Dave O’Brien
Coach & Former Owner Of 5th Element Wellness
'Will This Work For Me?'
I’m very honoured to not just call you a mentee but you’re an amazing colleague. I feel really honoured to be associated with you and I really love the message you’re putting out there and the extent that you’re going to spread these good messages and also what you’re doing to better yourself. For those that don’t know Alexander has invested so much time into education and development and it’s quite phenomenal and inspiring to watch.
Christian Woodford
Coach & Owner of Woodford Sport Science Consulting
I couldn’t have been prouder to watch young coach Alexander Sandalis present some of the course with me! I have literally watched this kid grow and develop into such a self-aware – high-level coach who I first met through a video he sent me to become an intern at my old facility Woodfordssc West (then coach)! Alex to me is the perfect example of someone who will never die wondering in life (reminds me of … well me lol) and literally took every opportunity I threw at him. More importantly, he is a friend and good human – more than anything I am so proud I can mentor these young trainers & coaches and then watch them take on the world.
George Bouios
Soccer Athlete (State League 2)
How do pick the best coach for you? What’s your criteria? For me, it’s honesty, passion and good communication. Equally important is that they have the relevant qualifications, experience and willingness to reflect and learn. Alexander has the above attributes and more. He has single-handedly had the biggest influence on my strength and conditioning. What I like about him and what I connected with most was the meticulousness with which he prepares himself, his coaching and his athletes. I like coaches who can articulate the “why” as much as the “how” in every exercise that gets prescribed. It shows a good understanding of art and science and its applications in maximising athlete performance. Great coaching is subjective; being a good person is non-negotiable. Alexander embodies both.
Tim Diegan
Coach & Owner Of Bodyseek Gym
You seriously are the best lecturer I have physically seen take cert 3 & 4.
Props to you for giving it your all.
The industry needs more people like you
Bianca Varigos
I’ve been training with Alexander for 10 months and it’s been the best decision I ever made for my love of building muscle & strength.
Alexander was fantastic to work with & exceeded all my expectations. He is a high achiever and it shows within his work. I was always so impressed with the knowledge, professionalism & effort Alexander produced. Not only did he want the best for himself by striving to perfect his craft, he gives his all to his students and gets them results.
It was more than just lifting weights, there’s a science behind it so it was an education, It was changing a mindset to better myself by knowing when to push the limits and when to pull back & re-assess. It’s about preparing you mentally so you can push yourself physically.
if you’re really serious about strength & conditioning and being smart about it. I would highly recommend Alexander and his expertise.
Most importantly – I loved training with Alexander and the programs he designed to cater to my goals. I found a friend in Alexander, and I wish this talented good guy the very best!
Angelica Ercolano (PT)
“He’s helped me immensely navigating my gut issues, transforming my ‘all-or-nothing’ mentality and providing new life-changing habits.”
“One of the biggest lessons you’ve taught me is…”
Lucy Rosza
Ninja Warrior Australia Contestant Athlete
Minhaz Chowdhury - Physiotherapist & Cert III/IV Student
Minhaz Chowdhury
Physiotherapist & Cert III/IV Student
Over the last 26 weeks of this Orphic education journey, the skills, lessons and experiences I learnt and shared were amazing. Having gone through various forms of education post-uni, I assumed this diploma would be like any other. Further from the truth, I could not have been. The attention to detail, the catering to every student, the work ethic and the relentless passion that exuded from Alex made this course by far the best I have ever attended. Not only were the granular details of strength and conditioning taught and practiced in a way that felt as if it was ingrained in our knowledge already, but the lessons and life experiences that add variability to the profession were tutored in a way that I have yet to see. The most valuable lesson I will take away from Alex is that in order for you to want and achieve the best for your client, you have to be the absolute best coach you can be in every aspect, and that starts with honesty to yourself and honesty to your clients.
Ben Di Cioccio
AFL Athlete & Cert III/IV Student
After 1 Month…
Where to begin with Alexander, I came to Alexander low on confidence, a few niggling injuries and a recent lung pneumothorax. What Alexander has done with me in 4 weeks is nothing short of unbelievable, I’ve discovered a new side to training, different approach to life and has changed me so much as a person, I am now growing in confidence and anything is achievable for me. I would recommend Alexander to anyone, he engages with people on another level which makes training with him all the more worthwhile. I’ve achieved so much with him in such little time and I am so excited for what the future holds. Mate, gotta say if you got me to send you a video of me talking about this stuff 4 weeks ago I wouldn’t have done it, I’m still coming to terms with how much impact you’ve had on me in 4 weeks, even the slightest things I am noticing! Thanks again bro 👊🏼 my future in sport is a lot brighter after meeting you!
After 2 Years…
When I look back on 2 years worth of coaching, I’m at a loss where to start!
I came to you when I was at my lowest, not knowing what I was truly signing myself up for, I think old me would’ve been intimidated by the amount of progress we have been able to make! Post-op I wanted to throw in the towel but having you in my corner made a world of difference. I hired you only as a coach, yet I’ve been given so much more than just a ‘coach’ and that is something that will have a lasting impact.
You took the eager, anxious skinny kid and made him into a formidable character, equipped with the tools to navigate challenges in all walks of life. More than just a coach.
It’s only upon reflection I realise just how far I’ve come, my competitive nature always has me looking forward, however when I look back at the photos, the first weights we lifted, the first speed sessions, first conversations… it’s almost unrecognisable the difference in character.
You’ve made a huge impact on my body, my mindset, my career, my education, the list goes on. What I truly value the most is that you’ve given me the tools to make conscious decisions on my own, rarely would you give me the answers straight away, however, you taught me to critically think which now gives me the skills to carry on with for the rest of my life.
I’m not sure this or any other testimonial could summarise our time of coaching, however, I am forever grateful I took that first step and asked you for help with my training.
Jen Flack
Cert III/IV Student & Personal Trainer
Thank you doesn’t seem to sum it up but for lack of a better word thank you. Thank you so much for the last 6 months, I feel so lucky to have had you teach our course (especially knowing the next group aren’t so fortunate). It has been nearly a weekly discussion between me and Scott just how lucky we were to have you taking our course, you have gone above and beyond from day one. You set the standard very high and never deviated from that. Researching questions out side of class, providing weekly resources and helpful articles, giving us access to your own study and information for free (I still can’t believe you did that), no stone was left unturned. Your passion for what you do is admirable and really sparked a drive in both myself and scott as he mentioned the other day we held ourselves accountable as we knew we couldn’t let you down (No class was missed without deliberation). You have an ability to get the most out of people and made us feel comfortable to share and learn without judgement. There are no limits to what you’ll achieve, I have no doubt you’ll make an excellent educator if you continue down that path and we’ll be first in line to buy tickets to the first Strength of Saad course should it ever exist.
I had the pleasure of learning from Alexander throughout the WSSC component of my certificate III & IV in fitness. He was passionate, committed, extremely knowledgeable and driven to get the best out of all students. I couldn’t have asked for a better teacher. He was not only thorough and in-depth with the content he delivered he also went above and beyond to provide extra knowledge outside of course content. He made sure we had well rounded knowledge from a diverse range of perspectives to ensure we have the opportunity to be the best coaches we can be. Alexander has an open mind and teaches from an unbiased perspective to allow us to create our own beliefs and not only make us better coaches but also better people. If you ever have an opportunity to learn from Alexander make sure you make the most of it.
Scotty Mcgill
Cert III/IV Student & Powerlifting Athlete
Thank you so much for the last 6 months! Jen and I had spoke about it you bring so much more to our lives then just education it helps us both bring the best out of ourselves. Can’t wait to see how far your passion takes you just make sure you remember us little people when you make it big 😉
Alexander Coached me through the WSSC portion of my Cert IV with Orphic Education. Never could I have imagined so much passion, commitment, and knowledge being brought to the table and passed onto us as what he did. No stone is left unturned due to his methodical literature and will to pass on as much information as he possibly can. He brought the best out of every single one of us and his diverse and open-minded way of thinking had us leaving every class not only smarter but wanting to be better people. It is an absolute privilege to have this guy in your corner.
Jesse Fleiszig
Soccer Athlete (FTS Development Squad)
I wanted to thank you very much for all of the effort that you’ve put into helping me achieve optimal health and wellness. It is abundantly clear that you have a deep sense of care for all of your clients’ individual needs. The journey was nothing short of incredible. I feel very privileged to have had such a strong foundation set for me to achieve my future health and wellness goals. You have also gone completely above and beyond by answering all questions I have had along the way to the best of your ability whilst always offering advice and providing valuable insights. I know that you are destined for a career nothing short of greatness given that you continue to provide the same level of care that you currently display for your clients. It has been a fantastic journey and I thank you very much and wish you every success for your future endeavours.
Katie Payne
Alexander Sandalis went over and beyond in terms of coaching and teaching us the cert 3/4 in fitness program. He is extremely thorough and dedicated in achieving excellence and only wanted his students to get the best possible experience out of this program. I was very grateful to have Alexander as a mentor these past 6 months as he had a wealth of knowledge and if he didn’t know the answer to something he went away and found out and came back with plenty of information on the certain topic. He is very transparent and he is never shy on encouraging people to ask questions as that is the best way to learn anything. I have learnt a lot from Alexander not just on fitness but also how to carry myself as a person and wanting to achieve excellence. He is a credit to himself and to any organisation that he works for, I know he will be very successful in whatever he chooses to do in his future and I’ll be keeping an eye on what he does.