Joao Neto - Owner

21 years experience in personal training

Certifications: International Fitness Professionals Association - I.F.P.A

Bio: Joao is nationally certified through International Fitness Professionals Association - I.F.P.A. He has been personal training for 21 years. Joao began his career at the age of 15 at his father's gym (also named Eli's Gym) in Santos, Brazil. One-on-One training was the newest craze at the time and his father was short of staff so he put his son on the floor to put clients through introductory training sessions and before he knew it, he was being requested as their trainer. He would go to school in the morning and ride his bike straight to the gym after school to start training his clientele. He absolutely loved it and knew from the beginning that this was the career that God chose for him.

Joao came to the United States in 1991 with little money and even less knowledge of the English language so he took whatever job he could find to make money to survive. He did everything from dishwashing to roofing but always had the goal in his mind to open his own gym one day. In 2000, after many years of struggling, he was able to open Eli's Fitness Studio in South Florida. It was just himself and one other trainer in a 600 square foot facility. He always had clients flocking to him to train and had everything necessary in his little space but wanted to grow to be able to accommodate more clients and get more people in shape. He has moved twice since then and is now in a 2,000 square foot training facility with everything imaginable to get anyone in the best shape of their life. He also has 8 fantastic trainers that he hand picked available to train at the studio.

Joao's philosophy is simple, if you watch your diet, do cardio and weight train, you will succeed. He believes in the "old time" training routine, which is what he learned from his father. He doesn't use anything fancy but he gets the job done with the basics. He is as disciplined with his own diet and workout routine as he expects his clients to be. He would not expect a client to do something he would not do himself and you can tell by looking at him that his program works. He is definitely not the kind of trainer that doesn't "look" the part. He will not only motivate you with his words, but with his love of training you and his looks don't hurt either.