About Me
PROFILE
I’ve always been involved in fitness and sports for as long as I can remember. I grew up in Australia playing tennis, cricket, rugby, skateboarding and surfing to name a few. My defining moment leading me towards a career in fitness was the first day I joined a gym at the age of 17.
From that day on, I started reading fitness magazines, researching workout routines, trying different classes, buying new protein powders: I was hooked!
Fast forward a good number of years (more than 15) and here I am living in downtown Toronto: running my own personal training business, owning my own bootcamp, Buns of Steel Bootcamp, and owner and creator of undoubtedly the biggest and most in-depth fitness website in Toronto www.fitnessintoronto.com
I love helping people and seeing people grow, not just physically, but even more so with self confidence, inner strength and self belief. For me fitness has been a powerful tool over the years, which has helped me to be proud of myself, to gain self confidence, to set goals and achieve them and to stay in a more positive mindset. Being a personal trainer, if I can teach my clients to love themselves however they look, then I feel my job has been done! The fact that they achieve incredible results through weight loss or gained significant muscle in the process is just a bonus as well.
Southern Cross Fitness
PERSONAL TRAINING
WORK EXPERIENCE
Southern Cross Fitness.
2012 - present
Owner/Personal Trainer
I provide one on one personal training services and small group training. Create programs specifically for the individual's goals and abilities.
Buns of Steel Bootcamp.
2013 - present
Owner/Instructor
Running small group training classes.
Yonge Street Fitness Club.
2012 - 2014
Functional Training Director
Designed and implemented a new functional training program for Yonge Street Fitness Club.
Yonge Street Fitness Club.
2009 - 2014
Group X Fitness Manager
Facilitated all aspects of the program including payroll, hiring and scheduling.
Buns of Steel Bootcamp.
2008 - 2013
Class Instructor
Provided bootcamp style group classes as a instructor.
Yonge Street Fitness Club.
2008 - 2012
Head Trainer
Conduct Personal Trainer meetings every month and motivate and act as role model for other trainers on site. Assist in training and recruiting new trainers.
EDUCATION
Merrithew™ Instructor Training
2016
Functional Anatomy
There is a focus on anatomical terminology, which includes anatomical position, planes of motion, types of movement, names and locations of the majority of the bones in the body, locations and actions of joints, major muscle groups and the individual muscles’ origin insertion and action.
Yes to Strength
2016
Prioritization of HIIT
Maximal Results Without the Injuries was created for trainers who want to understand high intensity interval training through the mind AND through the body in order to create the best possible training programs for their athletes and fitness clients.
Yes to Strength
2014
Progressive Olympic Lifting Cert
Trainers who want to understand how to teach the Olympic lifts from scratch through the mind AND through the body in order to create the best possible training programs for their athletes and fitness clients.
ACE Fitness
2013
Functional Movement Workshop
help people move more efficiently, prevent injury, improve their balance and flexibility, build strength, and improve their overall quality of life.
Functional Movement Systems
2013
FMS level 1
Teaches the rating and ranking system that captures fundamental movement patterns, motor control, and competency of basic movement patterns. The core focus of the movement screen is to emphasize movement quality over quantity, and to identify any movement deficiencies or limitations.
ACE Fitness
2008
Personal Trainer Certification
Become a fitness professional possessing the knowledge, skills and abilities for safe and effective exercise and fitness program design, instruction and assistance for the purpose of reaching personal health and fitness goals.
Nature Care College
2005
Massage Practitioner Training
Cert IV professional training programs designed to equip graduates with the knowledge and skills to treat clients with a full body therapeutic massage.
Fitness Institute of Australia
2002
Fitness and Exercise Science
Cert IV The course covers the fundamentals and science of fitness the benefits of good nutrition and how to tailor personal training programs for a range of clients using a variety of equipment and in different environments.
PERSONAL TRAINING
As a personal trainer, the way I work is to put emphasis on the ‘personal’ aspect of personal training, it is a major component of the service I provide. One of my greatest strengths is creating a genuine and very personal working relationship between my clients and me to facilitate a positive environment for physical and personal growth. I have a lot of experience with complete novices all the way up to experienced lifters looking to change up their program or push through their plateau. Age, gender, sexual orientation or physical limitations are not factors I look at when considering taking on a new client.
My services include one on one training, couples training and small group training.
Each program I design is specific to the individual and their goals; included with each program is a fitness assessment and goal setting session. I use state of the art equipment such as BodyMetrix to provide valuable data to help track client progress.
In 2014 I won ‘Best Personal Trainer’ in Eastern Canada in the Get Out There Magazine Awards
In 2016 I was selected to join ‘World Trainer‘, a network of the best Trainers located around the world, who train clients who travel globally. I am their Toronto Personal Trainer.
LOCATION
I am located in downtown Toronto (near Yonge and Bloor), basing my business out of the boutique style personal training studio KX Yorkville. I chose this location as it is easily accessible by TTC, I like the high level of service and products they provide and the standard that they set for a high end personal trainer studio.
I can also travel to your condo or office gym, depending on the location and availability of my schedule. This can be negotiated on an individual basis.
Projects
WEBSITE
Buns of Steel Bootcamp is not just a routine boot camp; it is a complete holistic package offering one-on-one coaching, nutritional counselling and my knowledge of the most rewarding, original fitness techniques.
I have been involved with this program for more than 7 years. Originally, I started as a substitute instructor, personal trainer, and eventually in 2013, I bought it and completely overhauled the entire program. In 2014 we were voted 2nd in ‘Best Bootcamp for Women in Toronto’ and ‘Best Fitness Program’ in Readers Choice Award for GetOutThere Magazine. In 2015 we made this list again!
I run and own BoS specifically to create a workout environment that has a sense of community, friendship and fun. I’ve often been told by my members that BoS is a place for people who wouldn’t feel comfortable anywhere else yet they are made to feel welcome and part of the family.
I host numerous events and organize potlucks and charity food drives as part of the community aspects and I open the doors to people who are on social assistance or have learning disabilities. I consider BoS my extended family and would love for you to come and try out a class!
For more information check out
www.bunsofsteelbootcamp.com
FitnessTO is a project I started in early 2014 with the idea of creating Toronto’s first multi-purpose platform for all fitness related content. I have spent the last 18 months working with a developer to come up with a website that has Toronto’s first fitness only business directory, fitness event calendar, articles, workouts reviews and much more.
I am positioning myself to be a leading expert in the field of fitness here in Toronto as I am researching every studio available in the city and eventually my goal is to visit each single one, meet the owners and review them for the public.
There are numerous opportunities for advertising, branding and partnerships with this project, not to mention a solid platform for fellow instructors and personal trainers to upload content for their own exposure.
Here are a couple of examples of some of the content I am creating for the site:
Daily Workout in Toronto
Review of Fit Factory Fitness Studio
FitnessTO Fitness Business Directory
If you’re a personal trainer, own a studio, or a fitness product and would like to be featured or reviewed on FitnessTO then please reach out to me via email or phone to set up a meeting.
