HELPING PEOPLE PROVE THEIR BEST YEARS OF STRENGTH & INDEPENDENCE
ARE STILL AHEAD OF THEM
These are real people. Real results.
Most of them had never seriously trained before they found me or had stopped and weren't sure they'd get back. What they all have in common is that they surprised themselves.
That's not a coincidence.
It's what happens when training is built around your life instead of someone else's program.
SARAH BURTON
“I've been training consistently with Shane since 2012. It's the longest I've ever managed to stick to a workout regimen, actually.
I was one of the shortest kids in the class and never athletic like my siblings. I was usually the last kid picked for teams in gym class. So, when I managed to sustain a stress fracture in my foot, I was at a loss as I really had no other way I knew how to workout. A good friend suggested I hire a trainer. I eventually did, but with a lot of reservations.
I had never spent time in a gym and was a bit intimidated by the atmosphere. However, when I met Shane and started working with him, he was so kind and very encouraging - it was almost impossible to feel discouraged with my workouts. Next thing I knew, my cast was off, I'd been training with Shane for two years, and I could deadlift 100 lbs. I honestly was so astonished!!
I finally felt comfortable, and even confident, enjoying the workouts and laughing if I almost tripped over a weight! I feel my health is better now, overall, than it is ever been and, I really want to acknowledge that training with Shane has been a large part of that!
I'd encourage anyone out there, it doesn't matter if you are not athletic, never played sports, and feel uncoordinated at most times, you too can still become confident at the gym if you train with Shane!”
SCOTT & AMANDA BUELEY
"Shane is an incredibly patient and kind individual who knows more about the human body and how to care for it than most. He tailors your workouts to you and where you're at to ensure you're always making progress towards your goals.
Plus, there's the added bonus that he can give you a wicked neck massage with the roller to relieve that extra little bit of tightness at the end of a workout!
We highly recommend training with Shane!"
SINDY TROMPOSCH
"I hate gyms -- the exact words I told my first personal trainer. I think it was partly because I had always engaged in activities I could do on my own: running, cycling etc. But also, I felt the gym was full of these beefed up “roid” guys and the silicone enhanced, makeup ready women. Not a place for me.
That all changed when I injured my ankle and needed some help rehabilitating it. I tried a few trainers but I found they would come and go in a big gym setting. The consistency, knowledge, and follow through was not there. I remember my daughter Nicole, asked me a few times if I wanted to go with her for a free workout with a guy named, Shane. My first thought was here we go again—they are going to talk me into signing up for something.
I remember walking in and meeting Shane for the first time. He instantly made me feel comfortable. After the workout I thought this is what I need to help me achieve my fitness goals: become stronger so that I can continue to do the things I want to do.
Not long after we had started with him, an unfortunate situation arose. His response to that situation really showed his belief in what he is doing and why he is doing it. It blew me away. I had never met or dealt with anyone, anywhere, who showed that commitment. From that point I knew I had found the right person.
I am starting my third year with Shane. I look forward to my workouts with him. It is a time for laughter, but also hard work. He knows how and when to push me enough, and he keeps me accountable. I have found that through these past few years I have improved my strength and endurance.
I am a believer that things happen for a reason. If that injury never happened, I am sure I would never have met Shane. I would never have embarked on this fitness path. I am so glad I did. Thanks Shane!"
OUSAMA KABALAN
“I was working out semi-regularly and knew my way around a gym, so my initial reason for looking into a personal trainer was to have more structure and accountability. Shane was referred to me through a family member (and previous client) immediately after hearing this from me.
When I first met Shane I was impressed by how thorough he was in getting to know me personally and figuring out not only what my goals were, but also the best way to get me to them.
Soon after, it became evident I had some issues with posture and tight muscles which caused a lot of muscle soreness. Initially our workouts included a bunch of stretching and strength training strategies that specifically targeted these areas.
Shane knew exactly what we needed to do and at what intensity to do it. I very quickly found my body changing!
As time went on, Shane taught me a lot about what my body needed, how to protect myself from the physical stresses my job puts on me, and how to construct a workout efficiently and effectively.
Not only have I been able to work with Shane one on one, he was also able to construct a program for me, which I could confidently complete on my own.
Shane is a lot more than some guy who will stand there uninterested and demand that you push out one or two more reps. He has an abundance of knowledge in many aspects of health and fitness (and even has resources to back up what he tells you). Shane puts a lot of effort into tailoring a plan very specifically for your goals and takes both your physical and mental ability into account.
Shane is a good mix of both fun and work. He can keep you laughing while you find yourself doing way too many lunges. Well... as far as I'm concerned ANY amount of lunges is too many (Yes, I still hate lunges, Shane).
Whether you’re new to the gym environment or just need a little extra push, Shane is the guy to go to if you want to feel supported and have fun during your workout.”
GARRY PAWLIUK
“When starting any new, unfamiliar activity things can be intimidating. You worry about how things will go. You question yourself. Can I actually do this? Finally getting my act together and getting into the gym was one thing, but the thought of meeting a trainer was even more anxiety inducing. I feared that he or she would take one look at my and wonder why I was even there (too far gone?). Fortunately my experience with Shane was easy. He is positive, delightful, and professional. All my anxieties disappeared within the first few minutes upon meeting him. Shane and I have been working together since the winter of 2012.
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I began my fitness journey training in a gym with a trainer at age 57. Before I started I wasn’t feeling too great. With a bulging 38-inch waist and weighing in at 245lbs, it was getting tougher and tougher to just tie my shoes! Additionally, I had developed a rare neuromuscular problem in my right leg.
Adding everything up, I realized I was going downhill fast. I recognized I must start somewhere if I was going to lose the weight I always wanted to lose, feel better and keep the muscle atrophy in my right leg to a minimum. Well, that was 4 years ago and now I am happy to report that I weigh less than 230lbs, my waistline has gone down to 36 inches and best of all – I feel great and enjoy going to the gym! My doctor is impressed too.
Prior to getting fit, I had always wanted to go on a hiking tour. With my fitness levels so low, and with my leg giving me issues, I thought that the trip was forever a fantasy. Thanks to Shane’s encouragement and tailoring my workouts to help me prepare for the journey, I got my groove back and was able to hike the Amalfi coast last year. Hiking 15-25km per day was actually enjoyable. I had a lot of fun and came home feeling fit and relaxed.
In hindsight, I took the bull by the horns, and my well being a priority. While it was a challenge, it wasn’t as tough or discouraging as I had imagined it would be. I give Shane a lot of credit for not only getting me started, and setting goals, but also then meeting the goals. Shane makes my workouts enjoyable and effective.
No more hanging out, wasting time at the gym. My workouts optimize the time I am at the gym and are directed towards what I need to improve and how I feel that day. Not only is Shane a qualified trainer, he has an extremely positive attitude and a lot of experience in helping people take on challenges. I am glad I connected with him.
Thank you, Shane!"
HIMMAT GREWAL
“I have trained with Shane Kokas since winter 2012 to around winter 2017, and it was a life changing experience.
After high school I stopped being physically active, focused majority of my time and energy on work and school. Finally after noticing some challenges in my day to day life such has physical problems and lack of confidence. I started feeling pain in my knees as I would wake up or simply stand up after sitting. I did not want to go out with my friends as much. I started making excuses to avoid appearances – I knew it was time for a positive change in my life.
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The beginning months were challenging – difficulty in running, couldn’t jump and even trouble doing basic body weight squats. Having a personal fitness program that is designed to help you achieve your end goal has definitely helped me stay on track and motivated during my training.
Shane has helped me improve myself physically in many ways; I am now lifting my heaviest weights to date, running at higher intensity for longer period, performing box jumps (without pain!) all while dropping weight and continuously keeping it off. I have even managed to inspire my younger sister to get back into a fitness regime.
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I genuinely enjoy going to the gym now, it is a part of my schedule and I give it importance. In the beginning I felt out of place and uncomfortable thinking everyone would judge me but were all there to improve ourselves and collectively meet our own personal goals.
My health has improved immensely no more knee pains! My personality is now being shared with my friends and family. It’s amazing! I truly believe Shane Kokas is a positive part of my journey to a healthier and more fit me. He has helped me change by overcoming challenges that at times seemed impossible, but when we stop challenging ourselves we do not allow ourselves to grow.
So challenge yourself and with proper help and guidance you too can bring positive change in your life!”
SANDRA BAYDOCK
Back around 2012, I was assigned to work with Shane when my regular trainer went on maternity leave. Having worked with 6 other trainers in my life, I knew that some are a good fit and some are painful. Shane fit like Cinderella sliding into her glass slipper — perfect!!!
The most important thing that makes Shane a great trainer is that this is what he wants to be. Unlike many of my trainers in the past, who were doing personal training as an interval job while waiting to get into university programs or moving on to the next job, Shane is committed to personal training. This is what he wants to do, and it shows.
Beyond being an amazing one on one trainer, he also writes a fitness blog, has been published in fitness magazines and newspapers and in his ‘free time’ (usually on weekends so not to upset his clients) attends seminars on new training techniques and sports injury rehabilitation. I have struggled with knee pain for years and after one such seminar, he was able to add exercises that even better targeted my underling injury.
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He also doesn’t have a cookbook approach to training everyone like so many gyms and trainers have. But that is not Shane. He designs each workout to meet one’s goals and current fitness level. And my goals are re-visited and modified on a regular basis. I once did a partner workout with one of his other clients and he was able to still create individual exercises that targeted our needs. It was truly exceptional.
Shane is also able to modify his exercise plan on the fly. There are days when my knee pain flares up and he adds and subtracts various exercises on the spot. There was even the time when I returned from New Zealand after attempting a tortuous 5day hike when he knew the best thing for me that day was an hour of active release. It was only then that I was able to start walking again without pain.
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Shane is always available for me and I frequently contact him on off hours when I am feeling ‘weak’ with diet choices or more often for a boost of self-confidence. I love taking active vacations, especially hiking and biking but sometimes I find myself biting off more than I can chew. While Shane works hard with me to help me to train for these trips I sometimes fail to live up to my end of the bargain and spend no time preparing on my own. What gets my through these trips with a smile on my face, is Shane.
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Shane will on his own accord, text me to find out how things are going. He will send me personal messages of inspiration and confidence. The most recent one was “the struggle you are in today is developing the strength for tomorrow”. I know it sounds corny but it worked!!! That’s the thing; he knows the exact thing you need to get you back on track and feeling accomplished.
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The one that sticks out with me the most was during a bike trip to Napa, I was feeling good with my effort but there were several pedal heads that were leaving me in the dust and chomping off way more miles. Shane would ask for a daily update and when I got home he gave me a congratulations card with the total miles all added up. It was an incredible boost of confidence and a reminder of how far I have come.
Only Shane would have thought to do that. In New Zealand when I finished the Milford Track hike (known to me as my Everest) I got a picture of me at the end of the track printed on 2 precious postcards. There was no doubt in my mind who I was sending the first one too, Shane!!! To this day, he has it up on his refrigerator.
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Shane is that one in a million trainer that combines competence, caring and compassion. At risk of sounding like a future stalker, wherever Shane goes, I go. He is just that good. And I know I am extremely fortunate to have found him.
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He is a big part of all the success I have had and will continue to have in the future.
If you would like to read some more client stories you can check head over to my Google Reviews by, clicking here.