How it works
Your first EMS workout at P20
EMS (electrical muscle stimulation) training is a 20-minute, coach-guided workout in a suit with electrodes over the major muscle groups. Gentle impulses make your muscles contract while you do simple, low-impact movements, activating up to 90% of your muscle fibers.
You never lift heavy weights. The suit provides the resistance, which is why clients with knee, back and joint limits can train here, and why a 20-minute session can replace a much longer gym workout.
Result A stronger, more efficient workout that is easier on your joints.
Your first session
Your first 35 minutes, step by step.
Four steps, from walking in to your first numbers.
- Arrive, nothing to bring
We provide the training undergarments and the suit. Come hydrated.
- Get suited up
Your trainer fits the EMS suit, a light, breathable, antibacterial vest and straps with electrodes over the major muscle groups.
- Train for 20 minutes
Simple standing movements, squats, lunges, TRX and core work, while your trainer dials the intensity for each muscle group.
- Review and plan
We record your weight, waist and a one-minute strength test at session 1, 8, 16 and 24 so you can see your numbers move.
Nothing to pack. Just show up.
- No exercise clothes needed; we have everything you need.
- You will be given a training suit that goes under the EMS suit.
- Come hydrated and we take care of the rest.
- Had surgery recently or have a medical condition? Bring your doctor's clearance and tell your trainer.
Outcomes
What you can expect from P20 EMS training
- 01 Get stronger
- 02 Only 20 minutes
- 03 Back pain relief
- 04 Body shape change
- 05 Any fitness level from 18 to 85
- 06 Stronger core
- 07 Boost stamina
- 08 Recover from injury
Safe, coached, studied
EMS fitness experts. Customized for you.
- Low-voltage, battery-powered equipment (maximum 0.05 W RMS). An electric shock is not possible.
- A certified EMS trainer sets and adjusts the intensity for each muscle group, every session, based on your goals, fitness level and any limitations.
- Studied in peer-reviewed research; see the published studies below.
- Not for everyone: heart disease, pacemakers or other implanted electrical devices, pregnancy or breastfeeding, and a predisposition to epileptic seizures rule EMS out. Ask your doctor about other conditions.
01What is EMS training?
EMS (electrical muscle stimulation) training is a 20-minute, coach-guided workout in a suit with electrodes over the major muscle groups. Gentle impulses make your muscles contract while you do simple, low-impact movements, activating up to 90% of your muscle fibers. Personal20 (P20) has offered whole-body EMS in Herndon since 2017 and in Tysons since 2021.
02How long is a session and how often should I train?
A P20 session is 20 minutes of training; plan about 35 minutes door to door. Most clients train once or twice a week. Two sessions a week is the fastest route through the 12-week Triple 8 Journey (8 sessions of P20 Strong, 8 of P20 HIIT, 8 of P20 Power).
03What is the difference between whole-body EMS and a home muscle stimulator?
Home stimulators are applied to passive muscles. At P20 the stimulation is applied while you actively exercise, in a sequence of trainer-instructed movements from the P20 Method programs, so the muscle is working and being stimulated at the same time.
04Is P20 the same company as Personal20?
Yes. Personal20 opened in Herndon, Virginia in 2017, added a Tysons studio in 2021, and shortened its name to P20 (P20 EMS Fitness Experts) in 2023. It is the same owner-run business with the same two studios.
05What should I wear or bring to my first session?
Nothing. P20 provides the training undergarments and the EMS suit, which is made of light, breathable, antibacterial material. Come hydrated.
06How soon will I see results?
Most clients feel stronger within the first few sessions and see measurable strength gains by session 8. Harisha improved lower-body strength by 22.5% after 8 sessions and more than doubled his plank hold by session 24. P20 tracks weight, waist and a strength test so you can see your own numbers.
07Will I be sore afterwards?
Mild muscle soreness a day or two after the first sessions is common, as with any new strength program, because EMS reaches muscles that normal workouts miss. Your trainer starts at a low intensity and builds it up over your first sessions.
08What is the P20 Method?
The P20 Method is four EMS programs: P20 Strong (strength and stability), P20 HIIT (metabolism and cardio), P20 Power (sculpting and power) and P20 Recovery (pain relief, lymphatic support and deep muscle massage). New clients follow the 12-week Triple 8 Journey: 8 sessions of Strong, 8 of HIIT, 8 of Power.
Evidence
Published research on whole-body EMS
Peer-reviewed studies on whole-body EMS.
Ready to feel the difference in 20 minutes?
Book a $35 trial session in Tysons or Herndon. Nothing to bring.