Get to know our Personal Trainers!

Marcus brings experience working with multiple UBC Athletics programs, supporting participants across a wide range of ages—from adolescents to older adults. As an upper-year kinesiology student at University of British Columbia, he combines academic knowledge of human movement with a lifelong background in sports, martial arts, and strength training.

Marcus takes a collaborative and adaptable approach to training, working alongside clients to identify strategies that best support their individual goals. His programming emphasizes safe progression, strength development, and sustainable habits that promote long-term health and performance.

His coaching style focuses on building confidence, encouraging consistency, and helping clients develop skills they can carry into lifelong training.

Fun fact: Marcus completed a 17-hour hike this past summer.

Victoria is a certified personal trainer who applies her academic background in physics to design workouts that are both effective and smart. She focuses on proper body mechanics and movement under resistance to help clients achieve sustainable results.

She specializes in strength and body composition training, blending science with creativity to keep workouts engaging and motivating. Victoria is a supportive coach who empowers clients of all levels to master technique, prevent injury, and build confidence in the gym.

Fun fact: Her go-to recovery fuel is cottage cheese with berries and honey.

Markus is a UBC Kinesiology student and a certified personal trainer through the American Council on Exercise (ACE). He brings over six years of personal weightlifting experience, along with an extensive background in ice hockey and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Markus has worked with a wide range of clients, from older adults managing chronic conditions to teenage beginners.

He specializes in strength, hypertrophy, and functional training, and is passionate about helping clients reach their goals while building the confidence and knowledge to train independently. Markus believes exercise should be enjoyable and strives to support clients in creating a healthy, sustainable lifestyle.

Fun fact: Markus loves rom-coms.

Mya is a certified personal trainer with three years of coaching experience and a Corrective Exercise Specialist certification. She has been weight training for over eight years and brings both technical knowledge and personal experience with long-term strength training to her coaching.

Her training approach emphasizes longevity, proper movement mechanics, and sustainable habits that make fitness a natural part of everyday life. She focuses on exercise form and hypertrophy-based training to help clients build strength while minimizing injury risk.

Mya’s coaching style centers on meeting clients where they are and guiding them through structured, progressive programs that support both short-term goals and long-term health.

Fun fact: Mya is currently training for her first bodybuilding competition.

Pawan is a 4th-year UBC Political Science student and an ISSA Certified Personal Trainer. His fitness journey began with weight management challenges, but through dedication he has lost over 120 lbs and built sustainable habits that fuel his passion for sports and training.

He specializes in weight loss and creating approachable, sustainable paths to fitness that make exercise more accessible for everyone. Pawan is committed to helping clients discover what works for them and to lower the barrier to entry for those starting their own fitness journey.

Fun fact: He is currently training for his black belt in Goju-Ryu Karate while pursuing other martial arts.

Maxwell is a fifth-year UBC Kinesiology student with a background in competitive hockey, track, and cross-country, as well as extensive coaching experience. He has worked with a wide range of clients, from youth hockey players and competitive high school athletes to older adults who are new to the gym.

He specializes in building functional strength, power, and mobility for both athletic performance and everyday life. Maxwell emphasizes proper technique, purposeful training, and progressive improvement while creating an enjoyable and motivating environment. His goal is to help clients understand the fundamentals behind their training and build the knowledge and confidence to eventually train independently.

Simon is a NASM Certified Personal Trainer and a UBC Kinesiology grad with over three years of coaching experience. At UBC Recreation, he has worked with a wide range of clients including beginners, students, older adults, athletes, and individuals managing health conditions.

Simon’s training approach focuses on building strength, improving movement quality, and developing resilience. He tailors programs to each client’s goals, abilities, and experience level while emphasizing a strong foundation for long-term health and performance.

His coaching style is supportive and educational, helping clients understand their training so they can feel confident, capable, and eventually train independently.

Fun fact: Simon can juggle with one hand.

Marshal is a UBC Kinesiology undergraduate and certified personal trainer with experience coaching clients at UBC Recreation. His background includes strength training, functional training, hypertrophy, and general fitness, and he enjoys helping clients build confidence while working toward their goals.

Marshal focuses on helping clients develop strong technique and sustainable training habits. His programming emphasizes progressive overload, proper movement mechanics, and individualized plans that support long-term progress and consistency.

As a coach, Marshal aims to create a supportive and motivating training environment where clients feel comfortable, accountable, and encouraged throughout their fitness journey.

Fun fact: Marshal first got into fitness through basketball and speaks fluent Mandarin.

Gav is a UBC Kinesiology student, NASM Certified Personal Trainer, and Corrective Exercise Specialist. He believes fitness is a powerful tool for building confidence and capability, and his own training journey has shaped his passion for helping others move better and feel stronger.

He specializes in working with beginners, individuals managing injuries, and those looking to improve athletic performance. Gav focuses on functional strength and movement quality, using an intentional, injury-aware approach to support long-term progress. He prioritizes clear communication and creates a supportive, welcoming environment where clients feel confident and motivated to keep showing up.

Fun fact: Gav has played basketball, football, hockey, soccer, and ultimate frisbee—and recently added boxing to the mix. Picking just one sport was never really his thing.

Sam is a UBC Food, Nutrition and Health student with a passion for hybrid training, including strength training, calisthenics, and high-intensity workouts. He combines his academic background in nutrition and health with his own experience in training and performance.

He specializes in strength and hybrid training and takes an encouraging, adaptable approach to coaching. Sam emphasizes proper movement and sustainable habits while tailoring his approach to each client’s individual goals.

His goal is to help clients feel stronger and more confident in their training while making fitness something they can enjoy and maintain for life.

Fun fact: Sam once played soccer for eight hours straight!