About Thrive Fitness
Connect with Thrive Fitness on their website and Instagram.
Matt Benfell
Founder & Head Coach
Matt began his coaching journey 15 years ago in London as a Personal Trainer and Reformer Pilates Instructor. His journey continued with a move to Sydney and, for the past 10 years, Singapore.
Since then his dedication to ongoing education has become the cornerstone of his coaching approach. Driven to demystify weight loss for the masses, Thrive was born, a place free from the usual weight loss confusion and BS.
Today, Thrive embodies Matt's vision: to help people manage their health and weight independently through education.
Over a decade of courses, mentorships, workshops, seminars, and hands-on experience have shaped his, and what has now become, Thrive's methodology. Matt takes a deep dive into each client's unique journey, focusing on gradual behavioural change for long-term, lasting results.
“The health and fitness world is full of misinformation. It not only confuses people, it leaves them with no results for their efforts, Thrive was created to change that.”
Welcome to Thrive, where we're revolutionising how fitness is done in Singapore and beyond.
Qualifications & Certifications:
Exercise, Strength & Conditioning
- Premier Advanced Personal Trainer Diploma, Premier Global NASM, Issued Sep 2010
- Anatomy, Execution & Biomechanics for Trainers, (N1 Education)
- Anatomy, Biomechanics & Programming (Modern Meathead, Ben Yanes)
- Muscle Mechanics (Eugene Teo)
- Muscle Nerds (Level 1)
- Gymnastics Bodies (Level 1)
- Strength Training for Fat Loss (Nick Tumminello)
- Science to Gym Floor Level 1 (JPS)
- The Essentials of Sport and Exercise Nutrition (Precision Nutrition)
- Nutrition for Physique Athletes, (Clean Health Australia)
- Advanced Considerations in Diet and Training (Renaissance Periodization)
Mentorships
- Jeff Alberts - Online Mentor (3DMJ)
- Stéphane Cazeault - Program Design Mentorship (Kilo Strength Society)
John Suriya
Head of Coaching & Education
Having been in the industry for nearly a decade, John is vastly experienced with working alongside a niche group of clientele – from expectant and new mothers, cancer and stroke survivors, the elderly, casual athletes, and post-operative patients, to those suffering from everyday pain in every joint imaginable.
Clients seeking pain-free movement and an improved quality of life, amongst other goals such as fat loss and general muscle building, usually seek out John for his knowledge and expertise.
Highly focused on exercise setup, technique, and execution, John pays extreme attention to detail to ensure every exercise fits the individual client and their goals.
His coaching philosophy encapsulates clear and effective communication, gradual changes to lifestyle habits, sustainable nutrition strategies, effective stress and sleep management, and highly structured strength training protocols.
Being coached by John at Thrive essentially means your physical, mental, and emotional well-being will be well taken care of.
Apart from being the exercise and technical coach for other trainers at Thrive, John is also Thrive’s resident manual therapist, treating patients’ musculoskeletal pain with a gamut of modalities such as dry needling, instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilisation, joint articulation, and deep tissue massage.
Qualifications & Certifications:
Exercise, Strength & Conditioning
- ACE Certified Personal Trainer (American Council on Exercise)
- BioForce Conditioning Certification (8WeeksOut)
- Anatomy, Execution & Biomechanics for Trainers (N1 Education)
- Nutrition & Program Design for Trainability (N1 Education)
- Level 1 & 2 Resistance Training Specialist (RTS Global)
- Kettlebells Level 1 & 2 (FIT Singapore)
- Science to Gym Floor Level 1 & 2 (JPS)
- Pre-Script Level 1 & 2 Coaching Certification
- Ben Yanes Modern Meathead Biomechanics Course
- Ben Yanes Programming Course
- Precision Nutrition Level 1 Certified (Precision Nutrition)
- Fitness Nutrition Specialist (FIT Singapore)
- Certified Pre- & Postnatal Coach (Girls Gone Strong)
- Prenatal and Postpartum Specialist (EL Coaching)
- Women’s Fitness Specialist (FIT Singapore)
- REHAB Essentials (Rehab Trainer)
Master REHAB Trainer (Rehab Trainer) - Corrective Exercise Specialization (The BioMechanics Method)
- Basic Sports Massage (International Sports Academy)
- Advanced Sports Massage (FysioTouch)
- Certified IASTM Practitioner (OMT Training)
- Certified Diploma in Osteopathic Articulation (OMT Training)
- Level 1 – Myofascial Needling & Cupping (Manual Medicine Australasia)
- Level 2 – Advanced Needling & Electrotherapy (Manual Medicine Australasia)
- Medical Acupuncture Level 1 (OMT Training)
Kwok Kah Onn
Head Coach, Head of Nutrition
As Head of Nutrition at Thrive, Kah Onn educates the coaching team, ensuring Thrive clients receive top-notch guidance on all things nutrition and health.
A self-proclaimed nutrition nerd armed with a Bachelor’s Degree in Food Science, Kah Onn makes understanding nutrition easy for our clients. His advocacy for sustainable change not only delivers outstanding results but fosters a healthier, happier experience for his clients.
Kah Onn's mission is to simplify health, training, and lifestyle approaches, inspiring clients to make better choices today that have a lasting impact. With hands-on experience in powerlifting competitions, he also makes sure you feel confident stepping into the gym, knowing you're in good hands.
Qualifications & Certifications:
Exercise, Strength & Conditioning
- National Council on Strength and Fitness (NCSF) Certified Personal Trainer
- ASSA Maximising Running Performance
- Ben Yanes, Modern Meathead - Anatomy, Biomechanics & Programming
- Bachelor’s Degree with Honours in Science, Food Science, and Technology, Valedictorian (National University of Singapore)
- Nutrigenetics & Food As Medicine (Monash University)
- Agribusiness and Agricultural practices (Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Zaragoza)
Hannah Ezekiel
Thrive Coach
Passionate, energetic, and committed to transforming lives through fitness, Hannah’s aim is to guide individuals to achieve their goals in a practical manner. With a belief in a well-rounded approach to fitness, she emphasises not only exercise and strength but mental well-being and life balance.
Having come from the corporate world originally, she reassessed her priorities and decided to embark on a journey helping others with their health and fitness. Drawing upon her corporate experience, she tailors fitness programs that resonate with busy professionals, acknowledging the unique challenges they face in their day to day lives. Few coaches possess the unique perspective of having experienced both walks of life.
Exercise, Strength & Conditioning
- International Sports Scientists Association (ISSA) Personal Trainer
- Ben Yanes Modern Meathead Biomechanics and Programming
- International Sports Scientists Association (ISSA) Nutritionist
- Girls Gone Strong Pre -& Postnatal, December 2024
Ang Yi Xuan
Thrive Coach
Yi Xuan is a strength and conditioning coach with a clear mission: to empower women to feel confident in the gym, through strength training that’s supportive, informed, and built around what matters to them.
Backed by a degree in sport science, her coaching combines evidence-based programming with a strong focus on education and long-term health. She’s particularly passionate about helping women understand the impact of strength training across their lifespan, building bone density and strength early to lay the foundation for greater resilience and independence that last a lifetime.
Yi Xuan prioritises proper movement, effective cueing, and creating a safe space for women to ask questions, learn about their bodies, and work towards meaningful goals. Having experienced an ACL injury herself, she brings empathy and patience to every session, especially when working with clients recovering from injury or working through pain.
Her coaching is grounded, thoughtful, and always client-first, designed to help women move better, feel stronger, and carry the confidence beyond the gym.
Qualifications & Certifications:
Exercise, Strength & Conditioning
- Bachelor’s Degree with Honours in Sport Science & Management (Nanyang Technological University)
Nigel Lee
Thrive Coach
In a world full of confusing fitness advice, Nigel focuses on clarity, structure, and what truly works. Coming from a demanding corporate background, he understands how difficult it can be to prioritise health while managing work, stress, and limited time. Having trained consistently since his early teens, he brings a realistic and relatable perspective to staying active in a busy lifestyle. His coaching centres on building habits that last and making fitness an enjoyable, sustainable part of everyday life rather than something that feels overwhelming.
At Thrive, Nigel aims to create an environment where anyone can feel comfortable learning, lifting, and building confidence at their own pace. With more than a decade of personal gym experience behind him, he breaks down complex ideas into clear, practical steps that feel achievable and structured. His coaching style is grounded, encouraging, and designed for individuals who want genuine, sustainable progress.
Qualifications & Certifications:
Exercise, Strength and Conditioning
- ACE Certified Personal Trainer (American Council on Exercise)
- Ben Yanes Modern Meathead Biomechanics Course
- Ben Yanes Programming Course
Pain and Injury Management
- Rehab Essentials (Rehab Trainer)