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Free assessment
We look at how you move, talk through your training history, and set a practical starting point.
Personal training · Toronto west end
AdvancedTrainingSimplified.
Strength training with a plan you can understand, track, and trust. One-on-one coaching for beginners, returners, and experienced lifters — built around where you are now.
Your free assessment is a real session, not a sales call. You leave with a clearer plan whether or not you continue.
Illustration · not the actual gymClient Statistics
5.0
Google Rating
2+ yr
Avg. Client Retention
15+
Years of Immersive Study
4+ yr
Coaching Full-Time
Where are you starting?
A plan that starts with your situation.
You do not need to arrive fit, confident, or certain. The assessment establishes what you can do now and what should come next.
Start Where You Are
Never set foot in a gym? You’ll learn proper form, build confidence, and get stronger faster than you would on your own. Already training? The programming scales with you — there’s no ceiling.
Structured, Not Random
Your program follows periodized cycles backed by research. You’ll never wonder “what should I do today?”
Fits Your Schedule
One west-end Toronto location (213 Geary Ave) plus in-home options. Sessions designed for people who have 45–60 minutes, not 3 hours.
How coaching works
A clear process from the first session onward.
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Your program
Your sessions follow a structured progression built around your goals, schedule, and current capacity.
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Every rep tracked
Training data shows what is working and gives the next phase of programming a clear reason.
Start with a real session
Find the right starting point before you commit.
The free assessment gives John enough information to recommend a useful first direction. There is no pressure to continue, and no need to arrive with a perfect goal.
Book your free assessmentWhat Clients Say
Real clients. Their words.
These are complete Google reviews from people who trained with John. Their experiences are individual, not promises of a particular result.
I’ve struggled with weight loss my entire life and had a love-hate relationship with exercise, primarily due to my lack of confidence and knowledge. That all changed when I started training with John! From day one, John’s approach was transformative. He not only taught me the ins and outs of the gym but also instilled a sense of confidence I never had before. His patience and expertise made every session enjoyable and effortless. I’m thrilled to share that I’ve lost nearly 30 lbs! I feel stronger than ever, and thanks to John, I genuinely love working out. Each session is something I look forward to, as he knows exactly how to start at my level and gradually push me to achieve more. If you’re looking for a personal trainer who can truly make a difference in your fitness journey, I highly recommend John. I’ve never loved the gym more, and I’m excited about my progress.
Sarvi
Google Review
Working with John is everything I wanted from a training experience - dedicated 1-on-1 attention with someone willing to work with people at different stages of their fitness journey. Whether you’re a high-performing athlete looking to reach their peak performance or someone just like me, a person that has been overwhelmed by the ‘big gym’ experience that left me feeling lost, embarrassed and defeated. My experience has been amazing, and this is entirely attributed to my trainer John ‘The Giant’ Richmond. In addition to being very knowledgeable and experienced in bodybuilding, he has all the patience, humour and attitude to build up your confidence and muscles. It’s very telling how much I enjoy working out under John’s guidance, as I now look forward to my workout sessions! Me! The one who made up any excuse to justify not going to a gym. I recommend that anyone looking for a highly specialized, community-driven training experience should reach out to John.
Josh
Google Review
Training with John has singlehandedly kept me going to the gym. I’ve been constantly dealing with absurdly busy schedules and fatigue for years, which has made staying motivated to work out extremely hard. John has been one of the most down to earth, no nonsense trainers I’ve had the pleasure of working with and it’s made chiseling out some time for the gym a pleasure and not a chore. Also, as a former Powerlifter, I was shocked by how much I’ve learned by working with him - with every session being a chance to pick up some new tricks and pieces of knowledge despite the fact that I’m already relatively experienced. Without John’s help, I’d certainly not be making the progress I’m making let alone keeping my motivation up. Can’t recommend training with John enough, especially if you struggle to make the gym a priority amongst a hectic schedule.
Ryan
Google Review
Our average client trains with us for over two years. Lasting change is genuinely difficult to build — most people quit before the three-month mark.
Meet Your Coach
John Richmond
Personal trainer and strength coach with 15+ years of study in powerlifting, bodybuilding, and exercise science. I found strength training at a point when I needed structure and discipline in my life — the process shaped more than just my physique. Whether you’re pushing for a new PR or just getting started, every program is built for where you are now and where you’re going.
Read the full story →
The Athletica Method
What is Powerbuilding?
Powerbuilding is a synthesis of powerlifting and bodybuilding — it combines powerlifting’s strength protocols with bodybuilding’s muscle-development science into one periodized program.
I’ve spent years studying both powerlifting and bodybuilding in earnest — long enough to understand what each discipline genuinely contributes. They aren’t competing philosophies. They’re complementary ones, each developed to master a different dimension of physical training.
Powerlifting gave us the most rigorous strength protocols we have. Bodybuilding gave us the most sophisticated science of muscle development. My version of Powerbuilding draws from Aristotle’s Golden Mean — not splitting the difference between them, but taking what’s best from each to build something neither achieves alone. Informed by the extremes, built for the middle.
Readthemethod
Pricing
The program stays personal. The format is your call.
Every option includes programming, coaching, and session tracking. Choose the setting and frequency that fit your week.
Compareallfouroptions- 1-on-1 training
- $80
- 1-on-1 · high frequency
- $70
- Couples / small group
- $115
- Group training
- Custom
Toronto west end
Train at Carpio Fitness on Geary Avenue.
Carpio Strength & Conditioning
213 Geary Ave, Toronto, ON M6H 2C1Serving: Dufferin Grove, The Annex, Bloorcourt, Parkdale, Little Portugal
In-Home Training
Anywhere in Toronto
Same programming, same tracking. Pricing varies based on location and travel.
Take a look inside
Common questions
Do I need experience to train here?
No experience is required. Every client starts with a free assessment, and the program is built from the ground up — beginners through experienced lifters.
Do you offer in-home personal training in Toronto?
Yes. Alongside in-person training at Carpio Strength & Conditioning (213 Geary Ave, Toronto's west end), in-home training is available across the city — same periodized programming, same rep tracking.
What is Powerbuilding?
Powerbuilding is a synthesis of powerlifting and bodybuilding — powerlifting's strength protocols combined with bodybuilding's muscle-development science, programmed in periodized cycles.
What happens in the first session?
Your first session is a free assessment. We talk through your goals, training history, and any injuries — then move through a movement screen and some strength testing. There's a bit of a workout to it, but the point is to see your relative strength, how you handle the fundamental movements, and how you take coaching. From there I build your program around what we find. No pressure, no commitment.
Where are you located?
Training is at Carpio Strength & Conditioning, 213 Geary Ave in Toronto's west end — close to Dufferin Grove, Bloorcourt, Wallace Emerson, and Dovercourt Village — plus in-home across Toronto.
One useful first step
Start with one real session.
Book a free assessment. We will look at your starting point, talk through what you want from training, and leave you with a clearer direction.
Book your free assessment
John is also building training software for coaches.
Explore ATHLETICA Studio