Hello, I'm Juan!
As a former pro athlete from Colombia I moved to Canada at the age of 17 to pursue my dream of becoming a professional hockey player.
Not knowing the language, not knowing any people, I faced one of the most challenging, yet transformative experiences of my life.
Being called the kid with a broken accent, being bullied by 'teammates' and feeling out of place marked a turning point in my life.
I remember thinking. “I am not enough, I don’t belong here, I am not suited for this, perhaps they are right I should just go back to Colombia..."
This was my internal dialogue that drove me to either fall or rise up against my challenges. I then started to seek these obstacles as points of curiosity within myself and to accept this path of accepting myself and digging deeper to understand who I really was.
I thought I had made the biggest mistake of my life moving to Canada. But suddenly, after overcoming the outside world and then my inside self, I realized something important.
The worst Idea I ever had, has turned into my best one yet.
My pursuit towards happiness, connection and willingness to help others reconnect deeper with themselves became my mission.
I started a process of reinventing myself and rediscovering myself with others.
I wanted my voice to be heard, so sports and fitness became a source of fuel and energy- my support system.
My mission has become to serve and inspire people to not only have the freedom to be themselves, but also BELIEVE in themselves while making their fitness a priority in their lives..
As a lifestyle and fitness Coach in Toronto, leading and organizing various fitness events in the city working with the most talented and knowledgeable coaches and leaders in the industry like Carmelinda diIManno, Carlito Salas, Andreita Levin, Alvaro Membreno, Niko Mullings, Jade Smith etc.
Sponsors and Collaborators like GT’s Kombucha, Rise Kombucha, Reebok and Expert Sports. This has given me the drive to continue serving, changing and inspiring people's lives through health and wellness.
What’s my health & fitness ethos?
3 Pillars of Fitness
Mental Fitness
Letting go of old patterns and creating new habits for a mental breakthrough..
Physical Fitness
The right mindset to get closer to the edge of your comfort zone, so you can take your body to a new performance level.
Social Fitness
Being part of a like minded community who encourages you, guides you,celebrates your wins and acknowledge your struggles to who you ARE BECOMING.
What makes me different from other Coaches?
My unique approach to training is athlete oriented . It is customed tailored to you whether beginner or advanced. My approach serves those who have the drive and responsibility to get the work done, but you are held back by lack of clarity and guidance in achieving goals.
My aim and passion is to creating a program that will improve your WHOLE life. My personal life experiences has given me opportunities to grow more than most. From a young age playing a wide range of competitive sports, I have experienced every type of body category at one point or another.
Challenging life events have also affected me not only physically but mentally, in fact it was during the pandemic, where a business development of mine got vanished, having to redirect my business completely, reinvented and adjusted throughout the process, embracing the hurdles and welcoming new challenges as opportunities is an approach I´ve learned the hard way. As a foreigner here in Canada, building myself back up more than once, I learned that the person I can change is myself. With this perspective and hard work, I found that I can do the same for others- get them to their goal and transform their lives in the process.
Whether it's achieving more confidence , achieving more energy throughout the day, maybe going for a promotion at work, being able to ask someone out, or even just a smile when you look in the mirror, I believe that training is much more than just working out. I believe training is an approach to your WHOLE life. So if I can do it by myself, for myself- I can help you do it too, with me by your side for 60 days.
When did I start my health & fitness journey and why?
Since age 6 with my first hockey stick in my hand, I have been passionate about health and fitness. It has shaped my life choices to get me where I am today.
Brought up in a Capital City (Bogota- Colombia), I first started competing at high levels of hockey in my teens. As my love of sport involved a lot of gym work, my attention turned into the mental and physical side of training, which has brought me where I am today. Along the way, I also learned about the importance of aligning nutrition.
After travelling and working around the world, I am now based in Toronto, and continue to educate myself so I can serve you, as a personal & online trainer.
Do I specialize in anything?
Yes - wholesome, lasting transformations by linking physical, mental and social fitness. I focus on adjusting mindset towards positivity, commitment, self discipline and accountability, which ultimately help achieve your training goals.
Whether your goal is general health, more energy, stripping fat or building muscle, you can start your fitness journey right here, right now.
