Best of Melbourne 2019: top 10 personal trainers in Melbourne’s south
Here there are — the top personal trainers in Melbourne’s southern suburbs, as voted by you. Did your favourite fitness guru muscle their way on to the list? SEE THE RESULTS
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You certainly gave us a workout, with scores of nominations for your favourite personal trainers in the southern suburbs and now we’ve got the pay-off.
Fitness fanatics from this end of town didn’t hold back, putting forward people from Rosebud to South Yarra, Mordialloc to Mulgrave.
Two of the trainers who made our southern top 10 also managed to crack the overall list of Melbourne’s favourites, which you can read HERE.
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Here are the top 10 personal trainers in the southern suburbs.
MORE:
TOP 10 PERSONAL TRAINERS IN MELBOURNE’S NORTH
TOP 10 PERSONAL TRAINERS IN MELBOURNE’S EAST
TOP 10 PERSONAL TRAINERS IN MELBOURNE’S WEST
10. AMANDA THOMAS, AMANDA JADE FITNESS, ROSEBUD
Kicking off our list of southern suburbs taskmasters is Rosebud trainer Amanda Thomas, whose team of local followers say she brings out a strength in them they didn’t even know they had.
Yasmin Fox said what made Amanda special was her dedication to her charges: “She takes the time to get to know each persons strengths and builds on them.”
Her tailored programs were just the right mix of challenging and fun, clients said.
“(She) will help, encourage and train anyone regardless of age and abilities while making health and fitness fun and enjoyable,” Karin Gardner says.
More: facebook.com/amandajadefitness
9. AARON SHEDLOCK, SHEDLOCK TRAINING SYSTEMS, MORDIALLOC
2/32 Dehavilland Drive
“Trust the process” is this Mordialloc mentor’s mantra, and his trainees certainly trust him.
“I have been given the gift of life back, a coach a friend and a councillor all in one,” client Sally Carmichael says.
Voters praised Aaron’s knowledge, passion and care.
“Aaron helped me get out of my comfort zone and achieve some strengths I didn’t know I could,” Nic Allsep says.
More: shedlocktrainingsystems.com.au
8. MARIE-CLAIRE HULSEN, SNAP FITNESS WAVERLEY GARDENS, MULGRAVE
Waverley Gardens Shopping Centre
She’s “super-kind and caring”, and makes sure to tailor her programs to her clients’ individual needs, that’s why Marie-Claire Hulsen makes our list of the southern suburbs top trainers.
Antonia Dilorenzo says “MC” is great and supportive in helping people rehabilitate after injuries: “(She) understands her clients needs and then goes from there”.
“MC adapts my workouts to suit my injuries. Keeps the high intensity with low impact,” Kara Billing says.
More: snapfitness.com/au/gyms/waverley-gardens
7. NICK CORBY, RBT, OAKLEIGH
388 Huntingdale Rd
Oakleigh South trainer knows how to get results.
Penny Kalkanakos, a client of nearly two years, says no moods get Nick down: “He knows how to push you and get the most out of you.”
Samantha Wallace is proud to say she has achieved results in a matter of months thanks to the Oakleigh taskmaster’s “ongoing support, motivation and care”.
More: rbtgyms.com/locations/oakleigh
6. STEVE VAUGHAN, THE HUB: MY FITNESS JOURNEY, MOORABBIN
Warehouse 2, 14-18 Walter St
Train with “Scuba Steve” and you’ll hear “We love this!” a lot. And his clients love his positive energy and efforts to transform them into “Suburban Superheroes”.
“Steve has helped me learn to believe in myself, uncovered my own strengths and motivations and energised my workouts,” Denise Satti says.
Lisa Williams says “Scuba” puts so much enthusiasm into each session that you can’t help but feel motivated.
“Steve truly wants to see you meet your fitness goals and will be by your side guiding and helping you,” Jo-Anne Monk says.
More: myfitnessjourney.com.au
5. ALEXANDRA VASSILOPOULOS, THE WOMEN’S BOOTCAMP CO., NARRE WARREN
Max Pawsey Reserve
Alexandra Vassilopoulos’ team of warrior women has nothing but praise for the Narre Warren personal trainer.
“(She) has created an exceptional community of women that actually makes you want to work out and be your best,” Jessica Fleming says.
Clients were raving about her positivity, care and ability to make them believe anything is possible.
“Alex has created a welcoming, inclusive environment for women of all ages a and sizes to workout and feel empowered,” Bernadette Kearney says.
More: the-womens-bootcamp-co.business.site
4. DANNY KENNEDY, PROGRESSION FITNESS CLUB — GLASSHOUSE, MELBOURNE
1 Olympic Blvd
An ankle injury may have cut Danny Kennedy’s basketball career short, but it allowed him to pursue his true calling as a personal trainer.
He now offers personal training, one-on-one groups, consults online and is the trainer for Keep It Cleaner App run by Steph Claire Smith and Laura Henshaw.
“My point of difference is that I use proven methods in both training and nutrition that work, over and over again and are sustainable,” he says.
“The methods I use are the same regardless of whether I’m working with a professional athlete just general public wanting to improve their health and fitness.”
Kennedy says one of the best parts of his job is reading the emails and messages from clients who listen to him on The Fitness and Lifestyle Podcast, telling him how he has changed their outlook on training and food.
“The most optimal approach to training or food is useless if you can’t stick to it, my way of coaching allows people to see consistent and real results without having to give up the things they love most, the process should be enjoyable, not miserable,” he says.
“Find a training method and a way of eating that suits you and that you enjoy, this is the most important aspect of seeing success with your goals. Other than that, do the small things exceptionally well, day in day out and you will see significant results over time.”
Voters were keen to have their say about Kennedy, quick to praise how knowledgeable he is and his commitment to the job.
“He is just an awesome guy who is so genuinely interested in his clients’ training journey and for them!” Nicole Faid says.
Simon Mundy said Danny had changed the way he approached dieting and food habits, while Ben Webster said he was the most driven person he knew.
“He genuinely cares about his clients results he is more than happy to make time to help,” Jason Hannah says.
More: dannykennedyfitness.com
3. HAMLET ARMENIAN, F45, DANDENONG
73 Walker St
He’s been honoured to be named among out top personal trainers, but Hamlet Armenian says successes at F45 Dandenong are a team effort.
“Each trainer is just as great as the next and they make it the best place to train and work,” he says.
He started out as a marketing and sales manager for the family business before following his true passion — health and fitness.
“When an opportunity arose to move into that industry I took that plunge and dived head in. being a personal trainer is the dream job, I love what I do and wake up with a smile everyday going into work, even for the 5am starts!”
Armenian and his business partner opened F45 Dandenong two years ago, backed by his studies in anatomy and physiology.
“Being a part of the F45 network has really changed the market. It is a fun, motivating and results based workout tailored for those who want to get in, do their work out and go home,” Armenian says.
“The classes are always different, challenging and most importantly fun to do. Being part of a group and training with those who are after the same results as you also makes it extremely motivating as well!”
He says there are members who have lost more than 20kg of fat mass over eight weeks, some unrecognisable from their first visit.
“We are here to help change lives, motivate and educate that it isn’t s short term fix but a complete lifestyle change, the greatest stories are those from members who come up to us and say “this has changed my life”,” he says.
“My favourite saying is “There’s no substitute for hard work” because it’s plain and simple, if you put in the work you will reap the rewards, nothing happens overnight but if you keep putting in you will see the results.”
This Dandenong dynamo is always pushing his clients to the limit.
“Hamlet’s is passionate about supporting people to achieve their goals and bring out the best in them,” Margherita Strongman says.
Meanwhile Lana Formoso says: “Hamlet is an extremely knowledgeable and amazing trainer. He’s a fantastic role model and pushes you to do better.”
More: f45training.com.au/dandenong/home
2. LINDA NOGARA, BENTLEIGH FITNESS CENTRE, BENTLEIGH EAST
12 North Drive
It took nearly losing everything to push Linda Nogara into full-time fitness work.
In 2010, Nogara was running successful Queensland fashion boutique Italia, with stores in Brisbane and Cotton Tree on the Sunshine Coast.
But the horrific Queensland floods of 2010-11 claimed her business, inundating her Sunshine Coast shop and wiping a 12-year career.
“You had to walk through thigh-high water and it took quite a few days to subside. The floods came into all the shops, especially in the low-lying areas,” Nogara says.
“I’d also had at the time one of my really good friends had passed away from melanoma. I was being hit left, left, left.
“We couldn’t trade and insurance wouldn’t pay out. It was time to just close the door and salvage what you could. It was a big traumatic time.”
Nogara — a classically trained ballerina who studied at St Kilda’s acclaimed National Theatre Ballet School — retreated to her native Melbourne to be near family.
Already teaching group fitness on the side, she says the exercise “really did help me through all that trauma”.
“It kept me emotionally strong and resilient, when I’d just about lost everything,” she says.
In 2014, she discovered Piloxing — a fusion class of boxing, pilates and dance — and quickly became the program’s Australian and New Zealand master trainer.
Today, she teaches Piloxing and Zumba from various gyms, studios and community centres around Melbourne and the world — in a fortnight she will fly to Singapore to run workshops and a massive masterclass.
Clients were quick to praise her when voting.
“In 24 hours give you body an hour. Self care is important” — that’s the best of advice Kashmira Bhathena has received from Bentleigh East personal trainer.
Her positive outlook always makes her clients smile, even when she is making them work hard or putting them through their paces in her Zumba classes.
“She drives me to keep going,” Marie Luckhurst says. “No judgment, just passion for her classes.”
“(Linda) is running the Zumba class with our kinder children and they love her and her classes,” Sanaz Khorami says.
More: bentleighfitnesscentre.com.au
1. TRAVIS TRENT RANDLE, BODY FIT TRAINING, SOUTH YARRA
84 River St
It’s official, this South Yarra star is not only your top trainer in the southern suburbs, he’s also a favourite across Melbourne.
Travis Randle began his working life in hospitality, following his love of cooking — now he’s helping his clients to think more about their food intake.
Randle, 30, was studying hospitality at William Angliss TAFE before a mate steered him towards personal training eight years ago.
“I was going to study cheffing, then I realised it wasn’t for me — I couldn’t handle the heat of the kitchen,” he laughs.
His friend reminded him of his passion for sport and training and he began his fitness career at the YMCA in Macleod.
“One of my mates said ‘why are you not doing this?” and I thought ‘why am I not doing this?’” he says.
Randle works at Body Fit Training South Yarra and will open a second Body Fit studio in St Kilda later this month.
He runs group training, specialising in strength and conditioning and HIIT with his team, as well as one-on-one sessions.
And while his love for cooking remains, these days he focuses his clients on nutrition rather than an obsession with counting calories and macros.
“I love creating recipes and sharing healthy recipes with my clients,” he says.
For Steph Radojcic, the best pep talk she’s received from Randle is: “If it doesn’t challenge you it won’t change you”.
The fitness fanatic is all about tough love.
Brendan Hucker said he always put in 100 per cent, while Nick Daniel said: “He’s tough and I need it but he makes me want to achieve more”.
Meanwhile Stacey Collins says: “He motivates me, he gives me strength mentally and physically he inspires me”.
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