Testimonials

TESTIMONIALS

Luka Wraber

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PERFORMANCE CONSULTING

I first got to know Luke at a badminton competition in 2014. We met on various following tournaments, trained together (the intensity of our spinning sessions will stay in my memory forever) and started sharing rooms all across the world. Luke turned out to be one of my closest consultants for my badminton career. We are discussing all areas of life and high performance sports on a regular basis. His approach, views, inputs and questions add enormous value to my badminton life. I trust Luke with highly important aspects such as recovery, nutrition, mindset and tournament schedule. Luke is always straight forward and gives you the sometimes uncomfortable answers, but I believe that his way will bring out the best version of yourself!
Luka Wraber, @Austrian #1 Men's Singles, Top World Ranking 52

Tyler Slipp

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PERFORMANCE CONSULTING

Basketball New Brunswick partnered with Luke for a new program during the pandemic to help address the physical, mental and nutritional pillars of performance for basketball athletes. His experience as an international athlete gives him an incredible amount of credibility with the athletes and he's able to relay knowledge to them very well. Throughout the design and implementation of the custom strength program and exercise video clips for the athletes, he has been professional, organized, and a great communicator. He has excellent contacts and resources in the high performance sport community across the country and has been able to secure many high level speakers for our zoom series. Above all, his desire to build the most effective program possible has made a real significant difference on basketball players in New Brunswick. We are grateful for what he's done so far and very happy to be working with him!
Tyler Slipp, @ Director of Operations, Basketball New Brunswick

Rob Mactavish

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STRENGTH & CONDITIONING

I tore my right ACL 18 months ago. After 6 months I was still in a lot of pain and my knee was unstable and I had no confidence in it. This was a very frustrating time for me as I was not active. I felt this pain was not going to get better. I met Luke roughly 1 year ago. I was encouraged to contact him by friends who currently are doing programs Luke designed for them. Luke agreed to meet with me. The fact that Luke wanted to know about my MRI and the results before he met with me and designed me a workout and expected timeline immediately gave me confidence in him I was impressed with Luke and his attention to detail but having grown up with the “no pain, no gain” attitude I was not sure this was for me.  Luke constantly asked me about my pain level and would change or modify current exercises to bring my pain levels close to zero. He was in no hurry to move forward until he felt my knee was ready to move on. The strength in my knees have grown leaps and bounds in the last year. Yes I did say knees as a previous partial replacement on my left knee is also responding to my workout. I have decided at my age I need to be the best me and focus on continuing with Luke on my journey to bullet proof knees. I have a sister who goes to big gyms in Vancouver and we often compare notes about our current workouts and my sister often says. “how did you get so lucky to find Luke in New Brunswick."
Rob Mactavish,

Andre Couture

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STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING

Luke has helped me, quite literally, get back on my feet again. In 2017 I had to leave my job as a truck driver due to 2 compressed disks, one protruding enough to effect my sciatic nerve. There were days when all I could manage was the trip from the bed to the couch. I have tried to stay in shape most of my life and believed you should be sore the day after a workout or you didn't work hard enough. The greatest thing about working with Luke was I found out this wasn't true. Starting slowly with just stretching and basic core exercises I soon graduated to going back to the gym and doing light weight training and soon found myself getting stronger and more flexible. Learning to build strength slowly and efficiently and using proper form and technique, instead of trying to fix everything all at once was the big game changer for me. For the most part I am pain free and enjoying activities I never thought possible again. Luke's knowledge of the importance of focusing on the whole person; getting enough rest and sleep, family and social time and proper dietary needs, are what I believe sets him apart in his field.
Andre Couture, @ Uncle

Sandi Munroe

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STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING

In April of 2021 I had my 8th knee surgery, this one being a total knee replacement. I was determined to achieve a full range of motion in the joint and I began training with Luke 2 months post surgery. I also wanted to get back cycling and hiking without experiencing pain. I have suffered with back pain for years as well but Luke and I decided to concentrate on my knee first. Luke put together a program that focused on both mobility and strength. Results came quickly and I saw continual improvements in my range of motion and strength. The gains I was making indirectly started improving my back issues as well. In April/May of 2022 I returned to Europe and cycled/hiked over 2000kms on the Rhine and Rhone cycle routes. Today we are focusing on general strength and conditioning, with the goal of achieving a healthy lifestyle allowing me to enjoy being active and keep up with my grandchildren. Luke continues to provide me with programming that specifically targets my needs and I would highly recommend him to anyone looking to rehab from surgery or improving their quality of life.
Sandi Munroe, @ Nurse, Horizon Health

Matthew Bentley

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STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING

I spent 20 years in the military. Before that I lived and breathed basketball. I played at the provincial level, the university level, and the international level. In short, I was a basketball player and a soldier for most of my life. However, it was not until I started working with Luke that I became an athlete. When I retired from the military my body was not functioning very well at all. I had chronic low back pain, chronic knee pain, and chronic shoulder pain. Combined, these nagging injuries kept me from performing many of the activities I once enjoyed. I could no longer play basketball, lifting weights was difficult and often increased pain, I couldn't run any more, and even going down stairs and sleeping on my right side was painful. I started working with Luke with the expectation that we would simply have to work around these injuries forever. To my surprise, Luke was able to get me moving better than I ever have! Although minor injuries still occur from time to time, I am no longer defeated by these little mishaps. I know that Luke will get me back on track in no time. Thanks to Luke, I am pain free, healthy and I feel great! I have once again taken up many of the activities I used to enjoy and have even added some new activities (skating, skiing, swimming) to the mix. I have worked with many athletes and coaches throughout my life, and I am confident in saying that Luke is the most knowledgeable, patient, and wise of all of them. I trust him completely and plan to continue having him train me for as long as possible.
Matthew Bentley, @ Canadian Armed Forces

Jake Myshrall

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STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING

I recently worked with Luke as part of my rehabilitation from a ruptured achilles. My goals were to play sports again at the same level I was pre-injury and get back into endurance sports. I was impressed by Luke's professionalism, knowledge, and dedication to helping me reach my goals. He tailored a workout plan specifically for my needs and worked closely with my athletic therapist to ensure that I was training in a safe and effective way. He was always available to answer my questions and provide guidance. Thanks to Luke, I am making great progress towards my pre-injury fitness levels. I am confident that with his help, I will soon be able to play sports again at the same level I was before my injury, and get back into endurance sports. I highly recommend Luke to anyone looking for a high-performance strength coach. He truly goes above and beyond to help his clients succeed, and his collaboration with my athletic therapist was a key factor in my successful rehabilitation.
Jake Myshrall, @ Software Developer

Barbara Stanley

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STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING

I have been working with Luke for several years and I look forward to continuing with him as a regular participant, for many years to come.  My strength and conditioning training time spent with and crafted by Luke is the singular biggest factor behind my ability to sustain my muscle tone, strength and mobility and to walk and move and participate in all aspects of life, with greater ease and vigour.  Quite apart from all of the other benefits of training with Luke 3 days a week, which are various and many, my time with Luke has been a life changer.   My workouts with Luke are challenging, interesting, innovative and strategic.  He is practical and diligent and a terrific motivator with both interesting and varied programming and a keenly positive attitude and approach.  When I am travelling, which is often, Luke is a regular companion on Face Time and is he is incredibly innovative in terms of putting together challenging programming from, sometimes, a modicum of equipment. Luke is exceedingly knowledgeable respecting body related functional issues and body mechanics and related issues. He expects,  from those of us lucky enough to work out with him, as much as he gives - which is a lot.   He requires and expects both a significant commitment in terms of time and energy but also, in terms of discussion and planning - in all areas, including a well rounded discussion on lifestyle and nutrition.  Investing in time spent with Luke is a great gift to yourself.
Barbara Stanley, @ President, BESCO Holdings Inc.

Donaldo Canales

STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING

See Results

Overall

↓ 41 pounds
↓ 6.5 BMI (overweight → normal)
↓ 5 inches waist circumference
Resting HR 65 → 58 bpm
3 full wardrobe changes
↑ running ↑ cycling ↑ strength
↑ nutrition ↓ junk food ↓ booze
↑ energy ↑ subjective well-being

Weight Loss

Relative Strength (%)

Denise Cunningham

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STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING

When I first approached Luke, I was already training with a strength coach full time. My intention was to add him into my routine to help with mobility, & address the knee pain I’d been experiencing for several months. After two months of working together, and zero knee pain, I took Luke on as my full time coach. Luke is incredibly knowledgeable in terms of strength training, movement patterns, and creating an efficient plan to accelerate you towards your goals. But what makes him exceptional is the care and dedication he has to each one of his clients. Luke is continually reminding me of my potential, and each time I think I’ve reached my upper limit, he takes me another step further. His focus on habits, & their connection to your progress as an athlete, and human being, has been invaluable in the success I’ve experienced inside, and outside the gym. It’s these qualities that set Luke apart as a coach, that puts Zenith Health and Performance into a category all its own.
Denise Cunningham, @Power Engineer, Irving

David and Saira Goyette

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STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING

Luke Couture has played a central role in the athletic development of our son, Yaseen Goyette.  Our son is now 17 years old and has had the privilege of working with Luke from the age of 15 in the form of personal training. Because our son was very motivated to improve his athletic ability and reach his athletic goals, we carefully researched the province for someone well qualified and experienced in individual strength and conditioning programs for committed athletes. After Luke consulted with our son about his athletic goals, he empirically assessed his physical ability and biomechanics. He was able to provide our son with a detailed analysis that identified gaps for him to improve upon. This was very enlightening; Luke showed an otherwise excellent young athlete what needed attention to prevent injury and optimize his sport-specific performance, all while instilling life long habits and knowledge around safe and effective strength and conditioning practices. I have found Luke to be very understanding with our son about the pressures a young athlete faces such as time-management, multi-sport involvement, and mental well-being. Our son relates to him as a person he can trust, who understands him, and believe that his guidance and training are an undeniable reason for his success over the years. We believe all children need supportive adults outside their immediate family to help weather the challenges they face, and Luke is that objective person in his life. Finally, I believe the consistent athletic guidance and training program offered by Luke has allowed my son to dream “big” and believe in his true potential. He has not lost sight of his goals or belief in achieving them. The measurable improvement in his strength, movement, and physiological testing has given him self-confidence. We couldn’t want or expect more.  Thank you, Luke!
David and Saira Goyette,

Sabine Jurgens

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STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING

My exercise focus has always been the outdoors such as hiking, running, cycling, Nordic skiing and swimming.  I began training with Luke last year when I turned 60 with the idea that I wanted to participate in these activities for as long as possible.  Luke introduced me to the workings of a gym and over time the equipment and exercises became familiar.  As I progress in my training I notice that I enjoy my activities even more because of better conditioning. I have come to realize my training with Luke is a great investment.  The program he develops for me is based on a detailed testing assessment along with factors such as my goals, my preferences and any injuries I may have.  What I like most about my program is that it is fluid and changes over time depending on my progression.  I also greatly appreciate Luke’s attention to form - there is no exercise too simple for Luke not to notice form! I find Luke possesses a unique combination of professionalism and warmth that makes working with him a lot of fun.  I have come to feel comfortable and even enjoy working out in a gym.  I find he is especially easy to relate to for me because he is one of those rare people who enjoys the outdoors as much as I do.
Sabine Jurgens,

Paul Mifsud

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STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING

See Results

Overall

↑ energy
↑ leadership ability
↑ sleep ↑ nutrition
↑ overall well-being
systolic blood pressure 138 →  128
↑ posture ↑ balance ↑ strength
completed first 1/2 marathon
↑ aerobic capacity

Max Relative Strength

Max Aerobic Cycling Capacity (Vol x Int)

Gil Breau

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STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING

I came to Luke with the goal of building up and gaining strength for longevity in playing volleyball well beyond the 25 years I have currently been involved in the sport. After working with Luke over the past year on various aspects of form, injury prevention, mobility and strength, I have achieved my goals to keep playing competitively and become much more athletic in the process. Beyond that, I am equipped with better knowledge of how to keep my body conditioned and to mitigate injury risk as I continue to play. Luke has been collaborative, informative, and supportive throughout the journey, and I would recommend him to anyone looking to further improve their own wellbeing.
Gil Breau, @ Irving Oil

UNBSJ Women's Volleyball

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STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING

Luke’s training of the UNBSJ women’s varsity volleyball athletes predates my time as head coach with the program. Working a full time job in addition to coaching means the time I can dedicate to the team is limited. By planning and delivering quality fitness testing and structured, sequential programs that align with our team goals, Luke takes that aspect off my plate so that I can focus more attention on volleyball-specific skill development and strategy, knowing my athletes have the strength, stamina and fundamental movement patterns to sustain high level performance deep into tough matches throughout the course of a long season. Luke has adapted his programs to online delivery and catered to the limitations we’ve faced with respect to equipment access throughout the pandemic. He motivates, inspires, and teaches our athletes to maximize their progress in training, so that they can realize their goals on the court.
Colin Chambers, @ Head Coach, UNBSJ Women's Volleyball

Jackson Weir

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KEYNOTE SPEAKING

As Speakers Director of TEDxUNB 2019, I had the great opportunity to collaborate with Luke in preparation for our conference. I worked closely with him for several months leading up to the event and Luke demonstrated nothing but reliability and professionality. The theme of TEDxUNB 2019 was Odyssey and focused on embracing and enhancing our journey through life. His talk brought a unique perspective to this theme as he argued the importance of living life authentically. Luke was a key member of an extremely accomplished, inspiring and well received line-up of speakers and I strongly believe he would give a great keynote at any conference he sets his mind to.
Jackson Weir, Speakers Director @ TEDxUNB 2019

Derrick Ng

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PERFORMANCE CONSULTING

Less than a year ago I was in such horrible shape that I could barely bend my knees to crouch down and stack my shuttles after coaching. I was overweight and was dealing with a lot of pain throughout my body. I played badminton maybe once every three months or less, and even when I did it was very casual as I couldn't move at all. It has been less than a year (started in April 2023) since working with Luke Couture at Zenith Health & Performance, and not only can I play badminton again, I was able to compete and earn 1 BWF World Sr. Championship silver medal in Mixed, 1 BWF World Sr. Championship bronze medal in Men's Singles (for those who know me, seriously, this is crazy. I have never been a singles player!), and now 2 Canadian National silver medals in Doubles and Mixed, and the only male player in 2 finals at the age of 36! Working with Luke is the REAL DEAL. Stay tuned, more to come 😉
Derrick Ng, @11x Canadian National Champion, Top World Ranking 25