find out more about us
We may be in our 30’s but we understand the juggle of life and family and work. we have and continue to support many people throughout every stage of life. A large proportion of our members are over 50, people who are more aware than ever before that what they do in the gym will drastically impact what they can do outside the gym.
We’ve been offering personal training in Canterbury for a long time, and we have seen such a transformation in the lives of so many of out clients. Including resistance training can enhance the quality of your life in ways that you might never even have imagined. We’re excited to show you how this can be you.
coach lewis
Lewis has been providing personal training in canterbury for the past 11.5 years. He has Extensive knowledge in understanding what you need to develop the strength and confidence to live your healthiest, strongest life.
Lewis started out working as a Sports Therapist in multiple football clubs after graduating in 2014. In 2018 he completed his masters in Strength & Conditioning and threw himself into full time coaching in 2019. He has worked with a huge spectrum of people, from teenagers getting into exercise for the first time, to adults rediscovering training in a new phase of their life, to national level athletes looking to progress their sporting careers.
Lewis has vast experience and qualification in coaching Nutrition. He specialises in making his knowledge accessible to anyone he works with; with actionable guidance. Taking away the confusion that exists around the principles of nutrition and helping his clients to implement sustainable changes.
coach poppy
A little piece from Poppy Hards.
“Hi!!! I’m Poppy Hards, I’m a personal Trainer And coach, I’ve been offering personal training in Canterbury for 11 years now. For a large chunk of my career I supported another local, independent gym, Unity fitness in Littlebourne, providing high quality coaching sessions for them for around a decade. And in 2025, Lewis and I decided it was time for us to offer our services from our own studio; and once we saw the space in Upstreet, that was how Rise was born, a beautiful space ready for the two of us to make our stamp on the fitness industry.
I am so passionate that movement (particularly resistance training) is for everyone- it is Literally supporting our structures to be stronger and more resilient (think muscle mass and bone density both of which are super important to protect and preserve as we get older)
And i also believe that every body deserves to understand the approach that is going to be most successful in making them feel strong and feel empowered- we are all unique, and what worked for you 10 years ago might not work in the same way for you now.
I didn’t take the traditional path into coaching, I discovered resistance training and coaching while completing my law degree at the University of Kent. Once I graduated I was able to fully explore my potential as a coach.
Originally my passion and speciality was in Olympic Weightlifting, I practiced this for Several years and completed British Weightlifting Level 1 coaching qualification. But the experience of pregnancy was transformative of my perspective on the human (female) body. While on my first maternity leave I Completed my first female specialist course- Pregnancy & Post Partum Athleticism which sparked an even deeper interest in how to connect with the body in new ways.
From there I went on to complete a Women’s Coaching Specialist certification, And then most recently (and most transformatively) Empowered Performance which has brought a new appreciation and understanding of how the whole anatomy is impacted by breath.
Honestly, having kids has been the experience that has had the most impact on my coaching. It is and was life-changing, and I think that I’m a much more well-rounded and compassionate coach because of them.
I strongly believe that there is a way for everyone to move their body, against resistance that feels good for you. This is even possible for those of us contending with pelvic floor dysfunction symptoms, limited mobility and general pain.
Working with clients contending with chronic health conditions and physical impairments has deepened my understanding and appreciation for the human body and it’s resilience.
I’ve been coaching women through all phases of life for a long time now, and I know that I have the skills to help you discover how resistance training will revolutionise how you feel.”
our family
We are dedicated to our work, which means we are dedicated to you. And one of the values that we try to support all of our members on is prioritising time spent with loved ones.
And we try our best to live by these values too… Which is why, as parents to 6 and 4 year old boys, we have taken the decision not to open the studio on 2 evenings per week or weekends. We aim to get outdoors and be as active as possible on our weekends, and we also encourage the same for our members.
Getting outdoors for long walks, gardening or even more vigorous activities like running and cycling are a great way to increase overall movement and enjoying the fresh air.