Group Training: Former NRL player Ben Ridge is using his experience in the health and fitness industry to provide unique group training sessions for those wanting great physical and mental benefits.

Ridgey Didge Fitness was formed 18 months ago after Ridge finished his football career at the Gold Coast, moved back to the Maranoa with his young family and secured an apprenticeship with Ergon Energy.

Since the strength and cardio-based training kicked off in February 2017, Ridge said he could never imagine how far it would come.

"I think my first few sessions I had groups of six or eight and I was looking at the size of the shed and thought I would probably get about 10 or 12 people inside and now I have 25 people here,” he said.

"I thought it would get a bit of interest but there was no way in the world I thought it would have been as busy as I have become in the past 18 months. And we are still getting new people which is great.”

Ridge provides six sessions a week, with three morning and afternoon sessions on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and said the training suited all fitness levels and was a great, fun environment.

"There are a wide range of fitness levels and age groups but it is definitely very female-dominant and a lot of girls are really into it,” Ridge said.

"I think weights for girls are really important, as well as keeping your body strong.

"I always wanted to keep fit after footy and thought it would be a good way to keep me accountable and fit, so it is very rewarding to see new clients come in and watch how much they improve.”

After retiring from footy due to injury, Ridge has a big focus on keeping bodies injury-free.

"I have done a lot of training in my time and have been exposed to a lot of health and fitness, so I aim to keep the body at a good level and also keep it injury-free,” he said.

"I place a great emphasis on making sure clients are doing the exercises properly and not busting their bodies too much, because you only get one and you need to look after it.”