Certifications:
NASM Certified Personal Trainer
NASM Certified Nutrition Coach
ACE Group Fitness Instructor
YA Registered Yoga Instructor
RRCA Running Coach

Favorite thing about being a trainer:
Witnessing when individual clients reach their health & fitness goals.

One thing I wish everyone knew about fitness:
There's definitely something for everyone when it comes to fitness. Sometimes you have to leave your comfort zone and try something new so you can figure out what type of exercise excites and motivates you.

Areas of interest:
Weight loss, Motivational coaching, Lifestyle modifications

Favorite exercise:
Yoga fusion that combines stretching and strengthening.

What do you do outside of the YMCA:
Hiking, traveling, and having mini adventures with my family.

One interesting fact about you:
I'm an ultramarathoner.

Certifications:
Ace Personal Trainer
SCW Kettlebell
Group Strength Training
TRX Suspension Trainer
ICG Coach by Color

Favorite thing about being a trainer:
Seeing my clients get excited about accomplishing a certain move.

One thing I wish everyone knew about fitness:
Frequency does not equal the volume.

Areas of interest:
One piece of equipment I truly love is the TRX. It stands for Total Body Resistance Exercise. Why? Because you use your own body weight to maximize your workout. Also it is effective for preventing injuries, because it utilizes groups of muscles rather than isolating individual ones. Everyone can benefit from the TRX.

Favorite exercise:
TRX Plank to Pike

What do you do outside of the YMCA:
I own and help operate two family businesses, Bryans’s Florist & Crown Brewing.

One interesting fact about you:
Love doing laundry!!

Certifications:
NASM CPT

Favorite thing about being a trainer:
Improving the quality of life for my clients and being able to provide them with skills and knowledge necessary for sustainable habits.

Areas of interest:
Strength Training and Athletic Training.

Favorite exercise:
Barbell deadlifts or walks on the beach.

What do you do outside of the YMCA:
I am a K-8th Grade Physical Education Teacher. I enjoy going to Bulls games and trying new restaurants.

One interesting fact about you:
I have a twin brother.

Certifications:
NASM Performance Enhancement Specialist (PES)
IYCA Youth Nutrition Specialist
IYCA High School Strength and Conditioning Coach
Parisi Sports Performance Coach

Favorite thing about being a trainer:
Making the exercises unique for each person and helping them reach their goals in any way that I can and helping them feel confident in themselves and finding that inner strength.

One thing I wish everyone knew about fitness:
It's not about how hard or how heavy you are lifting, it's about the strength and confidence you feel when you hit your personal goals.

Areas of interest:
Powerlifting/Olympic Lifting

Favorite exercise:
Sumo Squats or any variation of a squat, I also like cleans and deadlifts.

What do you do outside of the YMCA:
I enjoy spending time outside but the occasional movie marathon is needed as well.

One interesting fact about you:
I have visited 30 of the 50 states.

Certifications:
National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) certified Personal Trainer
NASM Group Training Specialist
NASM Behavior Change Specialist

Favorite thing about being a trainer:
Helping individuals realize their potential and pushing them to achieve their goals.

One thing I wish everyone knew about fitness:
Exercise is fun! It shouldn't be viewed as a punishment or a chore we have to do, but a way to embrace that we have the ability to move our bodies and push ourselves to see what we are truly capable of.

Areas of interest:
Powerlifting/Olympic lifting, group fitness, running

Favorite exercise:
Barbell clean and jerk, distance running 

What do you do outside of the YMCA:
I like to spend time doing outdoor activities or traveling with my family.

One interesting fact about you:
I love to read, and try to read at least 50 books a year.

Certifications:
ACE Certified Personal Trainer
NETA Pilates Reformer Certification
TRX Suspension Trainer
Certified Revelation Wellness Instructor

Favorite thing about being a trainer:
I love helping people become the best version of themselves in regards to health and wellness.

One thing I wish everyone knew about fitness:
It doesn’t matter what anyone else is doing, it only matters that you are showing up for yourself. Everyone’s health and wellness journey looks different.

Areas of interest:
Pilates reformer and anything core related, which I believe is the foundation of all movement both in fitness and our everyday life. I believe that regardless of any obstacles you might have there’s a way to continue on your health and wellness journey.

Favorite exercise:
Deadlift and Anything Core Related

What do you do outside of the YMCA:
Help on my family farm, spending time with family.

One interesting fact about you:
I love all things indoor plant related.

Certifications:
NASM Certified Personal Trainer

One thing I wish everyone knew about fitness:
I wish everyone knew what I found out after I retired from a career of 36 years of hard labor as a bus and truck mechanic. By starting sooner and staying fitter I would have avoided many issues that caused back and shoulder problems, making life more difficult, painful and hard. I wish other people knew that is never too late, you are not too old, fitness is for everyone, and every little bit helps. Fitness activities help you function in your daily life with more ease, less pain and more confidence. Fitness activities let you access your daily life in an easier, happier and more functional manner.

Areas of interest:
I love core training because it's the basis for any training. The core is where training should start because it helps give you stability, balance, and protect your back which is a major factor in mobility and enjoying life. Bonus, focusing on your core helps your posture.

Favorite exercise:
Planks because it strengthens your inner core in a way that other exercises don't. It puts less tension on your spine and lower back while strengthening your inner core muscles.

What do you do outside of the YMCA:
I enjoy spending time with my wife, kids and grandkids. I love to travel as much as possible. I take weekly ballroom dancing classes.

One interesting fact about you:
That some of my favorite dances are the Cha-Cha, the Hustle, The Waltz and the Bachata.

Certifications:
Elite Trainer
Nutritionist
Youth Fitness
Parisi Sports Performance Coach

Favorite thing about being a trainer:
I love designing fun and efficient workouts tailored to each client.

One thing I wish everyone knew about fitness:
When you exercise, endorphins are released. This not only makes you feel better mentally, emotionally, and physically, but it helps you think clearer and foster brain cell growth!

Areas of interest:
Weight Loss, Weight Maintain, Building Muscle (Hypertrophy), Muscle Definition, Family Exercise, and helping individuals fit exercise into busy lives.

Favorite exercise:
Jump Squats

What do you do outside of the YMCA:
I love finding new fun places to visit (and yummy places to eat) with my husband and two boys. We also enjoy going to church and hosting family gatherings.

One interesting fact about you:
I am an elementary Education Teacher!