FAQs

After working at other fitness studios, Pascha Brown and Kristin Rios launched Fuse Fitness in 2011 in Kensington. As lifelong fitness junkies they wanted to help others make the most of the time they can devote to working out, as well support healthy eating. The result is a challenging, yet noncompetitive environment where people can push themselves to get stronger, faster, more flexible and more agile.

Under their motto of Train Smarter, Live Better, they strive to help their clients gain confidence, energy and strength. Pascha and Kristin have taught hundreds of group classes and provided thousands of hours of one-on-one training. 

Whether you're a total newbie to working out or are looking to get back in touch with your inner athlete, they can help you exceed your goals and you’ll quickly see the benefits of your new regimen. Taking that first step, lunge, or squat can be intimidating, but Pascha and Kristin can make it (relatively) painless. 

Question: How do I start a fitness regimen?

In our experience, many people wish they could self-start, but don’t know how to take the first step.  We’re all busy and there’s always something else to do, making it easy to procrastinate.

The first step is to either send us an email or call us at 510.647.8831 and we’ll set up a fitness consultation to discuss your lifestyle, goals and health history. This will help us recommend the best program for you to get started with. 

Q: What can I expect?

We’ll start with a personal assessment. We want to learn about you so we can  help you reach your goals. We do this because we understand and appreciate that each client is different--therefore, we don’t use a cookie cutter approach (but might encourage you to reduce your cookie consumption).

Once you decide to start, you can expect to be supported and challenged. You will feel your muscles working hard and getting stronger. You will sweat and perhaps mutter under your breath at times. You will see and feel your mind and body transform and you’ll feel powerful and accomplished. You will wonder why you’ve put it off and feel grateful that you decided to take that first step. And you may feel a few aches in your muscles--that’s ok, they’re just getting used for the first time in a while.

Q: I'm not in the best of shape and am a little self-conscious about how I look…

We’re non-judgemental, just happy to see you working to improve your fitness and well-being! At Fuse Fitness we pride ourselves on being non-competitive, supportive and inclusive. And our sessions are definitely not a fashion show -- wear what you’re comfortable in!

We offer private training in a 1:1 setting as well as semi-private training, which is two or three clients to one trainer.  These programs offer more privacy compared to our group classes.

Fuse Fitness is a wonderful community filled with people who are just like you! Remember...everyone at Fuse began at the same starting point, it’s easy to forget that! Our clients all remember their first workouts, and are extremely supportive of and friendly to new clients. As trainers, we love to show our clients how much progress they’ve made by reminding them of a time they weren’t able to do a specific exercise, and now they can. 

Q: What if it's been years since I last exercised?

Then you’ve come to the right place!

Some of our clients have literally never worked out, while some have not exercised in years. They keep coming to their workouts because they know they are supported and taken care of -- and they can see and feel how they have improved. 

We’ll help you get started, then ramp up the difficulty to keep you moving to achieve your goals. Workouts are appropriately programmed based on your body’s individual needs as well as your personal goals. 

Q: How is Fuse Fitness different from a gym?

First, wherever you decide to work out is a personal decision -- the important thing is that you’re doing it.

We started our business to provide small classes and individual training, offering more attention to our clients that many of the larger facilities are not able to provide. We also make it a point to change up our programs -- whether classes or individual sessions -- to keep it more engaging. For clients recovering from an injury or surgery, we tailor their programs to help them on the road to recovery.

Many of our clients choose us for this reason. We can carefully monitor your form and make sure you are getting the most benefit without injury. We are entering our tenth year in Kensington, so our approach is clearly working.

Being a local small business owned by two family and community-minded women, we get to do it our way. We provide exceptional service in a nurturing, inclusive and supportive space. We really love our clients--we love to get to know about your kids and families, listen to how work is going, know what your favorite things to do are and where you want to travel next. We love to hear funny stories about your pets and what your favorite restaurants are. And while our job is to help you on your health and fitness journey, we understand that life is short, and it’s meant to be enjoyed. 

Q: What's the difference between a class, a private session and a semi-private session?

While we do prioritize keeping our group classes on the smaller side to ensure safety and personal attention, the workouts are not tailored specifically to anyone’s unique needs. Our private and semi-private sessions ARE personal training--all sessions are programmed to each individual’s goals and needs.

Private training is 1:1 with your trainer--you get their 100% undivided attention. 

Semi-private training is up to 3 clients to 1 trainer. Each client has their own specific program that is unique to them. (Unlike a group class, where everyone is doing the same workout). It is still personal training, but at a lower cost than 1:1.

Due to the pandemic and the resulting restrictions, we are currently doing group classes either outdoors at a local park or via Zoom. Virtual group classes are also recorded and sent out to our class members for those unable to make the live times.

Private and semi-private are done either outdoors at a local park, via Zoom or indoors based on the current occupancy limits mandated by the CDC guidelines. 

Q: What are your qualifications? Are there certifications for trainers?

Yes! Our trainers are certified by either or both the American Council On Exercise and the National Academy of Sports Medicine, which are highly accredited certifying agencies for personal training. We also have other specific fitness- related certifications such as: TRX, Pilates, Kickboxing, Yoga, Certified Functional Strength Coach and Functional Movement Systems. We use our varied expertise to help you set and attain your goals.

Q: How long will it take before I see results?

It will depend on the frequency of your sessions, whether you have injuries and need to work on rehabilitation, how long it has been since you have worked out and what your goals are. But it usually takes a month for your body to adjust to a new fitness routine and 2-3 months to see the results of the hard work you’ve put in.  And before you know it,  you will be taking on more challenging exercises. You will both see and feel your body getting stronger and having more control over your movements! 

Q: Do you offer anything other than workouts?

We offer fun (and sometimes competitive) challenges that teach our clients how to have greater physical and mental health. 

Some of the contests are designed to help support weight loss for those clients who are seeking that. 

Other challenges create friendly competition in the studio to see our individual improvements over a period of time. For example, working on your plank over the course of a month, and watching your core become stronger every week.

Another challenge we do regularly is our awesome and super successful 40 Day Mind + Body Transformation Challenge. This is a great way for our members to get some help getting back on track with eating healthy. Our clients who have done this before love it because it's so easy to follow along--grocery lists are made in advance for each week, the meals are simple, delicious and family-friendly, and you start feeling great right away!

And, we also love to get together just to have fun! We kickoff the holidays with an annual party at the Hotsy Totsy Club in Albany (prior to covid) where the only exercise was raising a glass of holiday cheer. We have also held picnics in local parks or hired a taco truck, where games of wiffle ball and kickball broke out. 

Family members are always invited! As much as we like watching our clients sweat as they push themselves during their workouts, we also like to see them enjoy themselves, although sometimes it takes a minute to recognize them in their street clothes!