The city of Edinburgh is home to some of Scotland's finest personal trainers. Some of the people on this list have trained A-listers and TV personalities, showing them how they can be at their best, both physically and mentally.
Here we run through the cream of the crop - the 20 best personal trainers the city has to offer. Let's take a look, shall we?
1. Luke Bremner
Luke graduated with an honours degree from Glasgow Caledonian University in 2008. He then spent two years working in the NHS, where he learned about the science of human movement. Eventually, he decided to use his knowledge and follow his passion for becoming a personal trainer, soon gaining expertise in the fitness industry.
Now Luke and his team are known throughout Edinburgh for the quality of their instruction and commitment to their clients. Luke continues to do some personal training while specialising in nutrition and life coaching as well.
Now Luke and his team are known throughout Edinburgh for the quality of their instruction and commitment to their clients. Luke continues to do some personal training while specialising in nutrition and life coaching as well.
2. Jonathan Cooke
Jonathan Cooke is REPs Level 3-certified personal trainer and a chartered physiotherapist with an honours bachelor degree in kinesiology. He believes in taking a holistic approach, combining both exercise and nutrition to maximise results. He and his team's personal training service reflects their natural passion for human wellbeing and health.
They take a client-centric approach, adapting routines and programmes to the skills and abilities of each person who goes to them for help. Jonathan helps clients design their ideal nutrition plans and put in place other lifestyle practices that will accelerate them to their goals.
They take a client-centric approach, adapting routines and programmes to the skills and abilities of each person who goes to them for help. Jonathan helps clients design their ideal nutrition plans and put in place other lifestyle practices that will accelerate them to their goals.
3. Leszek Stelmachowski
Leszek Stelmachowski's goal is to get people active and eating better to become physically and mentally strong. He organises his fitness and training sessions one-to-one online. He provides a host of additional services designed to get his clients on the right track.
For instance, they can get a nutritional consultation and audit, checking the foods they eat. They also get access to a free app that they can use to track progress and get reports on their workouts. Motivational support is available too, plus specialist advice for those following vegetarian and vegan diets.
For instance, they can get a nutritional consultation and audit, checking the foods they eat. They also get access to a free app that they can use to track progress and get reports on their workouts. Motivational support is available too, plus specialist advice for those following vegetarian and vegan diets.
4. Lynne Pearson
Lynne Pearson's passion for fitness began at an early age. As a child, she enjoyed taking part in practically every sport, including cross country running, martial arts, cycling and athletics.
More than ten years ago, she began her professional fitness career with a mission to share her passion for physical movement with other people in Edinburgh. She completed an Exercise to Music qualification before moving onto athletics coaching and indoor cycling. She says that her enthusiasm has never left her, and she would like to share this with all her clients. She is a ViPR, and TRX-qualified instructor as well as a certified indoor spinning instructor.
More than ten years ago, she began her professional fitness career with a mission to share her passion for physical movement with other people in Edinburgh. She completed an Exercise to Music qualification before moving onto athletics coaching and indoor cycling. She says that her enthusiasm has never left her, and she would like to share this with all her clients. She is a ViPR, and TRX-qualified instructor as well as a certified indoor spinning instructor.
5. Christopher Anderson
Chris Anderson is a personal trainer who specialises in helping busy professionals get leaner, stronger and more confident. His unique approach is based on the tenets of support, convenience and long-term goal-setting.
He is a proponent of something called the "lean lifestyle system." This approach, he says, is for people who are fed up with endless diets and long cardio sessions. It doesn't restrict foods or force participants through exercises they dislike. Plus, it provides them with an understanding of why they are doing specific exercises and not others.
He is a proponent of something called the "lean lifestyle system." This approach, he says, is for people who are fed up with endless diets and long cardio sessions. It doesn't restrict foods or force participants through exercises they dislike. Plus, it provides them with an understanding of why they are doing specific exercises and not others.
6. Paul McGoran
Paul McGoran believes in supporting clients wherever they want to train, whether in the gym or out of it. He strives to deliver a personalised, high-end service tailored to his client's unique lifestyles.
Paul is associated with N-Core Fitness, a personal training provider based in the City of Edinburgh. He supports his clients holistically, asking them in-depth questions about their lives and making connections that might affect their exercise and diet plans.
Paul is associated with N-Core Fitness, a personal training provider based in the City of Edinburgh. He supports his clients holistically, asking them in-depth questions about their lives and making connections that might affect their exercise and diet plans.
7. Dave Ballentine
When it comes to training, Dave Ballentine takes the view that it shouldn't be complicated. He consistently advocates the most straightforward approach, mimicking nature where possible. Dave believes more in sustainable practices to fitness over quick fixes and over-complicated training plans. He hopes that simplicity will cut through all the noise and diet fads, delivering what clients want most: actual results.
As part of this process, he promises to deliver plans that are simple, effective and sustainable. Where possible, he uses smart training methods and nutritional guidance that reduce the need for excessive sessions in the gym. Ultimately, he would like his clients to feel better in their bodies. And he will train people regardless of their current athletic ability.
As part of this process, he promises to deliver plans that are simple, effective and sustainable. Where possible, he uses smart training methods and nutritional guidance that reduce the need for excessive sessions in the gym. Ultimately, he would like his clients to feel better in their bodies. And he will train people regardless of their current athletic ability.
8. Michael Ulloa
Michael Ulloa is a personal trainer who focuses on ensuring that every session moves clients closer to their goals. He offers customised training plans, personalised nutritional programmes and accountability via weekly phone call check-ins. His primary client base is people who are tired of conflicting advice from other personal training professionals. Instead of forcing ideas on people, he aims to make his clients self-sufficient so that, ultimately, they won't need his help. He builds a base that lets them remain strong and healthy for the rest of their lives.
His service begins with an initial consultation to determine his clients' exercise background, goals and health status. He then moves onto a personalised exercise plan and nutrition coaching. He also offers twenty-four-seven support outside of regular training sessions.
His service begins with an initial consultation to determine his clients' exercise background, goals and health status. He then moves onto a personalised exercise plan and nutrition coaching. He also offers twenty-four-seven support outside of regular training sessions.
9. Grady Bridges
Grady Bridges is a personal trainer who specialises in weight loss. His goal is to help people rediscover their confidence. He tries to find people who were once outgoing and struggling to be the best version of themselves. They might have tried every diet and exercise plan under the sun, but he promises to help them find their mojo. He's already helped more than 500 people drop between five pounds and five stone without putting them on a rabbit food diet. The result of his programmes is improved quality of life, enhanced body confidence and fat loss.
Grady Bridges spent his childhood idolising wrestlers. He got into strength and fitness at an early age and stuck with it ever since. However, he also knows the perils of yo-yo diets and weight loss routines, and so it avoids these. Instead, he helps his clients build a healthy relationship with food.
Grady Bridges spent his childhood idolising wrestlers. He got into strength and fitness at an early age and stuck with it ever since. However, he also knows the perils of yo-yo diets and weight loss routines, and so it avoids these. Instead, he helps his clients build a healthy relationship with food.
10. Scott Anderson
Scott Anderson is the co-founder of Push PT in Edinburgh. They specialise in body transformations to help their clients redefine their limits. His focus is on maximising the number of different exercises his clients perform, allowing them to create more rounded and defined physiques.
As part of a community approach, Scott keeps all his training varied, fun, supportive and non-competitive. It's all about helping to bring out the very best in the individual, guaranteeing optimal fitness. He also assists clients with the mental side of the equation, building better overall athletes.
As part of a community approach, Scott keeps all his training varied, fun, supportive and non-competitive. It's all about helping to bring out the very best in the individual, guaranteeing optimal fitness. He also assists clients with the mental side of the equation, building better overall athletes.
11. Matt Oxley
Matt Oxley is a personal trainer who emphasises training in both the gym and outdoors. He offers one-on-one sessions, nutritional advice, running coaching and mobility/recovery sessions.
Matt believes that we're all unique and that one size doesn't fit all. That's why he sits down with clients from all walks of life, probes their goals, and then creates programmes to match. Sometimes, they want to achieve the pinnacle of athleticism. Other times, they would like to feel more confident in their skin.
Matt is keen to point out that there is no magic bullet when it comes to training. There are no shortcuts to fulfilling one's potential. The only way to achieve success, he says, is through hard work and dedication to the cause.
Matt believes that we're all unique and that one size doesn't fit all. That's why he sits down with clients from all walks of life, probes their goals, and then creates programmes to match. Sometimes, they want to achieve the pinnacle of athleticism. Other times, they would like to feel more confident in their skin.
Matt is keen to point out that there is no magic bullet when it comes to training. There are no shortcuts to fulfilling one's potential. The only way to achieve success, he says, is through hard work and dedication to the cause.
12. Calumn Duthie
Calumn has been helping personal training clients in Edinburgh for most of the last decade. His passion for teaching people how to improve their physique and quality of life through fitness and nutrition has driven him to launch the Calumn Duthie Transformation Academy.
The academy is an online coaching service dedicated to helping overweight and busy professionals in their 30s and 40s to transform their bodies and mindset for life.
The academy is an online coaching service dedicated to helping overweight and busy professionals in their 30s and 40s to transform their bodies and mindset for life.
13. Claire Adams
Claire Adams is a trainer who specialises in personal training services for women. Her ethos is to provide an environment where clients can take their first steps to a better body without feeling intimidated.
Claire claims that several factors make her approach different. For instance, her gym nurtures a culture of care, reminding clients that there is always somebody with them every step of the way. She also brings together a warm and welcoming community of non-judgemental people who are going through similar fitness trials themselves.
Perhaps, most critically, though, she emphasises fun. She wants fitness to transform from a painful chore into something that her clients do willingly because they enjoy it.
Claire claims that several factors make her approach different. For instance, her gym nurtures a culture of care, reminding clients that there is always somebody with them every step of the way. She also brings together a warm and welcoming community of non-judgemental people who are going through similar fitness trials themselves.
Perhaps, most critically, though, she emphasises fun. She wants fitness to transform from a painful chore into something that her clients do willingly because they enjoy it.
14. Martin Clurow
Martin Clurow, the founder of MC Fitness, is a professional strength training coach who specialises in helping clients increase muscle mass and reduce fat.
His fitness journey began from a young age. Since the age of ten, he has played rugby but eventually transitioned to more serious strength and conditioning training at 17. At first, going to the gym was just a hobby for him, enhancing his performance on the rugby pitch. But, before long, it had become a veritable way of life.
Clurow has a BSc in Applied Sports Sciences from Edinburgh University and is a REPs Level 3 Personal Trainer.
His fitness journey began from a young age. Since the age of ten, he has played rugby but eventually transitioned to more serious strength and conditioning training at 17. At first, going to the gym was just a hobby for him, enhancing his performance on the rugby pitch. But, before long, it had become a veritable way of life.
Clurow has a BSc in Applied Sports Sciences from Edinburgh University and is a REPs Level 3 Personal Trainer.
15. Ali Moran
Ali Moran has always been involved in sport from a young age. She began her fitness career with hockey, athletics, tennis and ski racing. Now she is the head coach at Brave Blood, a training platform that provides coaching and one-on-one tuition for clients.
Ali is a level 2 fitness instructor and a REPs Level 3 Personal trainer. She has an honours degree in Sports Development and Coaching and is also a qualified alpine ski coach.
Now Ali's mission is to help others achieve their goals and help them on their journey to the body they want. Over the years, she has experimented with many different coaching methods and deploys them individually when required. With more than 10 years as an alpine ski coach, she also provides some of Edinburgh's best ski preparation training.
Ali is a level 2 fitness instructor and a REPs Level 3 Personal trainer. She has an honours degree in Sports Development and Coaching and is also a qualified alpine ski coach.
Now Ali's mission is to help others achieve their goals and help them on their journey to the body they want. Over the years, she has experimented with many different coaching methods and deploys them individually when required. With more than 10 years as an alpine ski coach, she also provides some of Edinburgh's best ski preparation training.
16. Victoria's Fitness
Victoria is an experienced personal trainer in Edinburgh with her own fitness venture. Like many people, Victoria couldn't decide whether she wanted to be skinny or strong in her early days. She tried to find something in between but couldn't find anyone offering personal training services that would allow her to achieve her goals.
Through this experience, she developed her own approach to strength and fitness. Instead of going with the crowd, she looked for a programme that would allow her to take the middle way. Now, she shares her unique approach with her clients, allowing them to build strength and tone without getting too bulky. They can benefit from the learning process she went through to get to where she is today.
Through this experience, she developed her own approach to strength and fitness. Instead of going with the crowd, she looked for a programme that would allow her to take the middle way. Now, she shares her unique approach with her clients, allowing them to build strength and tone without getting too bulky. They can benefit from the learning process she went through to get to where she is today.
17. Mark Newberry
Mark Newberry is a REPs level 4 personal trainer who specialises in lower back rehabilitation and pain management. He receives a large number of GP referrals for exercise training.
Mark works out of Phoenix Fitness Edinburgh, where he coaches clients on kettlebells, powerlifting and weightlifting. He is also an iMoveFreely biomechanics instructor with an expert eye for spotting posture or gait issues.
Originally, Mark lived in Australia. However, in 2011, he decided it was time to make the trip to Edinburgh and settle there for good. Mark enjoys multiple sports, having coached cricket in both Australia and England. In his spare time, he likes going for long walks and working on his yoga practice.
Mark works out of Phoenix Fitness Edinburgh, where he coaches clients on kettlebells, powerlifting and weightlifting. He is also an iMoveFreely biomechanics instructor with an expert eye for spotting posture or gait issues.
Originally, Mark lived in Australia. However, in 2011, he decided it was time to make the trip to Edinburgh and settle there for good. Mark enjoys multiple sports, having coached cricket in both Australia and England. In his spare time, he likes going for long walks and working on his yoga practice.
18. Callum Regan
Callum Regan is the founder of Gorilla Gym and self-styled "Chief Gorilla." He's been an avid sports fan from a young age and, hence, decided to set up Gorilla Gym as a homage to his favourite pastime. He believes that being fit is about inner and outer fitness - both in mind and the body.
Callum developed the Gorilla Method - the outfit's approach to personal training and wellness - himself. He and his team specialise in outdoor fitness methods, refusing to restrict themselves to the gym. Clients enjoy activities such as battle ropes, tyre throwing and fitness hammers. While Callum does include regular dumbbells in his routines, there is a clear focus on functional strength throughout his programmes.
Being outdoors offers other considerable benefits too, such as being in sunlight and getting fresh air.
Callum developed the Gorilla Method - the outfit's approach to personal training and wellness - himself. He and his team specialise in outdoor fitness methods, refusing to restrict themselves to the gym. Clients enjoy activities such as battle ropes, tyre throwing and fitness hammers. While Callum does include regular dumbbells in his routines, there is a clear focus on functional strength throughout his programmes.
Being outdoors offers other considerable benefits too, such as being in sunlight and getting fresh air.
19. Haitham Youssef
Haitham Youssef is the man behind Master Personal Training. He treats every client as an individual, creating packages tailored to them. Initial consultations with Haitham are free, and clients can discuss whatever goals they might have. The outfit also regularly monitors clients and evaluates their progress, helping them to stay motivated.
Master Personal Training recognises that modern life is stressful and busy. Not everyone has time to go to the gym or exercise regularly. Haitham's approach works around when people are available, slotting into their lifestyle.
Master Personal Training recognises that modern life is stressful and busy. Not everyone has time to go to the gym or exercise regularly. Haitham's approach works around when people are available, slotting into their lifestyle.
20. Andrew McIntyre
Andrew McIntyre is the founder of AM Fitness in Edinburgh. He's been helping clients to achieve their various fitness goals for over 14 years. The purpose of AM Fitness is to show clients how to believe they can see the results they desire and provide the knowledge, tools and support to take them through that journey.
Andrew has a BSc Distinction in Sports and Exercise Science. He is an accredited Strength & Conditioning coach with the UKSCA and a fully qualified Personal Trainer and Nutritionist. Through AM Fitness, Andrew offers in-person services within the University of Edinburgh's Pleasance gym and online coaching via their purpose-built smartphone app.
Andrew has a BSc Distinction in Sports and Exercise Science. He is an accredited Strength & Conditioning coach with the UKSCA and a fully qualified Personal Trainer and Nutritionist. Through AM Fitness, Andrew offers in-person services within the University of Edinburgh's Pleasance gym and online coaching via their purpose-built smartphone app.
