House of Training

Train Smart Move Well
House of Training Whangarei-gym-person lifting weights

Train Smart and Move Well

If you want to GetFIT and GetSTRONG but a regular gym is just not your thing, try functional fitness with House of Training Whangarei. You’ll find diverse coaches, awesome playlists, and a super supportive community of likeminded people just having fun and working out. 

The focus at House of Training Whangarei is to train smart and move well ensuring longevity in the fundamental movements of our Strength & Conditioning workouts that incorporate cardio, weightlifting, and a bit of gymnastics.

The workouts are designed for people of all ages and fitness levels with movements that are achievable for everyone and fully tailored to your own skill set and ability. Come along, try one of our fun classes for free, and experience the vibe.

House of Training Whangarei-push ups in gym

Let this be your happy place

House of Training, formerly known as FarNorth CrossFit, is a fully equipped gym for all your training needs. The gym provides free weights – Olympic barbells, kettlebells, dumbbells, slam balls and more, alongside traditional cable machines and cardio equipment all under one roof in a fully functional fitness facility designed specifically for all your health and fitness needs.

This is your safe place and your home away from home, where you can just continue being your awesome self. We understand that everyone has different needs and abilities and our programming, coaching, facilities and equipment reflect our desire to give our members the best personalised training experience possible. We’d love to show you around and have a chat about how we can best help you reach your goals.

Meet the COACHES

meet the coaches-House of Training Whangarei

With a lifelong passion for Health & Fitness and a special interest in martial arts and CrossFit, Loren is the owner, operator and coach at House of Training Whangarei. She has built on the previous owners vision of transforming the business from a CrossFit gym to an all-round, inclusive functional fitness facility vibe where everyone feels welcome and loves a good old-fashioned work out that will make you sweat and bond with your fellow fitness comrades. 

Loren’s coaching skills lie in form and technique, and she’s a stickler for good quality movements. She has worked tirelessly to make the gym a place where people love to come to get their fix of exercise and make the WOD (workout of the day) our members’ happiest hour of their day. Loren believes that life is for living, and that staying active is key for people to remain mobile, strong and full of vitality.

Absolutely in love with Olympic Weightlifting and has been competing in the sport for several years, her Barbell coaching role at House of Training is a perfect fit for Elaina. What’s truly special to her is the incredible community at House of Training. She says it’s like whānau. You’ll always feel at ease and supported by the coaches and members in the gym.

Nothing gives Elaina more joy than seeing others commit to improving their technique in lifting, rather than trying to pile on the weight. She loves working with members on nailing their form. Only then you can lift more, safely, and that will give you a lot more enjoyment and longevity in the sport. Elaina calls that a win-win!

Coach Stu started out as a joiner and worked for many years in the building industry. On his return to Aotearoa after travelling extensively overseas in his early 20s, he decided to follow his true passion, which is Health & Fitness. Stu completed a Degree in Sport and Recreation through NorthTech and AUT and furthered his career in health and sports.

Stu is your man for anything cardio. Having coached athletics in schools and at local clubs for several years, he’s a great running coach. At House of Training, a second home for Stu and his family, he appreciates the inclusive, non-judgmental culture. Our focus on moving well and using good form is a big plus for Stu. It means a lot to him that he can make a positive difference and help individuals make better choices, which ultimately makes our community a better place.

Of Samoan/Māori descent, Velmz comes from a Aiga (family) that values and holds a strong sense of whakawhanaungatanga and serving others. This is her WHY, what keeps her grounded and humble, and gives her purpose to be a better person. Velmz has been an athlete for most of her life across a range of sports – waka ama, boxing, rugby, powerlifting, and she was introduced to CrossFit in 2015.  

A grassroots youth worker by purpose, Velmz has a great love of all sports and the outdoors. She has a strong desire to see people thrive, not just survive, and her huge heart is her biggest strength. House of Training is a safe place for Velmz, where she can help change people’s lives through fitness and navigate her own health journey, too. She says it’s a place where ordinary people do extraordinary things.

Like most Kiwi kids, Paula grew up playing sports. She’s been a highly competitive swimmer, has competed at the World Masters Games, and played premier netball, basketball and a load of different training styles in between. About 10 years ago, a friend suggested to check out Functional Fitness and she hasn’t left.  

Much of her whānau coach sport, so it’s ingrained and a natural progression for Paula. She genuinely gets a kick out of seeing people ‘click’ and the fog clears so to speak, especially with technical movements. She has learnt from great coaches, and knows that building good movement patterns and sound muscle memory are key. She says House of Training is a safe place, where people are not all the same, and that’s the beauty.

Originally from Ireland, Baz discovered CrossFit in 2012. He initially got into it to maintain his fitness during the off season from football but found himself drawn to the intensity of the workouts and was motivated by the friendly, welcoming atmosphere and comradery. Baz started coaching after shadowing to fill a gap, then realised he enjoyed it and wanted to do more of it.

He’s now aiming to work through the specific CrossFit training levels. Baz enjoys all aspects of the sport – the lifting, gymnastics and cardio. In his coaching role, Baz appreciates watching people’s progress, especially in technique and confidence. He says witnessing growth and achievement with our members is incredibly rewarding!

Chris grew up in Whangarei and moved around for a few years for work and sport, then eventually found his home back here on the coast. His favourite part of Strength and Conditioning training is Oly lifting. He loves the continuous hunt for progression within all areas of training but finds Olympic lifting the most fun and rewarding.

Water skiing is his other passion, and CrossFit has been an amazing platform for off-water training. He says it has made him more confident on the water and completely enhanced his skiing!  Chris loves sharing his knowledge of the sport with others and watch our members grow, either as a healthy human or as an athlete. At House of Training, he has found a great community and he says he feels privileged to be a part of such a dynamic family!