SOTA Personal Training Named the Twin Cities' Top-Rated Personal Training Studio — and Their Clients Say It All
When people in Minnetonka, Wayzata, and across the western Twin Cities metro type "best personal trainer near me" into a search engine, one name keeps rising to the top: SOTA Personal Training.
The boutique personal training studio, located at 2837 Hedberg Drive in Minnetonka, has earned a near-perfect reputation across every major review platform, making it one of the most decorated fitness studios in the Twin Cities:
5.0-star rating across 271 Google reviews
5.0 across 615 Mindbody reviews
4.9 from over 5,000 ClassPass reviews
100% recommendation rate on Facebook
But the numbers only tell part of the story.
"We Don't Run a Gym. We Change Lives."
Phil Schrupp founded SOTA in 2014 with a mission that, at the time, felt almost countercultural in the fitness industry: stop selling shame, and start building people up.
"Most gyms are built for people who are already fit," Phil explained. "We built SOTA for the people the industry has been ignoring: busy adults over 40 who have real lives, real schedules, and real challenges. They don't need a kick in the pants. They need a plan that actually works for them."
That philosophy — grounded in evidence-based strength training, nutrition coaching, and a genuine understanding of the psychology of habit change — has resonated deeply with SOTA's clientele. Members range from new moms returning to fitness post-partum, to executives managing chronic joint pain, to retirees who want to stay active for their grandkids.
The results, and the reviews, speak for themselves.
What Their Clients Are Saying Across Every Platform
Google (5.0 stars | 271 reviews)
A perfect 5.0 on Google across 271 reviews is extraordinarily rare — and SOTA has held it. Reviewers across the board praise the individualized attention, the results-driven programming, and a gym culture that feels nothing like the big-box experience. Multiple members cite Phil and the coaching staff by name as reasons they keep coming back.
Mindbody (5.0 stars | 615 reviews)
With 615 reviews on Mindbody and a perfect 5.0 rating, SOTA's depth of client satisfaction is hard to argue with. This platform draws members who book classes and personal training sessions directly — making it one of the most meaningful indicators of consistent, repeat-client quality.
ClassPass (4.9 stars | 5,000+ reviews)
SotaFit group training sessions have become a standout hit on ClassPass, where the studio has amassed over 5,000 reviews and maintained a 4.9-star average. Reviewers consistently praise the coaching energy, welcoming atmosphere, and smart, scalable programming. One ClassPass member said it simply: "Love this bootcamp style class — Sean is the best!"
Facebook (100% Recommended | 45 Reviews)
On Facebook, SOTA's record is spotless with a 100% recommendation rate from 45 verified reviewers. Clients highlight the community, the accountability, and the personal investment the coaches make in every member.
Groupon (5.0 Stars | 9 Reviews)
SOTA holds a perfect 5.0 on Groupon, where all reviews are verified through completed purchases. One long-time member put it plainly: "The community is amazing and motivating. Best gym for sure!"
Yelp (5.0 Stars | 10 Reviews)
SOTA's Yelp profile features a growing collection of five-star reviews, with multiple members specifically calling out Phil Schrupp by name for his hands-on approach to personal training and nutrition coaching.
Across all platforms, a handful of themes emerge without fail: coaches who know your name, workouts built around your body, and a community that makes showing up feel worth it.
Real Stories. Real Results.
The reviews take on even more weight when paired with the real client stories behind them.
Vickie, 57, came to SOTA dealing with the kind of aches and limitations she never expected to face. "I've always been pretty healthy," she said, "but there are just some things that happen that you have no control over. I was struggling physically, and it was starting to get to the point where I couldn't do the things I love." Seven months later, she had gained four pounds of lean muscle, shed significant body fat, and was back to golfing and hiking — pain-free. "I'm probably going to go into one of the most active times in my life now," she said, "and I'll be 58 in January."
Rodger, 60, arrived with bad knees and more than a little apprehension. Over the course of a year working with SOTA's coaches alongside his physical therapist, he lost 10 pounds, rebuilt confidence in his knees, and found a workout community he didn't know he was looking for. "SOTA is a small gym. You come in, you know everyone, and it's a really friendly and supportive environment," he said. "I trust my body again."
Shannon had a simple reason for walking through SOTA's doors: her young child. "I have a little kid that I know I need to stay active for." She set a goal to back squat more than her own body weight. She did it. "Everybody here is responsive, friendly, and kind. You walk in the door, and everybody says hi to you and knows who you are."
Christine joined as a new mother of two, juggling postpartum recovery, a toddler, an infant, and a full-time career. She committed to just two 30-minute sessions per week — and everything changed. "I've gained muscle, become stronger, and lost body fat," she said. "Thirty minutes twice a week has been a total game-changer for my family and me."
Kevin called himself someone who tends to "start and stop" his workouts — until SOTA. The hockey player came in for better athletic recovery and found something far more lasting. "I have a history of getting bored or burning out, and what I found here is they're always adjusting the workouts and keeping things fresh. I was looking to get stronger, and I found so much more than that."
The SOTA Difference: Strength for Life
Ask any SOTA coach what sets the studio apart, and you'll hear the same answer: the approach is different because the people are different.
SOTA's programming is built on four pillars — strength training, nutrition, recovery, and mindset — specifically designed for the realities of life after 40. Where other gyms chase trends, SOTA coaches lean on peer-reviewed research, progressive programming, and the kind of individualized attention that most big-box gyms simply can't offer.
"We're not here to sell you a six-week shred," Phil said. "We're here to build a foundation — so you never have to start over again."
That means workouts scaled to your body and your history. Nutrition guidance that fits your lifestyle, not the other way around. And coaches who hold you accountable because they actually know your name, your goals, and what's going on in your life.
It's a model that has produced extraordinary results — and an extraordinary reputation.
Recognized Across the Twin Cities — and Growing
SOTA Personal Training's reviews don't just reflect client satisfaction. They reflect something rarer in the fitness industry: trust.
Across Google, Mindbody, ClassPass, Facebook, Groupon, and Yelp — representing thousands of verified reviews — the message is unanimous. SOTA isn't just one of the best personal training studios in Minnetonka. According to the people who train there every week, it's the best in the Twin Cities.
"When someone walks through our door for the first time, they're often skeptical," Phil said. "Maybe they've tried other gyms, and it just didn't work. Maybe they've been stuck for years. We take that seriously. Our job is to show them a better way, and then keep showing up for them every single session."
For busy adults in Minnetonka, Wayzata, Hopkins, Plymouth, and across the western suburbs of Minneapolis, that commitment is exactly what's earned SOTA its reputation — one five-star review at a time.
If you’re ready to jumpstart your fitness, SOTA Personal Training offers a free, zero-pressure discovery call to help you build a plan around your goals, your schedule, and your life.
Book yours at sotafitness.com/discovery-call to check availability and discover why busy adults throughout the Twin Cities keep coming back.