Your first in-home session is one hour, one-on-one, in your own space. It starts with a conversation and an assessment, moves into real training, and ends with a plan for what comes next. You do not need to be fit, and you do not need a home gym.
If you have never had a trainer come to you, the unknowns can feel bigger than they are. Here is how a Ruca Fit session actually runs.
Before the session
You book a one-hour time on the booking page. Pick a slot that works with your day. If nothing fits, send a message and Garrett will see what is possible. That is the whole point of flexible scheduling: training should fit your life, not the other way around.
A few small things help:
- Clear a patch of floor. About the size of a yoga mat plus room to step in each direction is plenty.
- Wear what you would move in. Shorts or leggings, a t-shirt, sneakers or bare feet depending on the surface.
- Have water nearby. You will want it.
- Think about your goals. Even a rough answer helps. "Feel stronger." "Lose some weight." "Stop my back from hurting after work."
You do not need to buy anything first. The question of equipment comes up in the session, and we cover it in home workout equipment you actually need.
The first ten minutes: a conversation
Garrett arrives, says hello, and sits down with you. Expect questions about:
- What you want to change, and why now
- Your training history, even if the history is "none"
- Past or current injuries, aches, and anything that limits you
- Your schedule, and how many days a week is realistic
- What you already eat and how you sleep, in plain terms
There are no wrong answers. This is not a test. It is how a program gets built around you instead of around a template. If you have a medical condition or an injury, check with your doctor before the session and tell Garrett what they said.
The assessment: where you are today
Your first session is an assessment of where you are today and where you want to go. That means you will move. Garrett watches how you squat, hinge, push, pull and carry, the same basic patterns covered in our guides to the squat and the hip hinge. He is looking for what moves well, what feels tight, and what to build first.
It is not a pass or fail. Nobody is graded. Plenty of people start with movements that feel awkward, and awkward is useful information.
The workout itself
After the assessment, you train. A typical session is built like this:
- 1Warm-up. Easy movement to get warm and prepare the joints you are about to use.
- 2Main work. Strength movements, with a clear number of sets and repetitions, coached the whole way.
- 3Finisher. A shorter, harder block that raises your heart rate, if it fits the day.
- 4Cool-down. Slower breathing and a few stretches before Garrett heads out.
The coaching is the part you cannot get from a video. Garrett corrects form in real time, adjusts the weight or the movement when something is too easy or too hard, and tells you why he is making the change. If a movement does not feel right, say so. A good session has room for that.
What is different about training at home
Training at home changes more than the commute.
- No waiting. No queue for a rack, no hunting for a spot.
- No audience. Beginners often relax quickly once nobody is watching.
- Your space is the gym. Garrett builds the workout around what you have. A living room, a garage, a patio, a spare room all work.
- Real-life fit. You can train in the clothes you already have and shower right after, in your own bathroom.
There is a trade-off. A home does not have a full rack of machines, so the programming uses movements that work well with limited gear. That is a feature. Strong, simple training built on fundamentals is what most people need. For the full picture of how a plan is built, see custom programming.
How you will feel afterward
Expect to feel worked, not wrecked. Some muscle soreness the next day or two is normal when you start, and it usually fades as your body adapts. If something hurts in a sharp or worrying way, stop and tell Garrett and your doctor.
Garrett will also finish with a plan: what you will work on next, how often to train, and a little guidance on eating well with real, whole food. You walk away knowing what comes next.
What it costs
A single one-hour in-home session is $175. The 5-session package is $825 ($165 per session) and the 10-session package is $1,500 ($150 per session). Packages are valid for 6 months. The full breakdown is in personal training packages explained, and if you are weighing the cost, read is in-home personal training worth it.
Where Garrett trains
Garrett comes to your home in Venice, Marina del Rey, and Santa Monica, within about 3 miles of Venice. If you are further out, ask. Travel can be arranged. Start with the page for your area: Venice, Marina del Rey, or Santa Monica. Nearby areas have pages too: Playa del Rey, Playa Vista, Mar Vista and Culver City. The overview of the service is at in-home personal training in Venice.
Common worries, answered
What if I am out of shape?
Everyone starts somewhere. Programming is customized for all fitness levels, and beginners are welcome. See beginner personal training in Venice.
What if my space is tiny?
A small apartment is fine. Most good strength work needs very little room. Read how to set up a home workout space for ideas.
What if I need to cancel?
Cancel with 24 hours notice and the session is rescheduled. With less notice, Garrett will talk through options with you.
Train with Garrett
Book an in-home session
One hour, one-on-one, at your home in Venice, Marina del Rey, or Santa Monica. Your first session is an assessment. Single sessions are $175, with packages from $825.
This article is general information, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor before starting or changing an exercise or nutrition plan, especially if you have an injury or a health condition.