“When I met Ricardo, I was expecting to hear about his fitness ideas (as a journalist I meet experts all the time who claim to have found the Holy Grail of Health). I wasn’t expecting to be transformed.

I have road-tested many fitness fads over the years and had results that looked good at the start but would eventually plateau (or the workout would get downright boring). By comparison, Ricardo believes in surprising the body constantly and he continually changes up his workouts so that you never get bored. He has a bottomless toolkit of intriguing equipment from TRX bands to a tightrope strung up between two trees, so that you never know quite what you’re going to get. Sessions are taken in a leafy park by the harbour so that working out never feels like a drag.

Training with Ricardo has made me completely reassess my diet and lifestyle. From eating less protein, minimising dairy and grains and incorporating raw food wherever possible, to working out smarter, not harder.

He’s up to date with the latest health research and is not afraid to innovate in both his training techniques and dietary advice to reflect it. Some of Ricardo’s methods seem unconventional at first and at every turn I questioned him relentlessly (ever the skeptical journalist) and each time he would reply with links to the latest study or research that backed up his theories. He’s also a lovely, gentle person and never shoves it down your throat.
It's hard to say no to him.

Ricardo’s methods must be working. I’ve never had anything dramatically change my body in such a short amount of time. After five weeks, I’m already three kilos lighter and feel cleaner and leaner than I was before my wedding. As a busy working mum with an 18 month old that’s no mean feat. As swimsuit season looms, I am looking forward to seeing more results."

“In the 10 years I’ve been a beauty and health journalist, I’ve seen pretty much all there is to see when it comes to the world of fitness and gyms. It’s a pretty sad reality, but Ricardo is actually the first trainer I’ve worked with who is serious about making exercise fun. Under his tutelage, I’ve switched to outdoor fitness and have never felt more enthusiastic about working out. Three months ago I was lucky if I could jog for a minute without passing out.

All I needed was a series of twice-weekly sessions with Ricardo and now I’m easily completing runs like the City to Surf and training for my first half marathon next month. Not bad for someone who never thought they’d call themselves a runner.

Ricardo breaks up workout boredom with interesting training devices, exercises you never thought you’d be able to master and encouragement all the way. He has made me realise that fitness doesn’t have to be delivered in a pre-packaged gym format, and with a little imagination, the great outdoors is all you ever need.

Five years ago I was a super-fit gym junkie, but the demands of two children and a full-on career whittled all motivation away. Now I’ve finally got my enthusiasm back and crave being active, and its all thanks to Ricardo getting me back on track. If you’re a stuck in a rut, I’d highly recommend him – you won’t regret it.”

“I love Ricardo Riskalla, what an incredible being of light and love. Ricardo has been training me for a while and he brings a different approach balancing mind, body and spirit and on a physical sense I am already seeing results far superior to any training I have previously done.

Ricardo and I are kindred spirits, both on the path of contribution to others. We are both passionate about health and wellness and together we bounce things off each other, discover new heathy recipes, create programs and work together for the betterment of others. It is such a gift to my life to find such a blessing as Ricardo in this world.

Thank you Ricardo, you are my soul brother and you make a massive difference to other people's lives.

Thank you for being part of my journey.

Much love.”

“Find a good tailor! After been with Ricardo for 2 months I have seen a drastic change in my body, 30cm off my stomach and 10kg's lighter. All from following the Ricardo Riskalla Training plan and working out with Ricardo, if you have the drive to change your body, then Ricardo can show you how to!

But, make sure you have the name of a good tailor, because after 2 months, nothing will fit you!”

“Ricardo invests himself in each and every client - more so than any other trainer I have ever met.  He listens to your goals and strategizes a plan to achieve that.  He checks in during the week, making sure you are doing your homework (training) and holds you accountable for the results that he expects you to achieve.  He's not like other trainers who are 'out of sight and out of mind' whenever you leave their sessions……Ricardo expects commitment and serious results so you don’t have a choice, but to do what he says! My goal was to be sculpted….and he helped me achieve that with his (quite scary) measuring tape and body fat % calculations.  

He has a great passion for all things to do with fitness, from exercises that make you feel muscles you never knew you had, to great tips on nutrition and health/wellbeing.  He has encouraged me to start running, something that I never thought I could do, and I now I really enjoy it and participate in organised runs around Sydney.

Ricardo is a true professional, and if you want to achieve results, then I can't think of anyone better to work with!”

“About a month ago, I was in a very lazy and unmotivated place in terms of exercise. I had been going to the gym on and off for years, being motivated for a few weeks here and there, but when I didn’t see any immediate results or the changes that I wanted, I would give up or fall out of the habit. For this reason, I was hesitant that I could find an exercise routine that would keep me motivated, up until I met Ricardo. Even after our first chat, it was obvious that I would make a positive change, not just with exercise, but with my eating habits as well. As I walked away, I was excited, not only about our future sessions, but also his plan to change my lifestyle for good!

After three days on Ricardo’s detox plan (which, by the way, is a far cry from the ‘I-don’t-eat-a-single-thing’ lemon detox diet), I had already lost cm’s off my body! Once the detox was done, I moved onto the healthy eating plan that Ricardo had created. And to my surprise, it is a completely realistic and achievable lifestyle change! I am never hungry and I feel way more energetic than I ever have. I’m not going to lie; I haven’t stuck to it every day (after all, there are just some days where a girl can’t go without chocolate), but instead of getting in trouble when I showed up at training like I expected, Ricardo merely had a chuckle and offered me the support I needed to get back on track! (And some healthy chocolate brands that he allows me to have as a treat now. Yum!).

Combine all that with some tough but fun workout sessions, and I’ve been feeling pretty damn good! Ricardo’s training is not your typical (ie boring) ‘cardio, plus weights, equals weight loss’ session. He makes every single session enjoyable – every day is different! I am also doing a lot less cardio than I thought I would be doing (yay!), as he focuses on strengthening and toning to promote weight loss. The sessions are also packed with new information, as Ricardo has an interesting and informative answer to every question I ask.

All in all, I noticed a positive change to my body within a couple of weeks of starting with Ricardo. I have found a lifestyle change that I can stick to, and have gained enough understanding of it that I feel like I could keep it up whenever my sessions with him end (which hopefully isn’t any time soon). He is the most knowledgeable, passionate and fun trainer that I have ever come across, and he motivates and supports me in every way. It is a pleasure to go to training every week and I will continue to recommend Ricardo to everyone that I can!”

“My name is Dmitri Zorin, I have known Ricardo for a few years. I can say that Ricardo is a very determined person and very professional. He is very passionate about sports and I can say that he does it with his heart.

Ricardo is a very good trainer. He puts a lot of attention on diet, variety of exercises, seeing his clients as a whole. If you are looking for a trainer, stop here and speak to Ricardo. You will be very happy to train with him.”

“We love working with Ricardo here at Bella - his holistic approach aligns with our management style and we have had fantastic feedback across the boards!"

“Through Ricardo’s well thought out and funky training sessions I have been able to change my diet and have lost 20 kilos and gained the muscles I have needed to achieve success in motor racing.

Ricardo’s training has improved the quality of my life and I will be forever grateful.”

“I have know Ricardo since he started out as a personal trainer. being one of his teachers he stood out from the begining with his already astute knowledge, thirst for learning and great physical ability.

Over the last many years Ricardo and I have kept in touch and I am always impressed at the rate that he increases his knowledge and keeps up to date with all the latest techniques and ideas.

Ricardo offers such a well rounded approach to fitness that he is capable of servicing everyone looking to improve their physical, emotional, and mental health and fitness. And the funny thing is, that over the last years he has given me such good advice and inspiration that sometimes i feel that now I have become the student and he is the teacher.

I'm very proud of him.”

“We love working with Ricardo Riskalla as he focuses on the whole person - physical, emotional and spiritual. In a business that tends to focus only on the physical we find our clients respond to his holistic approach, building a platform to long term health, happiness and success.”

“Genius! Amazing, informative, and compelling. Highly recommended for anyone concerned about their health, fitness and physical well-being.

After 3 days of training with Ricardo and following his diet I could already see and feel a big difference with my body. He really gives you all the motivation you need to achieve your goal while also following up on how you're doing, even after the class is over. Getting in shape has never been that easy and fun!

His dedication to his work is wonderful and makes you want to train even harder. The homemade Raw Food he sometimes brings to class are a very sweet plus!

Thank you very much Ricardo!!!

I really enjoyed training with Ricardo during my work as a model in Sydney Australia. He helped me to lose weight and shape up for work. Also the way he could fit the sessions into my daily schedule was very good. A lot of good energy, I enjoyed his company and looked forward to every session every time.

Ricardo has helped improve my body. My completion is better, I have lost weight and I feel much more energetic and healthy thanks to the delicious and healthy diet and exercise program!

Ricardo’s training has been one of the most rewarding training experiences I've ever done. After our first training session I felt more motivated and inspired than I have in a long time. I learnt so much about how to not only change my body for the better but also nourish it with the right nutrients. I am forever thankful to Ricardo! He's made me a healthier and happier version of myself.

Before I started training with Ricardo I was unfit and felt tired and sluggish. Within the first week of training and following his eating plan, my skin was visibly clearer and my energy levels had considerably increased. Four weeks on, I feel the best I have ever felt. Ricardo has a very holistic approach to exercise and nutrition. I would recommend him to anyone who wants to enjoy a healthy and happy life. We only have one body and Ricardo sure knows what to do with it to get amazing results!

I have never seen such accelerated, dramatic and positive changes in myself

Whilst being on Australia's Next Top Model I realised how unfit I was and how almost everything I ate was unhealthy. It was not until after ANTM I knew I needed to change my lifestyle, in that time I was struggling to find any successful ways to keep fit and eat healthy. Thankfully I was introduced to Ricardo, and his cook book. With his knowledge and motivation it has given me a completely new outlook on health and fitness.

I noticed results straight away. Also with his training and diets I continue to see results weekly. I have never been this healthy and I truly believe if it wasn’t for Ricardo's help I would not have been able to reach my goal.

Now with Ricardo Riskalla Training I can walk into a training session with a positive mindset, previously dreading what was to come in a session with other fitness coaches. After my first meeting with Ricardo my attitude toward fitness and healthy living changed entirely.

His pure, energetic approach and love for what he does influences others. Constant communication & professionalism from someone with the intelligence to educate and who knows exactly what they’re talking about. Exactly what I needed.

Great mentor, friend, support and an excellent trainer with background knoweldge to back up the physical outcomes. Best trainer I’ve ever had and one of the most reliable people I’ve ever had the pleasure to meet.