Personal training · beginners · Toronto

Never lifted before? Good. Start here.

Most people who start with me were nervous about the gym or had never touched a barbell. You’ll learn every lift step by step, with a coach beside you and a plan that tells you exactly what to do.

Book a free assessment Seepricing

Sound familiar?

Big gyms feel intimidating and you don’t know where to start.
You’re worried about doing an exercise wrong and getting hurt.
You’ve tried on your own, but without a plan nothing stuck.
You feel like everyone else already knows what they’re doing.

How we start

A free, no-pressure assessment

We talk about your goals and history, then go through some basic movements together. No gym experience needed, and nobody is watching.

Learn the fundamentals

Squat, hinge, push, pull, and carry, taught one at a time with close coaching on setup, technique, and load, at a pace that builds confidence.

A plan you don’t have to think about

I write the program and adjust it every session. You show up, do the work, and never wonder what to do next.

See your progress

Every rep is logged, so you can see your strength go up week after week. That record is what keeps most people coming back.

Sessions run 45–60 minutes at Carpio Strength & Conditioning, 213 Geary Ave in Toronto’s west end, or in your home anywhere in the city.

Clients who started from zero

Full Google reviews, exactly as clients wrote them.

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

I’ve been training with John for just over a year, and I’m so glad I started. It’s an incredibly fun and welcoming experience, and I truly look forward to training days. Before working with John, I always felt really awkward while working out on my own. I was unsure of what I was doing, I lacked confidence, and I was getting frustrated with my lack of progress. My personal training sessions with John have been life-changing. It has felt amazing to get stronger over the past 12 months. I could never have imagined myself doing deadlifts and bench presses, but John patiently taught me. We gradually increased the weights, and he encouraged me to keep pushing myself. I’ve learned some amazing exercise skills and techniques that will benefit me for life. Plus, John is just a lot of fun to talk to between sets! I can’t thank John enough for everything he’s done for me.

Brett

Google Review

Very happy with my experience training with John. As someone who is new to personal training, I was not sure what to expect. However my sessions with John Richmond have exceeded my expectations and I look forward to working with him weekly!

Steph

Google Review

Read all client reviews →

Common questions

Am I too out of shape to start?

No. The program starts from where you are today. Everything is scaled to your current strength, and it grows as you do.

What should I bring to the first session?

Comfortable clothes you can move in, indoor shoes, and a water bottle. That’s it.

How often should a beginner train?

We decide together at the assessment, based on your goal and your schedule. The right number is the one you’ll actually keep up.

How much does it cost?

One-on-one sessions are $70–$80, and the assessment is free. There are no contracts. Many workplace Wellness Spending Accounts cover personal training.

Also see: Training with pain or injury · Wedding & event training · Weight loss training · Powerbuilding coaching · About John

Your first step is the easy one.

Book the free assessment. We’ll talk, move a little, and figure out where to start. No pressure, no commitment.

Book a free assessment