Shirebrook personal trainer focuses on developing personal fitness brand

At 45, Ellis is proving that it’s never too late to change direction, rediscover your passion and build something of your own.

Originally from Retford, having spent much of his life in Ollerton, Ellis now lives in Shirebrook, where he is working towards building his own fitness brand, PeakLine Fitness, alongside his job as a lifeguard at Center Parcs and his work as a qualified personal trainer at JD Gyms Mansfield.

But his journey into fitness hasn't been straightforward.

As a child, Ellis was actively involved in sport, attending judo, swimming and local athletics clubs. However, this was followed by more than 20 years of largely inactive living before he rediscovered his passion for fitness at around 38 or 39.

Since then, training has become a major part of his life. Rather than concentrating on just one discipline, Ellis has embraced hybrid training, combining weightlifting and muscle building in the gym with running, swimming, boxing and calisthenics.

Having completed the Paris Marathon, he continues to challenge himself physically while developing his knowledge and experience as a personal trainer.

Behind that progress, however, are challenges that have followed him throughout his life. Ellis has experienced lifelong anxiety and has also struggled with a stammer, which has sometimes made communication and unfamiliar situations difficult. Although these challenges haven't disappeared, he feels they have become easier to manage with time.

Now, alongside his work at Center Parcs, he is developing PeakLine Fitness, with the aim of helping others improve their strength, fitness and confidence through realistic goals and training that fits around their lifestyles.