Experience Toronto - Best Toronto Independent Trainers

By: Sergio Alvarado

The gym may not be for everyone, but maintaining a healthy lifestyle should be. The crowds, distractions and unfamiliarity of the large gyms intimidate a large portion of the population and distance them from a fitness regime. Sergio Alvarado spent some time with six independent personal trainers in Toronto to see what the options outside of the big-box or even the boutique gyms are.

Nathane Jackson
http://www.nathanejackson.com
Nathane Jackson has appeared on numerous covers of fitness magazine as well as harlequin novels and the health show "Stuck" on the W Network. His clientele is a combination of athletes, physique competitors, golfers and regular people just trying to lose weight and get fit. Nathane is also starting to train seniors and is developing new programs to help seniors be more mobile and more independent. He starts each new client with a movement screen which helps determine weaknesses and asymmetry and believes, "Technique is very important. If you don’t have it right you’re training in the dark."

When it comes to working with a private trainer, he believes that a stronger personal connection between the client and trainers creates better results. "You get more personal care with an independent trainer. I want to stress care, because you do get training at the big box gyms, but not as much care." Having lived in Vancouver, he believes that Toronto is a city filled with fitness minded people, but that most do it out of a sense of obligation and not with a fitness and activity heavy mindset as Vancouverites may. "This city is full of workaholics, I try to help my clients change their mindset about fitness to something they have to do to something they love to do."

Nathane took me to his favorite spot to workout by Woodbine Beach. Working out at the beach was much less intimidating than at the gym. No one paid attention to us, even when working with the strange looking kettle-bells. Nathane doesn’t use much equipment for his average client, "Just start slow. You don’t need a full scale gym just to get healthy. Take the time to learn things the right way and the results will surprise you."

Ryan LeBar
http://www.ryanlebar.com
This model and photographer doubles his studio loft near Yonge and Wellesley as a photography studio and a gym. Believing that gym machines aren’t necessary to get results, Ryan goes back to basics: bars, sandbags, bozu balls and stability balls. "You don’t need a big machine to get in shape." Ryan is thoughtful and explains each exercise thoroughly while pointing out what each body part is doing. Using my own weight and the balls, I found myself getting more of a workout by doing regular movements like sit-ups and squats. "The balls challenge your mind. It’s the constant resistance and balance while working the muscles that complete the workout."

Ryan also finds that working in a more private environment is beneficial for both the trainer and the client, "If you find the right trainer, they allow you to focus on just you rather than the hustle and bustle of the gym. Training in a private studio or at home, it’s more relaxed for the client and they can concentrate more on the task at hand. And us trainers, well we don’t split our rate with the gym and can therefore space clients out more and give each one more dedication."

Exhausted earlier than usual, I realized my abs were killing me even after working on legs and arms. This was mostly because Ryan modifies each exercise to also work the core, "Always work the core. Working the core with each exercise, you’re providing a better centre and you end up just doing everything better."

Marci Lall
http://www.foresthillpersonaltraining.com
Marci has been training for seven years and knows the benefits of working out with an indie trainer first hand, "You can really add your own personality to the experience and cater to the more exact needs. In larger gym chains, procedures are more standardized." Marci thrives from creating really strong rapports with his clientele. He thinks it’s important to really feel things out before committing. "Finding the right trainer for you is crucial. If you don’t like how they train, the motivation won’t be there." To assure that new clients don’t feel pressure, Marci offers three sessions of free training before singing up for a more regular routine.

Marci trains in Karate at Toronto BJJ (http://www.torontobjj.com) and also enjoys soccer, ultimate Frisbee and football in the summer months. "It’s important to try to keep an active lifestyle. People make excuses that working out is boring. Make it not boring. Find something that’s fun, and maybe working out can just be a means to get better and what you love doing."

Marci’s clientele is primarily women. Marci thinks women are usually smarter about starting to work out than men are, "Women are smart and want to get help first so they know they are doing everything right. Men can be cocky for sure, and think they know what it’s like to work out when in reality, they are doing everything wrong." He also believes his sensitivity helps women relate to him and stick with him. Training in their home or in Marci’s gym studio is much less intimidating than in a crowded gym. Marci was highly motivating and read me really well, "Clients motivate me, some really get me pumped and I get more excited than they do about their progress, but that’s just the kind of guy I am."

Marco Rüderich
http://www.fitsquad.ca
As a former Germany military new-recruit trainer, Marco can seem like an intimidating trainer. In fact, he's quite the opposite. Even though he pushes hard, Marco knows that his military background doesn’t work to motivate every day people. Whether it’s at his condo’s gym, your home or at Stretch Fitness Boutique at Bloor and Avenue, Marco can put together a program and routine just for you.

Marco has only been in Toronto from Germany for just over a year but already knows that the larger chain-gyms aren’t for everyone. Marco really feeds off of the personal attention he gets and gives from his clientele, "I’m not just a personal trainer. When you spend a couple of hours with someone a few times a week, you can get close. You learn a lot about each other and a friendship can develop." Marco believes that life coaching is a crucial part to a trainer’s responsibility. "Sometimes the lack of motivation comes from something deeper. I try hard to work around what is happening to my client to give them the best possible program."

A track and field star since he was in grade scale, Marco knows the importance of stamina and core strength for all aspects of fitness. "I try to combine what I did in the military with more accessible movements, so that people can relate in some aspect but really push themselves in other ways." When it comes to finding a trainer, Marco thinks it’s all about chemistry. "The qualifications aren’t enough. IT’s good to know if they have rehabilitation or condition background, but if you don’t feel a connection, you should probably find another trainer that’s better suited for you."

Jacqueline Gradish
http://www.babybumpfitness.com
Mother of two, trainer and founder of Baby Bump Fitness, Jacqueline Gradish uses her own unique story to help mothers and mothers to be to keep a physical regiment for their own health as well as their baby’s. She created a fitness program that helped her have a complication-free pregnancy. Her delivery however left her with some injuries. She worked hard on her rehabilitation to get ready for baby number two. She now uses everything she learned to help other women in the pre-natal and post-natal fitness and health goals.

Not of all of Jacqueline’s clients are moms or moms-to-be. She describes her clientele as mostly small business owners (both male and female) with crazy schedules and even crazier mood swings, "sometimes clients come in sleep deprived, with nagging overuse injuries from working or they may come in full of energy ready to work or anxious. It is my job to assess this each session and give them what they need."

When it comes to the benefits of having an indie trainer, it’s all about experience. "Indie trainers have already proven success with their clients as to go on your own you already have some form of established clientele, so there is no guess work for the client-they are getting someone with proven success." Even by watching her YouTube workout demos, it’s easy to see that Jacqueline has a much softer edge than most other trainers. If you want to check out some of her programs, click here.

Josh Hewett
http://www.top-form-fitness.com
A former competitive strongman, Josh lives for fitness and strength training. Even though he still trains strongmen for Team Barbarian, his clientele is diverse enough to include average Joes and Janes just trying to lose weight or get in shape. Josh works out of a clinic near Yonge and Eglinton run by Dr. Michael Clarfield (former doctor for the Toronto Maple Leafs), but also trains out of his home which has a great setup full of unique equipment that still concentrates on your own weight as resistance. Of course, Josh is also willing to train at your home if that is where you feel most comfortable. With a background in athletic performance enhancement as well as rehabilitation training, Josh is well suited for several types of clients.

With 20 years of experience, and having worked in chain-gyms as well, Josh really understands what clients lack in a more public environment. Josh thinks that have a closer rapport with a more experience trainers are the main advantages with going outside a big-box gym. "There is a tendency for some of the trainers to not be as attentive or as experienced. Trainers can be relatively new to the game."

Josh’s home gym is a mini fitness-playground. With equipment that you won’t see in most other gyms. We did a variety of exercises on a what looks like mini rope ladders suspended from the ceiling. Pointing out problems and discussing the mechanics of each movement, helped get the most out of our session. "I have a lot to work with here, so it’s easy for me to tailor a program that works for just about anybody."