Shamil "Sam" Aygunov

I started working with Sam at NYSC in January 2019. I am a very active woman in my 50s. I had never worked with a personal trainer before but was looking to develop stability and upper body strength after a neck injury left me with years of chronic pain and weakness on one side. My goal was initially one pullup. I didn’t appreciate when I first started that strength training done in a controlled could lead to full recovery, and that I’d eventually be able to do much more than a single pullup! Sam’s knowledge of physiology and stress on good technique were qualities in Sam that appealed to me initially, and we worked together in person for a little over a year until the pandemic hit and shut down the gyms. Determined to find a way to keep working out regularly, I suggested a remote solution - I basically move him around my apartment on an iPad - and it worked. We’ve rarely missed a Monday night work out. When we started, I had no equipment at home, and he was able to devise interesting workouts using body weight only. Since April 2020, I’ve obtained a barbell and chinup bar, and I’m now doing things I never thought possible, like 10 chinups, 25 V-situps, and overhead presses using 50+ lbs, etc. If you’re looking for a trainer who is super knowledgeable about the body, creative, practical, flexible and patient, I cannot recommend Sam more highly. Whether in-person or remote, you will not be disappointed. More...

I've been working with Sam for over a year now and could not be more pleased. I started out as a definite beginner when it comes to training (more green than I thought, if I'm being honest), but with Sam's patience, persistence, and obvious depth of knowledge I gained a lot of ground.

I've gotten a lot stronger, but more importantly to me I'm much more informed as well. Sam is clearly passionate about training and will happily impart as much wisdom as he can - I am more confident even when exercising on my own that I am actually progressing and avoiding injury.

When covid closed gyms we switched to training over video, which I was at first skeptical about. However, I was pleasantly surprised how Sam researched and found creative ways to keep me interested and in shape given the lack of equipment and space I have in my NYC apartment.

I've already referred Sam to a few other people, and will happily continue to do so! More...

After working with Sam for a while now, I am substantially stronger and faster — much more than I was ten or twenty years ago. That’s something for a 53-year-old. He makes me sweat and laugh at the same time. It doesn’t matter that I don’t have a lot of equipment—he makes me work hard. I have given his information to the rest of my family, and they all rave about his coaching skills and the workouts, no matter what their age or skill level is. More...

Sam is the best personal trainer I've ever used. He is smart and is always studying new things about fitness. Working out with him I know I will reach my goals because I know his methods are scientific.