The Gym Yamba

The Gym Yamba Here at The Gym Yamba we help people become fitter, stronger, healthier, confident and more athletic But I was wrong........Very wrong. That's it. Your body.

I BELIEVE

For a long time I've followed the 'fitness industry' and offered Fat Loss Challenges and Muscle Building Transformations with the hope I was achieving what I got into this industry for in the first place. My job isn't to provide you with short term aimless goals such as "a 6 week six pack" or "drop 10kg in 28 days" or "build 5kg of muscle in 6 weeks". In doing that, I'm moving away fro

m my WHY. Why I pursued a career in this industry in the first place? It is "To help people become healthier and more athletic versions of themselves". Nothing more, nothing less. If you focus on that, then any goal you want to achieve, will come to fruition. Sure, all those goals above are great goals (maybe a bit overzealous, but goals nonetheless) and it's great to have goals like these. But they need to be personal. Mean something to you. And be achieved without disrupting the metabolic health of your body! This is where I believe the industry is failing. Getting you a promo six pack is more important than the long term health of you. Your hormones. Your digestive system. Surely you know someone who has a great six pack, but can't get pregnant. Or is awesome at training, but has an irregular menstrual cycle. Or eats 'clean food' but takes thyroid medication. Is super fit/muscular, but has the sexual drive of a pushbike (I couldn't think of anything funny - ha). This isn't acceptable nor is it meant to be normal. There are stacks of stories like these. Being 'unwell' is normal....and it shouldn't be! I also heard today via some feedback that many people are 'scared' to come and train with me at The Gym Yamba. That's my fault. I'm sorry. I haven't been providing you with the right message. The message that enables you to make the clear & comfortable decision to walk through the door and train with us. Knowing full well that we will bend over backwards to serve you. To provide with all the education you need to exercise correctly with zero injuries, to support your training with optimal nutrition and feel like a million bucks would look in your bank account! Bloody fantastic! ;-)

So let us ALL please get off the fat loss merry-go-round and understand the importance of a lifetime of good health and exercise. Let us here, at The Gym Yamba, support you in your quest to be the absolute healthiest, fittest, strongest and fastest version of yourself! Sure, set some goals. Make them a priority. But let us help you achieve them via expert guidance and over an appropriate time-line. These are your WHYs. Not mine. I shouldn't be setting you 'fat loss' or 'muscle building' goals. My job here is to train/coach you to achieve the goals you want! Another question I get asked regularly is "So WHAT do you here? WHAT sort of training?"

I think 'what' we do at The Gym Yamba is relatively irrelevant. I can never explain it well enough to make sense and feel like I turn people away - I failed them. They WANT to train, and I didn't give them the information they wanted to hear to achieve that 'want'. I've tried to explain it so many times, but it lacks conviction. And I think that is because I talk about our WHAT rather than our WHY. So here is where I'm going to be different. WHY we do WHAT we do is way more important. And that is: "To help people become healthier and more athletic versions of themselves"

We will provide you with the training and structure that you need to achieve your goals. Being that they are 'YOUR' goals, then your training is specific to you. Even in our group training, I adjust the program individually to compensate for injuries, imbalances, joint pains, or even personal preferences. The Gym Yamba believes in YOU. For Change. For Good Health. For Overcoming Fears. Doing things you've never done. Coaching you to do things better. Helping you feel better about yourself and building a better version of You! That's all it is. Look forward to meeting you :-)

Sincerely,

Matt Carlin
Owner of 'The Gym Yamba'

Feeling very spoiled tonight. Freshly made MoMo's & cashew nut dipping sauce by my beautiful Nepalese clients,  Puspa & ...
04/06/2026

Feeling very spoiled tonight.
Freshly made MoMo's & cashew nut dipping sauce by my beautiful Nepalese clients, Puspa & Oshin.

Then followed up by fresh Jewfish caught this morning by the sister-in-law's partner, Damo!

29/04/2026

Our group classes have been the longest running in Yamba.
Established 14 years ago in 2012, the first session was run with one awesome client...
If you need some accountability, exercise coaching & just some fun in your day, come for a session and give it a try.
Tag a mate in the comments and get a free week to train together.

Yeah the boys! The Gym OG Diggers!But where's Barnesy?? Haha
25/04/2026

Yeah the boys!
The Gym OG Diggers!
But where's Barnesy?? Haha

21/04/2026

So good to go up the Goldy yesterday to see play Fullback for the Qld Cops memorial match for their mate,

Today. 14 years ago. I opened the doors with no fu**ed clue what I was doing. I'd just spent a decade in the Army. Zero ...
06/03/2026

Today. 14 years ago. I opened the doors with no fu**ed clue what I was doing. I'd just spent a decade in the Army. Zero preparation for running a business.
But here I was taking the biggest risk of my life. I was a single Dad with a 10 year old in tow. No money in my bank account. Barely had somewhere to live.
I find it hard to be proud of myself, but....f**k it. I am! I built this gym. This community. 14 years of turning up every day. Being there for everyone from 6am to 7pm. Their motivation. Their coach. Their confidante. Their babysitter. Their shoulder to cry on. Their cheer squad to share their wins.
I won't lie... it's a lot of energy to turn up in the dark every day.
But it's really great. All of you are bloody great!
I'll always be grateful to every single person who has ever walked through the doors. Even once! Thank you 🙏❤️

But primarily, April, Dad, Mum & Jan (RIP) have been my rocks that allowed this place to be open.
Love you all 🙏❤️

Well here we are, back in the Christmas holiday season! What a year it has been! Thank you to everyone who has been a pa...
18/12/2025

Well here we are, back in the Christmas holiday season!
What a year it has been!
Thank you to everyone who has been a part of our facility over the past 12 months, and also to those who follow along here and continue to 'like' my random ramblings. I very much appreciate your support.
Wishing everyone a safe & happy Christmas & New Year.
Matty 🙏

30/11/2025

RFESS
Rear Foot Elevated Split Squat
Bulgarian Split Squat

Whatever you call it, this is how I coach it.
Like with any exercise, there's not a perfect way, but I do see a lot of videos of people butchering it and missing the forest for the trees.
So if you want to learn a bit about it then, by all means, listen in. Or just scroll on.
I don't train people online, so it's not a perfectly edited video for 'likes'. Just here to hopefully help people learn something. 🙏

Good nutrition is much like building a retaining wall. Your macros (protein, carbs, fats) & food quality are the big roc...
07/10/2025

Good nutrition is much like building a retaining wall.
Your macros (protein, carbs, fats) & food quality are the big rocks. They provide the largest component. If you spend too much time using little rocks (supplements, diet fads, weight loss prescriptions, etc), the wall will have no stability.
The big rocks create the foundation.
High quality proteins, fruit, vegetables, starches, high quality fats. If 80-90% of your diet is built around these, you then fill in the small gaps with supplements & some more enjoyable/palatable foods.
If you're trying to lose weight, nothing will work better than 3 meals of meat & veges with about a first sized bit of carb. Get your steps up and hit the gym a few days each week.
Cut the grog & takeaway food & give it about 4-6 weeks to notice the biggest shift in your changes.
And if not for weight loss, the health benefits are just as important.
It's not rocket science, but the big rocks are the key!

Turning 50 hit me differently — it lit a fire under me to start saying YES to life again.To be more assertive. More deci...
06/10/2025

Turning 50 hit me differently — it lit a fire under me to start saying YES to life again.
To be more assertive. More decisive.

I’ll admit — I’ve done my fair share of whining in life. But not once has it ever benefited me.

When I was in the Army, I remember absolutely hating walking long distances with a pack. I’d complain like crazy. But regardless, I still had to walk. And those times forged a level of grit in me I never knew existed.

Every success I’ve ever had has come from being decisive, being myself, and giving zero f***s about what anyone else thinks.

If things aren’t going your way, be honest with yourself — how much negative mindset are you bringing to the table?

To change it?
Catch yourself having a whinge, then do the exact opposite.

Feel like stopping your run? Commit to one more kilometre.

Don’t want to get up for the gym? Put your gym gear on, then decide.

Can’t be bothered cooking healthy? Choose one good ingredient and start with that.

Since shifting my mindset, the benefits have been huge.
I started playing golf. Met great blokes. Got outside more.
Booked a surf trip to the Mentawais for me and 9 mates — one of the best things I’ve ever done.
Even met new mates just going on random Harley rides.

Saying Yes more has changed everything.

What’s something you’ve been saying no to lately… that might actually change your life if you just said yes?

Address

2/16 Uki Street
Yamba, NSW
2464

Opening Hours

Monday 5:45am - 12pm
3pm - 7:30pm
Tuesday 5:45am - 12pm
3pm - 6:30pm
Wednesday 5:45am - 7am
8:30am - 7:30pm
Thursday 5:45am - 7am
8:30am - 7:30pm
Friday 5:45am - 7am
8:30am - 7pm
Saturday 5:45am - 9am

Telephone

+61408758937

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