We pride ourselves on providing our clients with professional, experienced, and fun personal training in downtown Ottawa! At Rideau Fitness, we specialize at training beginners with little to no workout experience by first building a solid foundation of mobility and stability before applying techniques for strength training and weight loss.
Meet Alex, Founder and Head Trainer
Are you tired or apprehensive of the typical “bro” bodybuilder trainers that are arrogant, insensitive, and think that they can train other people just because they workout themselves? Hi, my name’s Alex and I want to understand your goals and make them happen for you in a professional, yet chill and fun way. Born and raised in Ottawa and currently living downtown, I absolutely love the city and want to help you make the most of it. Whether you want to focus on losing weight, aesthetics, or building strength, I’ll use my knowledge and experience to design enjoyable workouts that are specifically tailored for you to achieve the results you want, safely and quickly.
Continuous Education
We have extremely high standards for our trainers — they have many certifications, years of experience, and are always striving to learn something new. We encourage and reward our trainers to continually expand their knowledge in the area of health and fitness by taking new courses and attending various conferences or seminars that interest them throughout the year.
Free Consultation
Let's meet at the gym for a free consultation and assessment, without the ridiculous, high-pressure sales tactics that big-box gyms unleash on you as soon as you walk in the door. It would be our pleasure to take some time to get to know you and chat about, not only what your training goals are, but most importantly, how we can actually help you achieve them.
Professional, Hi-Tech Assessment
For your assessment, free of charge during our consultation, you are guided through 12 upper and lower body movements that are then analyzed on an iPad Pro. This allows us to identify any muscle imbalances or joint mobility/stability issues you may have that we can help you fix before you start exercising with increased load or resistance. This will ensure that your workouts are safe, pain-free, and able to stand the test of time, for many years to come.
Train at an Awesome Gym Downtown
Currently training at Elgin Fitness, a fantastic and conveniently located gym downtown. If you appreciate a family-owned, low-key, beginner-friendly spot that offers a chill and welcoming environment for training, Elgin Fitness is for you. Set up a free consult and assessment and come by the gym for a tour sometime — don't forget to pet Freckles! 🐶
Learn to ❤️ Cardio
Cardio training is vital to improving overall fitness and conditioning, but is unfortunately engulfed by many myths and needless stigma. Our trainers are committed to dispelling all of the myths surrounding cardio and getting you excited about learning how to follow a proper training routine that keeps things fresh and dynamic. From teaching you how to calculate and stay within your optimal target heart rate range, to always keeping you challenged and motivated through phased periodization, you will learn how to make the most of your cardio training and get your heart stronger than it ever was before. As you progress through more advanced stages of training, you will also learn how to perform HIIT and analyze your heart rate chart to customize the intensity and work/rest intervals to maximize your results.
Become a 🦄
Progress through 10 levels of resistance and cardio training and gradually learn how to perform more and more difficult exercises, safely and efficiently — from lunges and curls all the way up to squats and deadlifts. Each phase is custom-designed for you to achieve your goals as fast as possible while keeping you challenged with new exercises and techniques as you get stronger and more proficient with training. Learn which exercises are pre-requisites for others and how different exercises target different muscle groups in different ways. Look forward to more difficult and technical training phases in the future, while celebrating achievement milestones along the way.
Workout Packages
If you start to feel our vibe and get serious about a commitment to train with us for a longer period of time, we have several workout packages available that can be customized to fit your budget and schedule. We do have to warn you though, you might get addicted to seeing fantastic results, gaining confidence in the gym, and feeling proud of your training accomplishments, just saying...
Get Results
We don't have to guess about what works or what doesn't to get results. We know exactly what you have to do to achieve your goals because we've helped many other people just like you do the same. Everyone's different of course, and that's where our extensive knowledge and experience really comes into play, so we can customize your training to work best for you. Will it be easy? Absolutely not. Rest assured however, that if you put in the time and effort, you won't be wasting your time and effort — you will get the results you deserve.
Testimonials
Jenna Devine
Trained with Alex at Elgin Fitness
I (like others) have tried many large club gyms, group training, bootcamps, personal trainers, diets, apps, meal plans, weighing food, counting calories, CoolSculpting etc. These methods worked temporarily, some not at all, and sadly always ended up with the same disappointment, burn out, injury, anxiety, frustration, yo-yo weight gain/loss and ultimately failure.
The pandemic happened and exacerbated my weight (gain) issues. Once life resumed, I joined a small boutique gym close to home (Elgin Fitness), which allowed me to walk to exercise within minutes, offered everything required for general fitness, while also allowing me to support a local business and my community. It was here, I was referred to a personal trainer named Alex. I was told he was excellent. I decided to give both the gym and personal training one last chance with my weight now over 200 pounds (August 2022).
What I found in Alex was a master teacher, detailed, methodical expert. A caring individual who wanted to both educate his clients while helping them achieve their personal fitness goals. Our first session was fitness testing and personal goal setting. My ultimate ‘goal’ was to have abs and be in the best shape of my life as a middle-aged woman within a 12-to-18-month time frame. Alex did not laugh me out the door, instead he said four simple words “I can help you”.
Reflecting, in the beginning of our journey, I was frustrated with all his tests, heart rate monitoring, spreadsheets, tools, and manuals. I did not understand why I needed to go through all these steps, this had never happened before. I had joined a gym, signed up for help and was ready to go, jump right in, start cardio, spin my ass off for an hour, weight train, sweat, build muscle and burn fat.
Alex patiently reassured me during our initial learning period that I needed to trust in his process and that he had my health and heart in mind. I now realize there was a reason to what I had originally perceived as madness. Alex had to undo everything I had been previously taught, told and learned many times before by others. Alex was setting me up for a successful steady journey, not a race to failure.
Together, as a team, we have set manageable, reasonable goals along the way, in order to achieve and most importantly maintain success. Every phase leading to another milestone. What differentiates Alex from the others is simple, yet rare. Personal training is not his profession, but rather his passion. Alex is a highly skilled professional, master teacher and master fitness expert.
Further, every day, one day at a time, along our journey he is available, engaging, participating, teaching, and providing feedback. Alex is always with me, even when he is not, during my cardio days and vacation he is virtually observing, commenting, supporting. Moreover, the journey is about shedding old ways of thinking, habits and if you wish, pounds. Accountability is for the first time not only ME. It is WE.
If you are reading this and wondering if Alex can help you achieve your goals, I assure you he can and your fitness success begins with a few simple actions: Accept the help from this master teacher and expert. Listen to his words. Follow the Exercise program meticulously personalized for each of his clients. Be Xenacious, embracing positive change that will occur based on your fitness goals.
Melissa Zizanis & Stephen Ramsay
Trained with Alex at Elgin Fitness
It was a pleasure to work with Alex. He is very meticulous in his coaching and cares about your results. He is open, honest, and straight-forward with his feedback, but also very encouraging and friendly. He is able to engage and motivate your progression, but is also flexible and understanding that your personal situation continuously fluctuates with life events and day-to-day occurrences.
Alex was able to tailor a couples training program with our different body types and made it work so that we would both get our desires met during the sessions. He is very knowledgeable about human body mechanics and the best form to achieve sustainable results while remaining safe. We appreciated that he often checked-in to see how we felt after each set to ensure we were not feeling any pain while working through some of our limitations.
Alex is serious about the workout, but has a genuine, approachable personality with a good sense of humour. We are happy and grateful that he’s on our path to health and hope to work with him again in the near future. We would highly recommend him for your own health journey.
Amanda Gagnier
Trained with Alex at Elgin Fitness
Alex is a tried and true personal trainer. We connected in May with my goal being to look better in a dress for a wedding that was coming up in August. From the beginning, Alex was very upfront with his expectations and the potential success rate during this journey together.
In only 4 months, I lost 14 lbs and gained confidence in the gym through weight training. With Alex's help, I was able to get through my mental blocks surrounding food. I learned very basic skills, such as portion control, all the way to pushing past the "I give up" moment that may hit at my 10th rep out of 14. Alex has never been anything but honest and trustworthy.
Alex is passionate, diverse, and well-rounded as a trainer. He will start you off with a foundation and only let you continue certain elements of training if you've proven to be successful. The best part? He asks you what kind of trainer you need. What kind of feedback is motivating to you? For me, I like the tough love route with the ability to empathize. Alex is very accomplished and accommodating and it shows in his ability to train many types of people.
Unlike most trainers I've met, Alex gives you the tools to be successful in the future. By building an excellent understanding of the fundamentals, he is always leaving his clients in a better place than when they began. He is a refreshing change from all of the trainers at big-box gyms that are so eager to start you off with lifting heavy weights immediately, only to cause injury and a sense of distrust.
Between May and August, I've definitely seen a difference in my looks and how I feel. Moving forward, Alex has instilled a burning motivation inside of me. The flame of a healthier lifestyle has been lit and it's incredible.
If you're looking for someone who is focused and committed to your success, while making fun jokes along the way, Alex is your best, and only, option.
Wilson Lo
Trained with Alex at Elgin Fitness
I was 26 years old and hadn't been to a gym in 26 years when I started training with Alex, basically a total newbie. Admittedly, I had reservations about starting with a personal trainer, fearing being put through a generic, one-size-fits-all program that I wouldn't achieve anything with. However, he delivered a program specific to my needs and goals, and guided me through every step in a manner that kept me engaged, focused, and safe.
Alex is an excellent communicator, and very personable. He is patient, knowledgeable, and clearly enjoys what he does and takes it very seriously. I trained with him for nine months and I never once felt intimidated or belittled, and his interest in helping me improve did not wane. On day one, he made clear his expectations of himself and of me, including components of the program I would be expected to do on my own (with initial guidance).
In nine months, I lost just over 50 pounds and gained a level of fitness I never imagined I could achieve. Alex has turned working out and going to the gym from something I would dread to something I would look forward to. I'd highly recommend Alex as a personal trainer for anyone who is serious about wanting to look and feel great!
Charlotte Hanington
Trained with Alex at Anytime Fitness
I trained with Alex for the past 6 months and it was definitely the smartest decision I could have made! I decided I wanted a personal trainer after several failed attempts of never getting myself to the gym on a regular basis and never seeing results. Alex was professional and took my goals seriously from day one. He created a program that had me grow from simple stretches to lifting weights I never thought I would be able to do. After 6 months, I have successfully lost 18 lbs, learned how to do several different exercises, and learned to love the gym!
Alex is not only professional and willing to craft a program specific to your goals (something most trainers do not do), he also goes above and beyond being your personal trainer just at the gym — he constantly kept me on my game and reminded me of my goals. Alex is a fantastic personal trainer and will definitely have you enjoying your workouts more than you thought possible!
Don McColl
Trained with Alex at Elgin Fitness
I have been working with Alex for over six months now, with what I would judge to be exemplary results. It had been some decades since I had been to a gym and I had become fairly sedentary. Not any more!
I sought out a personal trainer for two main reasons: I had triple bypass surgery last year at 70 and badly needed a cardio and weight training program to rebuild and maintain both heart and physical strength. Secondly, I needed to be much stronger to enable me to continue overseas travel and get back on my bike-path regime.
Alex has helped me realize both my major goals with a three day a week program for the first six months. Learning how to do the gym work has not been easy, but Alex was able to devise a program tailored to my specific needs, particularly with respect to my posture, which I would say is 90% improved! And my overall strength is much improved too, but remains a work in progress, of course. Who says you can’t gain muscle after 70?
I certainly recommend Alex as a trainer not only for older guys like me, but generally. One other thing, Alex is not only very encouraging, but also an interesting and very funny guy.
