Our Team

Our private gym is co-founded by one of the most experienced personal trainers and fitness business owners in NYC.

With 15 years in the fitness industry, Westley’s passion stemmed from his background in Mixed Martial Arts and weightlifting since his teens. The discipline and competitive mindset gained over years of training and fighting has culminated into UpFit Training Academy, NYC’s premier Small Group and Personal Training studio.

While completing his bachelor’s in Nutrition & Exercise Science at Queens College, Wes started his career as a personal trainer at New York Sports Club then moved to The Sports Club/LA on the Upper East Side where he rapidly became the company’s youngest Advantage Trainer (Tier 4). He planned to pursue his doctorate in Physical Therapy till the combined experiences of going to therapy for L4-L5 and L5-S1 disc herniations and his internship in cardiac rehabilitation pushed him in a different direction towards fitness and away from rehab. A passion for helping others eventually led to greater roles in corporate fitness management at Crunch Fitness and New York Health & Racquet Clubs. More success in sales and staffing pushed Westley into Baruch College’s MBA program while co-founding and operating Fit Formula, a fitness concierge service from 2012-2017, before founding UpFit.

Westley keeps things simple and focuses on four things daily: health, wealth, family, and personal development. Outside of work and training, he spends most of his time with Alex, Odin, and Brooklyn, his girlfriend, husky-mix, and schnoodle, he hosts epic UFC parties, and is a savage in karaoke.

Head coach and co-founder of UpFit, Paul is responsible for maintaining the high standards of UpFit’s Small Group Training and Personal Training programs.

Paul has been serving the fitness industry since 2008, and brings a wide variety of experiences including working with NCAA Division I athletes, corporate executives, retired baby boomers, and homemakers. His passion for sports and athletics as a youth sparked an interest in a career as a physical therapist, but he soon realized that sports performance, strength and conditioning, and fitness training were his true callings.

Paul started as a student intern at Cutting Edge Sports Training at his alma mater at the University at Buffalo. He worked with the local student athletes to further his interests in the field and led to internships at Fordham, Rutgers, and Baylor Universities.
With the completion of his master’s degree in Strength and Conditioning at Springfield College, he earned positions of assistant strength and conditioning coach at Trinity College, and head football strength and conditioning coach at Western New England University.

Paul pooled his experiences of collegiate athletics into working with the general population. He let his passion for the field fuel his dedication to positively impacting the healths of all his clients and those close to him. He currently practices boxing, is an avid combat sports enthusiast, and is looking for his first competitive match as an amateur. His hobbies include reading and traveling, and he prioritizes spending time with his family and close friends.

Josh, a New Jersey native, grew up in a challenging family environment where both his parents and siblings were constantly either dealing with obesity or chronic disease. As a teen, he found himself becoming a result of his surroundings: overweight, pre-diabetic, and hypertensive. As sports became increasingly difficult, Josh one day made the decision to change his lifestyle so that he could continue playing the sports he loved and be an example to his family that life can be different.

At 13 years old, a frustrated but determined Josh decided to making a change. He moved an old treadmill from the basement next to his bed, overhauled his nutrition, and lost 65 pounds as a result. The transformation inspired him to pursue a career in fitness as a Personal Trainer so he could share his experience and passion with others in hopes of helping them make positive changes as well.

Josh has spent the last 12+ years in the fitness industry in roles from a top tier trainer to fitness and studio manager where he lead personal trainers, group fitness instructors and sales teams at New York Sports Clubs, Equinox, TWA Hotel, and Orangetheory. He’s excited to bring his experience and enthusiasm to both the UpFit team and members alike.

In his free time, Josh enjoys traveling, playing basketball, biking, watching movies, networking, educating himself, and playing with his golden retriever. Fun Fact: Josh has been skydiving three times and is a huge thrill seeker.

Chris, a New Hampshire native, comes to us with 5 years of collegiate education in music, theatre, and dance from Plymouth State University and over 20 years of hospitality experience.

A passion for helping people began at an early age for Chris. As a natural performer, he used his gifts to entertain friends and family. Fast forward, and after years of honing his craft he has performed around the world, sharing those talents with many others. He believes with hard work and dedication you can achieve anything.

For the last five years, he has been a member of the New York City Gay Men’s Chorus, a wonderful organization that has taught him the power of community and chosen family.

That journey of community, found another home when Chris found UpFit Training Academy; where he discovered a community of coaches, members, and a training program that was a perfect fit, UpFit.

As a member going on 3 years, Chris has had a proven track record for repeatedly getting great results and making people laugh. His personal transformation resulted in losing 25 lbs in 3 months; showing his level of commitment and dedication.  He is a do-it first leader who strives for success.  Now as part of the team, he is excited to share that with others.

Originally from a small, hardworking farm town in Maine, Meg comes to UpFit with a colorful professional background in Ballet, Yoga, Cycling, Personal Training, and 10+ years of hospitality and customer service in NYC.

Being a performer her entire life, Meg has seen how movement, culture, and connection can change a person’s life. Her greatest passion is connection and helping others find new paths on their journeys; understanding their wants and needs and showing them the potential sitting at their fingertips.

Meg has been through her own journey with health and fitness, and she’s an outspoken advocate for Women’s Health research. Her own battles with female reproductive health and finding healthy relationships with food and exercise have brought her to the NYC fitness scene. She believes everyone can move their bodies and feel amazing with an individualized and caring approach- exactly what UpFit provides! She’s excited to help others connect to UpFit’s values and find their true potential.

Outside of UpFit, Meg teaches punk-rock cycling classes in Brooklyn, loves video games, baking, going out dancing, and writing/producing her own music. She also has two cats.

Coupling his passions for competition and building relationships that stem from playing sports through the collegiate level, Brian has been working as a personal trainer for the past year. After graduating Sacred Heart University with a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science in 2019, he wanted to put that knowledge to work.

Shortly after starting his coaching career, Brian realized how much he loved training and committed to sharing that passion with those who let him. After going through his own personal transformation, Brian understands the trials and tribulations that come with embracing a journey towards better health. He hopes to share his success story and impact every person he is fortunate enough to work with.

Brian believes the way to get results is through intentional movement, optimizing recovery, and consistency. Taking a lighthearted yet serious approach he coined his training philosophy “To enjoy the process as much as the outcome.”

He strives to educate himself daily to improve his craft, and be the best coach possible. His favorite ways to use free time is to spend it with family and friends. Outside of training, his hobbies include reading, playing handball, and watching anime.

Patricia spent most of her youth and teenage years playing basketball and picked up ballet the last couple years of her teens. Fitness and sports became a growing interest the moment she moved to New York from Spain 10 years ago and was introduced to the world of kickboxing. Her enthusiasm and eagerness to learn and perfect every strike led her to becoming a fitness kickboxing instructor for iLoveKickboxing, where she coached groups of 20+ and led 1-1 private sessions.

Over the years, Patricia’s own training progress improved dramatically when combining her kickboxing and Muay Thai training with strength & conditioning. She eventually began incorporating those same methods with clients and noticed dramatically better strength and fat loss results.

Patricia’s growing passion for helping others led to her becoming a Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) and afterwards enrolled in her 2nd bachelor’s program in Exercise Science at Brooklyn College to prepare her for a new career. In 2021, Patricia came in as a last year intern and is now a fully fledged coach at UpFit!

Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with friends, cooking, traveling to new places, and most of all, training in Muay Thai, with the hopes of competing in her first amateur fight in the near future.

David is a dedicated advocate for physical fitness and overall well-being, driven by a genuine passion to inspire others to lead healthy and fulfilling lives. From a young age, his love for sports and an active lifestyle laid the foundation for his lifelong journeys in the realm of fitness.

Initially pursuing a career in computer science, David discovered his true calling through introspection and a relentless pursuit of his passion. Recognizing that fitness had been a constant source of solace and personal growth during challenging times, he made the courageous decision to change his path and embrace his true passion. David redirected his academic focus, earning a bachelor’s degree in Nutrition & Exercise Science from Queens College.

As a lifelong learner and a student of life, David is committed to expanding his knowledge and refining his expertise. His commitment to excellence is rooted in his competitive nature, honed through years as an athlete and fierce competitor. David’s refusal to settle for mediocrity sets him apart, as he continually challenges himself to reach new heights and surpass ordinary standards.

At the core of David’s philosophy lies the belief that prioritizing physical and mental well-being is the key to achieving greatness. Firmly standing by the motto, “Health and wellness is the first step to greatness,” he recognizes that a strong foundation of physical fitness and mental clarity is essential for individuals to unlock their full potential. Outside of work and training, David finds joy in practicing mixed martial arts, playing tennis, running, and exploring various culinary delights.

Since an early age, David has always been interested in sports and as he got older, he eventually narrowed his focus onto baseball. While working on skill development for the game, he grew an even greater passion for strength & conditioning and the different methods available to enhance one’s physical capabilities.

Inspired by the impact of past coaches who played a pivotal role in his development as a player, David decided to pursue a career in fitness and graduated with his B.S. in Exercise Science from Rutgers University in 2019. As a result of his learning David was able to make improvements not only to his own training, but that of his close friends and family. After reflecting on these experiences and further working with various individuals, he recognized his desire to help those new to exercise reach their goals and better their health.

Through personal experience from starting his own fitness journey back in high school as an undersized kid, David acknowledges that the hardest part lies in having the courage to get started and trying one’s best to put forth a consistent effort. David believes the best exercise plan is the one you can stick to on a regular basis, and wishes to motivate Upfit members to put in a steadfast effort so that they get the most out of their training.

David strives to stay on the latest fitness trends and is always seeking to challenge his current ways of thinking in order to better his expertise and coaching ability. Aside from training and work, he enjoys spending time with his friends searching for good eats, watching sporting events, and playing volleyball.

Darcey was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland, she was very active as a child but due to academic pressures in school stopped playing sports, after a few years she noticed the impact this had on her physical and mental health. This provoked her to join a gym and get a coach. She immediately fell in love with strength and conditioning training and knew she wanted to work in that industry. She decided to do a Masters in Health and Nutrition studies while also obtaining strength and conditioning certification. During the pandemic she fell in love with practicing yoga so decided to carry out her teacher training.

Over the years, Darcey’s own training progress improved dramatically when combining her Yoga training with strength & conditioning, She used her a combination of her methods to not only improve strength and conditioning but also implementing mobility drills and movements that will promote longevity in her clients, This dramatically improved clients form in exercises but also they’re recovery.

Darcey’s growing passion for holistic health, recognizing that true well-being is multi-dimensional, however improving strength and cardiovascular fitness dramatically improves overall health, and carry overs into other dimensions, improving mood, sleep, and promoting healthier eating habits, a more disciplined life. She believes movement is medicine. She believes that understanding sustainable health practices contribute to a fulfilling and enduring life. This dedication to holistic well-being shapes her approach to personal training, inspiring others to prioritize their long-term health journey along with their short-term goals.

Outside of work, she enjoys hanging out with friends, hiking, reading, traveling but mostly she loves training and trying different styles of training and continuously learning.

From the basketball courts of middle school to the dynamic world of fitness coaching, Jelani Morris has transformed his passion for sports into a lifelong journey of physical empowerment. With a solid foundation in Exercise Science from Brooklyn College and a NASM certification, Jelani’s approach to fitness is deeply rooted in the discipline of calisthenics and the strategic integration of weightlifting.

His fitness quest began with the realization that strength was key to overcoming physical barriers in basketball. This epiphany led him to embrace a rigorous regimen of bodyweight exercises and, eventually, to master the art of calisthenics. Jelani’s dedication to this craft saw him conquer advanced techniques such as weighted pull-ups, archer push-ups, and the coveted muscle-up.

Jelani’s academic pursuits at Brooklyn College, coupled with his high school achievements at Brooklyn College Academy, furthered his expertise in weightlifting, resulting in a unique hybrid training style that maximizes muscle gains and athletic performance. Notably, his prowess with the jump rope has become a signature aspect of his training philosophy, attributing his leanest physical condition to this dynamic cardio exercise.

In 2020, after providing care for a family member, Jelani’s focus sharpened on professional development, leading him to pass the NASM CPT Exam and embark on a career in personal training. Now, as a proud member of the UpFit Training Academy, Jelani is dedicated to sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm with those eager to transform their lives through fitness.

Beyond the gym, Jelani enjoys the thrill of basketball, the excitement of wrestling, and the interactive worlds of video gaming. Yet, it’s the simple pleasures of family time, watching beloved TV shows, or movies that truly recharges his spirit.

Jelani Morris is not just a coach; he’s a testament to the power of dedication and the embodiment of a philosophy that views the journey to fitness as an enjoyable, lifelong adventure.

Andreas grew up as a frail kid on Long Island. Every food allergy, severe exercise-induced asthma, he spent his childhood being the last kid picked for dodgeball, in a sense.

Looking to make a change, he discovered weight training and went from 120 lbs in his senior year of high school to 160 lbs body weight in his junior year of college and has continued to pursue his goal of not being the weak string bean.

With ten years of work experience as a Strength Coach, Andreas uses his knowledge of physiology and resistance training to help as many people as possible gain confidence and self esteem through strength.

And having gone through multiple internships at athletic facilities, a physical therapy office, and barbell and Strongman gyms, he’s deduced that most methodologies paired with dedication and drive can help people get as strong as they desire.

In his spare time outside of training, Andreas loves to read sci-fi novels and has a passion for painting.

Quincy was born and raised in Bridgeport, Connecticut, spending much of his life playing sports, mainly as a hobby and for extracurricular activities. Despite being active, the entirety of his adolescence was spent being overweight, and at risk for diabetes. Throughout his high school basketball career, he suffered from numerous moderate to severe injuries. In addition, he entered his first year of college, being the most overweight he’s ever been.

He enrolled at St. John’s as a Biology major and worked as a PT Aide at Reddy Care Physical Therapy, ultimately putting himself on the path to become a Physical Therapist. At this time, he realized that being overweight and prone to injuries was a direct result of not adhering to healthy lifestyle habits, mainly due to a lack of prioritization, and education about fitness and nutrition. Determined to not perpetuate the family history of cardiovascular and metabolic disease, his passion for health and wellness started to grow.

After graduating from St John’s in 2021, Quincy shifted gears and decided to pursue his MS in Exercise Science and Nutrition at Queens College. In graduate school, he worked as a stretch practitioner at Stretch Zone, and as a Personal Trainer at Equinox. These two positions allowed Quincy to fully commit to helping people learn how to take care of their bodies and achieve optimal wellness through building healthy, sustainable habits.

Striving to remain as realistic as possible, Quincy lives by the motto “1 percent better every day”. You must choose to journey through life making every day better than it was the day before. During his free time, Quincy enjoys playing basketball, hanging out with friends, discovering new music, and cooking.