym membership but less than a personal trainer. The Santa Monica center is the first of several that will be rolled out across the United States, including one in Boston, emphasizing the company's partnership with the Red Sox.
"We're offering a proven methodology and a proven system," Slater said.
Verstegen said that Santa Monica was selected as the first location because of the community's focus on health and wellbeing.
"Santa Monica is the heart and soul of improving the quality of life," he said.
Sue Falsone, a director at Athletes' Performance Institute, tries to workout at least once a day. API has trained some of the biggest names in the professional sports world.