The people you’ll train with

Duran has been part of MarionPT for around 15 years, so for many of our long-term clients he’s very much part of the furniture. In the best possible way.

Over that time he’s worked with all sorts of people. Different ages, different fitness levels, different goals and very different starting points.

Outside MarionPT, Duran also works as a disability support worker. It’s something that fits his personality well. He’s patient, easy-going and good at meeting people where they are rather than expecting everyone to fit the same mould.

That carries over into the way he trains people. Duran will push you when you need it, but he’s not the trainer standing over you shouting for another ten reps. He wants you to enjoy coming to the gym, feel comfortable while you’re here and gradually become stronger and more confident in what your body can do.

And when he’s not training clients or working as a carer, there’s a good chance you’ll find him behind the wheel of a go-kart. It’s a little more serious than a weekend hobby, too — Duran has competed successfully on the national karting circuit, so there’s definitely a competitive side hiding underneath that relaxed exterior.

Fifteen years at MarionPT, thousands of training sessions, and still one of the most easy-going people you’ll meet in the gym.

Mason has been part of the MarionPT team for around five years, and if there’s one thing you’ll quickly discover about him, it’s that he loves seeing people realise they’re capable of more than they thought.

He has a strong background in strength training, muscle building and body composition, and he certainly practices what he preaches. In 2024, Mason competed in the ICN bodybuilding season across three divisions. He took 1st place in Classic Physique, 1st in Under 25 Bodybuilding and 3rd in Open Bodybuilding.

Preparing for that competition taught him a lot more than how to build muscle. Months of structured training and nutrition showed him just how much consistency matters. It also taught him about the less glamorous side of chasing a difficult goal — there were days when energy was low, training was hard and motivation wasn’t particularly interested in turning up.

That experience influences the way Mason coaches today. His training style is probably the most direct and intense of the MarionPT team. If you have a specific goal and want to work hard, Mason will happily challenge you. He loves seeing another rep, another few kilos on the bar or a new personal best.

But he also understands that not every session needs to leave you lying on the floor. Some days you push. Other days you need to move, have a chat and leave feeling better than when you walked in. A good trainer needs to recognise the difference.

For Mason, progress also has to mean something to the person he’s training. A heavier deadlift might be the number written in the training book, but the real win could be keeping up with the grandkids, feeling confident about an upcoming hike or simply discovering that your body can do something you were convinced it couldn’t.

That’s the part of personal training he enjoys most — helping someone turn “I don’t think I can do that” into “I just did.”