Jono Castano has come a long way from the days of juggling back-to-back personal training sessions across commercial gyms.
The celebrity personal trainer is opening up for the first time about the pressure, burnout and personal toll behind his booming wellness empire, admitting he was not in a good headspace following his split with Simone Holtznagel.
‘I probably wasn’t the best mentally,’ Jono told Daily Mail.
The relentless pace of building ACERO, one of Australia’s fastest-growing boutique fitness brands eventually caught up with him, forcing him to step back and reassess.
A period of overseas travel allowed him to reset, reconnect with himself and regain clarity away from the demands of the business.
Now, with 2026 on the horizon, Jono says he is entering his boldest era yet – one driven as much by fatherhood as ambition.
Jono Castano (pictured) has come a long way from the days of juggling back-to-back personal training sessions across commercial gyms
The celebrity personal trainer is opening up for the first time about the pressure, burnout and personal toll behind his booming wellness empire, admitting he was not in a good headspace following his split with Simone Holtznagel
‘My daughter is my drive,’ he said. ‘Everything I do now is about building a better future for her.’
Jono has come a long way from the days of juggling back-to-back personal training sessions across commercial gyms, and now he is lifting the lid on how he quietly built Acero into one of Australia’s fastest-growing wellness brands.
The lightbulb moment came when he realised his days were capped.
‘I can only do so many sessions in a day,’ he said. ‘That was when I started thinking, how do I move to the next step?’
That question would spark what is now a full-scale wellness movement.
‘It’s not just a gym,’ Castano said. ‘It’s a movement. It’s a community with purpose.’
The turning point came via Instagram DMs, when aspiring trainers began asking to work under him.
‘People were actually inspired by what I was doing. That’s when I realised I could build something bigger than just me,’ he said.
‘My daughter is my drive,’ he said. ‘Everything I do now is about building a better future for her’
Jono has come a long way from the days of juggling back-to-back personal training sessions across commercial gyms, and now he is lifting the lid on how he quietly built Acero into one of Australia’s fastest-growing wellness brands. (Jono pictured with Chris Appleton)
But growth has not come without serious risk.
Castano admits he once poured all of his personal funds into opening a gym that failed to take off.
‘It didn’t kick off the way we expected,’ he said. ‘That was a massive risk and it definitely backfired.’
He also revealed his biggest fear was that Acero could not survive without him physically present.
‘My biggest fear was that if I wasn’t there, the gym wouldn’t be as busy,’ he said.
‘That’s when I realised the brand is much bigger than I am now.’
Today, Acero operates as a full-scale wellness hub, offering strength training, Reformer Pilates, kickboxing, physiotherapy and advanced recovery under one roof.
Looking ahead, Castano is preparing his boldest move yet.
Despite their romantic split, Castano continues to run the business alongside his ex-partner Amy – and says their relationship has never been stronger
He also revealed Amy has become a deeply trusted figure in his family life. ‘She’s a great godmother,’ Castano said. ‘She’s the perfect godmother for my daughter’
Acero in 2026 will see the brand expand further into the longevity and recovery space, with overseas hotel residencies and pop-up wellness hubs already in the pipeline.
The next generation of locations will include cold plunges, infrared saunas, IV drips and advanced recovery technology aimed at clients investing in longer, healthier lives.
His personal life has also taken an unconventional turn.
Despite their romantic split, Castano continues to run the business alongside his ex-partner Amy – and says their relationship has never been stronger.
‘I think our relationship is probably the strongest it’s ever been,’ he said. ‘She’s the only person that really understands me. She knows everything about Acero.’
He also revealed Amy has become a deeply trusted figure in his family life.
‘She’s a great godmother,’ Castano said. ‘She’s the perfect godmother for my daughter.’
Jono is now dating Love Triangle star Emily Ryder. They recently celebrated their 8 month anniversary
He describes Amy as his most trusted adviser and a key architect behind the brand’s future.
‘I trust her with my decisions and my whole life,’ he said.
And when it comes to the secret behind his success, Castano is blunt.
‘I don’t believe in luck,’ he said. ‘You create your own opportunities.’
