MARTIN EBNER
Head trainer and founder of Ebylife
Many of Martin’s clients arrive to him having tried and failed to implement a successful workout routine in the part. Most have very full lives and as a result, their health may be suffering. They know that something needs to change but aren't sure where to start or how to make the most of their workouts.
That’s where Martin comes in.
As head trainer and founder of Ebylife, Martin has spent over a decade helping English-speaking residents in Barcelona develop real results that last. Not through quick fixes or unsustainable intensity but through personalised strength training and progressive programming that fits around real life
WHO MARTIN WORKS WITH
Martin and his team train English-speaking residents across Barcelona - busy professionals managing demanding careers, executives who travel frequently, retirees prioritising their health, parents balancing family commitments and individuals returning to exercise after an extended period of inactivity. Martin also works with a handful of high profile clients.
What Martin’s clients share is a desire for training that works with their lives rather than competing with them. Sessions are designed around real schedules, day-to-day energy levels, and realistic goals that adapt to the demands of daily life.
Martin maintains a selective client base to ensure the highest level of service and commitment to each client.
MARTIN’S TRAINING PHILOSOPHY
Consistency matters more than intensity. Two high-quality sessions per week maintained over months produce far greater results than sporadic intense periods of training followed by extended breaks. Real strength and fitness develop gradually, not overnight.
Martin’s method combines exercise, optional nutritional guidance, and mindset into an approach that lasts. The focus is on habit formation - creating positive experiences and routines that naturally become part of your life. His aim is for every client to leave each session feeling better than when they arrived. Over time, training becomes non-negotiable.
Sessions prioritise optimal exercise selection, proper form, and technical precision. This builds practical strength you notice in everyday life with fewer aches and pains, confidence carrying heavy shopping up the stairs, energy to keep up with your children, better sleep, and healthier lifestyle choices. Physical changes naturally follow: improved posture, clothes that fit better, greater muscle tone and definition, and a body that looks as great as it feels.
Progressive strength training for busy professionals
Posture correction and mobility improvement
Nutrition guidance to maximise results (optional)
Body recomposition (building muscle while reducing body fat)
Training for clients returning after extended breaks or struggling to maintain a consistent routine
Wearable data analysis and precise training adjustments (upon request)
WHAT RESULTS TO EXPECT
Martin is direct about expectations. Social media would have you believe that transformation happens in weeks. Real, lasting progress works differently. Strength, energy, and physical change are built gradually through consistent, well-structured training.
Most clients first notice improvements in how they feel. Energy becomes more stable, sleep improves, and everyday tasks begin to feel easier. Strength develops steadily, and movements that once felt challenging become controlled and confident.
Over time, physical changes follow. Posture improves, clothes fit better, muscle tone becomes more noticeable, and clients carry themselves with greater confidence.
The results you achieve will reflect what you are able to put into the process. Clients who train consistently, prioritise sleep, and support their training with good nutrition often see excellent progress. Others may progress more gradually depending on the demands of daily life. The aim is steady progress that lasts. Ultimately, it’s about finding what works best for you.
BACKGROUND
Martin grew up in Edinburgh, Scotland, where he captained his junior ice hockey team. His early years in sport sparked a lifelong passion for strength training and the powerful impact it can have on people’s lives. Over the past 15 years, that passion has evolved into a coaching career focused on helping clients become stronger, healthier, and more confident through well-structured, consistent training.
Based in Barcelona since 2014, Martin founded Ebylife to support the city’s international community with clear coaching in English and a thoughtful, supportive approach. Strength training sits at the heart of his method. Done properly, it improves not only physical strength but also posture, energy, confidence, and overall quality of life.
Martin intentionally works with a small group of clients so he can give each person the time, attention, and support their progress deserves. His coaching style is patient, supportive, and focused on long-term consistency. Many of his clients have trained with him for years - some for more than a decade.
Outside of coaching, Martin enjoys training himself, watching sport, spending time in nature, and relaxing with a good coffee in the Barcelona sun.
Experience
Over 10 years in the health and fitness industry working as a personal training and sports nutrition specialist. 200+ clients coached. Serving Barcelona's international community since 2014.
Press
Martin's work has been featured in Barcelona Metropolitan Magazine, Homage to Barcelona, Driftwood Journals and Miniguide Barcelona.
WHERE MARTIN TRAINS
Martin and his team offer personalised personal training sessions across Barcelona.
Eixample
Train with Martin at his personal outdoor training space - a private, fully equipped open-air terrace in central Barcelona.
Pedralbes
Discreet at-home training for residents in Barcelona's most prestigious neighbourhood.
Eixample, Sarrià-Sant Gervasi and upper diagonal
Home sessions for international families and professionals.
Sant Cugat
Corporate group fitness for businesses in the Sant Cugat business parks
Online
Live coaching with real-time form correction for clients who travel or prefer remote sessions.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How many sessions per week do you recommend?
Most clients train two to three times per week to see meaningful results. Consistency matters more than frequency, so a sustainable schedule that allows you to train regularly produces better outcomes than intense periods of training followed by breaks.
If you are new to strength training, Martin recommends starting with one to two sessions per week. Frequency can increase gradually as your body adapts and your strength develops.
Do you work with complete beginners?
Yes. Martin and his team work with clients at all fitness levels, from those who have not exercised in years to experienced athletes. Every program starts with a comprehensive assessment and progresses at a pace that suits your body, goals, and lifestyle.
What happens in the first session?
The first session includes a physical assessment, a light workout, and an honest conversation about your goals and lifestyle. This ensures that you are a good fit to work together and begins the process of creating your personalised program.
Can I train online if I travel frequently?
Absolutely. Many clients use a combination of in person and online training. They train in person when in Barcelona and switch to online sessions when travelling. Your program stays consistent regardless of location.
WORK WITH MARTIN
Martin works with a limited number of clients to ensure each person receives the time, attention, and support their progress deserves. Initial consultations are available via WhatsApp, or you can arrange a short video call to see whether working together feels like the right fit.
