Fitness NB Annual Conference

Personal Training and Fitness Summit 2010 - Presenter Biographies

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Featured Presenter - Diane Bellefontaine

Diane Bellefontaine has been a fitness studio owner, a fitness facility director, the executive director of a provincial fitness association and a die-hard fitness instructor.

With over 30 years of experience in her fitness career, not only did Diane host her own TV fitness show, she also wrote weekly fitness columns in the local newspaper. Additionally, Diane provided fitness tips on the radio and she was also featured in two different issues of Shape Magazine.

From the days of “leg warmers” and “albums” to yoga toe socks and iPods, Diane has seen the many changes in the fitness industry over the last three decades.

Diane has received certifications with Aerobic Fitness Association of America, International Dance Exercise Association and Canadian Aquatics Leadership Association. Diane holds various certifications with the Nova Scotia Fitness Association. She is a certified FIS with Can Fit Pro, a Zumba & Zumba Gold instructor and a certified Yoga instructor. Diane has completed the Gliding Total Body Master Training and the Bender Ball foundation.

Diane presents at various conferences, workshops, and in-services. She also teaches a variety of fitness classes at fitness clubs, facilities and corporate workplaces.

Diane’s favourite quote is “Do what you love. Love what you do!”

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Keynote Address - Gabriela Tymowski

Gabriela Tymowski is an associate professor in the Faculty of Kinesiology at the University of New Brunswick. She has undergraduate degrees in kinesiology and education, and a master's degree in kinesiology (University of Western Ontario), and a Ph.D. in applied ethics (University of Gloucestershire, UK). Gabriela was the founding director of LEAP! (Learning Eating Activity Programme), an interdisciplinary pediatric weight management clinic in the faculty of Kinesiology (2003-2008). The major focus of her research has dealt with the ethical issues affecting children, from one end of the activity spectrum where they are over-involved in competitive and high-performance sport to the other end where they are under-involved in physical activity and sport, and overly sedentary. The problem of childhood obesity has been a focus of late, with an attempt to unravel this complex issue through social commitment and policy change to investing in children’s health and futures. She is concerned with children's rights, particularly the child's right to an open future. She is also interested in high-risk sport, and the ethical concerns surrounding personal autonomy and the demands injured athletes make on the health care system. Other projects have included a study with the RCMP on the attitudes and behaviours of New Brunswick students regarding the use of performance-enhancing substances in sport, and BOOST, a community outreach activity for kinesiology students working with elementary school children at St. Mary’s First Nation.

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Lise Bourgeois
Lise Bourgeois, an Environmental Scholar and Holistic Health Practitioner, has explored the many facets of yoga, ranging from Yin Yoga, Power Yoga, Hot Yoga, Sivananda, Vinyasa, Ashtanga, Bikram and Kundalini Yoga. In the past years she’s trained with seasoned teachers and acquired several teacher-training certifications. Her specialties include Family Yoga, Yoga for Kids, and Yoga for Runners, as well as corporate wellness programming.

Tracy Cipryk
Tracy has spent the last 25 years working as a fitness entrepreneur creating, developing and presenting a wide variety of topics in health, fitness and wellness. She has owned a fitness franchise; was a business partner with Nubody’s Fitness Centre for 19 years, and has represented the Canadian Fitness Professionals Organization as a PRO Trainer CEC provider and presenter for the past 12 years. Tracy is well known for blending her fitness expertise, dance experience and yoga training into unique programs and presentations that are mindful, physically challenging and soul freeing for fitness professionals and enthusiasts.

Marilynn Georgas
Marilynn has been part of the fitness and health industry for the past 30 years and in that time has experienced many different aspects such as teaching classes, presenting at conferences and conducting courses for future instructors. She is currently the Director of Fitness, Health and Wellness at the Fredericton YMCA and is also a fitness and personal training course conductor for YMCA Canada and Fitness New Brunswick. She was the 2001 recipient of the YMCA Women of Distinction award for Fitness and Sport in Saskatoon. Marilynn has been teaching Aqua Fitness for over 20 years and is excited to bring Aqua Zumba to this year’s conference. She hopes this new and vibrant program will give the participants energy never before experienced in the water and that they will go away with a happy heart and a renewed inspiration for exercising in the water.

Wendy Hamelin
Over the past 17 years, Wendy Hamelin has inspired many people in fitness and wellness! She is the owner of Living Fit – Fitness & Wellness Solutions, which specializes in offering Personal Fitness Training, Fit Camp and Yoga/Pilates Classes. Wendy’s philosophy is simple: “Your health is your true wealth!”

Holly Heartz
Holly Heartz, a registered dietitian, has specialized in sports nutrition for the past 12 years. Through her business, Sports & Fitness Nutrition (www.HollyHeartz.ca) and the Canadian Sports Centre, she has worked with various levels of active individuals from recreational to Olympic athletes. Holly has holds a BSc degree (biology) from the University of New Brunswick, a BSc degree in Foods and Nutrition from the University of Western Ontario and has completed her Dietetic Internship at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Charlottetown, PEI. She is currently working on her Master’s of Science in Exercise Sports and Science.

Thom Lamb
As the Owner/Operator of Elite Experience in Fredericton, Thom brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the conference. Thom spent 9 years as an Army Combat Engineering Officer before completing his Master’s in Cognitive Science from Queen’s University. Over the past 9 years, Thom has been a Professional Strongman, managed a chain of nutrition stores and ran a gym. His passion is working with individuals to help them reach their fitness goals.

www.eliteexperience.ca

Sabina Marco
Sabina has been teaching classes for over 11 years. She first got certified in group fitness 7 years ago. Sabina has taught HI/LO, Circuit, Step, Boot camps and Older Adult classes for the YMCA, UNB and STU in Fredericton. Her personal philosophy is to “survive any way possible while riding the insanely crazy roller coaster of being a single mom with three boys, and trying to keep my own sanity in the process. Some may say it’s too late, I’m already a bit nuts, but what helps me is teaching fitness classes and working with wonderful people on a daily basis!”

Joel Melanson
The world of health and fitness is dynamic with constant innovations and changes. With over 10 years of Personal Training experience, Joel understands the need to stay current with new strategies and concepts. He is always pursuing additional certifications in strength and conditioning methods and he continues to research and develop the newest and best methods to help clients reach their fitness goals.

Frances Michaelson N.D.
Frances Michaelson is the owner of MuscleUp Personal Training centre and MuscleUp exercise product distribution company with headquarters in the west island of Montréal. Having a strong passion for always being on the cutting edge of training protocols, she recently started hosting her own events in Montréal for furthering the growth of personal trainers and lifestyle coaches. Frances is presently in her third year of naturopathy and encourages everyone to follow the organic and green path as much as possible.

Lisa Paulin
Lisa grew up in Fredericton and was not always interested in fitness but encountered some life altering changes Two years later, she had walked off (with some healthy eating habits also) 62 lbs and came to the realization that maybe she would "join a gym". At that time she joined the Goodlife Fitness Club in Fredericton and met a couple of very motivating instructors who felt that she would make a great transition into an instructor. After some thought and pushing Lisa took the plunge and has never looked back since. She also came to realize that fitness and being fit are not about being "skinny or thin" but rather about lifestyle choices, feeling great and being happy at any size or age. Her goals are many but most of all she hopes to set a good example for all the people that mean the most to her by continuing to promote a healthy and active lifestyle.

Jeanette Pearson

Jeanette is passionate about helping women find strength and confidence through exercise. A motivating leader in women’s fitness, she encourages students to lift weights, run, jump, stretch and dance. Her teaching emphasizes a balanced exploration of human movement in all these areas, in order to maximize results and improve body awareness.

Lorraine Peters
Lorraine is a resident of Saint John where she lives with her husband and 3 children. She has been involved in the fitness industry for 16 years as a fitness instructor, Certified Fitness Consultant (CFC) and more recently as a Certified Personal Trainer (CPT). Lorraine has a background in natural medicine and is a trained Herbalist & Therapeutic Touch practitioner, a form of energy healing. She operates her own new business, Advanced Living, specializing in fitness training, natural nutrition, ancient healing therapies and wellness workshops. For personal enjoyment, Lorraine is also a competitive amateur bodybuilder.

Jason Rudy
Jason is the wellness director at the Fredericton YMCA. He has been training clients for 5 years and his passion is powerlifting and rehabilitation techniques. He is a CSEP Certified Personal Trainer® and conducts Canadian Forces and RCMP fitness tests. He also is a group fitness instructor, holding bootcamps and stretching/joint mobility classes.

Jon Tracy
Jon has a Kinesiology and a Masters degree focused on Exercise Physiology. Jon’s interests lie in training the physical, mental and emotional aspects of the athletic training. During his time in university, he became certified with the Canadian Society of Exercise Physiology. Jon has years of high performance testing experience, and has coached others, as well as training and racing himself. Jon is a NCCP level Triathlon Coach and currently Triathlon New Brunswick’s Provincial Coach/Junior Development Coordinator, along with the Canada Games Coach (Triathlon) and Saint John’s Fundy Extreme Triathlon Club coach.

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