Pac Gym, formerly known as CrossFit Porirua / Porirua Functional Fitness, is a strength and conditioning gym based in Elsdon, Porirua City, founded in 2013. The gym was built to create a better way to train, focused on quality coaching, structured programming and long-term development rather than quick fixes or trends. Training is grounded in CrossFit as a framework for well-rounded performance, with sessions balancing strength, conditioning and skill development for members ranging from first-time gym-goers to competitive athletes.
Pac Gym is led by Managing Director Mitchell Bernard, a competitive CrossFit athlete with over a decade of coaching and business experience, alongside Director Samantha Rozitis, whose background spans CrossFit coaching, functional movement and over a decade as a yoga teacher and teacher-trainer, and Program Development lead Michael Lagatule, who integrates sports psychology principles into coaching. The gym's coaching team includes Lewis Young, Hannah Douglass, Brendon Tod, Jess Head, Alex Williams, Brook Lawson, Livvy McKennie, Luke Taylor, Lorton Taraeka, Brad Enright, Ruby Stirling-Ramadeen and Rob Collins.
Pac Gym, based in Elsdon, Porirua City, has been training members since 2013 under a simple but firm philosophy: training with intent, showing up consistently, and earning progress rather than chasing shortcuts. Originally known as CrossFit Porirua and Porirua Functional Fitness, the gym was built to offer a better way to train — one grounded in structured programming, quality coaching, and long-term development rather than trends or quick fixes.
Pac Gym's programming is grounded in CrossFit, used as a framework for long-term, well-rounded performance rather than an end in itself. Sessions are built to balance strength, conditioning and skill, progressing movement patterns and building fitness over time. The gym's stated focus is on doing the basics well, creating training that's challenging, effective and sustainable, with an emphasis on consistent improvement over short-term results. This approach is designed to work for everyone — from first-time gym-goers to competitive athletes — all training under the same standards and principles.
Managing Director Mitchell Bernard is the founder and driving force behind Pac Gym, bringing a background in competitive CrossFit, over a decade of coaching experience, and a history of building and operating multiple health and performance businesses. His approach is described as practical, evidence-based and results driven, with an emphasis on sustainability and both physical and mental wellbeing — values that show up in the gym's clear standards, in-house programming and culture of effort and accountability.
Director Samantha Rozitis plays a key role in day-to-day operations, drawing on a background in CrossFit coaching, functional movement, and more than a decade as a yoga teacher and teacher-trainer. Her focus is on creating environments that support sustainable training and long-term wellbeing, reinforcing a culture built around consistency, resilience and training that fits real life. Program Development lead Michael Lagatule, who brings over a decade of coaching experience, integrates sports psychology principles into everyday coaching, helping members build not just strength and fitness but confidence, discipline and consistency.
Pac Gym offers a range of class formats to suit different needs and stages of life, including Bootcamp, Hyrox training, Kids & Teens classes, and Parents & Bubs sessions that let parents train alongside their babies. Personal training is also available for members wanting individualised coaching. Classes are designed to be scalable, meeting members where they're at rather than requiring a baseline level of fitness to begin.
Recognising that training and recovery go hand in hand, Pac Gym offers an infrared sauna as part of its facilities, helping reduce muscle soreness, improve circulation, and support members in resetting after hard training sessions — a detail that reflects the gym's broader emphasis on sustainable, long-term training rather than pushing through fatigue.
For those new to Pac Gym, a 7 Class Trial Pass is available, giving newcomers the chance to try seven classes over 14 days before committing to a membership. The gym also offers a dedicated training app, giving members access to their schedule and programming from their phone.
Beyond its leadership, Pac Gym's coaching roster includes Lewis Young, Hannah Douglass, Brendon Tod, Jess Head, Alex Williams, Brook Lawson, Livvy McKennie, Luke Taylor, Lorton Taraeka, Brad Enright, Ruby Stirling-Ramadeen and Rob Collins — a sizeable team supporting the gym's structured, purpose-driven approach to training in the Porirua and Tawa area.