Best of Central Coast: top 10 personal trainers revealed
In a field of strong competition, here it is — the top 10 personal trainers on the Central Coast as voted by you.
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Whether you’re sweating it out on a gym floor, hitting the sand at the beach or working out in the comfort of your own home, personal trainers are the people that motivate you and inspire you to reach your healthiest and happiest.
When we asked you to nominate your favourite personal trainer, you didn’t hesitate.
We compiled the shortlist and then put it back over to you to vote for the best on the Central Coast.
The top 10 personal trainers were described as encouraging, supportive, understanding and enthusiastic.
Their positive vibes made their clients look forward to their visits and they have created more than an exercise space; they’ve built communities.
Here they are — the top 10 personal trainers on the Central Coast as voted by you.
10. Kaila Wheatley, Living Luminously, Terrigal
Kaila Wheatley founded Living Luminously in 2017 with the aim of empowering people to be the happiest, healthiest and confident version of themselves.
“I noticed an alarming rate of girls working out because they hated their bodies, punishing themselves for what they saw in the mirror (or thought they saw) and having an unhealthy relationship with exercise and themselves,” she said.
“I wanted to change that.
“Living Luminously is about encouraging girls to work out because they love their bodies and want to do everything they can to look after it.
“I want to empower every woman to feel strong and confident.”
Kaila said her favourite part of the job was “the look on their faces when my girls achieve something they didn’t think they could achieve, whether it be physically or mentally”.
“I’m so incredibly proud of each of my clients, I really have met some of the most amazing and inspiring women and I love every minute of my job,” she said.
Kaila said she loved “the sense of community and family” of the Central Coast and was “completely blown away” to be a finalist for the best personal trainer.
“My heart is so warm and I feel so proud of my little business and the community we have built,” she said.
Her client Stephanie said she “pushes us to achieve our best and encourages us to love ourselves no matter what”, while Chloe said Kaila has “created an environment where everyone feels comfortable and friendly and she is so supportive of everyone”.
9. Mark Ramsey, M Squared Fitness, Erina
Mark Ramsey has run his personal training business for the past seven years and works out of Impact Gym in Erina.
He loves being his own boss and the social side of personal training including creating a “community within the community”.
“I can work my own hours, I can choose what I want to do with my clients,” he said.
“There’s so many opportunities to meet so many people and different personalities and create a bond, because my clients become more than clients to me — they’re more like family.”
Mark, who has lived all his life on the Central Coast, said as a PT it was important to learn the client’s motivations.
“There’s more to training than meets the person or the eye, there’s a reason why they’re training,” he said.
Jenny has trained with Mark for three years and lost 40kg along the way.
She said the best advice he has given her is: “Never let anyone bring you down for the choices you are making with your health.”
8. Haylee Flitton, HPT, Bateau Bay
Haylee has turned her passion for health and fitness into a thriving training business.
She became a personal trainer seven years ago and last January took the plunge and opened her own business, HPT Personal Training.
“I wanted to be able to give people the best of myself without relying on others,” she said.
She hopes that her clients come out of her sessions feeling proud of themselves and with a sense that they can achieve anything.
The HPT community offers a family-friendly, non-judgemental environment ensuring everyone feels welcome and comfortable.
“It’s like a little community that’s formed friendships as well as benefits about health and fitness,” she said.
Haylee said a good personal trainer was driven and motivated.
“I think you’ve got to have passion definitely, you’ve got to have a very open-minded approach to everything and everyone physically and mentally,” she said.
Having lived on the Central Coast all her life, Haylee said she loved the “laid back kind of feel”.
“I like the vibe of the Central Coast and I love how close it is to the beach and family and how everything’s just nearby,” she said.
Coming in at number eight on the best personal trainers list, Haylee was nominated for her “fresh approach” to group training and “infectious enthusiasm”.
One of her clients Catherine described her as “amazing”.
“Her constant encouragement and motivation is next to none,” she said.
Haylee said she felt “very humbled” and “kind of speechless” when she discovered she was a finalist.
“I guess you don’t really realise the impact you have on people’s lives until things like this happen,” she said.
“ … It kind of made me feel very grateful to have that impact on people.”
7. John Gilbert, The Local Health and Fitness Studio, Toukley
John Gilbert has been a personal trainer for two decades, but he reckons he has not worked a day since he started.
An avid gym goer from the age of 15, one day he started wondering how he could get paid to do what he loved.
“I wasn’t enjoying what I was doing in my other trade and I thought, ‘What do I enjoy doing when I’m not at work?’,” he said.
“And I thought, ‘I love going to the gym’ … and I’ve never worked a day since.”
After 18 years being a PT at various gyms around the Coast, John opened up his own centre in Toukley with his wife Renee two years ago.
“We’re creating our own little community over there in Toukley,” he said.
John said one of the best parts of being a personal trainer was helping people and he aimed to create a “good community” where people will “not feel intimidated” at his fitness centre.
John said he was “flattered” and proud to be a finalist in the search for the best personal trainer on the Coast.
He has given plenty of good advice to countless clients over the years.
The one that stuck with Peta, who has been going to the gym for two years, was: “It doesn't come easy but it pays off when you work for it.”
For Nicole, it was “you’re capable of more than you think” while Mark remembers this gem: “When it starts hurting, those are the reps that count!”
6. Ebony Grant, Nana Blue Fitness, Tuggerah
Inspired by her dad, Ebony Grant has dedicated herself to helping people reach their health and fitness goals.
She opened her gym Nana Blue Fitness a year and a half ago in tribute to her dad, former Canberra Raiders captain David “Nana” Grant.
Her dad was the inspiration for her career as a personal trainer, a job that allows her to combine her loves of health and fitness and helping people.
“My dad was an inspiration for all my siblings and I and unfortunately we lost him to a heart attack at 38 and I’ve basically grown up knowing health is so important,” she said.
After a year and a half of working at other gyms, Ebony opened her own place with her partner.
“It’s just our place where we’re able to fulfil our dreams and also help the community,” she said.
Nana Blue Fitness aims to be a gym that anyone can walk into and feel “you’re a part of something”.
“We wanted people to walk in, feel good about themselves and feel supported,” she said.
“ … It’s so crucial when you’re in such a vulnerable state of working out that you feel good about yourself.”
Lee-Anne joined the gym eight months ago and said Ebony “always gives you (the) best advice”.
“Ebony is so supportive, encouraging, inspiring, (and) never gives up on you,” she said.
Ella has been at Nana Blue since the beginning and said the best advice she had been given by Ebony was “I can, I will”.
“Ebony is dedicated to every single client and always makes you feel like you can achieve anything,” she said.
Ebony “had a little cry” when she discovered she had been named among the best personal trainers on the Central Coast.
“To have people want to nominate you for something so rewarding, it’s just wonderful,” she said.
5. Tania Sutrisno, FITT Won Personal Training Studio, Gwandalan
When Tania decided to lose some weight she searched for help but couldn’t find what she was looking for.
There was one way to solve the problem — becoming a qualified personal trainer herself.
Now she helps others looking to make changes and specialises in weight loss and fitness.
“What I love most is changing people’s destiny, lives (and) mindset,” she said.
“Encouraging people to be the best version of themselves.”
Tania said she loved working on the Coast with “small communities where everyone supports each other”.
“I love where I live,” she said.
“I have been living in the Coast now for almost four years and love it.”
Jade started training with Tania almost two years ago and has seen incredible results.
“Eighteen months ago I couldn’t run 100m or do a sit-up,” she said.
“Thanks to you I’m fitter/stronger than I’ve ever been.”
Ella has been working with Tania for six months and said her PT was “an amazing trainer”.
“Tania has helped me become fitter and more confident in my own body,” she said.
Tania said she was “so humbled” to be a finalist in the best personal trainers on the Central Coast.
“To be recognised for something that I have so much passion and motivation for — I’m really overwhelmed by the recognition,” she said.
4. Tayla Williams, Internal Fitness, Chittaway Bay
It has been a busy and successful few months for Tayla; a new business, booked out memberships and now being named one of the best personal trainers on the Central Coast.
Tayla launched her own company Internal Fitness four months ago with a focus on women’s mental and physical health, from bootcamps to meditation.
“I wanted to give more that was way beyond the physical aspect,” she said.
The program has resonated with locals and memberships to her program are currently full.
Tayla said the most important aspect for her clients was to have fun.
“Don’t take it so seriously,” she said.
She said she regularly reminded her clients to look at training not as something forced but as an opportunity “to better yourselves daily”.
“If you’re doing exercise because you have to do it, you won’t keep doing it,” she said.
Her clients had endless praise for her; Amanda said Tayla “continues to push and guide me on my fitness journey”, while Hailee said she “has a passion for health and fitness which shows in everything she does”.
Sarah said Tayla was “not only a PT but a friend”.
“Tayla has allowed me to become a better version of myself,” she said.
Tayla said she was “over the moon” to learn she had been named a finalist in the best personal trainers on the Central Coast.
“I was just super humbled,” she said.
“I felt really special that ladies had obviously found a good service out of me.”
3. Reece Barnes, PT at Central Coast Fitness, Charmhaven
Reece has been a personal trainer for less than two years but has already made an impressive impact on the Coast, with locals voting him into third place.
His love of helping people led him to a career as a personal trainer.
“I lost my dad when I was 14 and I want to help people so they can get to watch their kids grow up and get the most out of life,” he said.
He said his favourite part about the job was “making people laugh and smile”.
Client Charntel said the best advice Reece had given her was “laughter is the best medicine”.
“Reece is an amazing PT and really helps me reach my goals and pushes me beyond my limits,” she said.
Fellow client Bianca said Reece helped her “achieve my mental health goals, (and) teaches me to love my body”, while Tanika said he “doesn’t take himself too seriously, but he seriously helps me smash my goals”.
Reece works at Central Coast Fitness in Charmhaven and his colleagues Brad and Mitch also made it to the shortlist for the best personal trainers on the Central Coast.
2. Tom Parrish, Crossfit Minerva
For Tom Parrish, part owner of Crossfit Minerva, personal training comes down to three things: enjoyment, education and effectiveness.
Born and bred on the Central Coast and involved in sport from a young age, Tom had no doubt personal training was the career for him.
“I always wanted to be a personal trainer so straight out of high school I went and did my Cert 4 in fitness,” he said.
After finishing his certificate he spent time working in Sydney and on the Central Coast before moving to Canada and working there for three years.
After moving back to his hometown three years ago he joined Crossfit Minerva.
Tom said the Tuggerah gym had three goals for all their clients — to ensure they “have a laugh”, leave each session having learnt something, and that their work out is effective.
A personal trainer for 10 years, Tom still enjoys every moment.
“I love being able to basically change someone’s life,” he said.
“It’s cliche, I hate saying that because it sounds really cliche, but how someone comes in a shell of themselves and within six months of training their confidence improves.”
Tom said while helping clients lose weight and become fitter was “awesome”, the best part was “seeing the change in the people themselves, seeing them become a happier person”.
Tom said he was “pretty stoked and pretty honoured” to be named one of the best personal trainers on the Central Coast.
Katherine has trained with Tom for 10 months and said the best advice he has given her was to “be proud of myself with every single achievement, big or small”.
“Tommy has not only helped me become a healthier version of myself but also mentally stronger, which is so important,” she said.
David said Tom had helped him improve in “all areas of CrossFit”.
“I can’t thank him enough,” he said.
1. Abbey Meehan, Girlguide , Charmhaven
Abbey Meehan has worked as a personal trainer for more than five years and still loves it as much as she did on her first day.
“It was something I always wanted to do, and it has been the best decision that I ever made,” she said.
Together with friend Haylee, Abbey founded Girlguide, a go-to place for women’s health that offers training, support, education and meal guides.
“I was always a self-conscious teenager who struggled to feel good in her own skin,” Abbey said.
“It struck a passion in me, to try to help other females to not feel that way. To empower them, and to show them how incredible they are. I knew I wanted to be female only, and since that time I have never trained a male.”
The Girlguide studio offers a children’s room, a zen room for quiet time, and a breakfast bar and caters to women of all walks of life.
Abbey said the best part of her job was “watching people learn to believe in themselves”.
“Seeing people realise how capable and confident they can be, and being able to be there for those important moments of self-realisation and self-appreciation,” she said.
Taylah, who started training at Girlguide six months ago, said the best advice she had received from Abbey was: “Don’t let the scales tell you who you are”.
Abbey cried when she learnt she was a finalist in the search for the best personal trainers on the Central Coast.
“It is always an honour to be nominated for something … But this one is huge because it is something I am so passionate about,” she said.
“I really am so lucky everyday to be surrounded by such incredible humans and I feel like such a winner every single minute.
“However, to know that people believe in me enough to label me the “best” of anything — still brings tears to my eyes now.”