James Tait
Founder and Head Coach
james.tait@melius.performance.com
James is the founder of Melius and a veteran in the world of strength and conditioning coaching. Hailing from Wellington, New Zealand, and currently residing in the picturesque city of Toulouse, France, James brings over twenty years of coaching expertise to the table.
A certified strength and conditioning coach (UKSCA, NSCA, ASCA), James’ professional life is dedicated to helping others reach peak performance, in whatever form that takes for each person. His career is a testament to versatility and perseverance, having honed his skills across multiple continents and diverse environments. From the adrenaline-charged arenas of elite sport to the nuanced needs of general population clients, James's coaching philosophy is rooted in adaptability and connection.
Athlete Training
James's portfolio boasts significant experience training elite athletes, particularly in rugby and cricket, beginning in his hometown of Wellington and most recently in Sydney, Australia. Whether it's improving strength, power and speed, enhancing endurance, or perfecting technique, James's approach is evidence-based and practical at the same time, ensuring that athletes reach their full potential.
Corporate Well-being
For close to a decade, James served as a performance coach and performance manager at Google, where he was instrumental in shaping corporate well-being programmes for that company’s employees. His strategies have helped countless professionals enhance their productivity, reduce stress, and maintain a healthy work-life balance.
Personal Athletic Achievements
A seasoned rugby player, James has competed in premier club rugby in New Zealand, France, Scotland and the UAE, as well as representing the Turks and Caicos Islands at international level. James has also competed in cricket and Olympic weightlifting.
Values-Based Leadership
As the founder and head coach of Melius, James is dedicated to fostering a holistic approach to fitness and well-being. His vision is to empower individuals and teams to feel ready to meet any challenge, whether that’s in their sporting endeavours, their personal health journeys or their professional setting.
James’ philosophy is to blend the significant experience gained from more than 20 years of coaching with a personal and kind approach. Performance, health and well-being are inseparable, and the connection that James builds with people is key in them feeling supported on the path to achieving their goals.
2 Minute Bio:
Top 3 Melius Values : Kindness, Integrity, Adaptability
Hobbies : Spending time with my wife and daughter, playing guitar, traveling
Favourite Food : A tie between steak and chocolate mousse!
Favourite Song : All Along the Watchtower, Jimi Hendrix
Favourite Sports Teams : All Blacks (rugby), Stade Toulousain (rugby), Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (rugby league), Wellington (anything)
Personal Mantra : Family first
Fun Fact : I’ve lived in 7 different countries and hold dual citizenship for New Zealand and France
