Meet the Trainers

Philosophy:
The ability to be healthy and fit involves the balance of your physical, mental and emotional states. Being healthy and fit is a constant challenge as it is not a stationary target. Our daily actions influence our level of fitness and health. Constant and consistent training improves our ability to achieve a state of balance where health and fitness are at optimum levels. My goal is to provide the environment, resources, and support for you to achieve your optimum balance of health and fitness. I have had the fortunate opportunity to work with a wide variety of individuals from youth to seniors and age group athletes to elite athletes. What continues to motivate me to share, teach and lead are those who are in pursuit of improving their individual fitness and health.

Client Base:
My clientele varies from competitive and recreational athletes to youth and seniors. They not only vary in interests and age but levels of fitness and exercise experience. What is common with all the clients I work with is a mindset to improve in health, fitness, and performance in life. I have a strong passion to help clients achieve what they thought was once impossible. My aim is that our training together feels enjoyable, non-intimidating and supports you toward a lifetime of consistent physical activity.

Experience & Credentials:

• Master of Physical Education from Memorial University
• Honours in Physical Education from Wilfred Laurier University
• Certified Exercise Physiologist (CEP) and High-Performance Specialist (HPS) from the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology
• Chartered Professional Coach with the NCCP (ChPc)
• Advanced Coaching Diploma from Canadian Sport Institute Ontario
• Certified NCCP coaching in distance running, triathlon, cycling, swimming and soccer
• Professor, St. Lawrence College – Specialization in Occupational Fitness Standards
• 1st Dan Black Belt in Taekwondo
• Competed as a Professional Triathlete in Ironman World Championships in 1997 and 1998
• Multiple Finishes at the Boston Marathon
• Continues to be highly active as a recreational athlete with Ontario Master Athletics, Ontario Masters Cycling, Triathlon events and Combative Sports
• 30+years training/coaching individuals from elite to beginner

Philosophy:
If you change nothing, nothing will change.

I love watching the transformation as new clients find ways to challenge themselves to change their lives through fitness, nutrition and finding time to put themselves first! Whatever my client’s needs are, I've done it all. I design programs that are client specific and have worked with both children and adults to teach them the basics and help them start living a healthy lifestyle.

I enjoy giving intense workouts that are time efficient and allow clients to push themselves – they can enjoy their rest days knowing that their bodies have worked hard and have earned it. I also enjoy working with small and large group training and especially being a bootcamp instructor, which allows each participant to challenge themselves with new exercises.

• National Strength and Conditioning Association Certified Personal Trainer (NSCA-CPT)
• Canfitpro Fitness Instructor Specialist
• Canfitpro Personal Trainer
• Scottish Dance Teachers Alliance Associate Teacher's Certificates for Highland and National

Philosophy:
Most often the best results are the ones we don’t see, but feel. The body was designed to move, and my goal as a coach is to provide safe, effective programming to increase longevity and pain-free living. The work done in the studio should improve life outside of it: increasing energy, making activities of daily life easier, reducing pain and stress, and feeling happier.

Client Base:
I enjoy helping busy people get fit and healthy by being on time, having a plan and problem-solving as needed to ensure an effective workout. I have worked with adults of all ages and abilities since beginning my career in 2003, and over the past decade have worked mostly with both working and retired professionals. I have coached clients through acute/chronic injury, post-exercise rehabilitation and pregnancy. I love to work with clients who are committed to their health and fitness, in my experience, they are the only ones who achieve lasting results.

Personal Interests:
Running, Walking, Yoga, Getting Outside, Organizing, Reading, Baking, Spending time with Friends, Fashion

• Personal Training Specialist - Canfitpro
• Fitness Instructor Specialist - Canfitpro
• Hip Programming Specialist Certification - Exercise Therapy Association
• Low Back Pain Specialist Certification - DTS Fitness Education
• Hypertrophy Fundamentals Certification - DTS Fitness Education
• TRX Team Training Coach - TRX
• Bachelor of Arts - Queen’s University

Philosophy:
I believe in the power of exercise as medicine. Exercise is a powerful tool to both prevent and treat many lifestyle diseases that dominate our western society. It also plays an integral role in becoming the best and healthiest version of ourselves physically, mentally and emotionally. The human body was designed to move but unfortunately, it is exceedingly easy to neglect, allowing us to overlook our overall well-being. I believe that every person should be empowered to pursue their own highest quality of life, understanding that each individual is on a unique journey. Exercise is a powerful tool to start or continue that pursuit to our own journey of personal excellence and optimum daily functioning. Throughout my own journey in sport and training, I have learned that consistency and self-belief are the key factors to seeing the improvement and change we desire. What I have also learned is that many times we all need someone to believe alongside us as we make a personal commitment. I want to help others on their own personal journey by facilitating a training environment of positivity, consistency and commitment to my clients.

Client Base:
I look forward to working with clients from many different backgrounds, walks of life and exercise experience to meet your own personal goals and come alongside you in your unique journey!

Personal Interests:
Triathlon training and racing, running, nutrition, finding new healthy recipes, enjoying good coffee, animals, growing my Christian faith.

• Bachelor of Science (Honours), Specialization in Kinesiology - Queen’s University, 2020
• Canfitpro - Personal Trainer Specialist

Philosophy:
Health and fitness is such an important aspect of not just physical but mental well-being with consistent exercise being one of the best ways of coping with stress.

Ron retired in 2015 after almost 32 years as a Kingston City Police Officer. For 27 years, he maintained the Police fitness room as well as the defensive tactics room, that is also utilized for cross fit classes. Ron was involved in Training Police Officers at KPF and believes that Kingston has the fittest police officers in the province. Throughout his career, Ron was involved in Special Olympics and the annual Police Memorial run and bicycle ride.

Ron has always been involved in some aspect of fitness and has looked for experiences that push him physically. For the past 15 years, he has competed in mountain bike races and the past 7 years in road bike races. In the summer of 2013 with Randy Zabukovec’s coaching, Ron had the mountain bike race of his life at the World Police Fire games in Ireland and came home with a gold medal and memories of a great experience contending against Europeans in a very competitive environment.

Another of Ron's favourite races was at the WPFG in New York City where he competed in the road bike race consisting of 4 laps of Central Park. Ron enjoyed the challenge of competing against a serious and experienced group in an awesome setting.

Ron enjoys helping others including assisting in meeting fitness goals through motivation, instruction, effort and sharing of experiences. He believes in functional training exercises that are beneficial to health, sports and everyday life. The atmosphere and equipment at Focus help provide the tools to allow you to succeed in your fitness and health goals.

• Certified Police Fitness Appraisers
• Certified Fitness Consultant
• NCCP Introduction to Competition - Training Basics
• Certified Basic Cycling Skills – Competitive Cycling Coaching
• Certified CanBike Instructor
• Certified Mountain Bike Patrol Techniques
• Certified Use of Force Trainer
• Certified Emergency First Aid/CPR AED Provider
• Certified Crisis Negotiator
• Certified Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training
• Gold medal winner in Mountain Bike competition 2015 and 2013 at World Police Fire games

Passions:
Ironman races, rescuing dogs, and helping people find their fitness passion.

I started in the fitness industry at 18 when I began teaching “aerobic classes” at the YMCA. From there onto personal training at 20. I have always loved fitness and even more seeing people achieve things they never thought possible whether that is racing or simply living a strong, healthy life.

30 plus years in the industry has allowed me to teach and train people with all types of bodies, goals, and fitness levels and limitations. My mantra is always let’s make you as strong as we can. From that everything else will follow. And don’t forget to work and play in equal amounts.

• Queens University BA
• St. Lawrence College Graduate
• Canfitpro Fitness Instructor Specialist
• Canfitpro Personal Trainer Specialist

Philosophy:
Live a fit life, live a healthy life.

Fitness is the key to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. As a personal trainer and fitness instructor, I strive to bring out the best in my clients. To accomplish this, I work with my clients, understanding their needs, goals and addressing their limitations. A ‘team’ approach works well as we develop a program that is right for the client.

Monitoring, adapting, and improving, all create a safe and productive fitness program. I believe that my strength as a fitness coach is that I ensure success through motivation. We have fun! My clients will stick to their program because they enjoy it, they helped design it, and they get results.

My specialties include strength training for all fitness levels, which includes group fitness, weight training, and individual client sessions.

• Canfitpro Personal Trainer Specialist
• Canfitpro Fitness Specialist
• YMCA - Fitness Specialist Certification
• 15+ years certified Fitness Instructor – teaching for the city of Toronto and mentoring fitness instructors

Philosophy:
A good process leads to good progress! Being healthy and fit does not happen overnight; it is the result of creating good, healthy habits. From these habits, we can strive to constantly work on and improve upon all areas of our lives, including movement, nutrition, sleep, and mental well-being. My programs are client-specific. We work on movement patterns to increase athleticism, reduce pain, and improve their overall health and well-being. Whether my clients are working towards athletic goals or simply looking to better their everyday lives, I am prepared to help them become movers for life!

Client Base:
My clients range from people looking to improve everyday movement and weekend warriors to amateur and elite athletes. In the past, I have worked with clients who are trying to better their health so they can get back to daily walks and squatting in the garden pain-free. I have also worked with elite athletes who want to advance their strength, speed, and conditioning in order to make it to the next level whether that be a professional contract or next year’s local competitive team. All my clients, no matter who they are, have mindsets to improve, learn, and push themselves to achieve their goals. As their coach, I match these by offering an enjoyable and safe environment where clients feel encouraged and supported to reach new heights.

• Honours Bachelor in Human Kinetics from the University of Ottawa (2023)
• Lenny Sabourin Gee-Gees Performance Intern of the Year Award (2023)
• Foundations in Volleyball Coach

Personal Interests:
Road Cycling, Mountain Biking, Sports in All Forms, Reading, Gardening, Playing Guitar

Philosophy:
Human beings are designed to move. We think better, we feel better and we engage with the world better when we move every day. We don’t all look the same or enjoy the same activities and my goal as a personal trainer is to help you find movement you enjoy and for you to feel good in your body so you can live your best life through physical activity.

As a retired elementary school teacher and Queen’s University Faculty of Education instructor, my focus was on creating an environment where children and youth felt safe to play and develop physical literacy skills to be active for life. Helping them make the connection between daily physical activity and their physical, emotional, social and mental health was key to me as an educator. I believe we need similar things whether we are 5 or 85 – places and people to help us realize our potential and feel empowered through physical activity.

For thirty years, my work was focused on helping young people understand how movement, in all its forms, is connected to all aspects of their health. I’m now interested in doing the same with people of all ages as a personal trainer. The transition feels like a natural one.

Client Base:
I look forward to working with people at all stages of life. My interest in helping adults learn to move, or learn to move again, while challenging assumptions about aging and what that looks like is what brings me to you. With the right programming we can enter each decade strong and mobile so we can participate in all aspects of living our fullest lives. This might be racing a triathlon, hiking up mountains or portaging a canoe between two lakes. Regardless of your goals, I’ll work with you to help you ‘find your strong’ and build on it.

Meeting people where they are, and working with them to meet their unique fitness and lifestyle goals is what motivates me as a trainer. Every BODY was designed to move. Let’s get moving together!

• W.I.T.S Certified Personal Trainer Level 1
• Bachelor of Education, Queen’s University
• Outdoor and Experiential Education Certificate, Queen’s University
• Bachelor of Health and Physical Education, McMaster University
• Multiple 70.3 Ironman and half-marathon finishes
• Ironman Lake Placid finisher

Personal Interests:
Triathlon, travelling, reading with tea/coffee in hand, dancing to live music, being outside.

Philosophy:
A body in motion stays in motion. Be comfortable being uncomfortable.

I have learned much about personal health and fitness by simply doing….and of course, many things the hard way! I have also learned that you can be fit but not healthy. I’m a firm believer that everything doesn’t have to be done the same as it always has. Unconventional can lead to fun. Challenge yourself. Physical and mental health are so important for our enjoyment and longevity of life!

I will challenge my clients to push themselves to be consistent in their efforts and have fun achieving their personal goals. Dare to be disciplined!

I retired in 2021 from a rewarding 21-year career as a City of Kingston Police Officer. Prior to my career in law enforcement, I spent 11 years working for the Royal Bank in various management positions in retail and commercial banking. I was actively involved in the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics and the National Police Memorial Run and Ride.

• Certified Spartan SGX Coach
• Certified Personal Trainer - W.I.T.S (through Carleton University)
• Certified Police Fitness Appraiser
• Certified Crisis Negotiator
• Certified Applied Suicide Intervention Skills
• Certified First Aid/CPR AED
• Certified Master and Rescue Scuba Diver
• Certified Mountain Bike Patrol Techniques
• Two-time Ironman Lake Placid finisher
• Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon finisher
• Marathon runner
• Participated in numerous triathlons, running events (road & trail), and cycling competitions (road, trail, & gravel) at various distances
• Regularly participate in Hot Yoga
• Current member of the Spartan Unbreakable Street Team
• Current GoRuck leader
• Spartan Obstacle Specialist