Here’s what I noticed after a decade of training people in Kamloops. Almost every option in town is a group class. Bootcamps, class packs, a coach running fifteen people through the same circuit. That works for some people. For a lot of others, it’s why they never actually get stronger.
I do the opposite. I’m Jake Richardson, and I run private one-on-one strength training out of my own studio in Kamloops. One person at a time. No class to keep up with, no waiting for a rack, no cookie-cutter workout. Your program is built for your body, your goals, and where you’re starting from. That’s the difference between showing up and getting results.
How I build your strength program
Every program starts with an assessment, not a workout.
Before you touch a barbell, I look at how you move. Where you’re tight, where you’re strong, what’s been bugging you. Then I build from there. You’ll train with real strength work, compound lifts scaled to your level, and a rep and set structure that matches your goal. Getting stronger, building muscle, or dropping fat all need a different setup, and I write yours to fit.
Sessions run about 45 to 60 minutes. Two or three a week is plenty for most people. The work has to be right and it has to progress every week. That beats hours of junk volume.
- 20 to 30 minutes builds strength if you work hard
- 45 to 60 minutes works for most people
- Workouts longer than 90 minutes can make you too tired
A short, focused workout beats a long, lazy one every time.
What private strength training gives you that a class can't
A group class gives you a room and a general workout. Private training gives you a plan that’s yours.
In a class, the coach is split fifteen ways. Nobody is watching your squat depth or catching the reason your shoulder hurts on press day. You do the workout on the whiteboard whether it fits you or not. With me, every rep gets coached. I see how you move, I load the weight that’s right for you today, and I change the plan the moment your body needs something different.
That’s why people who felt stuck in classes or on the gym floor start seeing real strength gains once the training is actually built around them.
Why efficient training works for busy Kamloops residents
Busy people tell me they don’t have time to train. You need less than you think. Two or three focused sessions a week, about an hour each, done right, will make you stronger. That beats grinding through long workouts that lead nowhere.
Do you need to lift heavy to get stronger?
Heavy and light both have a job. It depends on the goal, not on ego.
Heavier weight for lower reps builds raw strength. Moderate weight for more reps builds muscle size and staying power. Most of my clients use both across a week, and I decide the mix based on where you are and what your body handles well. You will never get handed a random weight and told to guess. I load the bar with a reason.
Your own private studio, no waiting around
You train in my studio, not on a crowded gym floor. No waiting for a rack, no sharing equipment, no class setting the pace. It’s your space and my full attention for the whole session.
How often should you strength train?
Two to three strength sessions a week is the sweet spot for almost everyone.
The guidelines back this up. Adults are told to do muscle-strengthening work at least two days a week. In my experience, two focused private sessions beat five rushed ones on your own. Your muscles need the work, and they need time to recover and rebuild between sessions. That recovery is when you actually get stronger, so more is not always better.
How Kamloops seasons fit into your training
Kamloops winters and hot summers change how a lot of people train, but your program does not have to stop. We train indoors in a private studio, so the work keeps going year round. I just adjust it to how your body feels that week.
Strength training for real Kamloops people
I train people from age 8 to their mid-80s. The plan changes for each of them.
A desk worker from Aberdeen who wants to stop feeling stiff needs something different than a hockey player prepping for the season or a woman getting back to lifting after a baby. I coach all of them in the same private studio, one at a time. If you’re recovering from an injury, we work around it and build back. If you’ve stalled out lifting on your own, we find the gap and fix it. Strength training here also pairs with fascia stretch therapy when your mobility is what’s holding your lifts back.
How your rep and set scheme is chosen
Those numbers you see in programs, like 5-3-1, are just rep and set schemes. They tell you how many reps to do and how heavy to go. I pick yours around your goal, then push it a little every week so you keep getting stronger.
Train on a schedule that fits your life
Sessions are available morning, afternoon, or evening. Whatever works for your life. Because it’s a private facility, we have more flexibility than typical Kamloops gyms with packed schedules or set class times.
What results to expect, and when
Strength shows up before the mirror does.
In the first few weeks you’ll feel steadier and lift a little more each session. That’s your nervous system learning the movements. Real muscle change usually shows up around eight to twelve weeks of consistent training. By three months, most people are noticeably stronger, moving better, and carrying themselves differently. The timeline is predictable when the training is consistent and the program actually progresses.
What to Expect in Your First Three Months
You’ll see muscle changes in about eight to twelve weeks. This is when other people notice too.
People in Aberdeen and Westsyde who keep training through winter see steady gains. The key is showing up, even when you don’t feel like it.
This timeline works if you also sleep well and eat right. Working out is just one piece. Everything else matters too.
Frequently Asked Questions
Two to three days a week works for almost everyone. Adults are advised to do muscle-strengthening activity at least two days a week. Two focused private sessions with real coaching usually beat five rushed ones on your own.
Yes. Three well-programmed strength sessions a week is plenty to build muscle for most people, as long as the work is progressive and you recover between sessions. Quality and consistency matter more than piling on days.
Yes. I train complete beginners all the time, plus people coming back after years off or after an injury. We start with your assessment and build from where you are. You don't need to be fit first.
No. You get stronger by progressively challenging your muscles, and the right weight depends on your goal and your level. I pick the load for each lift so it's hard enough to work and safe enough to repeat.
Ready to get stronger?
If you’re tired of guessing on the gym floor or getting lost in a class, private strength training is a different experience. We build the plan around you, and you get coached on every rep. Book a session and let’s see where you’re starting from.