“Eric sets the standard for fitness industry professionals.

Educated and experienced, his insights go far beyond the lecture hall and the classroom, a truly unique educator, athlete and person.

As a coach, he has an ability to make complex topics of physiology, biochemistry and biomechanics simple to understand and even easier to apply.”

“Eric is, by any measure, a top-of-the-line personal trainer.

During his tenure as a contributing writer for BarBend, he has consistently demonstrated both excellent technical knowledge and a clear passion for health and fitness.

His work exemplifies many of the qualities that any prospective client should care about in their trainer — attention to detail, mastery over the “curriculum” of fitness and, above all, a desire to inform, educate, and improve the quality of life of anyone he works with.”

“Eric is an absolute delight to work with and a veritable encyclopedia of helpful, science-based knowledge about personal training, fitness, and the mechanics of movement.

His contributions to BarBend show just how deeply he thinks about and cares for his clients and their experiences on the weight room floor.”

“When entering any focus of interest, you can only hope you are surrounded by individuals that are as passionate if not more passionate and educated than yourself.

When it came to becoming a personal trainer, within my second year, I was lucky enough to start working at a gym at the same time as Eric Bugera – who was known as one of the top if not best trainers in our company at the time.

I consider him a master trainer, based on his education, experience and never ending dedication to providing the best quality to his clients.

Outside of being the absolute best trainer, he was also very passionate about sharing his knowledge and educating his colleagues. He created brand new opportunities for his colleagues, from creating training bootcamps to presenting educational seminars, that no other trainer had done before.

I was again very lucky to be a part of this revolutionary moment and truly owe a majority of my knowledge and training styles to Eric.

Even after moving away from Canada where he resides, he has always been a mentor via social media, and recently I have hired him as my own online coach.

He is relatable to every trainer’s story because he has lived through the turmoil of becoming a successful personal trainer. He has a very logical yet empathetic style of coaching that anyone can respect and understand which helps create a very trusting relationship when working together.

Eric Bugera is a trainer and teacher who is in the fitness industry to make sure the highest quality of information is being taught to as many fitness professionals as possible. I am beyond grateful to be one of those individuals. I would highly recommend any individual looking for a coach to take their abilities to the next level, to become the best of the absolute best, to seek out guidance from Eric Bugera.
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“Having an objective set of eyes to guide your training is nice, but what Eric provides is even more valuable than that. With his scholarly background, experience on the floor, and overall training acumen, Eric has been a staple in my career development. Being able to bounce ideas off of Eric on a regular basis, discuss deeper training principles, as well little things like helping with my written work, Eric provides a tremendous amount of value to me and my business and is a resource I recommend any coach have in their corner.”

“I have been training with Eric for nearly half a year now and he has played a central role in my growth, both physically (I have gained 8lbs), and in my continued education as a trainer.

I strongly believe that it is important to, as a coach, continue learning from people you respect and look up to in the fitness space. Eric is one of those people for me.

I initially approached him because of his vast knowledge and success as a coach, both in person and online, wanting to enter into a mentorship where I would not only augment my own training but learn how to improve my own skills and systems as a coach. I have been incredibly happy with his dedication and professionalism and can say with confidence that I made the right decision trusting him in this journey.

He is a fitness and nutrition expert and his passion for teaching others shines through his communication and ability to break down complex topics. He goes above and beyond to diligently provide a standard of professionalism and excellent coaching. It’s clear that he genuinely cares.

I strongly recommend training with Eric if you like myself are inquisitive minded and want to not only make progress towards your fitness goals but also learn and grow mentally in the process.
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“Eric has thought out everything, I learned a lot about how to value the important things in training and not waste time majoring in the minor. Whether it be dealing with alterations due to life stress or how to work around limited equipment availability it was always great to have him re-direct my focus to what will drive the bigger picture.

Dive the F*** in. If you’re looking to hire a trainer there’s not really a good reason not to go with Eric. Money? The price is an absolute steal. Time? Any new time constraints I threw at him he worked with without any hesitation. Inexperienced? I sent videos of all my exercises and he broke each one down with a TON of detail. Not enough equipment? Everything was designed based on what I had available and any adjustments needed were made without an issue.”

“Eric is indeed brilliant. However, I think that his ability to relate to people and communicate in simple terms is something that most knowledgeable coaches lack.

I’m thrilled to see that I managed to learn not to care much about squatting as often as I used to. Through Eric’s guidance and excellent programming, I can enjoy stepping aside from my comfort zone. My quads still look great even though I cut the volume training by over 50%.

Don’t think twice about it. If you are someone looking to get from point A to point B without hurdles along the way, Eric is the coach you need. Tired of guessing what to do at the gym? Eric is your guy. Confused with all the information you are consuming on social media about fitness? You need Eric. Are you a coach (new or old to the industry) who wants to become better at training yourself and your clients? Eric will get you there.

It has far exceeded my expectations. I have hired a few coaches over the years to help me with training goals as well as a way for me to learn new things. Eric is by far the best coach I have had. He is truly unique. Even though I don’t know him well due to online coaching, Eric makes you feel like you have known him for years. It is great to have a coach who genuinely cares about his craft and is invested in helping you. It has been a pleasure training under your guidance.”

“When I first approached Eric several months ago, the objective was to develop a better structure for my training as I was moving away from weightlifting to hypertrophy focus.

I couldn’t be happier with the direction of how training is going. However, I’m even more thrilled with how much I learned from our discussions and the video analysis of the exercises I sent to Eric for critique.

This has tremendously impacted how I coach and program my clients’ training. Eric provides fresher insights on various movements’ execution and placement within a program, giving me a birdseye view of my training that I can easily apply to my clients.

I believe that the most challenging obstacle on one’s way to becoming better at their craft is to set aside their ego and seek guidance from others. I have been coaching for 17 years and constantly looked up to coaches I perceived to be intelligent.

Eric is one of the best out there but what makes him better than others is his willingness to go above and beyond to help you become a better coach. I would highly recommend Eric as a mentor for coaches from various backgrounds and levels of experience.

The personal training industry is very young compared to other trades and constantly evolving. Therefore, it is paramount to have a coaching mentor who is up to date on the latest trends but also can distinguish what works and doesn’t based on practical application.

Don’t hesitate to hire Eric if you are genuinely committed to becoming a better coach.

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“Eric has taught me how to be a great leader in the industry and outside of work. He’s helped me understand what professionalism means and how to draw the fine line between fun and work. Being very young in the industry, I appreciate how he took the time out of his days to teach me and mentor me. I will miss him sincerely, but I know much of what he’s taught me I will treasure forever.

My fitness goals have been achieved since I started working with Eric, something that I accomplished and am very proud of is being a high-level athlete and trainer. I know that I was willing to put the work in and he held up his end and taught me.

Overall, my goals have evolved in a sense that I am always looking to be the best, whether that is personal training or athlete. I have never been a fan of reading for fun, but Eric has helped me understand and appreciate the value of quality literature. In respect to my fitness goals, I have never been as strong or as powerful as now, definitely had some gaps in my training that Eric rectified.

Regardless of what your fitness goals are, Eric can and will approach any challenge in his way. I would argue that he is the best personal trainer in Manitoba. He approaches every situation with care, and you can trust him to give you 100% support during your growth and development as a person.”

“I met Eric in early January 2019. I went in with a tear in my shoulder and a pinched nerve and herniated disc in my neck.

I wasn’t sure how I would be able to ever train with being so broken.

Eric was really patient, even checked with my physiotherapist and helped me start with a modified plan until we broke through to the point where I could actually lift weights.

It made me feel normal and gave me so much self confidence.

Thank you Eric !!!”

“As a fitness professional myself, Eric has helped me in my personal goals but also professionally. He has helped educate me on what is best for my body type and structure. He evolved my training program almost weekly as my body evolved. When you feel less pain you become more motivated to workout.

He also helped me evolve as a professional. Eric showed me many different ways to look at the body and understand there will never be a one size fits all approach. He helped me understand different training styles and adaptations.

Overall from both spectrums Eric is upper class and I HIGHLY recommend him if your looking to be better at fitness in general.”

“When I met Eric, I was honestly fed up with personal trainers. As someone who has been lifting weights since I was 14 (I’m now 37) and had a constant struggle with body composition, I was at a point where I just thought there were certain things my body cannot do. I straight up told him “I know I don’t look it, but I actually know a lot about working out and nutrition and stuff, but nothing seems to work for me. I’m willing to try you out if you are.” I knew he was (probably) skeptical, but he said let’s do it. Very quickly he gave me this feedback “your movements are good, and you do seem to know a fair bit about diet and lifestyle factors. We just need to find the right keys for your locks.” As a lifelong “big” person, it was extremely validating to receive this feedback. Eric is the first personal trainer I have felt looked at me as a person with some challenges to figure out vs a fat person who just mustn’t be doing things right. About 10 months later I’m stronger than I’ve been in a long while and more importantly I’m learning to trust and believe in my body again. Eric’s encouragement and support have been significant in helping me stay consistent, especially when life feels extra challenging (like during a pandemic...). Eric is absolutely the best Personal Trainer I’ve worked with.

In the beginning I just had general goals of “improved strength & conditioning.” As my trust in Eric has grown, my goals have now shifted to “how do we maximize my metabolic and hormonal systems so I can make my body as ready as possible to make a healthy baby?” I know Eric has the knowledge, skill and expertise to adapt my programming to meet the ebb and flow of my life.

Work with him! He is 100% the best Personal Trainer I have ever worked with. ”

“I’ve had the pleasure of working with Eric for nearly 3 years. He’s a wealth of information that is based in science that leads his practice. Eric’s ability to share his knowledge in a practical way sets him apart from any other trainer I’ve worked with. Eric truly feels the success of a client and celebrates every game along this arduous journey of wellness. His patience and determination to help people is demonstrated at every appointment as he is attentive and always adapting the exercises to meet the individual’s goals. Eric is a true professional that loves training others and witnessing their gains.

Eric was able to rehabilitate physical concerns Ie. bad knees and lower back problems. By addressing those limitations, I am able to work out with fear of injury.

Eric is the best. His education, personal commitment and desire to work with others creates the perfect partnership to a healthy lifestyle. I’ve had many trainers and really appreciate the science behind Eric’s training and mentoring.”

“I’ve been having a great experience training with Eric. I have had rotator cuff surgery on my right shoulder, also a multi-level spinal fusion (8 titanium screws, 2 rods, staples, etc.) and a broken wrist. So, I mentioned these things to Eric, and he based all my workout routine around my medical restrictions, so I would not get injured again. He really listens and if one of the exercises makes me feel “uneasy”, he recommends a different one to be able to still work that part of my body, without discomfort. Eric has a wealth of knowledge and this makes you feel in good hands. He’s got passion for what he does, and his positive energy is contagious and great to workout with.

Hire him right now! You will be amazed by his knowledge, professionalism and great sense of humor. Best Personal Trainer I’ve ever had.”

“I currently get programmed by Eric and will check in with him in-person about once a week. During our in-person sessions I appreciate that he explains why a lift went well or did not go well and gives me cues to perform my lifts better. I’m able to then take away and use these cues when I’m training on my own. I like that he looks for feedback from workouts, so that he can program accordingly. With Eric, I know that I’m not just getting a generic workout and that what he prescribes is unique to me and my goals.

He frequently asks for feedback which gives me the opportunity to learn how to describe how I feel certain exercises, as opposed to being told how things should feel, which I think everyone would benefit from to understand how the body moves and why an exercise was chosen. Something I would have never had the courage to do if I was programming myself is focus my training on my weaknesses. For the most part, before Eric, if I didn’t know how to do an exercise or found it too difficult, I simply wouldn’t do it. But I’m learning that to improve my lifts as a whole, I must better/strengthen these weaknesses. Eric has definitely helped me build up my confidence in the gym as I continue to progress in my lifts and learn how to train better.

Before training with Eric, I didn’t really know what my body was capable of. I either didn’t set goals because I didn’t think I could reach them, or I’d set goals that were too far-fetched. I’ve now learned to set goals that are challenging but realistic, because once achieved, not only does it give you a sense of accomplishment, but it allows you to set the next goal and continue to improve.”

“Get ready to get your ass kicked, but in an injury-free way. Eric is very attentive, provides quick responses, and even FaceTimed me mid workout to show me proper form on an exercise.”

“In August 2018, I fell off my bicycle and fractured my glenoid (shoulder socket) in two places and also had muscle and ligament damage. I had been told by the bone specialist that I had an injury that isn’t seen too often. When I had been given the go ahead a few months later to strengthen my arm, I knew that I couldn’t do it on my own and needed to find someone who understood my injury. There are a lot of trainers out there that have weekend training courses and nothing more and I didn’t want someone giving me exercises who didn’t understand my injury or hadn’t heard of a glenoid. When I read Eric’s bio, I saw he had extensive formal education in kinesiology and exercise science and when I met with him, he knew immediately where the glenoid was, what it does, and the work that would need to be done for me to get strength in my arm and my range of motion back. It was a frustrating process with small steps and small movements with the limitations. I appreciated his dry sense of humour through it all. More importantly, he listened to me when I needed a change in my workouts, when I needed more output and when I needed less. Programming was modified based on my feedback. I started with Eric in January, 2018 first with 1:1 sessions and then transitioned to working out on my own with his programming and have been with him consistently since. I have gone from lifting my arm mere inches to being able to do weighted shoulder workouts. I have become physically stronger everywhere than I had been before I was injured. ”

“Eric and I started working together about a year ago. As a new personal trainer, I turned to him with many of my training/programming questions. Between his teaching seminars and his willingness to help, I have learned so much from him; I really owe him a lot. I came into personal training with a fitness background but mainly knowledge from dance and yoga. Eric helped smooth out the transition from the group fitness studio and into the weight room.

I do not usually struggle to achieve a workout but having Eric write my program makes sure each workout is the most beneficial for me and my goals. The main thing I have learned since becoming a client of Eric’s is that he really takes into account each of his client’s needs when writing their programs. ”

“One of the most valuable things I have learned while training with Eric is focusing on your mindset when going into each training session. By this I mean in that if you follow your program as prescribed, along with diligently following RPE guidelines, you will do so much more for yourself in terms of progress.

The accomplishments I am most proud of while training with Eric would be the continual improvements in overall strength that I continue to experience. As well as progressing past a point that I never would have been able to on my own. I am so proud of how far my form has come and improved since beginning with Eric.

Eric has taught me that there are many ways to reach the goals that you have. As my main goal is heavy lifts with powerlifting, he has taught me the importance of technique and function, as opposed to just a “heavy lift”. My goals now lie more around perfecting technique and overall strength as opposed to numbers.

I would tell someone who is considering Eric’s services that he is the smartest individual that I know in the training world and that his confidence, knowledge, and expertise show through immediately with his work.

With my background being in the study of human movement and physical therapy, Eric continues to be who I 100% trust with my training. I would highly recommend Eric, especially for those looking to progress, enhance, or perfect their training. With each session, I’m continually learning and seeing improvements in my training thanks to his guidance. Eric’s knowledge in this field is extensive and with this he has taken me further with my training in powerlifting in three short months then I was able to on my own in over a year. Eric is extremely passionate about his work and it comes through in his training and programming. ”

“I always enjoyed training. I looked forward to learning and challenging myself with every session. Eric was able to address and fix any issues I had while training. His knowledge and experience is beyond any that I’ve seen in the profession and this has encouraged me to strive to be a better instructor myself!”

“I was looking for someone who had a plethora of knowledge in fitness, diet and the ability to strengthen my body from previous sport related injuries.

Eric was recommended to me and I cannot begin to explain what a perfect fit he was. Eric has helped me strengthen my body, meet numerous goals and improve my gym experience and confidence. He was able to help teach me proper techniques for everyday workouts and create a workout plan that fit my needs and expectations. I have noticed a huge change in my lifestyle inside and outside of the gym since I have been working along side Eric at the gym. I am very thankful for the opportunity to have him as my trainer and I highly recommend him. You won’t be sorry.”