Our Coaches

During my free time away from the gym, I find great pleasure in golfing and fishing. I was born and raised in Whitehorse, Yukon, and subsequently, I moved to Edmonton after completing high school to pursue my Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology. My move to Edmonton was also motivated by my passion for basketball, which led me to play ACAC college basketball for the University of Augustana Vikings in Camrose. Since finishing my college playing career in basketball, I have also explored my competitive side by participating in powerlifting and olympic weightlifting. More recently, I have delved into the world of marathon running, adding a new dimension to my athletic pursuits.

In 2014, I began my journey in the field of personal training at World Health Club, where I cultivated a passion for helping individuals with diverse fitness goals. Over the past decade, I have honed my skills in training not only the general population but also university-level athletes engaged in sports like basketball, volleyball, and soccer. My pride stems from the rich ten years of coaching experience I have accumulated since 2014.

I was recently recognized as one of Edmonton’s Top 40 Under 40 for the class of 2022 for the rise and success of F.R.E.E. Fitness, an achievement I am profoundly grateful for in my career within the fitness industry.

Favourite Book
Millionaire Teacher: The Nine Rules of Wealth you Should Have Learned in School by Andrew Hallam

Favourite Meal
Phở

Favourite Quote
“Danger? Hah! I walk on the wild side. I laugh in the face of danger.” – Simba, The Lion King

Role Models
“My parents immigrated to Whitehorse, Yukon, over 30 years ago during the Vietnam War. They learned how to speak English in a foreign country during a very difficult transition in their lives. They taught me the true value of hard work, dedication, and perseverance. I’m also a die-hard Kobe Bryant fan. R.I.P.”

For nearly a decade, I have dedicated myself to the fitness coaching industry, honing my expertise in scientifically-backed programming and a comprehensive approach that combines muscle development and flexibility enhancement. Through my approach, clients experience significant gains in strength, improved body composition, and the freedom of pain-free movement.

I am committed to being recognized as one of the best fitness coaches worldwide. To realize this vision, I adhere to a core philosophy of transparency, personability, and scientific rigor in all my programming. I am deeply devoted to fostering a supportive fitness community where everyone feels valued and empowered.

Importantly, I do not allow factors such as age, financial constraints, or current fitness levels to hinder my clients from reaching their fullest potential. My mission is to guide each individual towards becoming the best version of themselves, no matter the challenges they may face.

Favourite Book
Freewill by Sam Harris

Favourite Meal
Sweet Potato Burritos

Favourite Quote
“Never say never, because limits, like fears, are often just an illusion.” – Michael Jordan

Role Models
Michael Jordan, Dmitry Klokov, A.S Medvedev, Bob Takano, Sam Harris

I was born in Brunei and moved to Canada at the age of two. At the age of 34, I suffered a stroke as a result of overtraining for a boxing match. Before my stroke, I worked as a marketing manager for various companies (United Cycle being the most notable). I was also a boxing instructor and marketing manager for Panther’s Gym.

I loved being part of the boxing scene so much that I quit my job as marketing manager at United Cycle and transferred to Panther’s Gym full-time. One thing led to another, and I soon found that I was involved with all aspects of boxing. I loved coaching boxing, especially the technical aspects of sparring.

During this time, I upped my own training. I would run five miles to the gym every day before sparring with my clients. I’d teach boxing drills for three hours and self-train for another two hours a day. This was my love and passion before enduring my stroke.

Since my stroke, I was forced to put my career as a boxer and coach to the side and opened a family restaurant called Golomein Noodle House with my brother. However, I’m back and ready to take on more as a boxing coach!

Favourite Book
Dragonlance – Laura & Tracy Hickman

Favourite Meal
Anything from Golomein Noodle House!

Favourite Quote
“Float like a Butterfly and Sting like a Bee.” – Mohammed Ali

Role Models
My dad, for his willingness to sacrifice daily for our family. As well as Benny Swanson for his inspirational work ethic and approach to life.

I grew up in a small town in Saskatchewan playing various sports such as volleyball, soccer, and track and field. But after graduation (like most people), my health and fitness barreled downhill. I got to a place where I finally had enough of how poor I felt and wanted to make health a priority in my life.

It was four years ago that I dove back into health and fitness. My whole life transformed; my energy, confidence, and outlook on life improved. This gave me the motivation to explore various avenues of fitness.

I recently competed in my first powerlifting competition in November 2019. I’m excited to share my passion for fitness and help people make health a priority in their lives.

Favourite Book
Mark of the Lion Series & Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers

Favourite Meal
Thanksgiving dinner!

Favourite Quote
“Don’t take life too seriously, you’ll never get out of it alive.” – Elbert Hubbard

Role Models
My parents. They are some of the most compassionate, genuine, and selfless people I know, and their childlike sense of adventure keeps them young!

I was born and raised in Edmonton, where my passion for movement started at an early age. Engaging in various activities such as dance, basketball, and ringette, I developed a keen interest in physical fitness. My journey in the fitness industry began at Propel, where I honed my skills while pursuing my Bachelor of Kinesiology at the University of Alberta.

In my training career, I have always been driven by a deep passion for injury prevention. This passion places me at the intersection of the Rehabilitation and Performance continuum. With a strong background in corrective exercise prescription in clinical settings and expertise in strength and conditioning in gym environments, I bring a well-rounded approach to my work. I am dedicated to identifying and addressing specific movement or physiological deficits, aiming to fix, prevent, and enhance performance in targeted areas. I am enthusiastic about making a meaningful impact on individuals’ well-being by optimizing their physical capabilities.

Favourite Book
Love You Forever by Robert Munsch

Favourite Meal
Anything from McDonald’s

Favourite Quote
“One day, in retrospect, the years of struggle will strike you as beautiful.” – Sigmund Freud

Role Models
Jacinda Ardern, Janis Irwin, Mark Cuban, Jason Glass, and Lance Gill

I’m 44 years old and a father to a wonderful 19-year-old son. I have a passion for helping others, enjoy golfing and time with family and friends, and try not to take life too seriously. I spent 20 years of my working life in the construction industry and decided I needed to change after personally battling with my health and fitness, losing over 70 lbs, and rebuilding who I am today.

I made the difficult decision to go back to school and educate myself through personal training and nutritional coaching, so I could help others feel and live better. I understand firsthand some of the struggles people go through when it comes to health and fitness and take a foundational and practical approach to a consistent mindset.

My mission is simple: to improve people’s quality of life in a manageable and practical way.

Favourite Book
The Alchemist

Favourite Meal
Steak & Lobster

Favourite Quote
“Live your life like you’re the hero in your own movie.”

Role Models
My Support Network. Who I aspire to be and who I have become is a result of who’s around me.

My journey into the fitness industry began with my involvement in the sport or discipline known as parkour. It was so different from the traditional sports that I played growing up, a refreshing take on physical activity that inspired me to learn more about health and fitness.

After helping to build the world’s first parkour gym, I decided to attend school in Toronto to become a personal trainer. I have a passion for teaching movement and enjoy helping people achieve their fitness goals.

Favourite Book
The Push by Tommy Caldwell

Favourite Meal
Moroccan lamb tagine

Favourite Quote
“Give a person a fish, and you feed them for a day. Teach a person to fish, and you feed them for a lifetime.”

Role Models
All of my incredible family, friends, and mentors.

My love for fitness started early. As a child, I loved cross country racing and as an adult I have continued to run. In college, I was introduced to weightlifting and it became an important part of my life. After college, I worked a 9-5 office job for two years. I knew there had to be something better. Everyone around me was unhealthy and unhappy and I was determined to live a better life. That’s when I decided to make my favourite activity into a career.

Over the past 10 years, my fitness journey has taken me through several life changes, including two pregnancies and subsequent post-partum recoveries. I believe that my personal fitness journey, along with the privilege to coach others since 2016, has given me the experience I need to support my clients in all stages of life. There is more to your story. Let’s work together to make your goals come to life!

Favourite Book
The Laws of Human Nature – Robert Greene

Favourite Meal
Pasta

Favourite Quote
“How can you ask someone to sit with you, if you cannot first sit with yourself?” – Unknown

Role Models
The people who make their dreams into reality.

I have been a strength coach and personal fitness trainer full-time for just over 10 years. After having overcome a not uncommon history of drug addiction and alcoholism, I came to appreciate and value the empowerment and confidence that can be achieved through the disciplined pursuit of physical excellence.

I have achieved two diplomas in Personal Fitness Training along with numerous additional post-secondary certifications such as Corrective Exercise Specialist and Functional Training Specialist. I have been certified by the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP), American Council on Exercise (ACE) and the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) to practice in these specialized fields.

As my passion for strength training, conditioning and functional fitness has grown, I have studied and now provide instruction in the use of specific tools and techniques such as Hard-style Kettlebell Training, Flexible Steel, FRCms functional mobility and Bodyweight, Calisthenics Strength Training Techniques. I hold the StrongFirst Elite designation.

My training methods are simple:
I firmly believe in prioritizing function over aesthetics. Reinforcing quality movement patterns to not only gain genuine strength but to aid in developing a healthy relationship with your body. This has proven to be the most effective approach to achieving sustainable progress while ensuring long-term health and a vastly improved quality of life.

I enjoy working closely with students motivated to make significant life changes through the freedom of strength and pain free movement. If this sounds like you, please don’t wait. Contact me for a consultation today!

My success lies in achieving yours.

Favorite Book
12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos – Jordan B. Peterson

Favorite Meal
A well-rounded meal. Carbs, proteins, appropriate veggies & food lube… Burgers, I love burgers.

Favorite Quote
“The future bears down upon each one of us with all the hazards of the unknown. The only way out is through”. – Plutarch

For as long as I can remember, I’ve had a passion for sports and an obsession with capturing moments in an effort to make them last forever. Playing rugby taught me what I’m truly capable of, both physically and mentally, when I set my mind to something. It also gave me a place where I felt comfortable enough to be 100% myself. If I’m not at the gym, you’ll likely find me with a camera in hand, at my local rugby club, or hanging out with my dog.

I have been a personal trainer for the better part of the last nine years. During my time in the fitness industry, I’ve helped a variety of clients with a range of goals, from general health and longevity to weight loss, sports performance, and providing a safe space for queer people to explore fitness. I earned my diploma in Personal Training in 2015, followed by additional certifications, such as Sports Conditioning Specialist in 2016 and FRC® Mobility Specialist in 2019.

My training approach is centered around creating personalized programs tailored to your needs, with supportive guidance and accountability every step of the way.

In my sessions, you’ll find a safe space to explore your potential, embrace life’s challenges, and celebrate even the smallest victories.

I love this job because every day I get the chance to provide a safe space where someone can feel seen, heard, and comfortable being themselves. My goal is to help my clients realize how strong and capable they truly are. I want to share the empowerment that sports and fitness have given me with everyone I have the pleasure of training. Catch me on the gym floor with my dog, Coach Brady.

Favorite Book
10-Minute Toughness by Jason Selk

Favorite Meal
Roast Chicken with Mushroom demi-glace, mashed potatoes, and asparagus

Favorite Quote
“We rip out so much of ourselves to be cured of things faster. But to make yourself feel nothing so as not to feel anything — what a waste”

Role Model(s)
My parents!…… oh, and rugby legend Portia Woodman-Wickliffe

I’ve always been active with sports and martial arts, but I was never really into health or wellness until I started to avoid certain activities due to pain or discomfort. At one point in my life, I had been living with a perpetual wrist “injury” that impacted my day-to-day life so greatly, surgery was contemplated. Fortunately for myself, I was shown an alternative path that would not only help regain full functionality and strength, but also avoided any sort of surgical route. I had gone from someone who enjoyed sports, exercise and movement as a whole to striving towards a greater understanding of the human body as a whole.

Over the course of 6 months, I had begun my own research into other sorts of concepts where people had learned to live with chronic injury or disfunction that led to a diminished exercise capacity or quality of life. After some deliberation, I switched my focus away from my current endeavors and towards health and wellness by applying to NAITs Personal Fitness Course. I was afforded an opportunity to broaden my understanding of the human body and its capabilities while showing others how good they’re meant to feel; training pain free.

Favourite Book:
Atomic Habits by James Clear

Favourite Meal:
Fajitas and Tacos

Favourite Quote:
“Look at situations from all angles, and you will become more open.” – Dalai Lama

Role Models:
My mom for being an example of mental toughness and determination while showing me that you can overcome any circumstance in life.

As a quiet and introverted teenager not well-adjusted to the modern world, I felt most comfortable and at home when immersed in stories of far-off times and places, whether historical or fanciful. I began to seriously question what it was I disliked so much about my own time and what I found more appealing in these other worlds. Then, around age eighteen or nineteen, it finally dawned on me: There was a distinct richness in the physicality of existence in other eras, now severely diminished in our own time.

While I played hockey and baseball for a few years as a kid, the first truly self-motivated form of exercise I engaged in was hiking, which I simply viewed as an adventure. I had resolved to discover these other worlds by replicating them through exercise, especially outdoors. Each exercise modality, such as swimming, rock-climbing, and rowing, became a gateway of escape for me, carrying a double meaning. Weightlifting, which brought about the most dramatic changes in my own body, captivated me with the lofty notion that my body could become a form of self-expression—a representation of opposition to the disastrous mental and physical health consequences of a technology-dependent world. My one remaining challenge was that all too often, I found myself alone in these pursuits.

My mission is to bring as many people with me as I possibly can, by revealing the incredible fulfillment, adventure, health, community, and companionship that awaits them, if only they have the courage to leave the couch behind for a little while.

Favourite Book
 The Fellowship of the Ring (Vol 1., Books 1 and 2 of the Lord of the Rings) – J.R.R. Tolkien

Favourite Meal
Slow-cooked beef stew on the evening of the year’s first snowfall

Favourite Quote
 “The most effectual means of preventing all the disadvantages and evil consequences of a neglected exercise of body and muscles is methodical physical training.” – George Hackenschmidt (1908)

Role Models
George Hackenschmidt, Reg Park, Frank Frazetta, Mark Twain, Arminius, Robert E. Howard