Life & Work with Raffi Yaralyan of Hollywood

Today we’d like to introduce you to Raffi Yaralyan

Hi Raffi, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My story is similar to most – A kid who would get made fun of for his weight and struggled alot with his identity all throughout school. But the one thing that became my anchor in all of this, that would bring me back no matter how lost I felt- Was working out and training.

There was just something about it that made me feel that I belonged, But I didn’t know then that this was my passion yet. I remember I was going through classes at this Career College to become a EMT and then FireFighter. I was passing every test and had no problem memorizing anatomy. But when it came down to the ride alongs in the rigs, I was going through full blown panic attacks each time, I kept asking myself- how can I save someone else, if I cant save me. When it came to our final test, I failed my test on purpose. My teacher who I always hold near and dear to me, Asked me why I failed it on purpose ( he knew something was up, with me passing every single other test) And he told me – Raffi, you care alot for others and you also feel alot. This gig will change you into something you arent meant to be. Do the thing that brings you back into the light when you feel like you’re lost. And boy, was he right.

I then found a school that had a Personal Training program specialized in it and it became the start of something special, The curriculum felt natural, I was memorizing everything and even researching more and more about muscle functions, origin and insertions. I was excited! I was beginning to feel like this is where I belong , this is my thing. I made great friends there and my amazing mentors that I still thank today.

Fast Forward and I get my first training job! I’m now a Personal Trainer at Equinox here in Hollywood. – My quest for continuing my education didn’t stop there. While I was training, I was still going to school to potentially become a Physical Therapy Assistant.

About 4 years later – When the Pandemic happened, I made the decision to quit Equinox and go all in on me. To go full private training, I was nervous and scared. Having lost my entire business like many others. But there was this unwavering trust in myself that if I stick to it, If I keep going with my heart being the guide. I know I’m going to be ok.

My great friends from Equinox – Maurice Lewis and Cody Taggart during this time we’re creating a Private Gym that was at the time called MyHomeBase and now known as Atrium. They asked me If I’d like to join them and the rest was set. We’ve been building and creating a amazing community since.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Oh no, Not at all haha. There’s definitely been bumps, roadblocks and some U-turns on the Journey haha. But its needed after all. One of my sayings is, The greater the challenges we face, the greater the impact we’re going to make for others. This life is a journey and there’s always going to be challenges of some sort. But through every one of them, do we unlock a new version of us.

Alot of my challenges stemmed from not feeling like I belong and my sense of purpose.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a Personal Trainer that has a background in Bodybuilding, Powerlifting and Physical Therapy.
I like to help others become the hero of their own life- Through proper training , nutrition guidance and mobility protocols.
One of the biggest things that sets me apart from others, is my adaptability and quest for knowledge. No problem is big enough to stop me, from finding you the answer you need, I’m always researching and learning.

Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
It would probably have to be my favorite book, “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho

A book that has nothing to do with Personal Training, but all to do with trusting yourself and following your dream.

“When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trainwithraffi/