“I have never before made such immediate and sustainable progress in my training than I have in a short amount of time with Cat. Her training method is precise and based on great knowledge, and she always tailors our workouts to where I find myself each day. Simply said, training sessions with her produce tangible results. She is an energizing, caring and always very inspiring trainer.” -Bill A.

“I've been training with Cat for several years now. Catherine, aka Meo (which means cat in Vietnamese), makes training fun and challenging. She listens to me and reminds me to listen to my body.

I like to make my workouts a playground, so we enjoy doing animal walks, being silly, partner challenges, etc., while working hard. You get results if you do the work.

We also engage our brains by saying things in multiple languages, and she asks me to explain or coach my own sessions. Teaching and learning become one.

Cat doesn't just talk - she walks the talk. We've become good friends over the years. We don't just work out - we also eat together and do activities outside of working out that complement the lifestyle. Training with Cat is a lifestyle.

If you want to create a new lifestyle that nurtures your mind, body, and soul, train with Cat. If nothing else, you'll gain a good friend for life!” -Jo F.

“I started my fitness journey very late in life, never having stepped foot into a gym until my late 50’s, and I was fortunate to find Cat early on in this journey.  She has been training me for several years, and I am being entirely honest in saying the results have been amazing.  I have never been, and never will be “buff” (do people still use that word?).  However, I have lost at least 30 pounds, no longer need a CPAP machine for sleep apnea and am no longer pre-diabetic.  The chronic back pain I had for 20+ years is gone.  I went from getting winded running a block to completing a half marathon.  I can hold my own with push-ups, deadlifts, burpees, planks and a whole assortment of other torturous exercises I did not want to know existed.  Cat is patient, attentive, and tailors my training to accommodate whatever injuries I might have (see half marathon above), to what areas I need (“if you don’t like the exercise, you need it”) or to any preferences I may have.  She is a stickler for technique and form rather than concentrating on the number of reps I can do or the weight I can lift.  I have come to appreciate how this both leads to better results and to less injuries.  Plus, it has the added benefit of me now being able to silently judge other gym-goers on their poor technique.  She is pathologically upbeat, supportive, and always has a positive attitude.  Every time I have fallen off the fitness wagon, she has been my motivation to get back on and keep going.  I hate to use the word holistic, but she is exactly that.  She coaches me not only on fitness, but is also concerned about my diet, sleep, and mental well-being (not that I actually listen).  I am grateful to have Cat as my trainer and would very enthusiastically recommend her to anyone, but especially to someone who, like me, needed a strong push to start their own journey.” - Ron F.

"Training with Cat has changed the quality of my life in more ways than one. She’s one of those rare people who exude sunshine, which helps a lot when she shows up at your house a few minutes early for your 7 AM training session and wants you to get right to work. She holds you accountable with a huge smile and a type of laugh that makes you forget that you’re going to be sore the next day.

One of the things that set Cat apart is that she doesn’t show up with a set agenda. Instead, she asks how your body is feeling and tailors your exercises to what you need. In doing so, she teaches you to listen to and trust your body. When I started with Cat, I had recurring back pain that prevented me from regularly playing my favorite sport, beach volleyball. I also had a seemingly never-ending pain in my right hip and didn’t know what the solution was.

Cat created a program for me that helped me build strength around those areas so that not only was the pain gone, but I was also stronger and more toned. After years of avoiding volleyball, I now get to play weekly with absolutely no pain. Every time I do, I stop on the court and think about how glad I am that I found Cat!" - Jessica M.

"Working with Cat has truly been a game-changer for me. She is, without a doubt, the best personal trainer I’ve ever had. From the very beginning, Cat completely listened and understood my fitness goals and challenges. Unlike my previous experiences with other trainers, Cat made me feel comfortable and at ease, which allowed me to open up and share my true needs and concerns. This level of understanding has significantly enhanced my training experience and results.

I am deeply grateful for Cat's expert guidance and support. She has set me up for success on my fitness journey. Thank you, Cat, for everything!" -Eric K.

“Cat is an incredible trainer who truly makes every session fun and personable. Coming into this post-cancer treatment, my goal was to just enjoy life and stay fit along the way. I love seeing the results and the transformation I’ve achieved with Cat. She’s even influenced my dad! Cat genuinely believes every client is capable of achieving any fitness goal they desire with the hard work we put in together.” - Melody S.

“I crossed paths with Cat after going through a series of unfortunate events in my life that resulted in my making choices based on what felt good, instead of what was good for me. At the time, I didn’t even know what my goals were, but I knew something had to change.

Cat arrived patient, inquisitive, and with the ability & willingness to show up in the many ways that I needed support. Every day, she would ask how I was feeling and most times, she could intuit it. The workouts were always simple and accessible - which often surprised me, as I was used to getting beaten up by trainers! But Cat knew (and taught me) that what I had to overcome wasn’t just physical, that progress didn’t require pain, and that consistency, not intensity, was the true path to results.

As the days passed, we worked out, talked, became friends, and sometimes I just cried. But in what felt like no time, I started seeing significant results, eventually surpassing my goals. I am now stronger, more confident, and more joyful than I have been in a long time. My biggest problem these days is getting rid of all these oversized clothes. Thank you, Cat, for guiding me through this necessary transformation in more ways than one.” - SLN

“Hi there, my name is Evangeline, I am a 24-year-old Southern California native. I have been training once a week with Cat since April of 2019 and I have learned and grown so much since I have started working with her. Some major lessons I have learned over the past year are: the importance of listening to your body, execution of proper form, the basics of proper nutrition, how to create SMART goals, proper running technique, the basics of proper yoga practice, and most importantly, proper breathing!

Why I started training with Cat was because I was finding myself conflicted with my own actions. I knew I wanted to train and become more fit, but never quite could find the ability to motivate myself. As well, I knew I enjoyed being with people and sharing my successes with others, so it seemed like the right move. I committed to continuous training with Cat immediately after meeting her; her spirit, seriousness about my success and ability to be, in the very first moments, completely herself were what made me excited to continue.

My fitness background is very casual. As a kid, I tried every sport, spending a couple seasons in each. None of them really stuck though, I think I was into the social aspect of it more than anything. Ever since I was about five-years-old, I have been overweight, all due to poor nutrition, lack of exercise and that little thing called genetics.

About five years ago I decided I no longer wanted to be uncomfortable. I started training with my brother and sister-in-law at our local gym, mainly lifting weights. I also started meal-prepping and counting macros. I got results and was motivated for a few months. However, I got bored. I found I didn’t enjoy the repetitiveness of a weight lifting program. I also did not like the atmosphere of the gym; everyone was so independent and had the energy level of “get in and get out.” I began to fall out of exercise, to the point of gaining all my weight back. Over the next few years, I fell in and out of this routine.

Once I started gaining more weight back than I had lost, I knew I needed something different. That’s when I joined a class-structured boxing gym. Here, I was reminded of the social aspect of exercise that I loved before. Making friends and enjoying the company of others while exercising is what led me to meeting Cat. Since training with her, I have met so many motivated people in the fitness community. 

Along with the addition of social interaction, my actual workout routine changed dramatically; going from only lifting heavy weights to using my own body weight for strength training and lots of cardio training. I am never bored with Cat’s workouts; they are diverse, challenging, and inventive. Her positive nature and certainty about your abilities are what drive you through your workouts. She has an incredible ability to completely understand where you are coming from and you know this because she reiterates it in her conversations with you, in her check-ins, in the way she designs your workouts and in her own personal life references in which she uses to help teach you.

Cat has more life experience than most people I know. She is great at referencing those experiences in a relatable way in order to help you understand yourself more and how your world is affecting you. My training has gone beyond just physical fitness, I have observed many thoughts and emotions verbally with Cat, some I had never verbalized before and some I didn’t even know were there. Cat has taught me that your fitness success is not a temporary goal but rather a lifestyle goal; something that is all encompassing of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual awareness.

This last year with Cat has been full of new and wonderful experiences and lessons, all at the physical and mental hand of myself and the spiritual helping hand of Cat.” - Evangeline S.

“I can’t recommend Cat highly enough. From the moment I started working with her, it was clear that she’s not only passionate about fitness but also incredibly knowledgeable about nutrition and overall wellness. Her personalized approach to training has been a game-changer for me. She takes the time to understand my goals and tailors each session to address my needs while keeping me motivated and engaged.” - Cameron T.

“I first met Cat a few years back while working out at Iron Battalion in Woodland Hills.  I had the opportunity to work out with her a few times and I really admired her form while exercising and that she was always smiling.  When I found out that she gave individual instruction I decided to go for it and it was one of the best decisions I’ve made.

I told her I wanted to improve my balance, flexibility, and strength.  She designed every workout, each one being different, specifically with my goals in mind.  And she succeeded.  She gave me several additional exercises to add to my daily routine and I really have notice a great improvement in achieving all my goals.

Her instructions helped me with my form, breathing and to do my exercises with purpose.  She also motivated me to improve my diet without being fanatical.

Her sessions were always fun, and therefore, I plan on having regular follow ups to learn new things and to make sure I I’m developing any bad habits.

Go for it!  You won’t be sorry.” - Harvey O.

"I can't recall the exact moment I decided to sign up for Cat's program, but I can clearly recall the many times I didn't.

And in each of these times, I had a really good excuse. I would tell myself it's not the right time, that I am too busy right now, or that it's about the cost.

If excuses were weights, I would already be a gold medalist.

My wife and I would see Cat working out in our gym, always friendly and approachable. My wife would suggest that I sign up, but I would convince myself that I don't need a trainer. "I can just do it by myself", I would think. "I could just eat a bit differently, or add a gym session once a week. I don't need anyone's help or the pressure from seeing someone".

As the years went by, the workouts were getting harder, the recovery was slower, and the few pounds that snuck in - were here to stay. At 46 years old, I realized that somewhere along the years, this "new me" has given up on the "old me".

What concerned me were not the extra few pounds I now weigh, and the extra less pounds I can lift, that's only natural. What concerned me was that I had given up the fight against the erosion. And I don't view myself as a quitter.

So around March, when COVID19 hit and we were all home-bound, I figured it's time to give erosion the fight of its life. With the help of my wife, we both signed up for Cat's program. Our first few sessions were about nutrition and foundation. Setting up a solid base that we can build on.

What struck me from the first lesson, was just how accommodating and open Cat was. Her instructions were embracing and not prescriptive. We had an open conversation about what I am willing to change, and what I am not willing to change in my nutrition and exercise habits. Cat did not come with a strict plan and an agenda to enforce it, she came in with the same open mind that she asked us to have. From the get-go, it felt like a partnership, where the teacher and the student are equally invested in one's success and health.

I won't lie to you, I silently cursed her in the first two weeks.... a lot.

The first two weeks were very very tough. Changing my eating habits, fighting years of sugars and carbs culture was hard. The withdrawal was real, and it was scary. I never felt hungry, but I felt hungry for something. My body was craving more cups of coffee (with sugar and milk of course), a slice of toast (butter, yes please), one more potato (sour cream and salt on it while we are at it). For 2-3 days I even got headaches, one night I was nauseous, this was not easy. My mind was telling me that I need the carbs, and there was no weight loss. I was beginning to doubt the whole thing.

Changing my workouts was also not easy. I was very comfortable with long runs or walks at a moderate pace. Now she wants me to do sprints? and hill sprints? coupled with focusing on the basic movements like push ups and stretches. Why can't she just give me the 7 minute, high intensity workout, as-seen-on-TV that was supposed to magically give me the six pack?

But then came week 3, 4 and 5 - and with them, the results. By then, we had a very healthy dialog with Cat. Our nutrition was within the guidelines of the plan and I started noticing the change. The weight loss was evident, my form was better, I would get more out of each workout and I felt stronger.

Our weekly lessons would be devoted to 30 minutes of discussion and 30 minutes of exercise. In the discussion part - We would review the last week, the ups and downs. We became aware of hydration, nutrition, sleep and the overall effect of the mental on the physical. We developed our knowledge and understanding, and set mental goals to meet, or we would discuss the hurdles and challenges we faced and how to overcome them.

The exercise part was geared towards the development of strength and skills. We would learn new movements or focus on fixing bad habits, we would train our muscle-memory of certain movements. It was not easy, and we left every lesson energized but very tired.

After the 6th week, we decided to sign up for another six weeks. And today, we have completed over 12 weeks on the program.

Here are some of my gains:

* I have set a goal for weight loss, and I met and even exceeded that goal.

* I understand how to nourish my body and manage what I put into it. No more do I feel exhausted after a big meal. No more do I need the "afternoon" coffee, or the late night snack. My energy is more consistent and available throughout the entire day.

* I know today how sleep affects my body and my energy, when to go to sleep and how to find that deep sleep even when I am having a tough week.

* I know how hydration affects my body, and how to manage it throughout the day.

* I know how to arrange myself a very healthy snack if I need one, and how to forgive myself and bounce back if I deviated from the plan.

* I improved my core strength, and the quality of the movements. From sit ups to push ups to weightlifting, I have increased my strength in each area.

* I am very comfortable with the change in my muscle tone and definition. The old me is coming back, and I am excited about that.

I did have setbacks, as most people do. I did have a week where life just yanked me away from the program. But I found Cat to be understanding and supportive even when I went off the rails. In fact, she helped me find corrective measures, and I was back on track the next week.

So what's next? is this it?

I know today that improving your health is a never-ending journey, and one that is better traveled with a surefooted guide.

For the next few weeks and months, I want to transition some of my focus from weight loss into gaining more strength and flexibility. I have a few movements in mind that I was never able to perform, and always too scared to attempt. With Cat's help, I think we can conquer those. I'd like to see the new me, break grounds that the old me couldn't.

I look forward to the next chapter of our training, and how we can improve from here on.

And last but not least, while I owe my success to Cat (and some hard work), I owe my inspiration and support to my wife. Throughout the last twelve weeks, she motivated me, fed me, supported me and made me want to push myself. We are very lucky to have Cat in our lives, and to have been able to work with her through this journey.

While everyone's journey is different, we all share the same starting point, and I encourage you to take that first step and contact Cat.

Thank you, Shuki”