
Sara Rufener
What is it that makes a trainer so magnetic that clients just keep coming back for more, and how can you develop those qualities?
In this episode, Bend Strength Lab Founder Sara Rufener shares how she developed her way of training clients that keeps them coming back for more… naturally.
We talk about why being a great trainer means more than just giving a great workout, how to mentally prepare for a week of training, the differences between how men and women approach workouts, and how you can create a client experience that feels great for the people you train.
If you want to stop struggling to keep your studio busy with happy clients who see real results, then tune in to this one to see how Sara’s wins can help you do the same.
Get a free course to start & grow your own personal training business
Get NEW Precision-Engineered MedX Machines here
Join More HIT Experts in the HIB Pro Community here
***
- Listen to it on Apple Podcasts
- Stream by clicking here
- Download as an MP3 by right-clicking here and choosing “save as”
Show Notes
- 00:41 – How a skeptical Sara was won over by HIT
- 03:25 – How Sara transitioned from high volume to high intensity
- 06:46 – On talking to clients about nutrition, fat loss, and GLP-1s
- 12:50 – Sara’s journey toward a career in strength training
- 19:27 – How shadowing experts can help you get good faster
- 21:13 – The immense value of practicing what you preach
- 23:07 – How Sara mentally prepares to train clients
- 27:27 – Why great personal trainers deliver more than just a great workout
- 33:31 – Why you should “make the session about the client”
- 36:11 – A typical client workout with Sara — “they got what they came for”
- 42:16 – The difference between men and women when it comes to working out
- 47:47 – On training frequency, minimum effective dose, and doing other things alongside HIT
- 53:28 – Sara’s personal workout regimen
- 57:56 – What many people misunderstand about cardio (and Sara’s unique approach to it)
- 1:00:46 – Sara’s audiobook diet and how it influences her business
- 1:05:15 – Sara’s approach to client HIT workouts, scheduling, and advanced techniques
Note: these are the timestamps for the audio edition. For the video edition’s timestamps, please see the YouTube description box for this episode.
People Mentioned & Selected Links from the Episode
- Sara Rufener | Bend Strength Lab | On YouTube | On Instagram
- Matt Brzycki | Princeton University | Maximize your Training (book) | A Practical Approach to Strength Training (book) | HIB Episode
- Dr. Doug McGuff | Official Website | Ultimate Exercise Studio | Body by Science (book) | The Body by Science Q&A Book | HIB Episodes
- Parallel Universes of Self – Frederick Dodson (book/audiobook)
- Creative Use of Imagination – Neville Goddard (book/audiobook)

506 – The Best Time Management System and Growth Strategy For Strength Trainers and Studio Owners
134 – Jim Flanagan on The Best Machines for Exercise, Arthur Jones, and The Colorado Experiment
143 – John Heart on High Carb vs High Protein, SuperSlow, And The Importance Of Time Under Load
Leave a Reply