“The course was excellent and tutors were consummate professionals who were friendly and focused. I have no doubt that this is THE course to go for if the fitness industry is your desired destination. A quality package”
The course was really comprehensive. I really found that I was tested physically as well as I was mentally in terms of the course content. The trainers were fantastic and very thorough. Although I have been training in a gym for quite a while now, I’ve learnt so much!
In terms of amenities, I’m really impressed. It’s pretty much a one size fits all, you’ve got a great gym, you’ve got all the facilities and amenities and there’s even a spa!
It’s been so fantastic that everything has been so centralised and everything being located on one site has definitely made things a lot easier. I’m a long way from home, so it was definitely easier for me to acclimatise.
Being in a gym and health and fitness has always been a passion of mine. It would have only always remained a passion unless I got this qualification behind my name, so I will be heading to the UK in early 2014 and I’d like to start my own personal training business, that’s definitely where I want to be. I’m really confident and I’ve learnt a lot and I feel that I could get going in a gym tomorrow.
The reason I chose EPTI comes down to the fact that I sent you an email that was really comprehensive and I asked a lot of questions, to see whether I was a just a number or whether there was any sort of interest. Based on the response that I got from you which was really thorough, and really genuine, EPTI came out top for me.
It didn’t come down to the cost, it pretty much came down to the fact that there was going to be individual attention, classes were nice and small and the fact that I thought that I could really come away with a quality qualification after going through you guys.
Troy visited us from Port Elizabeth, South Africa and now works as a Personal Trainer at David Lloyd Brooklands, Surrey, UK
“The support and guidance during the online learning was amazing, absolutely amazing!”
I was looking for PT courses and I saw it one year ago, I made an enquiry and was called but I didn’t do anything about it. At that time I wasn’t ready to do it.
I’m a perfectionist, so I was worried that I wouldn’t pass it, that I wouldn’t do well.
I was also looking in America for PT and nutritional courses, but I liked the fact that EPTI had online learning and then practical, hands on teaching.
The online learning was good. I have trouble sitting for such a long time, so it took a lot of discipline and focus, to sit there and pay attention without being distracted. I found it better to read the manual, I got a lot more out of it that way.
The support and guidance during the online learning was amazing, absolutely amazing! Much more than I expected and that gave me the boost of confidence that I needed. There were times when I felt that I was losing it and I felt that I didn’t have everything under control – the support was just unbelievable – perfect!
During the course, everything has been very well organised and the teaching has been perfect.
The practical side of the course was fantastic and a lot of work – it was hard. I am very strong and I can take a lot, but 2 weeks of this has completely drained me, it has been difficult! It was very intense…because there is so much that has to be crammed into 2 weeks, that is all necessary, you can’t avoid it.
The tutors were great, they would get a 20 out of 10! Excellent, very clear. Everything has been very well instructed, taught, everything has been excellent- perfect with CAPITALS!
Everything was so well explained that I never had the need for a question. Especially with English not being my first language. Everything was taught clearly and there was never anything missing, I understood it all. I hope the next lot of students get the same teachers because I think they are fantastic!
I remember my first lesson being so much fun, with Mike doing the planes of movement, because that was my biggest worry before I came and then it was just explained perfectly. It was so visual and understandable.
The beach training was fantastic. Everything is in a short walking distance, very nice. The gym was too loud, but I do understand that you might have to work in that kind of environment.
I found the PT Clinic more relaxed than practising on each other, because you’re just trying to establish your own rapport with somebody, so you’re just making a connection with somebody that you haven’t met, whereas when you’re training another student who is learning the same things as you, it feels awkward. It gave me the feeling of what I’m in for, he’s not paying me, but now I know what it feels like to train a member of the public and what sort of questions they might ask.
I now intend to work as a Personal Trainer, because I have been approached a lot in the gyms that I go to. People approach me all the time and ask me if I’m a trainer, ask me for advice, and now that I am qualified, I can help those people and why not make money from something that you love doing!
Lilja Bjorg Thordardottir – Currently living in Rojales, Spain (Originally from Iceland)
“The support that I received from the tutors before and during the course was unbelievable”
I have enjoyed training in the gym for over 2 years and was confident using the gym having also used a Personal Trainer previously as well.
I have to say that I thought that I knew all I needed to know about the gym, but I found the EPTI PT course very informative.
The course itself was very intensive and there was a lot of theory and coursework to get through and I learned a lot of new information and particularly the reason why we do certain things (and why I should not do other certain things that I had previously been doing).
The practical elements towards being a Personal Trainer were made very clear by all of the tutors during the two weeks of the residential course.
I am from Latvia but speak very good English and I didn’t have any problem with learning in my second language.
The support that I received from the tutors before and during the course was unbelievable and made becoming a certified personal trainer much easier as the course was very intense!
I really enjoyed the course and especially the social aspect of being part of a residential course in Spain. I made very good friends with people from all over Europe that I plan to stay in touch with in the future.
The practical training of the circuit qualification and giving group fitness classes was my favourite part of the course.
Now that I have graduated, I feel very confident in my instruction technique and my ability to write enjoyable and functional training programmes for people.
I can’t wait to get back to the gym and start!
Ilona Sarkane – Preiļi, Latvia
“Toby as my tutor helped me so much to understand everything and get through”
I'm Swiss, a Paramedic and my first language isn't English (It’s Italian)…but at EPTI I was lucky to find really comprehensive instructors that followed me during all my time spent in Spain and even before! Toby as my tutor helped me so much to understand everything and get through.
I chose EPTI because of the opportunity to study online, with tutoring present whenever I needed it during that time and then spend only 2 weeks on the residential course. For me this was just perfect because I could study during my days off work and then participate on the course during my holidays.
I've liked being an EPTI student because even though you're not currently full time on fitness, they help you to understand so much and create your own way.
I had an intensive time in Spain, sometimes hard because of my language and all of the theory in the manuals to study, but the people I met there gave me great support.
Ciao ciao
Sandra Tonacini, Gordola, Switzerland
“Toby literally changed my life and I am forever grateful to him”
Before I decided to take the course to become a personal Trainer I researched so many places. What I found was that they all sent me thousands of e mails about why to go with their business. In fact I am still getting them.
Toby never tried to push or persuade me either way but gave clear, extremely helpful advice about whether the course was right for me.
Throughout the course he supported and encouraged me and was always ready to answer any questions I had and put me at ease.
Toby is a fantastic teacher and anyone wanting to learn from him whether he is your trainer or teacher will not be disappointed. Toby literally changed my life and I am forever grateful to him. I could not have done it without his professional and unwavering support. Thank you Toby!
Marnie Emery, Galicia, Spain – Life Coach/ Personal Trainer/ Nutritional Advisor
“my need to re-sit the practical Level 3… I returned to Spain a few months later, with no extra charge & passed!”
I am so grateful to EPTI for the encouragement and support from my very first phone call with Toby last year to my success at Level 3 and ongoing with my GP Referral career.
Having taken a 25 year break from my aerobics and ballet qualifications and worked as an education welfare officer it has been a challenging but extremely rewarding experience.
I was anxious about the on line learning as my IT skills are poor, began the course a little scornful of the gym and felt overly confident about my superior knowledge in the fitness world…
Very quickly, thanks to EPTI and Toby, I discovered the online learning was clear, effective and IT fearful friendly, the gym was a place to respect and not to scorn and my own knowledge of the fitness world was very limited and required updating, challenging and much extra study time
Having a shock/surprise about the intensity and high standard of the course my need to re-sit the practical Level 3 was met with 100% kindness and support.
I returned to Spain a few months later, with no extra charge, and passed!
Thank you Toby for your enthusiasm and encouragement and I absolutely recommend EPTI!
Jenny Hamar – Pontypool, Wales
“I chose to do the EPTI course after reading some impressive online reviews and watching some of their video testimonials from past students”
At first I was a little unsure about travelling to Spain to do a Personal Trainer course, but I wanted to get a UK certification for Personal Training and the idea of doing it in the sun in Spain appealed to me because I live in Helsinki, Finland.
I have always been interested in fitness and training at the gym, and I wanted to become a personal trainer. I was previously working as a receptionist which I found to be boring. I wanted to work doing something that I love!
I chose to do the EPTI course after reading some impressive online reviews and watching some of their video testimonials from past students. I got a good impression of the service and the personal training course that they offer.
I spoke with Toby on the telephone and he explained the course to me in detail, he also answered all my follow up questions about the course by email very quickly.
I really enjoyed the course. It was very intense and more demanding than I expected. There was a lot of study and coursework to do before I came to Spain, but I was able to get it done as Toby set up regular Skype meetings with me, so that we could go over anything I didn’t understand fully.
During the course, all of the tutors were very knowledgeable and helped us all with the practical part of being a personal trainer. I enjoyed living with the other students as we were able to study together which was a great help, and we become good friends as we often socialised over dinner in the evenings.
When I returned to Finland I was able to use my EPTI qualification to become a Fustra personal trainer. I am currently still doing this now.
Maxim Anikin joined EPTI from Helsinki, Finland and now works as a Fustra Personal Trainer at Idealfit in Helsinki, Finland.
“the course felt more personal and the support available was second to none!”
I first had the idea of becoming a personal trainer and fitness instructor a few years ago. I'd attended a circuit class with my dad and when I saw the instructor collecting the money at the end of the class something just clicked inside of me and I thought – I should do something like this.
I'd been into fitness since my late teens, working on my own style of all round fitness based on running and non-gym based strength training. I was working as a green keeper at the time and though I love being outdoors and active, the end product of the work wasn't satisfying to me. Learning to train others was a logical step for me.
When I finally decided to bite the bullet and enrol on a course I found choosing a provider to be a lengthy and somewhat overwhelming procedure. There are many PT courses around now with great variations in pricing and also learning options (e.g. full time, part time, online, blended learning).
I spoke to a lot of people running these courses which gave me a good idea as to the type of theory and practical delivery and most importantly, the level of tutor support. This one of the key areas that I'd recommend potential students to look into most closely when choosing a course – what kind of support is available during the distance learning, the practical course and (sometimes overlooked) post course. By post course I do not mean the common selling point of “guaranteed interviews” but whether a tutor is available to offer advice and guidance after the course has been completed.
When I first became aware of the EPTI course I found the course content appealed to my own training preferences and the learning style made a lot of sense with the distance learning followed by a two week practical. On phoning the course I was impressed that the person I spoke to was one of the tutors. Toby was very open and happily answered all questions I had (which were many) during the phone call and in subsequent emails. There were a combination of factors that made me decide to choose EPTI, the overriding one being that the course felt more personal and the support available was second to none.
I enjoyed the online stage of the course which is provided by active IQ, this gives a broad base of knowledge into areas like anatomy, nutrition and exercise programming and delivery. The course work helps to solidify what you have learnt. During this time Toby was invaluable – it has been said by others but the responses to emails was outstanding, very fast and very useful in in making sure any questions were clearly understood.
The course really came into its own during the practical phase – two weeks of intense but enjoyable hands on practice. While the theory aspect is quite similar across the board with other courses (though undoubtedly valuable) during the practical stage we learnt why we perform certain exercises and types of workout and how we would likely apply this in the real world with real people.
Being able to practice training sessions with other students in a trainer/client role was extremely useful in getting a feel for how it is to actually train people. There was plenty of time to do this during the course hours and living on site meant that we could have extra time to practice in the gym as required. Having the other students around created a great environment, very positive and it felt like we were all working together to help each other through the course. The course was intense, in the sense that it's an immersive environment focused on fitness training but was certainly not overwhelming. It was a very positive and supportive space to be in.
I liked the fact that the tutors were not dogmatic in their instruction and recognised the fact that we all came from different training backgrounds and had our own ideas of the type of instruction we would like to be involved in after qualifying. As a student, going in with an open mind is essential, in learning/refining exercise technique and also in understanding the why and wherefore of various training methods.
The practical courses outside of the main qualification (kettlebells, outdoor PT, circuits and padwork) were an absolute blast. The instruction was spot on, with the tutors experience and enthusiasm shining through at every stage, taking us from basic exercises to complex routines. It really gets into the fun (and intense) aspects of fitness and how to create a positive atmosphere with clients and groups.
After qualifying I spent the summer travelling and am now in the process of setting up as a self-employed personal trainer and group fitness instructor. My time studying with EPTI and instruction from the tutors has given me a great toolkit from which to work. It's also reassuring to know that I am able to contact the EPTI team for advice should I require it.
Throughout every stage of the course, and after it, you really feel that Toby and the tutors want you to succeed beyond simply gaining a qualification. I have no hesitation in recommending EPTI to any potential personal trainer.
Once again – thank you Toby, Chris and Mike!
Barney Potts – Thame, UK
the one that stood out above all the rest was Toby and his wife Caroline at EPTI
At the age of 18 our Son Michael was leaving school and although academic, he was not really interested in going onto further education at University in Spain.
After much deliberation coupled with his interest in Fitness / Sport etc he decided that maybe a career in the Fitness Industry was the way forward. The usual Internet search ensued and various companies predominantly based in Spain were sourced.
We did establish that the qualification being offered was recognisable worldwide which made it all the more interesting.
To be fair a few companies did come back to us after a fashion but the one that stood out above all the rest was Toby and his wife Caroline at EPTI. Always quick to respond either by email or Skype which was particularly useful as a face to face question and answer meeting gives you a better feeling for the person concerned.
Everything was explained clearly and simply, course costing’s, course work, timings, dates,course location, everything possible. There was even a personal visit from Toby to go through anything that was missed on previous occasions.
Guidance through the initial coursework was spot on and as before always on hand to answer questions. There was a slight worry when it came to payment for the initial coursework and then the final payment for the Residential part of the course but the trust built up over the initial weeks etc was invaluable.
Course location and lodgings although I think now changed was again superb, clean and tidy and the level of instruction via Toby at EPTI and his colleagues brought over from the UK was exemplary.
Once completed and passed the follow up has also been great with contacts and guaranteed interviews with UK based Gym companies. Michael is in fact heading back to the UK in the next few days to actively look for employment and has Interviews already arranged via EPTI contacts.
All in all there really is nothing negative to say about any aspect of the way EPTI / Toby and Caroline have dealt with us from day one and we are actively still in contact as they are available to help beyond Course Completion.
Dave & Allison Flin (Michaels Parents) Almoradi, Spain
I believe that the course is an excellent investment for those who are interested in working as a PT seriously
A week after the PT course Before taking the course, I was a little skeptical about how prepared I would be after the graduation. In principle, only a 2-week practical course sounded a little unrealistic to me.
However, throughout the course, I realized that the two very intense weeks were enough to get started in my new fitness career as a PT. Despite the extensive course contents, the hands-on approach makes a student very confident and ready for starting a new career. Therefore, the feeling of “I can do it” is pretty much a general opinion amongst the students.
Before the course, I was working as a free-lance IT professional and as a teacher of Systema. Systema is a military Russian martial art, which has become more and more known in western countries after the collapse of the Soviet Union. When it comes to IT, it is a real problem for me to work in front a computer for more than 2 hours since I am a very active person from the physical point of view.
Before my PT course, Systema was only a hobby for me. During the course, I started developing many different ideas of making my Systema teachings much more business oriented and applying specific training systems such as bootcamps. Thus, I have created special bootcamps adapted to Sytema right after coming back to Denmark.
I decided to train to become a PT because I have been teaching Systema for 9 years now in Copenhagen and such a course could certainly expand my knowledge and business. Furthermore, I realized that a PT course could lead me to new areas within fitness industry. In other words, it could open doors for me within gyms, fitness centers, or private consultancy.
I chose EPTI because first of all I live in Denmark and my Danish is pretty bad, and then I was looking for a course in English. When I googled PT related courses, EPTI was one of the first results of my search, and after taking a look at what the course was about and talking to Toby Clay, I decided to search a little further. There were far cheaper courses than EPTI, but EPTI testimonials were better compared to the others, and then I made up my mind and gave a shot enrolling on the course “Advanced PT”.
Regarding my experience with the online course I can tell you that it provides one with enough theoretical knowledge to get started with the practical course. Guidance and support during the online course is one of the strongest points of EPTI. By and large, the questions or feedbacks are timely answered/ provided by the tutors through Skype, Facebook or emails. It is very rare when one waits too long for feedback.
Regarding my experience during course:
– The course contents are very accurate to PT’s practice in a day-to-day life. It is very straight-forward and all one needs in order to work as a PT.
– The organization of the course is very well planned and well-balanced since one has theoretical and practical teachings in a proper dosage of both. The tutors have extensive experience and know what they do. They do not fool around and keep focusing on what really matters for those who pursue a career as a PT.
– The 2-week course is very intense and demanding both theoretically and physically, but in an enjoyable way. Therefore, students work hard, but they also have fun.
– In terms of facilities, the gym is not the ultimate place in terms of equipment or resources, but it still provides students with the minimum necessary to become a good PT. My main complaint is about not having drinking water without having to pay for it in the gym; the apartments are comfortable enough to host students for 2 weeks. The only complaint is the very unstable and slow WiFi connection.
– The experience onsite with other students is one of best parts of the course. There is opportunity for experience exchange since people from different backgrounds and cultures are attending the course.
My PT clinic experience was quite challenging and amazing experience because I had a long day of assessments and learning exercises until the beginning of the evening I was supposed to meet my first client and I had no time to plan a proper exercises program. However, I met my client as agreed, right after my duties as a student. Next, after a very brief conversation, I was able to improvise a whole-body workout session in a couple of minutes. The session turned out to be good for me and enjoyable for the client. It was my first hands-on PT experience with a real client.
In relation to the skills and to what I learned and developed taking the EPTI course:
* In terms of preparedness to begin working as a PT, I think I have the enough skills to get started my career, but of course as time goes by more experience comes and better I become;
*With regards to the course as an investment, I believe that the course is an excellent investment for those who are interested in working as a PT seriously. The course is expensive, but it is worth its price;
*Another important point to be highlighted is the business suggestions and ideas which PTs can apply in their daily practices and also develop new business ideas from the ones presented in the Business Supremacy course.
*Right a week after my graduation, the course not only lived up to my expectations by implementing new business ideas in my martial arts club such as recording the classes, implementing adapted bootcamps, adding kettlebells workout during the sessions, etc. All these changes have roughly threefolded my income. On the top of that, my new skills and certificates have made me eligible to apply for PT related jobs in leading fitness centers with great chances of being hired by them.
To sum up, a week after my graduation, I have already begun using my new skills as a PT in my martial arts business. Right now, I am going through a screening process of a job application within a leading fitness company to work as a PT there. Apart from that, I have bought some fitness equipment to privately run fitness bootcamps on beaches or other outdoor places.
Fábio Luís Branco Faravola – Denmark
