Meet the trainer who smashed the first round of FNQ’s Best PT comp
As the Cairns Post put out the call for the Best PT in FNQ, a leader emerged. Meet Elias Wright, the man who has made a fitness mark. PLUS: Elias ranks the most loathed workouts.
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He’s the big bloke with the beard who’s left a trail of buffed bodies in his wake.
Elias Wright, who owns Iron Strength gym with partner Jacky Feher, has emerged as the clear leader in the search for the best personal trainer in Far North Queensland.
The Cairns Post put out a call to find the best PT in the region and quickly discovered how much Far Northerners’ love a good personal trainer.
More than 400 people nominated their favourite fitness instructor in the first 24 hours the competition was open.
With nominations now closed, voting for the top 30 nominees is underway.
Hot on Mr Wright’s heels was PT Shellie Page of HMB Collective, who received numerous nominations.
Mr Wright said he was surprised to see the amount of support and nominations he had received on the Cairns Post’s Facebook post.
He said the highlight of running a gym was the people and watching them transform not just physically but mentally as well.
“The people are my passion,” he said.
“It’s amazing to watch not just the change physically but the change in their confidence.
“I don’t compete in powerlifting, the enjoyment comes from seeing other people achieve in the sport.”
To vote for your favourite personal trainer, click on the link above. Voting closes at close of business on Tuesday, August 6.
THE WORKOUTS MOST PEOPLE SHIRK
“There is one (exercise) that stands out to me that most people conveniently forget or run out of time to do – lunges or the Bulgarian split squat,” Mr Wright said.
“Generally speaking it hurts the next day ... you’re going to feel it the next day.”
He said though that the payoff was worth the pain.
“Any single leg exercises are great,” Mr Wright said.
“It really focuses on one leg. It’s really important to do unlitareral things so you don’t favour one side over the other.”
For Mr Wright, his pet workout hate is the simple bicep curl.
“I don’t like bicep curls,” he said.
“I really try and avoid them when I can.
“I find them boring because it’s a single muscle exercise.”
THE FOUR BEST EXERCISES FOR A TOTAL BODY WORKOUT
Mr Wright said rather than working on muscle groups, he puts the focus on “movement rather than muscles”.
“We work at multiple movements, not targeting one muscle group,” he said.
“The four main ones are the squat, the press, deadlift and the row.
“There’s lots of movement within those groups.
“If you have those four key components, basically your whole body is sorted.”
As for Mr Wright, he trains three to four times a week for a maximum of two hours.
“The style of training we use (here) can be used for everybody in the community,” he said.
“There are huge benefits for people who play sport ... and for older people. It’s so important to prevent that muscle wastage.”
Originally published as Meet the trainer who smashed the first round of FNQ’s Best PT comp