• Coffee Run: Brewing fitness, sweat, passion, and purpose

Shone Abeysinghe, 32, is a certified fitness instructor and licensed fitness trainer. He is the founder of Metal Muscle, a personal training brand, where he works with individuals to help them achieve their unique body goals through personalised workout and nutrition plans. 

Beyond one-on-one training, Abeysinghe is also the organiser of ‘Coffee Run’, a community fitness initiative that brings people together to promote health and wellness in Sri Lanka.

In this inspiring interview, Shone Abeysinghe shared his remarkable fitness journey, from his early days as a rugby player to becoming a certified fitness instructor. Shone opened up about how fitness chose him as much as he chose it, and how he’s now dedicated to helping others achieve their unique body goals. He also talked about the success of ‘Coffee Run’ (next edition happening on Saturday [8]), a community fitness initiative that’s gained a loyal following in Kandy. 

Get ready to be motivated by Shone’s story and learn how you can start your own fitness journey.

Following are excerpts from the interview:

How did your fitness journey start?

My fitness journey began with a personal commitment to health and wellness, which eventually evolved into a professional calling. After completing my certifications in fitness training, I started working as a gym instructor at AIM Fitness. This gave me hands-on experience working with diverse clients and understanding different body types and fitness goals. 

After a year of learning and growing in that environment, I transitioned into personal training. That’s when I founded Metal Muscle and started working with individuals on a personal training basis. My studies in fitness gave me the knowledge and skills to create personalised workout plans and meal plans tailored to each client’s specific needs and goals, which has been instrumental in helping them achieve their body transformations.

Tell us a little about your early days, childhood etc. growing up.

I come from a family of four in Kandy. My mother is a teacher, and my father has always been deeply into fitness. He trained in martial arts daily every morning. Growing up, I watched him work out consistently, and that dedication left a lasting impact on me that continues to this day.

Our home was located right near Kandy Sports Club (KSC), so from childhood, I was immersed in that sporting environment. I’d see the rugby balls; watch the players, witness their intensity, speed, and power first-hand. All my neighbours and friends played rugby; so naturally, I started playing when I was around 10 years old. 

I went to St. Sylvester’s College and continued playing rugby through my school years – I absolutely loved the sport. Unfortunately, I suffered an injury that prevented me from finishing my rugby career as I’d wished to. Some of my teammates from those days – Lasitha Attanagoda, Thilina Bandara, and Danuka Weerasekara – went on to become stars in the game, which I’m incredibly proud to say.

But even after the injury, I never stopped going to the gym with my friends. There was one neighbour in particular who was instrumental in keeping me motivated – he’d convince me every day, “Let’s go, let’s do the workouts”. That consistency became a habit.

Then I discovered CrossFit through social media. Back then, it wasn’t very popular in Sri Lanka. I was immediately drawn to it and started learning the movements properly, bit by bit. I fell in love with CrossFit – it truly gave me wings and opened up the path to where I am today.

That’s when I decided I needed to formalise my knowledge. I started taking courses to become a qualified fitness trainer, and honestly, I'm still a student, always learning, always improving. Looking back, I believe the sports background I had – from watching my father’s discipline to playing rugby competitively at St. Sylvester’s – built the foundation and potential that’s brought me this far on my journey to fitness.

Why did you select fitness as your livelihood?

Fitness chose me as much as I chose it. After my rugby career was cut short due to injury, I could have walked away from sports entirely, but instead, I found a new path through the gym and CrossFit. I realised that I could combine my passion for health and wellness with my desire to make a real difference in people's lives. What drew me to this field was the opportunity to help individuals transform not just their bodies, but their entire outlook on life.

My studies and certifications as a fitness instructor and licensed trainer gave me the knowledge base to create personalised workout plans and meal plans tailored to each person's unique needs and goals. Starting Metal Muscle allowed me to take this vision further – building a brand around the philosophy that fitness isn't one-size-fits-all, but rather a personalised journey for each individual. Every day, I get to help people achieve what they thought was impossible, and that's incredibly fulfilling.

Could you tell us about how ‘Coffee Run’ was initiated?

‘Coffee Run’ started from a very simple concept. Every Friday, I would take my clients outdoors for cardio sessions, and I wanted to incorporate long runs into their training. I was thinking about how to make this more engaging and community-oriented when my friend Dilhan Ranaweera, who owns Cafe Secret Alley, approached me with an idea. He suggested: “Let's do a run where we can bring people together and make it an event.”

Honestly, without Dilhan’s vision and ideas, ‘Coffee Run’ would have just remained a cardio session for my clients. He’s the one who transformed it into an open running event that anyone can join. I must give him full credit for giving us this lead and powering the event with his coffee. Without him, there would be no ‘Coffee Run’ as we know it today – it truly is a collaborative effort, and his café provides the perfect post-run gathering spot for our community.

How was the feedback after the first event?

The feedback was really good – better than I expected. After the first run, people were coming up to me asking: “When will you do the next run? Can we join?” I honestly didn’t anticipate such a positive response and enthusiasm. It showed me that there’s a real hunger in our community for these kinds of inclusive fitness events where people can come together, challenge themselves, and be part of something bigger. The excitement from that first event gave us the confidence to continue and grow ‘Coffee Run’ into what it’s becoming today. Let’s see how it goes this time around.

Why should someone join ‘Coffee Run?’

Coffee Run is about nurturing a community that loves to keep fit. Whether you’re a seasoned runner or just starting your fitness journey, this is a welcoming space where people of all levels come together. It’s an opportunity to challenge you, meet like-minded individuals who care about health and wellness, and be part of a growing movement in Sri Lanka that promotes active living.

Plus, the social aspect makes fitness fun and sustainable, which is key to long-term success. You’re not just running alone – you’re running with a supportive group, and afterward, we gather at Cafe Secret Alley for coffee and conversation. It's about building connections, staying accountable, and making fitness a lifestyle rather than a chore. If you’ve been looking for motivation to get moving or want to be part of something positive in the community, ‘Coffee Run’ is the perfect place to start.

In terms of fitness, where do you think Sri Lanka and our people are at?

I think Sri Lanka is at an exciting turning point when it comes to fitness awareness. More people are starting to understand the importance of health and wellness, especially among the younger generation. The rise of social media has also helped expose people to different fitness disciplines like CrossFit, calisthenics, and functional training that weren’t as popular here before.

However, we still have a long way to go in terms of making fitness accessible and breaking down misconceptions – like the idea that gym training is only for bodybuilders or that healthy eating is too expensive or complicated. We need more community initiatives like ‘Coffee Run’, better education about nutrition and proper training techniques, and a cultural shift that values preventive health over reactive medicine.

The potential is definitely there. I’ve seen the enthusiasm at our events and with my clients. What we need now is consistency, more qualified trainers who truly understand individualised programming and a shift in mind-set where fitness becomes a non-negotiable part of daily life rather than something people only think about when health problems arise.

To the youngsters, what is your advice?

Build healthy habits now, and trust me, your future self will thank you. Don’t wait until health problems force you to make changes. I wish I had understood earlier that fitness isn't just about aesthetics; fitness is about building discipline, mental resilience, and confidence that will serve you in every area of life.

Find a form of movement you actually enjoy. For me, it was rugby, then CrossFit, and now training others. Don’t force yourself into something you hate just because it's trendy. Experiment until you find what makes you excited to move your body.

Surround yourself with people who support your growth. That neighbour who pushed me to go to the gym consistently made all the difference. Find your tribe, whether it’s at a gym, a running club like ‘Coffee Run’, or with friends who share your goals.

Don’t fall into the trap of quick fixes or unhealthy shortcuts. Invest time in learning proper form and technique. Bad habits formed early can lead to injuries that derail your progress – trust me, I learned this through rugby.

Most importantly, be patient with yourself. Transformation takes time, but consistency beats intensity every single time. Stay curious, keep learning (I’m still a student myself), and remember that the work you put in today is building the foundation for the rest of your life.

What is your message to everyone to motivate them to get into more fitness and bodybuilding?

Start where you are, with what you have. Fitness is always about progress. Your body is the only one you'll ever have, so invest in it. Whether your goal is to build muscle, lose weight, improve your mental health, or simply have more energy for daily life, taking that first step is what matters.

Don’t compare your chapter one to someone else’s chapter twenty. I’ve been there – I went from being a rugby player to dealing with injury, then discovering the gym and CrossFit, and building my career from scratch. Everyone’s journey is different, and that’s okay.

Find what works for you, stay consistent, and remember that every workout, every healthy meal, is an investment in a better version of yourself. You don't need to be perfect; you just need to be persistent. The body you want, the health you desire, the confidence you’re seeking – it all starts with a decision to begin. Make that decision today.