About John Paul

John Paul Catanzaro, BSc Kin, CSEP-CEP, CSEP-HPS, is a CSEP Clinical Exercise Physiologist and a CSEP High Performance Specialist with a Specialized Honours Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology and Health Science. He owns and operates a private training facility in Richmond Hill, Ontario. In 1996, John Paul opened a personal training studio at his home in Toronto, Ontario. With vision and passion, the business quickly grew and the word got out: “If you want to get in shape, go see this guy!” Now located in Richmond Hill, Ontario, the business boasts a state-of-the-art training facility and a waiting list of clients. John Paul founded The Catanzaro Group in 2004 with divisions in fitness, nutrition, supplements, lifestyle, seminars, and publishing. In 2010, Catanzaro Supplements was introduced, a new line of nutritional supplements with the objective of providing high quality supplements in a convenient form at an affordable rate. Over the years, John Paul has appeared on television and has written articles for several publications, including American Academy of Health and Fitness (AAHF) Gamut eJournal, Bodybuilding.com, Bodybuilding Italia, canfitpro Magazine, Coaching One-On-One, Dolfzine, FitCommerce, Fitness Business Canada, Fitness Professional Online, Fitness Trainer, Flare, grrlAthlete.com, Intense Fitness, Men’s Health, Mercola.com, MuscleMag International, Olympian’s News, Personal Trainer Development Center, Personal Training on the Net, Planet Muscle, Quest For Advanced Condition, SelfGrowth.com, SpotMeBro.com, Testosterone (aka T-Mag.com and T-Nation.com), TheGymLifestyle.com and Wannabebig.com. His newsletters are informative and entertaining, and he has provided reviews for numerous publications, including the inaugural edition of Sport First Aid in Canada. John Paul has authored six books, The Elite Trainer (2011), Mass Explosion (2013), The Business of Personal Training (2014), The Warm-Up (2016), Lean and Mean (2017), and Invincible (2022), and has released two DVDs, Stretching for Strengthening (2003) and Warm-Up to Strength Training (2005), which have sold copies worldwide, featured in several magazines, and been endorsed by industry-leading experts. John Paul has also released four webinars, Strength Training Parameters and Program Design (2013), Body Composition Strategies (2013), The Business of Personal Training (2014), and Injury Prevention Strategies for Aging Athletes (2016), providing the latest cutting-edge information to fitness professionals. Throughout his career, John Paul has consulted for various corporations. He’s worked with law enforcement personnel and has contributed to the Toronto Police Service health and wellness program. John Paul has worked with bodybuilders, fitness models, athletes, and coaches ranging from amateur ranks to national-level caliber. John Paul is one of the premier trainers in Canada. Building a reputation for getting his clients in top shape quickly, his expertise has not gone unnoticed by other health practitioners who attend his private studio regularly for instruction. John Paul has attracted the attention of various fitness-related organizations seeking lectures and workshops. The list includes canfitpro, Certified Professional Trainers Network, Granite Club, Masters Swimming Canada, Ontario Kinesiology Association, Ontario Society for Health and Fitness, Toronto Cricket Skating and Curling Club, and more. Those who experience his presentations have dubbed him “the man with an encyclopedic mind.”

I’ve met too many guys over the years who only care about the muscles they can see in the mirror—and how much they can bench press. Don’t let that be you. Train the muscles on the back of your body as much as you train the ones on the front. And if benching is important…

Male or female, beginner or advanced, the Angles90 grips are a fantastic tool to enhance your pull-up game. These innovative handles allow for a more natural hand position, which can reduce joint strain and increase muscle activation—especially in the lats and arms. Whether you’re looking to improve grip strength, protect your shoulders, or simply change…

Are you using too much body English during standing cable pressdowns? If so, do them lying down! This variation isolates the triceps more effectively by eliminating momentum and reducing compensation from other muscle groups. It’s a great way to truly feel the contraction and get the most out of every rep. Final Tip: Next time…

It can be hard to work out with so many distractions and obstacles keeping us from the gym. And when we finally do get there, focusing on the exercise and tuning out the noise can be even harder. Too often, we power through a workout and check it off the list without giving much thought…

You already know there are many great reasons to exercise—from improving energy, mood, sleep, and overall health to reducing anxiety, stress, and depression. Detailed workout plans and exercise instructions are just a click away. But if knowing how and why to exercise was enough, we’d all be in great shape. Making movement a daily habit…

Did you know that over 40% of people drop out of a fitness class shortly after joining—unless they sign up with a friend? In that case, the dropout rate plummets to just 6%. Clearly, working out with a buddy has real staying power. There’s something about training with a friend that makes the experience more…

Health experts warn that one of the lingering effects of the coronavirus pandemic could be a mental health crisis. While therapy and medication are often used to address stress, anxiety, and depression, your diet plays a significant role in your emotional well-being. A poll released by the American Psychiatric Association in March found that 36%…

Need a fast, effective workout that torches calories and fires up your whole body? This quick routine takes less than 20 minutes, can be done almost anywhere, and is built around High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) to help you: HIIT keeps your heart rate elevated during your session and boosts your metabolism for hours afterward, making…

Maybe you’ve reached a plateau in your workout. Or maybe your fitness goals seem to stay just out of reach. You’ve heard about “muscle confusion” and think that might be the answer to your problem. Jeff Monaco, director of education for Gold’s Gym, sees people get that idea all the time. But the phrase muscle…

While some prefer to train solo to stay focused and on track, others thrive with a workout partner. Having someone by your side can keep you motivated, improve your performance, and make exercise more enjoyable overall. Here’s how teaming up with a workout buddy can elevate your training: Friendly Competition Finding your fitness partner-in-crime is…