Testimonials

Lily

Matt helped me address some chronic weaknesses in my body that were having rippling out health effects. He helped me get out of pain, and feel empowered about getting stronger. I’m so grateful that he works on Zoom, because it makes it so easy to work out with a badass personal trainer from the comfort of my home! I’d never have access in my rural hometown to someone as skilled and knowledgeable about the body as Matt. I highly recommend him as a trainer.

Carl

Prior to my first consultation with Matt, I hadn’t slept through the night in nearly 6 months due to constant back and knee pain. At age 35 and far from ready to stop playing sports, I’d tried (and paid for) everything short of a surgeon – rest/ice/heat, flexibility training, PT, etc – with moderate results at best. Matt’s philosophy of injury prevention through strength training intrigued me, and despite what initially seemed like a high cost and something for people much younger than me, I decided to give his “Fast Gains” program a try.

Fast forward to a year later – I am now stronger, healthier, and more injury-resilient than I’ve ever been. Matt’s extensive knowledge of physiology and movement led to the discovery that my problem wasn’t lack of flexibility, but hyperflexibility, and his relentless emphasis on proper form set me up to succeed and progress through every workout from day 1. He is a passionate, knowledgeable, and empathetic trainer who cultivates those same traits in his trainees, and I can’t recommend him highly enough.

“I have shred a lot of weight, increased mobility, energy, stamina and muscle. I feel that I am reclaiming my health.”

-Marty

Marty

About 6 years ago I suffered a severe back injury that landed me in the hospital, followed by years of pain and significant lack of mobility – not to mention fear. Oh, and weight gain. Finally as 2019 came to a close I decided that 2020 was the year when I would fight back. During an exhausting online search for a personal trainer I stumbled upon some reviews of Matt. I’m glad that I picked up the phone and made the call. We have been working together since January. I have a shed a lot of weight, increased mobility, energy, stamina and muscle. I feel that I am reclaiming my health. He is highly qualified, effective, listens and develops plans that work. And fun. Make the call, you won’t regret it.

Kelly

Matt is honestly the best there is.  I found him in search of a powerlifting coach after doing CrossFit for a couple of months.  I had just had a back injury and couldn’t deadlift or squat (and had gotten injured in the first place from bad form).

Matt took the time and attention to teach me everything I needed from breathing exercises, proper cues, and helped me dial in my form enough to see a HUGE boost in my strength. It was pretty cool going from being unable to bend down to tie my shoes to deadlifting 209 lbs at my second powerlifting meet within a matter of 7 months.

I really feel like Matt genuinely cares about each and every one of his clients and creates customized programming based on your goals (and if you don’t have any of those, he can help you with that too).

I recommend him to everyone I know who’s looking for a trainer – super smart and great to work with.

Jon J.

I followed Matt from Weston to 12th St. and have been very pleased in my decision. Matt not only studies the latest information about best training practices, but he also pays careful attention to the needs and desires of his clients. He oversees a strenuous but not too strenuous workout, as well as a fun one, and in my experience it has allowed me to make steady progress. As an older (and I mean older!) client, I have had my various aches and pains in different parts of my anatomy, and he always makes sure they are protected. Definitely recommended for anyone wanting to get fitter, beginner or old hand.

“Matt is a great trainer no matter what age or skill level you are at. You will walk away with invaluable skills and knowledge, as well as a better understanding of how your body can move.”

-Jodie

Jodie

I started training with Matt early in 2016 after many years of working out in the gym by myself on and off. I never “hated” working out, but I also never thought I’d be someone who would end up at the gym 3-4 times a week! 

Matt helped me find my love of powerlifting and weight training with free weights. Before I met Matt, I was interested in the idea of lifting but was scared away by the idea of getting injured (as well as anxiety about cluelessly lifting in the free weight section). Matt goes above and beyond to teach you the CORRECT technique and movements to make sure you stay healthy to avoid injury. He takes his work home and does extensive research to make sure he is writing the best programs for his clients per their needs.

Matt is a great trainer no matter what age or skill level you are at. You will walk away with invaluable skills and knowledge, as well as a better understanding of how your body can move.

Greg

I have been a client of Matt for about two years now and have been doing remote training before and after Coronavirus, which has worked out well. I’m a healthy, active 66 year old man who has been interested in fitness and health for a long time. In my 50’s I ran and biked a lot, but stopped running when I injured my foot. Then I was involved in Crossfit and hurt my back doing olympic lifting I never should have been doing. And I had major back surgery four years ago. Needless to say, I didn’t do any weight training after that. My weightlifting form was self-taught and honestly pretty bad – Matt taught me what good form is. A couple of years ago, I decided to find a GOOD trainer that was comfortable working with someone my age. After my wife and I did some research, and tried some other trainers, we found Matt, and boy are we glad we did.

Matt is a science based trainer and his assessment of my abilities, strengths, and weaknesses were used as input into the programs he writes specifically for me. I have been taught proper technique, worked on mobility, and he’s incorporated appropriate weight training and aerobic exercise into my life. I am stronger, more flexible, more aerobically fit, have incredible core strength, and leaner than I have been in a long time. I have lost 14 or 15 lbs since I started training with him, and haven’t really changed my diet much. He is sensitive to having me work at an appropriate intensity level and I haven’t been hurt once, and I feel great. He also diagnosed a medical problem I have, diastasis recti, and helped me correct it. Best of all, I have not gotten bored and given up.

Matt writes custom programs that work with YOUR body, not just generic programs. You should try his exercise programming. I can honestly say that I never would have figured all this out by myself. In fact, if left to my own devices, I would have hurt myself again. Even if you want to workout on your own, get him to write your programs. Trust me, you’ll be as glad to work with him as I am!

” I consider him an excellent coach and a conscientious trainer. If you’re ready to commit to changing yourself, Matt is the right choice.”

-Rebecca

Rebecca

I was at a big fancy wedding recently, when an acquaintance said, “you look GREAT.” I said, “oh thank you! I totally got this [new] dress and shoes from King of Prussia…” He cut me off and said, “you didn’t get that body from King of Prussia Mall.” Enough said.

I’ve been working with Matt since I was 5 months pregnant over 5 years ago. He is great to work with and I can objectively say that I have gained muscle and strength. He is always supportive about my goals, and we work collaboratively to put together programs that fit my needs at any given period of my life.

I consider him an excellent coach and a conscientious trainer. If you’re ready to commit to changing yourself, Matt is the right choice. (PS. like some other reviewers, I too hate working out. But knowing that I’m rolling up to the gym to meet a perpetually positive guy sure does help!)

Matt

I wanted to give a solid 5 stars to Matt Smith over at Bodysmith Performance. After my very first session my core strength improved and my back pain immediately went away. Matt really knows how to customize workouts for what your body needs, even down to basic fundamentals such as how to breathe properly. Couldn’t recommend him any any higher!

Anastasia

Before I started training with Matt, I had never picked up a dumbbell heavier than 5 lbs because I believed in a stereotypical nonsense of getting bulky from lifting weights. I had started running and doing simple workout DVDs probably 6 -7 months before I started training. You can’t really learn proper form that way… so obviously I had no progress on my own. And there he was. Boom! One of the happiest days of my life.

I’ve seen powerful changes. My whole life, I just wanted to be skinny, and was never as “skinny” as I wanted. I was never happy with myself. With Matt’s guidance and everyday improvements, my perspective on things changed. I no longer wanted to be skinny. I wanted to be strong. My whole outlook on life changed and I have a positive body image now.

Matt’s positive energy, and the diverse, challenging, yet fun workouts helped exercise become a lifestyle for me. He helped me to set realistic goals, advised me on nutrition but most importantly he introduced me to weight lifting.

I would absolutely recommend training with Matt, no matter what your fitness goals are. It wasn’t easy, but it’s totally worth it!

Joe

Matt’s outstanding. I never thought in a million years I would end up working out with someone but Matt really showed me how to get the most out of a workout in limited time. Very logical thinker and showed me things I didn’t know about my own body.

Peter

I’ve been working with Matt for a few years. Not only has it dramatically improved my workouts and health, it has improved my life. Couldn’t be happier with a trainer. Matt is the best.

” I’m a physician and pretty much obsessed with nutrition, and still found his guidance really helpful and medically accurate. “

-Amanda

Amanda

Matt is the best!  Do what he says and you’ll become leaner and stronger.  Basically since working out with him I’m skinnier and I’ve gotten better at literally everything.  Crow pose, I’m looking at you.  His workouts are super efficient and personalized to each client (good thing because I think he trains everyone from 20 somethings to 80??? somethings).  If that’s all you needed to know, stop here.  Otherwise, keep on.

I signed up with Bodysmith Performance because I was stuck in a rut with my workouts. Don’t get me wrong, yoga-cardio-fly wheel-something involving spandex and resistance bands-cardio-yoga-elliptical is still a great way to spend a week, but I was bored and needed to make some changes.  I found Matt through my gym (12th Street – also awesome) and thought I would try like 2 or 3 trainer sessions to kick me into gear and learn how to lift without hurting myself (or anybody else).

Of course as with many new workouts, I saw/felt results quickly. But these were amazing results. We’re talking losing 5% of my body fat DURING THE HOLIDAYS (Thanksgiving/Christmas/New Years). I wasn’t overweight to begin with, so I actually think that makes this more impressive. Now, a few months later, I’m still being surprised with results (i.e. going down another size) and he just keeps changing things up so it’s never boring.  

He works with your schedule and can do 30, 45 or 60 min sessions however many days a week you want. I started with 60 minutes (I needed some work!) and thought I would go once a week. After a couple sessions though, I loved it so much, I upped to twice a week for 60 minutes each time. Matt has nutrition advice for you too. Nothing too preachy or overbearing (unless you’re into that and if so, I’m sure he’ll oblige), but just good solid guidelines to follow. I’m a physician and pretty much obsessed with nutrition, and I still found his guidance really helpful (and medically accurate).

If you’re not sure, you could do a couple of sessions and I’m sure he’d develop a great program for you, but I definitely think long term is the way to go.  Also, I went from being completely mortified and insecure in a weight room, to moderately confident I will not hurt myself or others while lifting weights (in public).

Joe

There are not enough good things that I can say about Matt!

Let me start by saying I am NOT the ideal customer.  I have had two back surgeries, genetic issues with my knees, shoulder and ankle issues… Basically I’m a mess!  AND that is exactly why I choose to train with Matt.  

When I was looking for a trainer I needed to make sure the trainer had a background in Physical Therapy/Rehab and it was also important that my trainer was a trainer full time.  Not to offend those trainers whom hold down a full time “regular job” and also train for extra money, but I wanted someone dedicated to his/her craft.

I was not disappointing after starting to work with Matt. Our initial consultation focused on range of motion and goal setting.  We progressed gradually the first few sessions focusing on activated core breathing, something extremely important to preventing injury and having good form as I learned in my many physical therapy stints and reinforced by Matt. After getting into the flow and habit in the gym Matt began to push me harder responsibly testing my boundaries. Keep in mind it had been a good decade since I’ve been to the gym, and even then I never loved it. Being as stubborn as I am, Matt continually had to find new ways to get through to me and keep me interested.  He was always up to the challenge!

Matt is a stand up guy that cares about those he is training first and foremost.

“He is friendly, nonjudgmental, easy to talk to, and while helping me build a strong foundation centered around correct technique with results that last. Cannot recommend him enough.”

-David

David

I moved to Philly in May of 2016 for residency and really wanted to find a trainer to bring my workouts to a higher level, help me obtain real results, all while being flexible with my crazy work schedule. Matt went above and beyond this – he is friendly, nonjudgmental, easy to talk to, all while helping me build a strong foundation centered around correct technique with results that last. Cannot recommend him enough. In addition to obtaining noticeable changes in my physique, he is the only trainer I have had to bring my strength training to the next level centered around key fundamentals, giving me all the tools needed to make weight lifting a lifelong activity

Ravi

Working out with Matt has taken my exercise regimen to new heights. Above all else, he’s a super nice guy and knows exactly how to motivate someone based on their personality type – whether it be laid back or intense. He taught me proper form, taught me the value of leg training AND added 50 lbs to my bench press, getting me to 3-plates.

Matt’s use of excel spread sheet programs with built-in equations allows for safe weight and rep increases. His knowledge of personal training and health is really good. My physical therapist gave me a bunch of workouts to do for a pre-existing back injury and they were literally the same as the ones Matt gave me. He knows his stuff well beyond weights and programs.

I highly recommend setting up an appointment.

Peter

I was working out pretty consistently for a couple of years before I started training with Matt but never saw that much progress. Matt put me on his “Fast Gains” program, which is a powerlifting based training plan. And then a miracle happened. The first 6 weeks on this program, I gained about 8 pounds of pure muscle while lowering my body fat at the same time. Within a few months, I almost doubled the weight of what I started doing on Bench, Squat and Deadlift. All the friends who had not seen me for a while were all like what the hell happened to you when seeing me again. I have never felt so strong and confident about my body figure in my life.
Although I do not train with Matt anymore these days after I moved away from Center City, I still use “Fast Gain” as the basis of my training and I am still seeing progress. This program is great if you want to build your strength and muscle or if you want to get into the world of power lifting even without any experience. I would recommend Matt to anyone who is trying to get a bit serious about working out, no matter what your goal is.
Oh and did I mention Matt is an awesome and fun person?

Megan J

Matt is a superb trainer!!  I was his client at Weston Fitness and then I actually followed him to 12th street because he’s that good.  Matt trained me for a period of about 18-24 months (though I took breaks in between).  I lost about 20 lbs and gained muscle and looked toned.  My arms looked the best they’ve ever looked.  I am absolutely not someone who likes to exercise but Matt kept me focused, made my workouts fun and always changed them up so I would stay interested.  

Matt is passionate about what he does!  He gives 150% in each session and helps you reach your goals.  Matt would text me on Friday nights to say, “make good choices” which would make me laugh but would also truly help me stay focused on my diet.  He really cares about his clients!!  I’ve since moved out of the City and I’m in the burbs so I joined a new gym.  The owner of my new gym recently commented on my great form for lifting and kettle bell movements and I told him that I learned from the best trainer around!!

“Working with this man will truly change your life.”

-Rahul

Rahul

I trained with Matt for 6 months and saw amazing results.  He is a phenomenal trainer that will customize your workouts to achieve YOUR goals. He is not a “drill instructor,” nor is he a meat head who only cares about how much weight you’re throwing up.  

What I liked is that Matt took the time to clearly understand my objectives (in this, case look good for my wedding, and get leaner/stronger overall).  We didn’t start with heavy weight-lifting early in the program because Matt recognized the need to build a good foundation in my back/legs/core.  Once we established those, my flexibility and strength increased by leaps and bounds as the program evolved.  Matt would mix in all sorts of new exercises so that our sessions didn’t feel stale (crossfit finishers to sessions are an absolute beast), and he would give me other things to work on when we were not training.  

Most importantly, Matt was interested in teaching you proper technique and good habits (like stretching) so that your body would not break down and the benefits could continue in the long-run.  I haven’t trained with Matt in over a year, but I use his lessons every day, and have continued to become fitter, stronger, and more flexible.  

Working with this man will truly change your life.

Dennie

Matt is an incredible trainer! I started working with him at 12th Street Gym while I was studying for the BAR exam. I had little to no practical experience – I usually just head straight for the machine once I got to the gym. Matt did a great job of teaching me how to get more comfortable with a lot of the basic moves.

I can honestly say I never thought I’d be comfortable walking into a gym and heading to the squat rack, but after working with Matt I’m more confident. I’m no longer a client because of the closure of the 12th Street Gym, but I would still highly recommend Matt to anyone who is looking to get a better understanding of how to maximize a workout and get stronger in the process.

I can’t recommend Matt highly enough!

Fred

This guy is the best. Caring, focused, patient, perceptive. You will feel muscles you didn’t even know existed. You will not feel judged, but you will want to go to the gym. And it will be worth it.

Eli

I have been working with Matt for about 6 months.  I came to him knowing literally nothing, feeling very anxious about being in the gym, and not particularly enjoying working out.  Matt has been a great support as I have gotten used to the gym, and I never would have made progress without him.  Highly recommend.

Sean

He’s always thinking about the next thing I should be doing….really great trainer who knows how your body works and where your progression is going!

Douglas

Matt is an excellent personal trainer/coach. He helped me come back from knee surgery. I am very grateful and sincerely and heartily recommend his services.
Matt integrated meal plans and dietary recommendations into my training.
I noted that of all the trainers @ 12th St. Gym, Matt had the widest range of clients; men and women, young and older, advanced atheletes and people just getting off the couch.