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Meet Shanghai's Super Trainers

2017-11-21 ShanghaiWOWeng

It’s that time of year again when we ask some of our favorite men trainers how they stay motivated and fit. We asked 10 trainers about their lifestyles, and surprisingly, many are vegetarian or vegan, and all are extremely positive and hard-working. Read on for an insight into their super fit lives and expert advice. 



Name:  Mark Soo

Studio:  Eternity Fitness Inc.

Address:  www.eternitry-fitness.com.cn


How did you get to where you are?

Fitness has been my whole career, working in the industry for 22 years now. I worked at gyms and coached through college, and after completing my Master’s Degree in and becoming a certified Master Trainer I moved to China in 2001. After a couple years and having no place suitable to train, I decided to open the first Personal Training studio. A few years later we opened Iron Dragon, the original CrossFit gym. 


What are your inspirations?

The Fitness industry is about passion and helping others. If it’s only about sales, you won’t last long. Helping people change and improve their lives is the most rewarding feeling. Many of my students have also gone on to become coaches and some have opened their own studios. 


What is your biggest achievement?

This year I co-organized the China Throwdown Fitness Festival at the Pear Tower- the first government backed event of its kind to promote strength sports. For a long term answer I would have to say being a pioneer and able to cope, adapt, and trouble shoot the ever changing industry and lifestyle and still be around after all these years. 


How did you go through the difficulties you encountered?

Careers and solid training programs are very similar. You need to have a clear goal on what you want to achieve, then devise a strategy on how to get there. It took me years to truly understand and figure this out. Obstacles and challenges will always come and go. One day you’re on top of the world saying China is awesome!, the next day crying in the corner.  Just remember what you're shooting for. China teaches you patience and creative solutions.

 

How do you motivate yourself?

Daily life is a struggle, whether it's work or personal, something always comes up. No matter how crappy or busy my day is, sick or injured I will always find time for a quick workout. 


What kinds of food do you eat?

If you are an athlete or fitness model you have to eat clean - that’s a fact. I eat basic foods like beef, chicken or fish and veggies, plus few servings of rice or bread a week. On the weekend I like to spike my metabolism and pig out pizzas, burgers, fried chicken!


What's your health tip for our viewers?

People are always asking or saying what’s the best type of training. Fact is there’s no one best thing, it only depends what your goal is and what result you want. Though for all around fitness you should incorporate some form of resistance training, cardio and mobility.



Name: Jay D-Engle

Studio: JFit


How did you get to where you are? 

Long story short, I was homeschooled and traveled a lot and experienced a lot. I guess you can say everything I have learned put together with hard work and dedication. 


What are your inspirations?

I'm inspired by the impact I make on others lives through what we do, and the more we help the more it motivates me to become better and change more lives


What is your biggest achievement?

My biggest achievement was definitely starting my own company and being successful with the difficulties that I had along the way. I don't think success is based on a bank account or something you won, but something you aimed to do and accomplished. 


How did you go through the difficulties you encountered?

Going through tough times is always going to happen, I just always try focus on the positives and I always write down my goals, I am very stubborn so I just don't give up. 


How do you motivate yourself?

I don't ever motivate myself, it's just something that happens. I sometimes wish I could turn it off, but I always have the drive. I guess I can thank my parents for that as they taught me as a kid to go achieve whatever I put my mind to, and it's stuck with me till this day.


What kinds of food do you eat?

I am vegan, so I eat tons and tons of veggies. I eat about 5-8 meals a day depending on my training, and every meal will have beans or nuts. I am currently busy with a recipe book so each time I cook I make a recipe so each meal will always be new and different. 


What's your health tip for our viewers?

My health tip…there are way too many. I would definitely urge people just to start; being healthy is a long process and only way to do it is to start. Cut out bad foods, increase raw vibrant nutrient dense foods, replace alcohol with fresh vegetable juices; eat and drink for the purpose of building the body, not breaking it. 



Name: Alex Garcia

Studio: AFit Fitness Studio


How did you get to where you are?

When I was 16 years old I decided to join a gym to improve my physique and started to be more interested in nutrition as well. Since then, I understood how important nutrition was to achieve my fitness and health goals. After living in Spain for 6 years, I first came to China 5 years ago thanks to a scholarship offered through my MBA program and within a few weeks I fell in love with the city. 


After 2 years of working for a Law Firm as a client manager, I decided to create my own company where I can actually help real people, and founded what is today AFit. Currently, I'm a certified trainer by ACE, certified Nutrition Coach, Neuromuscular Stretching Specialist, Metabolic Conditioning Coach and Technogym Master Trainer. 


What are your inspirations?

My goal is to be a life changer by helping individual people improve their health and lifestyle. I try to learn from the top trainers worldwide combining with scientific researches and get certified so I can transfer that knowledge to other people, as clients or even to my own trainers.


What is your biggest achievement?

Honestly, I consider myself like those few people who proud themselves to be able to make their passion as a way of living and turn my passion into a successful Fitness Studio in Shanghai. Also, thanks to my clients, which I already consider as my small family in this country, for making me feel at home and for having their support and trust.


How did you go through the difficulties you encountered?

Shanghai is a really aggressive environment, professionally speaking. People will try to step on you or steal your ideas and make them as their own, but I guess, honesty and never giving up to move forward and pursue my passion is what makes me stand still.


Most importantly, I learned to be okay with failure. When things go wrong always look for the lesson and don't give in to the temptation to self-pity. Luck is a made up word for something that happens to people who always put themselves in the right position looking for opportunities instead of problems. 


How do you motivate yourself?

I just ask myself, "How my 80-year-old self would like to remember my life and feel proud about it". That can be applied for a day, a week, a year, a new objective, plan, and changing habits. 


What kinds of food do you eat?

I eat everything! But most importantly, whole and organic foods. As an omnivore, I believe and practice what I preach which is to have a balanced diet including meat, veggies and healthy fats. I try to avoid gluten except when it's my cheat day, where I eat whatever I feel. Alcohol is not in my diet; I only drink water, tea (I love red and green tea) and coconut water.


What's your health tip for our viewers?

First of all, set up realistic goals and a specific time to make it happen. Then find a training program that suits those objectives, don't just go and exercise, because most probably you will fail with your attempt. Eat better, not less! Avoid processed, fried and fast foods. Eat your calories and don't drink them. 



Name: Luke Graeber 

Studio: Pure Yoga 


How did you get to where you are? 

After completing a Business degree, I started working as an Accountant in my home country of Australia. After working in the industry for a few years I found myself in a position that left me feeling unfulfilled. I decided to follow my intuition and leave the industry to search for a way of life that brought me freedom and happiness. So I left Australia and moved to Hong Kong, where the practice of Yoga was introduced into my life. After practicing Yoga in Hong Kong 2 years I decided to do a Yoga Teacher Training in North America, and have been teaching Yoga ever since. 


What are your inspirations? 

My inspirations are my teachers Eoin Finn and Patrick Creelman. I also find inspiration in the Yoga Practice, it is a practical guide that everyone can use to bring freedom and happiness into their lives. 


What is your biggest achievement? 

Sh 39 32778 39 13073 0 0 8174 0 0:00:04 0:00:01 0:00:03 8170owing up to teach class each and every week. I feel the biggest sense of achievement when I can help others achieve their Yoga goals whether it be simply learning how to breathe or hold a handstand. 


How did you go through the difficulties you encountered? 

I continue to practice Yoga daily no matter what my external circumstances are. This gives me the assurance that no matter what challenges or difficulties I face I can overcome them. 


How do you motivate yourself? 

I find all the motivation I need from my students. Seeing them show up to class and participate with so much intelligence and awareness makes me want to practice daily. 


What kinds of food do you eat?

I mainly eat vegetarian and 2 or 3 times a week I will eat seafood. I eat a lot of fresh vegetables and fruits. I try to listen to my body and give it the nutrition it needs at the time.


What's your health tip for our viewers?

Create good habits for yourself. By creating good eating, exercise, meditation habits (and any other habits that will improve your life), it will start to eliminate bad habits that create ill health. The efforts of your good habits will compound and create a healthy lifestyle for you to enjoy. 



Name: George Kelly

Studio: Feel Good Fitness


How did you get to where you are?

Always being curious to venture outside my comfort zone, having an appetite to be curious of other perspectives in fitness/life, and persevering through lessons learned from a collection of failures.  


What are your inspirations?

My family, friends, and clients. My mom and dad are athletes in their own right, instilling a level of rigorous training to be the best. And my grandmother, though not as experienced in fitness, provided heart. She wasn’t the fastest, strongest or physically gifted, but she never gave up the pursuit no matter how many times she fell short. My friends and clients further bolster this resolution with their different motives and drive to feel good in everyday life.


What is your biggest achievement?

Creating an environment that people feel empowered. I’m more of an introvert than an extrovert, and therefore never thought that what I did could help others. But now that’s complete rubbish.  Helping people reach goals, feeling happy, and connecting; relationships are huge, and where s people feel empowered by my instructions and guidance, I’ve also discovered the power to express and share more. 


How did you go through the difficulties you encountered?

Simply doing the things you don’t want to do and owning it. Watch the change.


How do you motivate yourself?

Constantly persevering and being flexible to obtain results. Motivation isn’t always there to help you get through some troubling obstacles, so you have to either be disciplined enough to get through it, or get creative enough to find another way to get it done. 

 

What kinds of food do you eat?

Pretty basic in this area, as I’m still a developing foodie. Whole foods with raw vegetables, lean proteins and a few fruits typically satisfy me.  Though my mother’s passed down sweet tooth kicks in two or three times a year.


What's your health tip for our viewers?

There are no perfect Mondays. I’ve found that people like to start a new diet, workout, and schedule at the beginning of the week or a new month, as they think they will change overnight. Having a guideline, tracking your goals, and being accountable doesn’t mean you can’t be flexible. Set short and long terms goals so you can make pivotal decisions to reach your long-term goal. 



Name: Barry Ennis

Studio: SpaceCycle


How did you get to where you are?

A great question! In 2010 I found myself in India to study yoga. After living there for a few months, I followed a job opportunity to Dubai and helped open the first international cycling and barre studio of a big brand from New York. After managing the studio and leading the team there for a few years, I found myself in a small circle of fitness professionals that consult with international studios. Through that experience I met a woman who introduced me to the owners of SpaceCycle in 2016. I’ve lived in Beijing for the last year, and am now enjoying Shanghai as we open more locations in China!


What are your inspirations?

I’m inspired by people that are bold enough to believe they can change the world, because they are the ones that do. I’m inspired by people that are brave and passionate. I’m inspired by art, music, and any expression of the human spirit.


What is your biggest achievement?

My biggest achievements have been the small conversations I’ve had with people who have told me how I’ve changed their lives in some way for the better. People who have told me I’ve helped them get through the most challenging part of their life, or inspired them to a new scary, yet fulfilling path for themselves. 


How did you go through the difficulties you encountered?

I think the worst thing we can do when we go through a challenge is to fight it. What I mean by that is that when we’re going through something difficult - like when things don’t work out for you, when you feel hatred, anger, or experience loss - we put so much pressure on ourselves to feel something different, that often we miss the lesson we’re meant to learn from the experience. When I go through difficulties, I don’t swim against the current, but I swim with it, and open my mind to what I’m meant to learn from that moment.


How do you motivate yourself?

Motivation and inspiration go hand in hand. If I feel inspired, motivation comes naturally. Inspiration comes from aligning myself with what I’m passionate about, and directing what I do to a higher ideal - something above serving myself.


What kinds of food do you eat?

I’m vegetarian! So a lot of vegetables. And no, I don’t struggle with protein, and no I never have trouble building muscle! I enjoy a healthy plant-based diet. It’s good for me, good for animals, and good for our planet!


What's your health tip for our viewers?

Be well rounded. Health is more than just going to the gym. It’s about eating healthy, taking care of our minds, our spirits, and our community. Don’t latch onto one workout or one diet, but be versatile. Follow what inspires you. Everything becomes easy.



Name: Jesper Oberg Saglind

Studio: Aboro Academy


How did you get to where you are?

By saying yes. By saying yes to getting out of my comfort zone, to challenges and the unknown. By putting myself in a position where you mind and body had no other choice but to grow and progress.


What are your inspirations?

Anyone and everyone that is a master at their craft. I admire and get inspired by hard work and grit. People that are committed and consistent with achieving what they set out to do.


What is your biggest achievement?

I choose to believe that my biggest achievements are ahead of me. 


How do you go through the difficulties you encountered?

Shrug it off and move on. Reflect and learn from difficulties and hardship and you can make it into a positive. If that doesn’t work, I go to the gym and absolutely kill it!


How do I motivate myself?

Progress. By getting better at what I do, and by moving closer to and my hitting goals.


What kinds of food do you eat?

I believe in balance. If you make healthier choices 80% of the time, indulge in the other 20%. I’m a firm believer that even “The Rock” Dwayne Johnson would enjoy my cheat meals. 


What’s your health tip for our viewers?

Just do it.



Name: Chris 

Studio: Golden Gloves Boxing Gym


How did you get to where you are?

I could never have imagined what I’ve achieved so far, all I do is focus on every day. 


What are your inspirations?

All my students. 


What is your biggest achievement?

Winning the boxing championship of Shanghai 5 consecutive times.  


How did you go through the difficulties you encountered?

I think about my father, who's also my boxing coach, as he could always give me motivation whenever I get stuck with difficulties. 


How do you motivate yourself?

I don’t need motivation as I am doing something that I truly love and enjoy. 


What kind of food do you eat?

Everything. 


What’s your health tip for the viewers?

Eat less, work out more. 


 

Name: Maurad Mo

Studio: BodyBlacksmith


How did you get to where you are?

I came to China from France 12 years ago and held different jobs. I am competitive by nature and always try to keep myself challenged. I could not see myself sitting behind a desk. So for The best way to continue with the energy and lifestyle I wanted, was to follow a career path within the fitness industry. 


The turning point of my journey was when my previous employer reached out to me and asked me to help him drop weight he had gained in order to physically look good for a friend’s wedding. The result was pretty amazing and we both really enjoy the transformation process. From there I decided to focus on fitness and make it a career. 


What are your inspirations?

My sister is a true soldier and my role model. She taught me that as long as you have the will then you can learn the skill. 


What is your biggest achievement?

I was part of the team that won the 2016 That’s Shanghai Best Wellness and Fitness Studio People's Choice Award. Within 2 years of consistent efforts, the team and I developed a series of tough circuit training programs. I feel very grateful of that recognition! Now I am excited to be starting my own project with my partner Theo Signard. We are looking forward to the new challenges and opportunities ahead of us. 


How did you go through the difficulties you encountered? 

I've learned to always believe in myself and to surround myself with like-minded and positive people.


How do you motivate yourself? 

I use the hard times from my past and lessons that challenged me to motivate me every day. 


What kinds of food do you eat?

I eat an abundance of protein high-quality carbs, healthy fats, vitamins and minerals. Avocado, salmon, Greek Yogurt, steak, chicken and veggies are always in my daily menu.

Cheat meals are allowed every now and then too - you don’t only feed your body you need to feed your soul! 


What's your health tip for our viewers? 

If you want to reach your full potential, you not only have to train hard but you’ve got to eat properly according to your body type. 



Name: Igor Valentic

Studio: FitFam


How did you get to where you are?

It used to be simple, just play. I guess I wanted to get back to that, go outside rain or shine. FitFam became a Lifestyle, to wake up early and get it done before the day’s excuses pile up into weeks and whole seasons might pass. I had found a tribe of like-minded people of all ages shapes colors careers, from all over the fitness spectrum. I’m still on that journey, and I aim to deliver high quality, time efficient, challenging and fun workouts for 20-30, sometimes 50 people that, ultimately, empower our members to take ownership of their own health, both physical and emotional.


What are your inspirations?

Inspiration is an overrated word; inspiration can be fleeting. But it is special that FitFam brings together people from different sports and athletic communities into one place with one goal: to get better. It’s inspiring to see our members come from the bottom and get to Triathlons and Spartan Races and Marathons and trail runs and climbs and long rides. 


What is your biggest achievement?

I’m really proud that FitFam is a quality, free workout and that all our talent and contribution is volunteer-based and crowdsourced, and our resources and skills grow from that community engagement. That we run multiple daily workouts at multiple locations for scores of people week in week out, season after season, and that we have such Consistent engagement from our members is an immense source of pride. 


How did you go through the difficulties you encountered?

I guess you could call me stubborn, I find things that work and I stick with them. One important lesson I have learned is to slow down, and listen to my body better. I have stumbled many times on this journey, be it injury or exhaustion, gotten down on myself about diminishing returns or hitting plateaus, but it’s always good to come back from a break to see that everything is still going well, that the community doesn’t need me per se, but is happy to have me. 


How do you motivate yourself?

It all adds up. All the small things. It becomes automatic. It’s a lifestyle, I make it a priority. It becomes a discipline, a must. I try to eat well, and I try to get enough sleep. I set goals, and I set my alarm for early. But ultimately it’s my community that holds me accountable to the commit, to get out there even on the days that could be written off. Sometimes everybody needs to be “called out,” even me. 


What kinds of food do you eat?

I eat a lot of chicken, haha. Like half a chicken every day. And broccoli. 100% natural peanut butter and all kinds of nuts and bananas and yogurts. I’m not picky or obsessed with my diet, but usually during the workweek I snack or eat small meals throughout the day, pre-workout & post-workout, and I avoid a big meal. It’s okay to cheat, but it’s important to get those good days strung together.


What’s your health tip for our viewers?

Don’t buy a fad or diet or a membership, don’t try to “fix” yourself, just be you and move more and sit less. There is no one system and on a long-enough timeline anyway everything breaks down, what worked one season might not work the next, there will always be ups and downs. Whatever happens, keep moving. And when you’re ready: set a goal, train for something, make a plan and take ownership of your own journey. 


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