Getting started towards a healthier and stronger version of ourselves can often be the most challenging part of a commitment to a healthy active lifestyle. Maybe you are feeling confused or intimated about where to start your fitness plan? Are you unsure of your fitness level and don’t know what class to attend? We want to help you pick the right class, meet new friends and know a little bit about our energetic instructors before you take their class. With over 50 classes offered each week and more than 25 instructors, you can challenge yourself to try them all over time! Read on to learn more about our Fitness Instructors, their certifications, passions and perhaps even their fitness super powers.
Amber Allen
Amber Teaches:
Cardio Combat (Drop-In Class)
Pumped (Drop-In Class)
Stroller Circuit (Registered Program)
Certifications:
Agatsu Kettlebell
Fitness Kickbox Canada
FIS Certified, CanFitPro
PTS Certified, CanFitProSpin
Pre/Post Natal Yoga
YogaFit, Level 3
YogaFit Sweat
Zumba Certified
Fitness and health are Amber’s passion. She loves the classes she teaches every single day. Amber enjoys hearing when someone feels stronger, has more energy and is generally happier in their life because they are active.
Fitness Super Power:
Ability to give people the confidence to do something or go farther than they ever thought they could!
“You can do anything for a minute…or 2 minutes…or 5 minutes….(however long the next set is)…”
Allison Auld
Allison Teaches:
Intro to Yoga (Registered Program)
Intermediate Yoga (Registered Program)
Prenatal Yoga (Registered Program)
Certifications:
Pre/Post Natal Yoga Certifiend
Yoga Teacher Training Certified, 200 hours
Allison has a passion for personal leaning. She loves working with her students and seeing them progress. Whether its getting them started, building confidence, fine-tuning their practice, or recovering from an injury, that is what motivates Allison to teach and train.
Fitness Super Power:
Ability for super arm balance!
April Denney
April Teaches:
TRX Basic Camp (Registered Program)
TRX Strong (Registered Program)
Certifications:
Agatsu Kettlebell Certified Instructor
Exercise Physiologist Certified, CSEP
Functional Movement Specialist
Personal Trainer Certified, Can-Fit
Yoga Teacher Certified
April’s passion is to help people achieve their personal goals. She is motivated by trying new things and challenging herself.
Fitness Super Power:
Ability to jump squat to infinity and beyond!
“The body achieves what the mind believes!”
Adèle Poirier
Adèle Teaches:
Shallow Aquafit (Drop-In Class)
Certifications:
Group Fitness Certification Land and Aquafit, YMCA
Personal Trainer Certification, CanFitPro
In the fitness world, what motivates Adèle is music. She loves moving to music and grew up with Highland Dancing, so choreography is one of her passions that just comes naturally to her. She always plays fun playlists during her classes, so you can always count on hearing Thriller around the Halloween months. The members in her class always say they love her music and how hard she works them.
Fitness Super Power:
Ability to give people the power to be a bit silly and let go of all their worries and responsibilities. Put a smile on their face, even if it’s just for an hour!
“Fake it ‘til you make it. In other words, don’t be afraid to try, and keep working at it until you feel confident.”
Amanda Swales
Amanda Teaches:
Zumba (Drop-In Class)
Certifications:
Aqua Zumba
Zumba Basic Steps, Level 1
Zumba Kids
Zumba Jr.
Amanda’s passion has always been dance, she loves the feeling when the music starts. Her motivation is to share this rewarding experience with others. Zumba has allowed Amanda to express herself on the dance floor without judgement. It never feels like a workout. Amanda is also motived by the joy and happiness the world of Zumba has given to her and the wonderful people she has been fortunate to meet along her Zumba Journey.
Fitness Super Power:
Ability to have never-ending endurance, so she could dance 24/7!
“Life is too short to sit out another dance! I have learned that we need to live life for today because we do not know what tomorrow will bring.”
Bil & Wai Kim MacMullin
Bil & Wai Kim Teaches:
Tai Chi (Drop-In Class)
Certifications:
Tai Chi Certified
Qi Gong Certified
Bil and Wai Kim both have a passion for studying the movements of Tai Chi and Qi Gong. They started studying Tai Chi in 1982 at beginner classes in Bejing, China. Since then they have practiced in Taiwan, Hong Kong and China. They are motivated to lead classes that will benefit personal health and wish to share their knowledge with others.
Fitness Super Power:
Ability to have super patience!
“Breathe, relax and enjoy your practice.”
Carolyn Langlands
Carolyn Teaches:
Fit For Life (Drop-In Class)
Certifications:
AquaFit
Fitness Therapy
Fitness & Nutrition
Group Fitness Certified
Older Adult Fitness Certified
Carolyn is motivated by how healthy she feels at her age and by the great feedback she gets from the people in her classes.
Fitness Super Power:
Ability to super motivate others!
“The best gift you can give your family and the world is a healthy you.”
Chris Paquin
Chris Teaches:
Spin (Drop-In Class)
Certifications:
Spin Instructor Certified, Schwinn
Weight Training Certified, Weider Personal Fitness
Chris has a passion for cycling. He has cycled and trained with many of Quebec’s great cycling groups. Chris’ cycling continued at a competitive level on the inside track at the Montreal Olympic Velodrom Stadium. His motivation is to offer a challenging and fun filled spin class to beginners and experienced cyclists. Chris is motivated to live a healthy life with low stress and a positive attitude.
Fitness Super Power:
Ability to turn into the Hulk!
“No pain, no gain.”
Dave Carr
Dave Teaches:
Kettlebell Circuit (Registered Program)
Yoga (Drop-In Class)
Certifications:
Agatsu Kettlebell
Fitness Kickbox Canada
FIS Certified, CanFitPro
YogaFit, Level 3
Dave has always had a passion for adventure and loves the freedom he feels when surrounded by nature. Dave’s practice in the gym translates into play once he is in the wilderness.
Fitness Super Power:
Ability to feel completely at ease upside down, sideways or backwards.
“Permission affords divinity. I don’t believe in luck, but with all the crazy random happenstances; the million things that could have happened today but didn’t. Every moment has been made a blessing.”
Dave Wentworth
Dave Teaches:
Spin (Drop-In Class)
Certifications:
Spin Certification, HY
Dave’s number one passion is travel. He has travelled to over 30 countries, and speaks several languages. One of his favorite things to do is cycle during his travels. He has been teaching spinning throughout HRM since 2016.
Fitness Super Power:
Ability to make a spin bike elevate and fly like a magic carpet!
“No gimmicks, special pills, special potions, special equipment. All it takes is desire and will”
Dennette Hanna-Shea
Dennette Teaches:
Yoga (Drop-In Class)
Certifications:
Fitness Instructor Certified,CanFitPro
Therapeutic Approach Yoga Studio, 500 hours
Dennette has been a certified fitness instructor for 30 years. Her passion for fitness and a need for balance in her life is lead by her yoga practice. She is grateful for how seamlessly she has been able to integrate yoga into all aspects of her life and is motivated by sharing what she loves with others.
Fitness Super Power:
Ability for super authenticity. What you see, what you hear; it’s all real.
“Stay in the moment and teach from the heart.”
Erlinda Unite
Erlinda Teaches:
Forever Strong (Drop-In Class)
Certifications:
Group Fitness Certification, NSFA
Older Adult Fitness, YMCA
YogaFit, Level 1
Erlinda is a mother, wife and grandmother and has been leading fitness classes for over 14 years. Her personal medical history is what keeps her motivated to stay active. She has a passion for following a good diet and acquiring an acceptable level of fitness. These are the two most important things you can do in shaping your health and wellness no matter what age you are.
Fitness Super Power:
Ability for super strength and endurance during exercise!
“Quality before quantity.”
Gail Drisdelle
Gail Teaches:
CGC Walking Club (Drop-In Class)
Certifications:
Spin Certification
Group Fitness Certification, YMCA
Gail is a passionate and motivated instructor who loves to engage with her class and help people remain active. Her background in ballroom dance, anatomy and physiology have helped to enhance her teaching styles. During her program, she strives to help with proper movement and keeping participants informed about injury prevention. She has been a Group Fitness Instructor since 1984 and has worked at CGC since the doors opened in 2011.
Fitness Super Power:
Ability to inspire others to enjoy all forms of fitness, especially moving to great music.
“Together we can strive for greater fitness outcomes while doing something we really enjoy.”
Gerard & Susan MacPhee
Gerard & Susan Teaches:
Yoga (Drop-In Class)
Certifications:
Yoga Teachers Training, 200 hours
Gerard and Susan’s passion are about health, nutrition and longevity. They are avid hikers, walkers, bikers, kayakers, yogis and gym partners.
Fitness Super Power:
Ability for super posture!
“Eat, live, plant food.”
“Exercise and maintain mobility.”
Jodi Brake
Jodi Teaches:
Yoga (Drop-In Class)
HIIT (Drop-In Class)
Spin (Drop-In Class)
TRX Basic (Registered Program)
Certifications:
Yoga Teacher
FIS Certified, CanFitPro
Spin
Agatsu Kettlebell
Zumba Certified
Jodi is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology at Dalhousie University. Her motivation comes from making a difference in people’s lives as she is very passionate about helping others.
Fitness Super Power:
Ability to make any person, anywhere, have fun and enjoy working out!
“A good partner can make you feel attractive, strong, and able to take on the world…oh, sorry…that’s exercise…exercise does that…”
Kathryn Krispin
Kathryn Teaches:
Yoga (Drop-In Class)
Certifications:
500 E-RYT, RPYT, Yoga Alliance
Kathryn has a Bachelor of Journalism from the University of Tennessee. She loves to feel good and healthy, and exercise mixed with yoga gives her that perfect result. She always feels happier in her skin after a good workout or yoga practice.
Fitness Super Power:
Ability to fly. She would fly and float through yoga positions she finds so challenging!
“Today I will, make the very best of my day”
Mary Anne
Mary Anne Teaches:
Yoga For Every Body (Registered Program)
Certifications:
Adaptive Yoga Certified
Chair Yoga Teachers Training
Restorative Yoga Teacher Training
Yoga Teachers Training, 200 hours
Mary Anne has a passion for anything that helps her be mindful and stay in the moment, with activities like biking, tennis, swimming, hiking, knitting and yoga. All of these exercises help with Mary Anne’s meditation practice. She has studied yoga in Boston as well as India.
Fitness Super Power:
Ability to help everyone feel comfortable doing yoga, no matter what age, shape or size!
“Today when we speak it should be kind, true and more important than the silence we’re interrupting.”
Nancy Alexander
Nancy Teaches:
Athletic Step (Drop-In Class)
HIIT (Drop-In Class)
Certifications:
Group Fitness Instructor, CanFitPro
Yoga Fit Level 1
Nancy’s passion is motivating others to enjoy fitness as much as she does. She always feels so proud and happy when she sees the participants in her classes working hard and walking away with a sense of accomplishment. After her own workouts, whether it be a really hard class or a 32km run, she loves having fresh fruit and a protein bar.
Fitness Super Power:
Endurance!
“A daily hit of athletic-induced endorphins give you the power to make better decisions, helps you be at peace with yourself, and offsets stress.”
Vanessa Roy
Vanessa Teaches:
Pilates (Registered Program)
Certifications:
Pilates Mat Repertoire, STOTT
Vanessa is an Occupational Therapist at Northwood. She is motivated to stay fit for life to prevent injuries and continue to do the things she enjoys. Being a health care professional and working with injured patients, Vanessa knows how easy an injury can happen.
Fitness Super Power:
Ability to never drain out of energy!
“Esse quam videri” is a Latin phrase meaning “To be, rather than to seem”