Real coaches.
Real
results.
Your personal trainers in Poole — 25 years of coaching, a World Champion on the team, and a gym that actually knows your name.
If you've been thinking about getting a personal trainer but something's been holding you back — we get it. Maybe you feel out of shape and don't want to walk into a gym. Maybe you've tried before and it didn't stick. Maybe you're not sure you're fit enough to start.
A lot of the people who train at 180 Strength felt exactly the same way before they started. They were nervous. They weren't sure it was for them. They'd had bad experiences at other gyms.
What they found — almost without exception — is that once they walked through the door, everything changed. A coach who knew their name. A programme built for them. A group of people who made them feel like they belonged.
"You don't need to be fit to start. You just need to start."
— James Rufus, Head Coach
Here's the team you'd be working with.
"I was nervous to start but could not have been made to feel more welcome. Everything was explained and I felt empowered to learn and improve."
Katie A. · Poole
"180 Strength is the BEST place if you're looking for a supportive environment, with coaches who genuinely want to see you succeed."
Google review · 5 stars
"All coaches are very knowledgeable and professional. Workout groups are small, you get personalized advice, and no one feels left out."
Google review · Poole
James founded 180 Strength over 25 years ago with one belief: that the fitness industry was selling memberships instead of results. He built the gym, the team, and the programme around fixing that. Over a quarter of a century, he's coached more than 1,250 members in Poole — and he's still on the gym floor every day.
He specialises in body transformation and strength programming for adults in their 30s, 40s and 50s — the people the fitness industry consistently underserves. His approach is direct, structured, and built on what actually works rather than what's fashionable.
Sofia is a Commonwealth Gold Medallist and IPF World Bronze Medallist in powerlifting — competing for Great Britain in her 40s. She's not a coach who reads manuals. She's a coach who has stood on the world stage and won.
She specialises in women 35+ — the hormonal shifts, the slower recovery, the feeling that your body has stopped responding. She's lived it herself and coaches from the inside out. Her members don't just change how they look. They change how they feel about what their bodies can do.
Nick is the coach people come back to. His sessions are structured, progressive and demanding in exactly the right way — he has a natural ability to push people past what they think is possible without ever making them feel like they're failing.
His passion is progressive strength training — the kind that builds a body that works better over time, not just looks better in a photo. His members consistently lift more, move better, and perform at a higher level than they ever thought they'd reach.
Ash brings two things to every session: deep technical knowledge and relentless attention to detail. He specialises in athletic performance and body composition — and he approaches every member's programme with the same precision he'd apply to an elite athlete.
His technical eye for movement is exceptional. Clients who've trained elsewhere and felt like they were working hard but not progressing consistently find that Ash identifies what's actually holding them back — and fixes it.
Madison holds a Master's degree in Strength and Conditioning — one of the most rigorous qualifications in the fitness industry. She brings an elite academic background to the gym floor, combining evidence-based programming with the kind of practical coaching that actually changes people's lives.
She coaches both group sessions and 1:1 personal training, and her depth of knowledge means she can meet any member — beginner or experienced — exactly where they are and build from there.
Train with
this team.
Book a free 15 minute call with James. No obligation, no hard sell — just an honest conversation about your goals.
📍 180 Strength · 7 Dear Hay Lane · Poole BH15 1NZ · Mon–Fri 6am–9pm