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Spencer Iyioz

Senior Personal Trainer

Spencer believes the best gift of human nature is the ability to help others. Having experienced many hardships from a young age, the ability to come into the gym is a gift to Spencer; a gift he wants to share with others.

Spencer has been captivated by activity and movement since childhood, but because of his neuromuscular disease, couldn’t participate in sports, and therefore became heavily involved in body building. After being the youngest person (16 years old) to win the Toronto Championships, Spencer’s world came to a crashing halt. By the time he turned 21, Spencer had suffered four strokes, anaphylaxis, two comas, experienced severe visual and physical impairments and as a result, lost about 100 pounds of muscle. Needless to say, this was a roller coaster of a journey, especially to experience at such a young age. He attributes a large part of his recovery to the uplifting nature of the gym and the contentment that exercise brings him.

From all of his experiences, Spencer carries a glass half full mentality – “because even when the cup is empty, you still have a cup.” In his eyes, there is always something to look forward to. He wants to share his story with his clients, to help them understand their own strengths, and provide them with the tools to achieve any goal they set their mind to.

He is grateful to be where he is today and share his health and fitness knowledge with others. When he’s not at the gym, you can find him hiking with his wife and furbaby, Olive, decompressing at home, or volunteering with the Heart & Stroke Foundation.

Physical accomplishments following stroke:
  • Regaining 30 lbs over the course of two years
  • Reverse dieting to restore optimal metabolic function
  • Rehabbed left-hand to regain dexterity and function in fingers

(previously could not make a fist)

Areas of Expertise
  • Clinical Populations
  • Body Recomposition
  • Increases in Strength and Hypertrophy
Been in the industry since

2015

Education + Certifications
  • Honors Bachelor of Kinesiology, University of Toronto
  • Returning to UofT to complete MSc. in Physiotherapy; specializing in stroke rehabilitation
  • Standard First Aid, CPR-C & AED
Testimonials
As happy as I was to be back in the gym when it reopened last summer, before long I felt that my workouts were becoming boring and repetitive. I went to Spencer because I'd really hit a plateau in my health and fitness journey, and I didn't have the confidence in how to push myself further in terms of strength. In a short amount of time, even just the first several workouts, he taught me so much about my form, how to engage and properly recruit the right muscles, that the difference was undeniable. I've gained muscle while looking leaner in just three months. Spencer has a unique ability to push his clients into becoming better while always being mindful of daily stresses and finding how to balance that with fitness. He's so personable that I'm happy to now call him a great friend. Without question I would recommend him to anyone, regardless of their starting fitness level.
Alex, female, 26
Spencer is the only reason as to why I love the gym now! I have always struggled with confidence in the gym and I didn't know if I was ever doing the correct exercises with the right posture. I was intimidated by others working out next to me but all that changed once I met with Spencer. He's very knowledgeable, patient, and made me want to continue my fitness journey with him. Spencer does not only become your personal trainer but I can also call him a friend. He is available to answer any question that I had about nutrition, correcting my posture with the right stretches, or strength training. Spencer met me at my level every session. He knows how to push you past your comfort zone with new exercises, using different weights, and developing different muscles by building new workout strategies catered to you, with you. He always has great stories to share during your rest period too! I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Spencer to anyone looking to begin or develop their fitness journey. Thank you for pushing me to my potential, Spencer: 'Last set, best set babiiiie!'"
Douglas, male, 30
I had a really great experience with Spencer. He is extremely knowledgeable and taught me exactly what I was looking to learn. Spencer always helped me feel motivated and it was clear that he genuinely cares about the success of his clients. He is insanely nice and overall, a great trainer to learn from. Thanks again!!
Tory, female, 20
Thank you very much for connecting my son and I with Spencer, he has been absolutely fantastic at supporting our goals. Everyone has challenges in their lives...it's how we address them that makes the difference. We can either throw in the towel or we can dig deep to find the determination to make positive changes to improve our lives. Sometimes simply getting into a good exercise routine can make a world of difference. It's only been a short time at Body + Soul, but we are already starting to see some positive changes in Dylan and hope to see even more. After this summer Dylan is off to university, hopefully with more confidence and healthier exercising, eating, and sleeping habits that will help him throughout his life. Dylan and I will never forget the quality time, learning and getting stronger while having fun and creating memories together with Spencer at Body + Soul.
Dennis (51) and Dylan (17), father and son
When I first met Spencer, I was weak, completely out of shape, and had constant pain in my lower back, hips, and knees. After an extensive assessment session, Spencer helped me set specific goals to increase my strength and mobility as I age, while reducing or eliminating pain. After only a few sessions, I noticed a difference. I felt more flexible, my knees were not hurting so much, my posture had improved and I generally felt healthier and lighter. Throughout our time together, Spencer was always attentive, patient, and encouraged me to work just to the right limit. He is professional, funny, warm, and very knowledgeable, always explaining exactly why he had me do certain exercises. He prepared me to continue exercising on my own and made me LOVE the gym! I wholeheartedly recommend Spencer for all your personal training needs.
Ivana, 40s
After almost 3 full months of training I couldn’t be happier to be his client. From day one, Spencer was not only my personal trainer but also a friend. He took the time to explain my program and every single exercise with detail and patience. He has such a deep understanding of the human body and explains the reason for every exercise and how it relates to my long-term goals. Spencer knew when I was not able to continue and also when to push me beyond my expectations. I had ups and downs throughout the program, but he was always there to support me and to show me the ropes. I know that Spencer will have a brilliant career in front of him, not only because of his teaching abilities but especially for his passion when working with clients. All the best to you, my friend. Thanks for all the teaching.
Ernesto, 30
I decided I wanted to work with a personal trainer because I was in a post-pandemic fog of stress and thought that learning how to move my body effectively might provide a way out. Working with Spencer, I learned that training can be so much more than just motivating someone to push themselves physically. Empathetic, thoughtful and smart, Spencer is exactly what a 21st century trainer needs to be. As much into the science of the human body as he is compassionate for those he works with, Spencer has the physical, emotional and intellectual depth to bring out the best in his clients. Most importantly, Spencer empowers you to eventually take ownership of your health and wellness journey, laying out the technical details of routines in incredibly accessible ways. I can't wait to master the routines I've already learned from Spencer so I can get back to working with him on my next phase of physical and psychological growth.
Cameron, 37
Spencer is the best trainer in the world!! Not only because of his out-of-this-world knowledge on anything health, nutrition and exercising.  His clear instructions on the 'why', are also really easy to understand, even for me! But also the fun he brings into the exercises; all he seems to be doing is bringing out the best out of yourself. He makes you want to become really good at what you’re doing. You get the results you’re looking for and are fueled by your and his motivation. It seems like his second nature to commit to your goals and that makes him the perfect trainer, motivator and mentor! I wish I could train with Spencer everyday.
Nellie
From the moment I started working with him, my fitness journey has been transformed in the best way possible. Spencer is not just a trainer; he's a motivator, an educator, and a true fitness freak. You can tell he has a passion for training and you could see it in every session we had together. Spencer is knowledgeable and knows how to cater to your your goals and will create a plan accordingly. Spencer's positive and encouraging attitude has made each training session something I genuinely look forward to. He pushes me just the right amount, always ensuring I'm challenged but never overwhelmed. I've seen remarkable progress in my fitness level and confidence since working with him.
Nellie