Brett Kirkland- Owner of Zone 105

It has been a very long time- if I ever have on the World Wide Web- introduced myself. I’m Brett Kirkland and I’m the owner of Zone 105. I love being a business owner, and after 14-years of being a personal trainer I still love training my amazing clients.

Fitness has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. From playing hockey growing up, to attending the Australian Fitness Academy, I have always looked to exercise as my favorite outlet. So I knew this would be a career of passion.

After years of competitive hockey, and a little bit of a weight loss journey myself, I couldn’t have imagined a better career choice. I know how amazing I feel after a good workout and I want everyone to experience that. I want everyone to know how incredible our bodies are, and what they are capable of. If more people could experience the mental clarity, the endorphin high and sense of pride/confidence after they have just completed a challenging workout- I know we would live in a much healthier society. Watching clients perform an exercise knowing a month ago they couldn’t do it, is incredibly rewarding. It’s not just the big goals being crushed, but the progress along the way that makes me love my job so much. There are so amazing people that have come into my life through this line of work that I am so grateful for. People who I consider really great friends and would do anything for.

Throughout the 14 years of a being a trainer, I have/had so many amazing clients, and I also got to be a part of some pretty exciting things. In 2015 I was nominated by Muscle Insider as one of the top 10 trainers in Canada. I have been lucky enough to train The Grant MacEwan Men’s Hockey Team and the Spruce Grove Saints in a couple of their championship seasons, and I’ve been able to stand on stage in front on hundreds of people and teach them the mechanics of squatting to name a few. Then there is always the personal goals of clients like making a hockey team, running a marathon, losing weight, putting on weight or my personal favorite- simply living a healthier lifestyle. I feel very lucky to feel so fulfilled from my job.

Opening up my first fitness studio at 24 was the greatest learning experience- but it dominated my life. I was working 12-14 hours a day and doing absolutely whatever it took to make it work. That business became a huge part of my identity, but I lost a little bit of myself. After 5 years I knew I needed to step away and venture off on my own. That was when Zone was born. I was grateful to learn so much from my first business, but was determined to not make the same mistakes business-wise and personally. At Zone we pride ourselves on being more than just personal trainers- we are your coach, your motivator, and your friend. We want nothing more than to see you succeed in reaching your goals, and we will do everything in our power to help you get there. So whatever you need – whether it’s a workout plan, nutritional advice, or just someone to talk to – we’ll be there. Personally I’m not working those 12-14 hour days or weekends anymore. I realized that taking more time to myself and being with my family, will make me more successful in my business, and I’m personally so much happier.

I met my incredible wife, Amal, when I was in Melbourne attending the Australian Fitness Academy. She has given me so much love and support through all of the ups and downs of my journey. I know I wouldn’t have been able to get through some days without her. Not only is she the best wife, but she is the greatest mother to our most amazing little 3 year old son, Jude. You think you know what love is until you have a child. I am so incredibly grateful for these two, they make me the luckiest man on the planet.

After reading this back to myself, I guess I’m Brett Kirkland- husband, father and owner of Zone 105 and I am honoured to carry each one of those titles.

By Brett Kirkland