Cannot recommend highly enough. Super knowledgeable, very thorough. Knows what he’s talking about and will make a plan to get you to your goals!
When I first decided to sign up with Bobby from Cygma, I was nervous. I had been recreationally running since 2007 or so, completed the RRCA Coaching Certification Program around 2015 and around the same time did the DC Triathlon Club’s New Triathlete program (so I wasn’t exactly a newbie). I’ve done 2 full marathons, about a dozen triathlons and more than 20 half marathons and in general personally pursue a lot of reading and research on health, wellness and exercise. I had hit a peak in early 2018, running a PR for my half marathon in 2:18, and I was a fit and avid bike commuter. However, 2019 hit me hard (health and nutrition, and trading a 45 min bike commute for an hour commute on the beltway) and the onset of the pandemic 3 months into 2020 didn’t go well for me either. I “blerched” pretty hard (see theoatmeal.com/comics/ru…) with a total mindset of “I’m a runner, I can eat and drink whatever I want!” even though I knew that wasn’t a good plan. So, I decided in 2021 I needed the extra nudge to get me back on track and wow, I’m so grateful I found Bobby/Cygma. The hybrid mix of in-person evaluation with virtual check-ins was perfect. I had been toying around with Maffetone & low heart rate running, which surprise surprise wasn’t working well with poor nutrition, so I already had a lot of self awareness with my running. Bobby helped me tweak my nutrition (and knowing someone else was going to be looking at MyFitnessPal was huge for me and kept more cheat days at bay) and worked with me on a training plan. When I first started with Bobby in person races were finally beginning to come back and I completed a small half marathon in West Virginia in 3:41 in October and followed it up with the much-delayed DC Rock ‘n Roll Half that November in 3:26. So we started with that baseline with a goal to get back down to 3 hours by March 2022. And we succeeded! I told him in the beginning – half of the success equation was me and I was aware of that. If I didn’t follow the plan, or bailed on nutrition, that was on me. So I feel like it was a great teamwork experience and my official time was 3:03:12 (for 13.4 miles – I was officially sub 3:00 at Garmin’s 13.1 point). I’m ecstatic! I can’t wait to continue to work with Bobby on future run goals, and who knows? Maybe with time and work I’ll get back to that 2:18 PR and maybe even a little faster 🙂
As a competitive athlete and personal trainer, I don’t like leaving my training to a guessing game. Bobby, a true professional in the business, not only helped administer my VO2 test, but explained in great depth what my metrics meant and how to immediately apply it to my training regiment. I would highly recommend his services to anyone looking to get more out of their training regiment!
Highly highly recommend Bobby as a nutrition coach!!! He is the best! I did not think I would be able to lose weight but wanted to slim down a little for my wedding. He knew exactly what to do to exceed my goals and I lost way more weight than I thought my body would even be able to for my wedding. He is careful not to go overboard and do anything unhealthy either. Cannot recommend enough. He is very easy to work with and worth every penny.
Great experience with owner Bobby at Cygma Performance to evaluate my wife. I was referred to Bobby from a trusted friend + endurance athlete.
Background: My wife and I are training for our first marathon scheduled for November 13 in Athens, Greece. We have been training since February. My wife had been feeling pain in her hips/hamstring area the last three weekends on our long runs of 16, 18, and 20 miles. We got concerned about her being able to run the race and wanted to get a fitness/motion/nutrition analysis.
My call with Bobby: I called him on a Monday after the 20 mile run with urgency. He answered, I explained the situation, he was able to squeeze us in 2 days later on Wed afternoon, and then he proceeded to ask me lots of detailed questions about my wife in advance of the appt. He was curious, empathetic, and interested to help her achieve her goal.
The evaluation: Bobby was early, super friendly, and eager to dig in (but not rushing). We had a great and relaxed discussion about her situation, he took notes, he explained the process, he answered our questions, and then he started her nutrition and motion evaluation. He was very thorough and patient as he captured all the information. I can’t begin do adequately describe all the steps and processes he went through. But it was good and helpful.
The results discussion: We sat back down again to go over all the information. The level of detail and analysis that he presented and explained in an easy-to-digest manner was impressive. We asked lots of questions and he had the answers. Our appointment was late in the day, and the very next morning we had a very thorough email explaining everything we discussed and his recommendations with references and video links.
Bottom line: She is running the race in 2 weeks and feeling pretty good. More work for her to do for sure. He gave us a few key nutritional elements for her to implement in the short time we have left, and he also identified some issues with her form and suggested some items she could reasonably work on before the race.
>> Call CYGMA now, and meet Bobby. Time and money very, very well spent. We will re-visit him for additional help once we return as marathon finishers. Thanks Bobby !!
Anyone who chooses to work with Bobby is doing the right thing. You receive his in-depth knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and nutrition; he then goes further, getting to know you better than you do. His goal is to ensure you are well-nourished and fit to handle the demands and stress of our daily lives. This is not just a workout or an assessment. Bobby truly cares.
Bobby was really communicative and kind! He got me in even during COVID and explained every detail well. Prices were reasonable and I will definitely be returning.
I highly recommend Cygma Health + Performance and its owner Bobby. Bobby is extremely knowledgeable and uses cutting edge technology to evaluate your fitness/health needs. Additionally, he provides useful and practical tips to help achieve goals. My wife and I both had a great experience and recommended to several friends/family.
My energy levels have been more stable. I don’t feel so hungry all the time. My back pain has been decreasing because I started to feed my body properly. I haven’t had to take an ibuprofen in 4 weeks days. I also wake up more refreshed.
I did not realize how important nutrition and energy balance is. I didn’t even know. But I am soooo grateful?
I have been rowing for 7 years, and have been looking to transition back to a competitive level after moving to Arlington a few months ago. I found Integrative Performance on Google Maps looking for fitness/nutrition coaching in the area, and I’m very glad I did.
I met with Bobby (who happens to be the owner) for athletic testing + consultation. We did:
– A conversation about my current status and goals
– A body composition analysis using a medical-grade machine which determines various parameters like resting metabolic rate, fat %, and weight/strength imbalances between Left and Right side of body
-VO2 test to determine how efficiently my body was processing oxygen
– Mobility and range of motion analysis to determine where I had joint tightness/issues
After this, Bobby helped me put together and talked me through a diet plan that supported my current workout goals. He also sent out a thorough, detailed email afterwards so I had an action plan to implement. Great to know he was open to follow-up questions as well.
Bobby is a true professional who holds many certifications and has years of experience in the field of helping people holistically achieve their fitness goals. I would highly recommend visiting Integrative Performance to… everyone. Having an assessment of your body and corresponding recommendations from someone who really gets it is so helpful.
I have trained with Bobby for several years and have experienced significant gains in strength and flexibility. Bobby has designed me a program with a mix of olympic lifting, crossfit concepts and mobility work. He constantly varies the program to push me forward. He is very knowledgeable and effectively translates new concepts as we expand my routine. I’m a mother of two and was apprehensive about beginning training, but it has been a great experience. I highly recommend training with Bobby.
Three years ago, I joined an elite health club, hoping to make one last effort to get in shape. I was sixty-seven years old, and as a college professor, lived a sedentary life with hours of screen time and very little exercise. As a new club member, I was contacted by a trainer, who would assess my fitness level and make recommendations. That trainer, fortuitously, was Bobby. He led me, patiently, through various exercises and measurements—nothing at all strenuous—but on that day I realized just how much I had neglected my health. I felt like an uncoordinated marshmallow. Bobby convinced me that I could achieve my goals: restore heart health, arrest osteopenia, and improve strength, flexibility and balance. I began working with him, and within a few months, saw major improvements. He is very knowledgeable, not only about exercise, but also metabolism, nutrition, the nervous system, and much else. He is patient and continually educates his clients, explaining in detail what is happening to our bodies as we move and challenge ourselves. He is more observant than most physicians I have encountered. And more helpful! A year ago, I took a major accidental fall down a staircase. I might have died, were it not for my newfound ability to brace myself. Nevertheless, I suffered severe injury to my cervical spine and left shoulder. Although I did go through physical therapy (which was just okay), it was Bobby who helped me to recover within a year (when physicians had not been hopeful, predicting that it would take two years). Today I work with Bobby exclusively and am no longer a health club member. I am taking half the dosages of medication for hypertension, have arrested the osteopenia and achieved significant strength, coordination, flexibility and endurance. I’m healthier now than I have been in thirty years. I recently celebrated by 70th birthday. Bobby is a phenomenal health coach. I will be with him as long as he is doing this. Anyone would chooses to work with him will be most fortunate indeed.
I initially went to Cygma Performance with intention of just getting a fitness evaluation and body scan, but I walked away with full details of how my body is currently functioning and ways that I can improve it.
Services: 5/5
I’ve been getting body composition tests done twice a year for the past 4 or 5 years of my life and this is the first time that someone has sat down with me to explain the data thoroughly. I’ve also never had anyone identify a weakness in my mobility when observing my flexibility movements and give me advice to improve it.
Talking about my nutrition and getting my cardio VO2 max tested to see where I am in those areas was really helpful in figuring out how to level up my workout regimen from now on. I was being tested and treated like an athlete, which I appreciate.
Communication: 5/5
Arranging my appointment was easy and the owner was on point with customer service. I received email confirmations and calendar invites prior to and after my evaluations. I was initially supposed to do my tests a while ago, but I got injured right before the scheduled appointment. They were completely understanding and flexible with rescheduling and making sure I was ok.
Location: 5/5
Cygma is located in Training Ground at the perfect spot in Ballston Square. I loved how clean the space was and all the staff seemed pretty organized while working with clients. There’s street parking nearby, that’s pretty cheap, as well as a few parking garages. Also plenty of options in walking distance for food after your workout.
Overall, I’ve found where I’m going from now on for my evaluations, and plan on referring my friends as well. I’m actually interested in training there from time to time too since their prices are affordable, so you can get training on a budget. I highly recommend Cygma Performance!!!
I came to Integrative Performance as a bit of a mess — recovering from a physical injury, burned out at work, and emotional after a major breakup. Bobby’s compassion and sensitivity immediately set me at ease, and his experience and knowledge about the mind and body made it very easy to trust him. With infinite patience and achievable goals in mind, Bobby took me from barely being able to stretch without triggering an emotional and physical response, to doing 60-minute lifting and cardio workouts without issue. And as if that weren’t reward enough, I lost 2 dress sizes, and started sleeping and feeling better overall because of his nutrition recommendations and mindfulness plan. I believe wholeheartedly that no matter what state you’re in, Bobby can guide you toward the best version of yourself in the shortest time possible.
These guys are VERY knowledgeable. Did a fitness evaluation with Bobby and it was excellent – I couldn’t recommend it more. Here is how the session went :
First went through an analysis of my current lifestyle and objectives. Also nutrition analysis
Second, he measured body fat /muscle percentage on this high tech machine.
Third, measured VO2 (oxygenation) while running on another high tech machine.
Fourth, measured range of motion and mobility.
Finally sent a detailed analysis, recommendation and plan of action.
I feel like this should have costed me MUCH more than it is, but they have very affordable prices. Highly recommend them.
One of the best decisions I could have made for my training! Not only was it a great experience – he was knowledgeable, personable, professional, and very thorough; the data-driven advice I received has already proven beneficial for my training.
I have been an athlete my whole life and as someone who is currently training for 3 separate events, the work they did for me has been and will continue to be invaluable to my performance moving forward.
Cannot recommend Bobby and the Cygma team enough! Check them out!
You ever had such a positive experience with someone that you keep thinking about weeks later? That’s me right now. And so I decided to do a review of my experiences here on Google… and then I see that 21 other people have already done that here for Cygma Performance with many mentions of Bobby. And I see that ALL 21 reviewers, which covers over a year, gave 5 stars. And some reviewers wrote novels! There’s so much to read here that I no longer feel that I need to do the same but you can put me down as the 22nd person to drop that 5-star rating.
So in summary, I live in Vermont and needed a VO2 Max test for my volunteer fire department since I turned 50 yrs old. I couldn’t find it locally so since I was coming to DC for my daughter’s college graduation, I found Cygma Performance on line and set up an appointment to take the test. But then I discovered this included a phone consult (free) where they (Bobby in my case) find out what you are trying to achieve with the VO2 Max.
Have you ever paid to use a product and have the company want to talk to you first so they can ensure they can support your needs? It was a great phone call.
Later, the VO2 Max test went great. Bobby is a true professional. And as a side note, their facepiece for the VO2 Max is wireless. It pushes all of your rolling data to a laptop via Bluetooth. Not having a hose flop around in front of you while running on a treadmill was quite nice.
After the test, I needed to leave so Bobby scheduled a time later that evening that we could talk via Google Meet. If you don’t know, that app is like Skype/Facetime but also allows you to share your screen. He pulled up my 4-page VO2 Max test and covered every line of it. He has a great way of explaining complex scientific data to a layman. And he addressed not only my primary goals but my secondary goals as well for taking the test. I took 3 pages of notes during our call. I wish I had service like this when I was in the Army. I could have been the Hulk!
Then two weeks later, he followed up with an email to see how my fire department physical was going.
Overall, I had a much higher than expected experience. Bobby is a professional compassionate expert. And at least 21 other people agree with me. 😊
PS: Make sure you ask for directions before you go. The building has construction going on around the various doors so it can be hard to find. Basically go to the West side of the building where the gym has their own exterior entrance. And using the parking garage to the South was the best parking unless you happen to find something on the street, which isn’t common.
Bobby was great! I went to figure out the number of calories I can eat and see my body composition and he helped me with that and more. He knew what he was talking about and was a lot of fun to work with. Looking forward to see the changes I can make with his advice!
The best thing in 2021 thus far for me was discovering Cygma Performance and having the good fortune to work with Bobby as my personal trainer. Having tried many boutique fitness studios in the area where I worked with a number of excellent coaches, my expectations were blown away by Bobby’s work ethic, professionalism, and knowledge. In addition to really knowing everything under the sun for fitness and nutrition, Bobby was the best cheerleader in helping introduce me to powerlifting when I noted that as one my goals.
His patient and joyful demeanor, combined with his fresh and customized approach that he brought to every training session, years of knowledge in the industry that he willingly shared, and his challenging but fun workouts made every session with him my favorite time of the week that I looked forward to! In my few short sessions with Bobby, I gained so much confidence in working towards my strength training goals.
As a bonus, I loved that the studio is private and only for clients and trainers– making the studio a welcoming, quiet, and non-judgmental setting.
I can’t wait to move back to the area in a few months and work with Bobby again–he’s genuinely interested in your goals and well-being; I only hope he won’t be too busy to make time for me after everyone else discovers this gem of a human being and Cygma Performance!
I could not be happier with the experience or the results. Bobby has extraordinary depth of technical knowledge and excels at applying that knowledge to his clients’ unique needs. He delivers thoughtful insights that empower – I went from not seriously working out for over a decade to three sessions a week with Bobby. I don’t recognize myself in pictures from before I met Bobby. He is always ahead of the curve constantly refreshing our program to keep me guessing and adapting to new things. All of that coupled with tremendous nutritional insights and it is no wonder that I am living a different life these days. More energy, more strength and way more flexibility than I ever imagined was possible. I am so fortunate to have Bobby as a trainer – he changed my life, and continues to push me forward. I recommend him with complete conviction.
I recently completed the 360 evaluation with Bobby and was given a wealth of information to empower my fitness journey. Bobby was super knowledgeable and thorough. I appreciate that he took the time to understand my goals and help me create a personalized plan. He’s clearly passionate about helping people achieve their fitness goals and I’d definitely recommend.
Bobby was phenomenal-I felt like I knew a lot about fitness and healthy eating already, but he spent quality time with me walking me through how to optimize my nutrition, in a way that would easily fit into my lifestyle. Bobby wasn’t judgmental or fad-forward – he talked through the different diets that are out there – keto, Paleo, etc. – and walked through the pros and cons of each, before discussing a tailored approach for me based on my goals. Then, he emailed me a debrief of our entire conversation – SOOO helpful, and telling all of my friends to go visit him – he knows what he’s talking about and got my excited about taking care of myself. 🙂
This review is long overdue, because I’ve been working out with Bobby since late July, and by mid-September, I’ve gained 2.2 pounds of muscle, decreased my body fat by 1.3%, and increased my basal metabolic rate. These may not sound a lot, but I was already lean (female, 20.9% body fat) and I’m very petite, so even 0.5 pound of muscle gain isn’t easy for me, let alone in such a short time. In fact, Bobby may be the first trainer who doesn’t want me to get leaner but to gain some weight to be healthier… and because of that, I trust that he has my best interest in heart. These stats show the results – which is why we seek dedicated personal trainers in the first place, but what also matters to me is that Bobby truly cares about my health, my athletic performance, more than looking good.
I also really enjoy working out with Bobby in Cygma because I feel like an elite athlete here. First of all, Bobby has tons of fun and effective workouts. He uses a combination of weights, circuits, cardio, and equipment. Training with Bobby is never boring or static. Second, Cygma also has great equipment and a very athletic vibe. It’s definitely not a regular gym. I’ve had trainer in the past and I still see dozens of trainers in my apartment’s gym. Bobby is at an entirely different level with his strategies, movement, and tools. I joke that the other trainers and gyms are very “vanilla” whereas Bobby/Cygma is like “triple-espresso double-chocolate with whatever toppings that suit your body.” Though Bobby challenges me quite a bit, he also takes into consideration my injuries, body conditions, past hormonal issues, and adjusts the training, which I always appreciate.
I’m also amazed at the depth and breadth of nutrition knowledge that Bobby possesses. Being an avid reader of all sorts of nutrition tips and news, I thought I’d known enough and didn’t initially sign up for Bobby’s nutrition training; however, during one month in which I injured my shoulder and had some hormonal issues coming back, Bobby sat me down and calculated the macros that I should be eating – he also imparted important stress management skills, which turned out to be key to improving my overall health and fitness. Best of all, Bobby gave me all the knowledge without extra charge and he asked me not to obsess. Now, I really enjoy chatting with Bobby about nutrition, destressing, sleep, fitness, etc., while training. One of Bobby’s biggest strengths (there are many) is that he’s very articulate, and since he knows a lot and is very logical, he’s good at looking at things from multiple perspectives and breaking down data and information in easy-to-digest bits and pieces, which I always appreciate. Bobby’s passion for nutrition, fitness, and service is also very contagious.
Finally, I really appreciate that Bobby respects where I am – I only train with Bobby once per week due to my current budget and super busy work and lifestyle, but Bobby said he’d make sure that I get the value out of this one hour each week, which is true. Though eventually I hope to train a bit more with Bobby, currently, I feel more motivated and effective even in my own sessions without Bobby. He taught me so much since the beginning. I cannot recommend Bobby enough.
If you are serious about your health and your physique, and you want to have fun while seeing results, and you want to feel like an elite athlete with reasonable payment, definitely try Bobby and Cygma!