I've been a personal trainer in Montreal since 2016. Sessions take place at MFitness, on the Plateau, or online, from wherever you are.
The people who reach out to me have often already tried on their own. "I've been to the gym before but I really gave up completely," a 36-year-old woman wrote to me. Another, 44: "I've never set foot in a gym." A 57-year-old man: "I used to be in decent shape, I'm a lot less now."
Out of about a hundred client files, one in two comes in to lose weight. The others want to get back in shape, build muscle, or learn to train without getting hurt.
Who I Am
My name is Raphaël. I hold a STAPS degree in sports training, strength and conditioning. I've been training people for more than ten years, in Montreal since 2016.
Do You Really Need a Personal Trainer?
Not necessarily. If you already follow a program, come in regularly, and know how to execute your movements, keep going.
A coach is useful in three situations, the ones that keep coming up in the requests I get.
You stopped. A year, five years, sometimes more. "I haven't done any physical activity since a health issue five years ago," a 22-year-old woman writes. We start from what you can do today, not what you used to do.
You never learned the movements. "I don't know the equipment, or the programs or movements," writes the 44-year-old woman who has never set foot in a gym. A father asks for a session for his 16-year-old son who's starting out, "so he can train properly without getting hurt on the machines." In both cases, we learn each movement empty-handed before adding weight.
You have a goal with a date attached. A first Olympic-distance triathlon in June. A bikini competition. The program gets built around the date, not the other way around.
There's also one case where I'm not the right person: a new pain, or a pain that stops you from moving. There, a health professional comes first. I lead the training, I don't diagnose. Out of about a hundred client files, 24 reported a pain or injury when they started, back and knees leading. Those comebacks happen after medical clearance.
C Marzinotto, on Google: "Me, who used to dread exercise, I can now say every session ends in pure happiness!"
How Much Does a Session Cost?
That's the first question. One in four requests I get starts with the price.
At the gym, a private one-hour session: $50.
Online, a 30-minute session: $50. I sell it as two sessions a week, which comes to about $400 a month.
The program and its progression are included in both formats. Nutrition support is part of the work when your goal is weight, with no restrictive diet.
At the gym, the MFitness membership is separate, paid directly to the gym. I mention it upfront because it's what trips people up most often.
How Does the First Session Work?
The first session isn't about making you sweat. It's about finding out where you're starting from.
I start with about twenty minutes of questions and movements: what sports you've done, how long you've been out of it, what you can do today. If something feels off somewhere, I look at what's affected, the muscle, bone or joint, how it happened, and whether the movement is still possible.
I don't diagnose. Those twenty minutes tell me what to put in the session and what to avoid. If what I see is beyond my scope, I tell you and ask you to see a doctor before going further.
Then we train. Every movement is worked without weight first, then with it.
Bruno Mallette, on Google: "A very professional trainer who evaluates your capacity and strength before suggesting a workout. I did an intense 6-week program with him that was well worth the investment."
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What Our Clients Say
What People Who Train With Me Are Working Toward
A client file, for me, is a goals sheet, body assessments, and a nutrition plan. What people come looking for comes down to three goals.
Losing Weight
One file in two. Requests range from "lose a bit of weight" to a 34-year-old man who writes: "I currently weigh 265 lb, my lowest weight was 190 lb at 29. I'd like to lose the 75 lb."
Weight loss is worked through a training program and a food plan, with no restrictive diet. Weight and measurements are taken at every check-in, to see what's moving and what isn't.
Natalia Quiroz, on Google: "I lost several pounds with him, but more than that, I gained a taste for training and staying active and fit."
Building Muscle
It's not only a request from young men. The 44-year-old woman writes that she wants to "increase my muscle mass and strengthen my bones," after realizing the changes in her body at 40 came down to hormones. A dance teacher wants to "sculpt without burning myself out physically."
The muscle-building page covers the program in detail. For a competition or a triathlon, it's built around the event date.
Gabrielle Gledhill Fabre, on Google: "Great results building muscle thanks to Raphaël, on top of rebalancing my diet!"
Getting Back in Shape After a Break
The 57-year-old man who wrote to me wanted to "see a trainer about once a week during the summer months," buy ten sessions and use them between two trips to New York. The 22-year-old woman wanted to "tone up and lose belly fat."
A comeback starts with the first session, then a program set at today's level. Many ask for one session a week to start.
When the comeback happens alongside pain, the affected area is set aside and the load comes back in stages, 20, 50, 80 then 100% of the usual maximum, with zero pain before, during or after at each stage.
At the Gym in Montreal, or Online
At the Gym
Sessions at the gym take place at MFitness, 4200 Saint-Laurent Boulevard, on the Plateau. Not at home.
You get free weights, guided machines and the gym's cardio equipment. The movement gets corrected during the set, not after.
Online
Online, I stand in front of the camera. I show you the movement, keep time, count reps, and evolve the program from one session to the next.
People who choose the online format don't have time to travel. They train from home, often on their remote-work day. Several have been with me for five years. Remote coaching has its own page.
Sherine Ordi, on Google: "His remote program is perfectly suited to my needs and he really motivated me to reach my goals."
What People I've Trained Say
It's been almost 5 years since I started training with Raphaël and I wouldn't trade it for anything. On top of being extremely professional, he has a human approach that makes all the difference! I recommend him without hesitation :)
Pauline Ferrand
He's the best trainer I've had because he really listens to you and actually builds training programs. He adapts the program very well to your needs and abilities. I recommend him 110%.
Stephane Leclerc
Thank you Raphaël for your support setting up a sports routine for our teenager. [...] it's now a weekly appointment he looks forward to and enjoys!
Sylvie MA
81 reviews are on the Google listing. The testimonials page has more, with before-and-afters.
Questions Before Booking
How much does a session with a personal trainer in Montreal cost?
$50 for a one-hour session at the gym. $50 for a 30-minute session online, about $400 a month at two sessions a week. The program is included in both cases.
Do I need to pay for a gym membership on top of that?
Yes. Gym sessions take place at MFitness and the membership is paid directly to the gym, on top of the sessions.
I've never done strength training, can I start with a personal trainer?
Yes. The first session is about finding out where you're starting from, then each movement is learned without weight before adding any. Several people I train had never set foot in a gym before.
Personal trainer, kinesiologist or physiotherapist: who should I see?
A physiotherapist assesses and treats, that's a licensed act in Quebec. I build and lead the training. If you have pain, see a health professional first.
Gym or online, what's the difference?
At the gym, you get the equipment in the room and on-the-spot correction. Online, the session is 30 minutes, the camera is set up so I can see the movement, and I correct you during the set. The program and follow-up are the same.
Want to train as a couple? The semi-private training for couples page explains how a session for two works.
