When you speak to Irfan Gazdar, one thing becomes clear almost immediately: for him, fitness is not about quick fixes, miracle diets, or intimidating gym culture. It is about people — their stories, their barriers, their relationships with their bodies, and the cultural and family contexts that shape their wellbeing.
A qualified personal trainer with a global perspective, Irfan is committed to making exercise accessible, welcoming, and culturally sensitive for communities who are often overlooked within mainstream fitness spaces. Today, his work spans clients of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds — from women in their menopause transition, to ethnic minority women seeking safe training environments, to young people preparing for physically demanding careers.
A Global Background With Local Impact
Irfan’s approach is shaped by his lived experience. Having grown up in Kuwait from 1975 to 1989 and later returning as a personal trainer at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in 1997, he learned early on how cultural norms influence attitudes toward exercise.
Training clients who wore hijab, working with families across Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and India, and engaging with diverse communities helped him develop the empathetic, adaptable style he’s known for today. This has proven especially valuable when working with culturally diverse women, people with disabilities, and those who may feel self-conscious or excluded in traditional fitness settings.
For Irfan, fitness is not just physical — it strengthens families, bridges generations, and builds community confidence.
Meeting People Where They Are
One of Irfan’s guiding principles is simple: everyone starts somewhere.
During a recent conversation with Sporting Equals, he reflected on a new client — a woman nearly 60 years old who had never played sport in her life.
Rather than setting unrealistic expectations, Irfan focused on gradual progress, sustainable routines, and positive reinforcement. By designing simple exercises she could manage at home and celebrating her early improvements, he helped build her motivation from the ground up.
This compassionate, confidence-first approach echoes throughout his work. Whether supporting a cleaner who believes her active job “counts as exercise,” or helping a pre-menopausal woman navigate energy fluctuations, Irfan prioritises understanding, patience and consistency over pressure or perfection.
Respecting Culture, Diet and Identity
Unlike trainers who impose rigid nutrition plans, Irfan integrates food preferences, cultural traditions and religious dietary requirements into each client’s plan.
Whether someone follows halal, kosher, vegetarian or Asian dietary patterns, Irfan makes sure the foods they enjoy remain a part of their lifestyle — simply prepared in healthier ways. His goal is always sustainability, not restriction.
As he puts it, “It’s not about forcing people to eat things they don’t like. It’s about helping them enjoy what they already eat, but better.”
Adapting to Real Lives: Family, Work and Time Constraints
Irfan understands the daily pressures his clients face — from shift work and childcare, to demanding jobs and household responsibilities.
Instead of asking people to change their lives for fitness, he adapts fitness to their lives. This means:
- Evening sessions for busy working mothers
- Early morning starts for those who prefer to train before work
- Realistic guidance on carving out just one hour a day, even if it means swapping TV time for movement
For many of his clients, that flexibility is what makes long-term change possible.
Building Confidence Through Small Groups and 1:1 Coaching
Many people who haven’t exercised for years, or who feel self-conscious, prefer starting with 1:1 sessions. Irfan offers exactly that — a safe space to learn proper technique, build confidence, and feel capable before joining others.
For those training in groups, he intentionally pairs clients who motivate each other, even if their ages or abilities differ. One recent example involved a 25-year-old former footballer with a knee injury and a 50-year-old woman navigating pre-menopause. By incorporating exercises each woman excelled at, he created a subtle sense of friendly competition — boosting both their confidence and enjoyment.
A Holistic Vision: Fitness for the Whole Family
Beyond individual sessions, Irfan is deeply passionate about supporting families — particularly around menopause. Having supported his wife through the transition, and many women experiencing it, he understands how menopause impacts not only women but their partners and households.
His programmes often include exercise adaptations for men as well, encouraging a shared, family-based approach to wellbeing.
Why Irfan’s Work Aligns With Sporting Equals
Sporting Equals champions equality, participation and community empowerment — all principles that lie at the heart of Irfan’s practice. His culturally sensitive methods, inclusive coaching style, and strong experience working with ethnically diverse communities make his work a natural fit for initiatives aiming to break down barriers to physical activity.
With experience across continents, fluency in community needs, and a genuine passion for helping people transform their lives, Irfan brings both expertise and empathy to every session he leads.
Looking Ahead
Irfan continues to expand his reach through online programmes, collaborative events, and partnerships with community organisations. His website — ig-elitefitness.es — offers further insight into his training philosophy, client stories and personal journey.
Whether he’s supporting a 60-year-old woman taking her first steps in fitness, guiding young adults into strength-based careers, or helping a 90-year-old father stay mobile, Irfan approaches every client with patience, cultural awareness and unwavering belief in their potential.
His work reminds us that fitness can be for everyone — at any age, in any body, from any background — when approached with understanding, respect and community at its core.
