I'm one of our resident Exercise Physiologists, and also an accredited Strength and Conditioning Coach, Personal Trainer
and Level 1 Weightlifting Instructor. 

I like all things exercise - everything from musculoskeletal rehab to performance training! My own exercise background
varies from playing representative Rugby League and touch football to athletics, cricket and nine years of martial arts training.
Lately (well, three years now), its all been about CrossFit and CrossFit performance. I've represented CFIS (along with some of
the other trainers) at the 2010 and 2011 CrossFit Games in Los Angeles, USA.

Outside of the gym, I tend to go in search of good food and great coffee. You'll more than likely find me in a restaurant on a
Saturday night thoroughly enjoying my cheat meal for the week!

I've also travelled much of the world (I don't know if it's a hobby or an obsession!) - everywhere from China to Rwanda!
Antarctica remains my final frontier...

Ask me anything exercise related - I love to get my nerd on when it comes to exercise and health theories. If I don't know the
answer, I'll find it!

And yes, Dan's Shoulder Stretch is mine.

I have been in the fitness industry since 2008 starting from the age of 18.  I can say it was a gift finding it at that age. Since then, I have gone overseas and to university to say that I really have tried to broaden my understanding on athletic performance and general health and wellbeing.

I found CrossFit in mid 2009, but didn’t seriously take it on board until early 2010. Within those 2 years of participating in Crossfit I have noticed that it is a self-motivating fitness regime that definitely drives every day individuals to want above average levels of fitness, which definitely is refreshing for any personal trainer that is helping a client.

I’m a motivated individual who likes to see progression in anyone. I have participated in many activities such as dance, track and field, gymnastics and most recent to date Olympic Weightlifting. I’d consider Olympic lifts my bread and butter in coaching terms. Also in workouts where I definitely much prefer a heavy snatch or clean and jerk than a terribly enjoyable met-con.

Being a lover of gelato, I workout so I can eat loads.  Not really, my training has become an imperative part of my life now, not just for the obvious health benefits but it also gives me more goals to chase and things to learn.

Crossfit has the capacity to show every individual how much more they’re capable of, and I like to do the same.  Not hailing from a sports background, and was the overweight child in the classroom; I worked with a trainer to increase my fitness gradually, and eventually was inspired by him to become one myself.  The thing I love about Crossfit is the constant pursuit for improvement, you are always working to get better at something, which keeps your passion for training alive.  I’ve been a trainer for 2 years, having completed the Crossfit Level 1 and Gymnastics course; I look to constantly evolve and have my eyes set on completing more Olympic lifting work.

I believe that everyone should have a rock solid base, have a strong foundation, with technique over intensity and gradually bringing intensity into play.  Just think with a rock solid base, the trickier things will come along easier.

Apparently I have a life outside of the gym as well which involves me taking my dog out, eating out, cooking, drinking copious amounts of coffee and loudly singing along with the radio.

My name is Emanuela and you probably know me as Manu. I have a holistic approach to life and fitness as body, mind, spirit. I believe that the path to happiness begins with a healthy body. I started as a yoga instructor in Italy and added Pilates and personal training as natural development of my profession as I moved to Australia. As a yoga instructor, I’m passionate about mobility and flexibility matters, as well as breathing and meditation.

I’ve worked as a personal trainer since 2007, yoga and Pilates instructor and I’ve had 2 years experience in the athlete environment with the Sea Eagles on the Sunshine Coast, winner of 2009 QCup Rugby. I am certified as a CrossFit level 1, CrossFit Coaching Preparation Course certificate 3 and 4 in fitness, Yoga instructor, and Pilates Instructor Mat and Equipment.

I discovered CrossFit on the Sunshine Coast in 2009 and I’m still addicted. I love the intensity, the variety and the knowledge that the CrossFit community is spreading all over the world. It’s amazing how fitness has changed since. I also love the possibility to compete and to spend fun days with fellow CrossFitters everywhere I go around the world.

I have a broad fitness background that goes from body building to kick boxing, volley ball, of course yoga, Pilates and CrossFit. I’m very passionate for music, especially hard rock, I like to play guitar and sing. I like to cook, especially Italian cooking, and to eat as well! I always appreciate a good laugh with friends in front of a pizza, an affogato and a good red wine. I love people in general.

Peace and Love

Before entering my position as a Trainer, I was an Ignite client who loved the atmosphere, camaraderie, and continuous challenges of training here.  Even as a trainer, I am focused on continuous improvement across all areas – especially gymnastics, olympic lifting, and running.  I have mastered the art of performing all CrossFit movements with exceptional beauty and finesse when no one is looking.  It looks best in my hunting tights.

As a perennial student of science (Honours and Masters in Biology, currently studying toward my PhD) I am fascinated at how people form opinions regarding exercise and nutrition, and by instances where science is used in misleading ways.

I too thought that eating fat would make me fat, that if I so much as touched a barbell I would be too big to fit in my front door, and that doing a million hours of cardio would make me thin.  My time at Ignite has shown me otherwise and now, as a trainer, I endeavour to deliver the same commitment and success to clients.

I have a Master’s Degree in Physical Education from Loras College in the United States. I worked as a health and physical education teacher before becoming a personal trainer when he moved to Australia. I’ve been a certified personal trainer since 2003. I have a Level 1 crossfit and crossfit endurance certification.

Getting into crossfit seriously in April 2010 was the best thing I could have done. The joy of participating in a fitness program which works on all areas of fitness is much more appealing than just doing one type of fitness all the time. One huge bonus of this program is the foundation is based on sound nutrition, rather than nutrition just an equal part of the program.

I enjoy working with others to help them improve their overall wellness. Since I have seen great gains in all areas of my own fitness using the crossfit methodology; I urge others to use this inclusive style of training for their health and fitness needs.

I participate in most distances in running, adventure races, mountain bike races, and play on a touch footy team. Wrestling was my main sport in the United States, where I was a 4-time All-American and a 2-time National Champion at University between the years 1993 and 1996.

I’m Ignites resident animal (other than Graham). You may well encounter me when you come upstairs for measures with PJ. I usually hang out in the office asleep below the window in the sun. I sometimes bark when people come upstairs because I think that’s what I should do, but I’m really a big sook and just live for cuddles, chicken breast and the park.

When no-ones watching I love to chase and bite the rope and jump on the boxes. Pat me I’m a softy, not like the rest of them.

I started Ignite in 2002 and I have many hats as owner, business manager, master trainer, and ideas man. I worked as a sport coach for many years and a trainer since 1996 with a Bachelor of Sports Science degree. I have CrossFit Level 1 Trainer, Gymnastics Level 1 and Power Coach Level 1 certificates as well as Certificate 4 Personal Trainer.

I believe in training like an athlete and looking and feeling like an athlete and I am known for taking no bullshit excuses. I certainly don’t pity fools.

CrossFit’s potential to bring about amazing results when exercise and nutrition is played as a game and done as part of a community is second to none and I have never seen this before from any exercise program.

Longer stuff (40min+) and gymnastic bodyweight stuff (Muscle ups, Burpees) are not my strengths, the shorter and heavier the better for me! There are many ways I spend my free time such as eating, drinking, sun and beach, reading, learning, thinking, hanging out with loved ones.

I’ve been working as a trainer at Ignite since 2004 and some like to call me the Boss. I have a BA (hons) degree in Theatre which I haven’t used for a while, but my qualifications in Fitness (Cert IV) and my level one CrossFit certification I use daily at Ignite.

I love working with the team that we have at Ignite. There is a strong work ethic, but we know how to have fun together too. Working and training with people who are passionate about the same things as me is priceless. I’ve been doing CrossFit since late 2007 when we first started to introduce it at the gym and have since competed in the CrossFit Games in America as an individual in 2009 and in our team in 2010 and 2011.

CrossFit is always pushing me to learn new skills, try news things & take my training to levels I never previously thought possible. I try to use my experiences to help others when I’m training them and love to see them achieve great things too.
Ignite is a great place to work and I’m always learning with the help from the people I work with.

“It’s my job at Ignite to do whatever I can to ensure our clients are using Ignite and getting the great results that everyone wants. There’s nothing better than seeing how happy and proud a client is when they get great results after they commit to healthy eating and consistent training. It’s a satisfying feeling to be a part of a team that has such a positive impact on people lives.  I graduated from Health and Sports Science in 2004 as an Exercise Physiologist.  Initially I worked in occupational rehabilitation, but got tired of working with unmotivated workers compensation clients.  I found Ignite at the end of 2006 and I’m still here, largely because of the positive, friendly atmosphere at Ignite created by both my colleagues and the clients.

I love training clients and myself using the CrossFit approach as it draws from such a broad range of skills from so many different area’s. I’ve developed as a trainer and an athlete by learning and teaching movements from gymnastics, powerlifting, olympic weight lifting and strongman just to name a few. I don’t feel this approach could ever get boring and I spend a lot of my spare time researching and learning more and more about the best ways to develop the athletic abilities of myself and our clients.

Outside of Ignite and CrosffFit I love surfing on my Mini Mal, bodyboarding, spending time at the beach, hiking and camping, bushwalking, live music, watching (Swans in the AFL, Sharks in the league and Australian Cricket team) and playing sport, reading and learning about just about anything, (I wish there were more hours in the day) as well as spending time with my partner friends and family.”