Best of Melbourne 2019: top 10 personal trainers in Melbourne’s north
Here they are — the top personal trainers in Melbourne’s northern suburbs as voted by you, including beloved Ninja Warrior Paul Lyons, who died this week. Did your favourite fitness guru muscle their way on to the list? SEE THE RESULTS
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We’ve done all the heavy-lifting, worked up a sweat counting your votes and have finally got some results to show off.
And as it turns out the northern suburbs boast some of the best personal trainers around, with our top four also making it in to the overall list of Melbourne’s favourite fitness gurus.
One figure who loomed large over the nominations and votes was much-loved Olympian and Ninja Warrior competitor Paul Lyons, who died suddenly in his sleep on Sunday, devastating his family and gym community in Essendon North.
There has been an outpouring of grief, with wife Dani taking to Instagram to thank “each and every person” who sent messages and flowers and went to the gym to pay tribute — including kids who took the day off school.
You can see the full list of Melbourne’s top personal trainers HERE.
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Here are the top 10 personal trainers in the north, as voted by you.
MORE:
TOP 10 PERSONAL TRAINERS IN MELBOURNE’S EAST
TOP 10 PERSONAL TRAINERS IN MELBOURNE’S SOUTH
TOP 10 PERSONAL TRAINERS IN MELBOURNE’S WEST
10. JAMIE KOUFOS, JANE & KONG BRUNSWICK EAST
412 Lygon St
“His knowledge and dedication to his clients and genuine care for their physical and mental wellbeing is very motivating,” client Leah Galbraith says.
It’s a ringing endorsement for Brunswick East fitness guru, Jamie Koufos, who radiates positivity and never fails to make his charges feel good about themselves.
Client of more than three years, Jaclyn Ranasinghe said: “A genuine, caring PT who knows his work and is invested in his clients. Always has a smile on!”
More: janeandkong.com.au
9. TRACEY ROBSON-GARTH, THE YUMMY MUMMY CLUB ROSANNA
43 Greville Rd
Robson-Garth has created a tight-knit community of motivated mums keen to keep fit, and clients say she goes the extra mile to make them feel comfortable.
“She has fostered a wonderful community spirit within her club. She is supportive, warm, professional and ready to drop everything,” client of five years, Penny Webb says.
Tracy Dorofield, who has been training with Tracey for a year, praised the trainer for her enthusiasm, personality and for being accommodating with what was going on in clients’ lives — as long as they gave their all during their workouts!
More: tymc.com.au
8. TORI DAILE, HUSTLE & THRIVE, HEIDELBERG & THORNBURY
59A St Hellier St, Heidelberg
264 Dundas St, Thornbury
“Hustle for the muscle” is Tori Daile’s catchphrase and she is all about uncovering the inner strength of her trainees.
“Passionate, caring, courageous and inspiring. Tori has built a flourishing community based on a foundation of inner strength,” client of three years, Lisa Esparon says.
Others described “Tori’s Tribe” as a second family who have helped them clear personal and physical hurdles in their lives.
“Tori has changed my life. She supported, encouraged and had belief in me when I had none myself. She’s awesome!” Karen Marriage says.
More: hustlethrive.com.au/ht-thornbury
7. JOHN HIATT, EFM HEALTH CLUBS COBURG
760 Sydney Rd
Karine Russell says John Hiatt is the only trainer she’s ever had that has made her want to go to the gym. He must be doing something right, because she’s been training at the Coburg health club for two years now.
His sense of fun and motivational skills can even make those dreaded burpees less painful, Georgia Stephenson says.
“John inspires me to work harder and push myself. He doesn’t treat me like a client, but like a friend,” Rebecca Gauci, a client of two years, says.
More: efm.net.au/club/coburg
6. TERRI BATSAKIS, TERRIFIC FITNESS SOUTH MORANG
5 Danaher Drive
Terrific by name, terrific by nature, Terri Batsakis has earned a loyal following for her holistic approach to health and wellbeing.
Her catchphrase? “Unleash the best version of yourself”.
“What makes Terri special is her encouraging and supportive nature in regards to your own personal growth and fitness process,” Jasmine Fuao said.
Clients praised Terri for her passion and her caring nature.
For Diana De Francisci, a client of seven years: “Terri is not only an amazing trainer who cares. She is an amazing human”.
More: terrificfitness.com.au
5. THERESA PRIOR, THERESA PRIOR PERSONAL TRAINING WESTMEADOWS
Harricks Crescent Reserve
A former primary school teacher, Theresa Prior fell in love with fitness after doing a personal training course while on family leave.
“I thought it would help me get a bit of confidence but I ended up having so much fun I decided to make a career out of it,” she said.
Her business focuses on women’s health, which, she says, has a flow-on effect for the health of the whole family.
Among her proudest moments were watching her once-shy clients develop their confidence and tackle events such as the Melbourne Marathon.
“Theresa has a heart of gold, for all the women and kids involved in this community!” client Ashlea Saunders says.
Danielle Gillard said the Westmeadows trainer had rekindled her love of exercise, while Jacqui Murphy said: “Theresa helped me achieve a post-baby body that I love even more than my pre-baby body.”
More: theresapriorpersonaltraining.net
4. CAITLIN DEVIDAS, HUSTLE & THRIVE, HEIDELBERG AND THORNBURY
59A St Hellier St, Heidelberg
264 Dundas St, Thornbury
Two years ago, mum-of-three Caitlin Devidas was “rushing” around as a marketing executive at Monash University.
With children Reuben, 9, Rani, 7, and Elke, 5 keeping her busy, “it just felt right to transition” into making fitness her full time job.
“I have always had a passion for fitness and been involved in the industry in some capacity and realised it was time to harness that passion and build a community of people — young and old — that love fitness as much as I do.”
Devidas says her good friend and now business partner, Tori Daile, encouraged her to get started.
The pair now run two Hustle & Thrive locations, in Heidelberg and Thornbury.
Devidas says the business focuses on “building a community”.
“A place where people go, sure to work out and be trained in the latest and most effective formats, but also to catch up, build social networks and develop lifelong friendships,” she says.
“We don’t have mirrors or focus on “traditional” fitness tests like weight or BMI.”
They run a range of classes, with a mix of High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), strength and conditioning programs, circuit, step, boxing and run coaching.
Devidas says she has witnessed plenty of transformations, but it is “often the small things that resonate the most”.
“Never miss a Monday” is her catchphrase. She always has a smile on her face and knows just how to make training a fun and positive experience for her clients.
“Caitlin showed me a different way to enjoy cardio for someone who dreaded sprints and high knees all my life,” client Kate Thomson says.
Her charges have also praised her for making fitness an inclusive and welcoming experience.
“Caitlin is a super energetic, and is a master in all environments. Superb with my U10 football team!” Travis Hughes says.
In fact, she’s so well-loved she’s one of four northern suburbs trainers to make it into our top 10 of Melbourne’s best.
More: hustlethrive.com.au/ht-heidelberg
3. HAYDEN FARRELLY, ANYTIME FITNESS ROXBURGH PARK
250 Somerton Rd
Sports obsessed Hayden Farrelly thought he had his life all mapped out until a football injury brought it crashing down.
Farrelly, now 27, was studying to become a PE teacher at Victoria University when he injured his knee playing with the Preston Bullants.
A surgery mishap led to the nerves in his leg being drilled into — and Farrelly was told he would never play sport or run properly again.
The mental impact was devastating
“I turned to the fitness world and began my journey to prove that I could get back up and defy the odds,” Farrelly says.
“I started living at the gym and in no time, it became my antidepressant, my second home, and before I knew it I was helping other people achieve their goals.
“It came to the point where a lot of people were looking to me for guidance and help within fitness and I realised this was my calling, and I could help so many more people.
“So I completed my course, and haven’t looked back since.”
Farrelly has now been a personal trainer for nearly five years, saying his best asset is “building unique relationships” with each client.
“Some people like a strict trainer yelling in their ear, some people like laughter and banter, some people just want you to shut up and watch while they do their set,” he says.
He offers tailored programs, diet and nutritional advice, one-on-one training, bootcamps and HIIT classes, running his business HFitness out of Anytime Fitness Roxburgh Park.
He has another obstacle he has successfully overcome, too — he’s been an insulin dependent type 1 diabetic since the age of 7.
“I have great pleasure in proving that people with health conditions or disabilities are more than capable of having and managing a healthy, active lifestyle,” he says.
What shines though in comments from his clients is his dedication to transforming people’s lives and his passion for the industry.
He inspires and motivates clients with personalised workouts to help them achieve their fitness goals.
Justin Elassaaad says Farrelly saved his life by helping him shed 190kg over the course of three years.
“Hayden explains everything! He makes his clients understand how to perform every exercise and how it is effecting our bodies,” client Simon Abela says.
More: anytimefitness.com.au/gyms/au-1432/roxburgh-park-vic-3064/
2. PAUL LYONS, FIGHTING LYONS, ESSENDON NORTH
70A Keilor Rd
Sadly Paul Lyons died just this past weekend, aged 50, but he leaves a legacy of loyal and loving followers, who are still in shock as they mourn his death.
His wife Dani posted a heartfelt tribute on Instagram for the dual taekwondo Olympian, ninja warrior and coach, who was admired by many.
“He would be absolutely blown away by the outpouring of love and kind words and it breaks my heart he can’t be here to see it all,” she wrote.
She encouraged his Elite Ninja Kids to keep training to make the “ninja angel watching over you” proud.
People Lyons mentored described him as “the ultimate motivator,” who trained both their bodies and minds.
“An Olympian with the biggest heart and a talent to cater and inspire a diverse demographic in a unique way,” client Krisha Patel says.
Leanne Hu said her two children were on the autism spectrum and Lyons had not only put smiles on their faces but gave them the confidence to try new things.
“Paul relentlessly puts 100 per cent effort into his club and clients along with a cheeky anecdote and all with Irish charm!” Kerry MacGregor recalls.
Paul was so well-loved that he also made our list of the top personal trainers across Melbourne.
More: fightinglyons.com.au
1. NAWEL TAHA, BODY BY NAWEL GLENROY
It’s official. Not only is Nawel Taha your favourite personal trainer in the northern suburbs — she is also the number one trainer in Melbourne.
Taha is breaking down fitness barriers and changing lives across Melbourne’s north.
An Australian-born Muslim whose parents migrated to Melbourne from Lebanon, sheoperates from her home studio in Glenroy as well as halls at Belle Vue Park Primary and Fawkner Leisure Centre and has been heralded as “all about female empowerment”.
Taha started training at Good Life Coburg a decade ago after being into health and fitness for “such a long time”.
She went out on her own five years ago, and although her studio is open to all women, she says her Muslim clients have increased “quite significantly”.
“The demand is definitely there,” she says.
“I think many of them won’t go to the gym or have to confidence to walk into the gym because many of them are mixed gyms.
“(As a Muslim woman) I think they have the perception of, well, if she can do it, she’s not going to have any limitations, then why can’t we get out there and improve ourselves.”
Readers voted in droves for the Glenroy fitness queen, praising her for not only being empowering and inspiring to her clients, but also knowledgeable and passionate about the industry.
Her social media followers were also treated to healthy recipes and food ideas.
“Nawel (is a) role model and an inspiration, fuelling women forward to care for themselves and encouraging focus on a healthy lifestyle,” Hiba Mohtadi says.
Saliha Okur says: “Even though she has many participants in her challenges and classes, she never neglects me and makes me feel valued.”
Others extolled her positivity and supportive nature.
“Her energy, honesty, ability to breakdown barriers in her classes and passion to help us become stronger women,” Sumeyye Koc says.
More: facebook.com/bodybynawel
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