About Us

Natural High Health & Fitness

Natural High is a holistic personal training and lifestlye coaching service based in Sydney. Natural High also specialises in training people for trekking adventures and offers clients the opportunity to train to take on adventure treks in destinations such as Nepal, Ladakh and New Zealand.

Alex Shirley

Alex is the founder of Natural High and he continues to act as the head personal trainer and lifestyle coach. Alex originally trained and worked as a solicitor but left the world of corporate law to pursue his interest in health and fitness. With this background, he is very aware of the pressures involved in maintaining a balanced lifestyle. He uses his prior experience to provide clients with a highly professional service. Alex is passionate about trekking and has trekked throughout the Himalayas, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.

Qualifications: CHEK Exercise Coach CHEK Holistic Lifestyle Coach CHEK Certified in Core Conditioning, Program Design and Back Training Certificate IV in Personal Training AGSHSS Mediball Certification Pilates Matwork Certification Diploma of Remedial Massage Older Adults Training Certification Registered with Fitness Australia Senior First Aid Certification LLB (Hons) Law and European Law Bachelor of Teaching

Community/Environmental Aid

Natural High believes in sustainable living and offers clients the opportunity to contribute to a valuable community or environmental aid project whilst on adventure treks.

Natural High also encourages all clients travelling on the adventure  treks to offset the greenhouse gas emissions of their international flights using Greenfleet. Greenfleet is a not-for-profit organisation that provides a  program to reduce your impact on the environment by planting native trees on your behalf to offset your emissions. Since 1997, Greenfleet has planted almost 3 million trees. These trees will form permanent forests and will create an investment in rural Australia for future generations. See further details on how to offset international flight and car emissions here.

Testimonials

"I have now been training with Alex for a couple of years. Alex is an amazing trainer, who takes a really holistic approach to health and fitness. Not only does he construct personalised training sessions to keep exercise interesting and challenging, he offers advice and information on diet, lifestyle courses and a whole host of really helpful things to keep you focussed. He has a great style to really make you work hard and get the most out of your workout (without the "bootcamp" rant!). Alex practises
what he preaches and embodies all that he teaches. He is constantly taking courses to expand his knowledge about health and nutrition and is dedicated to passing this information on to his clients in a fun and motivating way." Jodie Koning, Marketing Executive.

"I was recommended to Alex Shirley by a friend a couple of years ago and can unhesitatingly say that it has been a wonderful recommendation for me that I can in turn make to anybody who is interested in some personal training. I came to him with an exercise background in running and aerobic sports. He has built on that with a varied programme of exercises promoting flexibility, stability and strength and also promoting "core work". The benefits were quickly apparent and have been sustained: not least because of Alex's combination of good humour, intelligence, enthusiasm, encouragement and discipline." Larry King, Senior Counsel.

"I've trained on and off for over 7 years, yet during my sessions with Alex over the course of the last 9 months, usually twice a week, I am still learning new things every week! I've had tri-athletes, naturopaths and body builders all provide me advice over the years, none of which have had the in-depth knowledge to do with training, weight loss and diet as good as Alex. Alex has an excellent way of analysing one's weaknesses and strengths and then developing routines that really push one to the limit whilst still allowing for an acceptable duration of exercise, in my case 1 hour. Alex has a great philosophy on life and is a good source of intelligent and funny conversation which breaks the occasionally monotonous nature of exercise and provides me a great stress free environment that allows me to easily forget my worries at work." Andrew Nell, Financial Advisor.

"Having trained with Alex for over three years I can wholeheartedly recommend him. From putting together a great programme to get me through a marathon, to motivating a group of friends to get fit on Saturday mornings in the park, to bush walks in various national parks, his approach is always fun and challenging, without ever resorting to bullying or nagging. Alex is always available to help out with any questions and goes beyond the sessions to help out with food diaries, recommendations on healthy home catering solutions and even motivational tapes. I wouldn't consider anyone else!" Katie Saunders, Marketing Executive.

"In September 2006 I travelled to Ladakh, India as part of a trek organised by Alex Shirley of Natural High. I'd been looking to do a trek around India or Nepal for a number of years following the numerous recommendations I'd had from people who've been there over the years. I was looking forward to the physical challenge, a real cultural change and some great scenery. Well on all counts I think my imagination had underestimated the reality of the trip. It was fantastic. The physical side can be tough with the altitude but you have a great team of people to help you through and you tend to feel fitter and fitter as the trip goes on, must be the fresh air and the healthy food.

Culturally, it was such a change from living in Sydney, not just in terms of how people look and dress but also how they behave and how friendly everyone is. The scenery is the most incredible of all. The photos will never do it justice because they cannot give you the feeling of space you get when you're there. Whether it's looking at snow capped mountains that cross the Chinese, Tibetan and Nepalese borders, or scaling passes that form part of the old silk road or the day we came down out of the mountains following the rivers and passing village after village of friendly locals.The trip wasn't just about the hiking though. The 2-3 days we spent either side of the trip in Leh acclimatising to the altitude were just about the most relaxing I've had. Whether hiking up to the occasional temple or cycling around the local countryside or visiting Leh, we saw something with each trip and still had time to put our feet up in preparation for the voyage ahead.

Alex's organisation of the whole trip was spot on, everything seemed to have been taken care of and sorted out in advance. Bill Kite and his team are I imagine the best people you could go trekking with. They are professional, dedicated and great fun. I couldn't recommend a better group of people. What did I enjoy most about the trip? It's just a huge adventure. It's so different to anywhere else and at the same time you are getting a physical challenge you couldn't repeat by staying at home. In spite of all that we did on the trip, and it was lot in two weeks, it was also the most relaxing and invigorating trip I've ever been on. You feel energised for months afterwards rather than a few days. I can't wait to go again." Russell Pendlebury, Energy Industry.

"I really enjoy and look forward to my training sessions with Alex because of the variety he builds into my programme from week to week. Alex not only keeps me motivated from a fitness point of view, he also gives me great advice on nutrition and general wellbeing. It's great to have a set of goals to work towards and to have someone like Alex to keep you on track." Kristene Mullen, PR Executive.