After obtaining a Bachelor of Arts Degree from UBC and giving private ESL, French, Spanish and Italian lessons during the school year and dance lessons in the summer ESL program at Capilano University (back then called Cap College), I switched to studying nursing. After working as a nurse for over 18 years, while simultaneously being very much involved in fitness activities and getting educated in the field of fitness - as of 2023, I decided to no longer practice as a nurse. My passion for joyful movement and lifestyle medicine had been pulling me more and more into the fitness, health and wellness industry - and I moved from working part time to dedicating my full time attention in this arena . In this industry I hold the following certifications:

• Certified Personal Trainer (ACE with NCCA accreditation),

• Certified Health Coach (ACE with NCCA accreditation)

• Certified Corrective Exercise Specialist (TBMM-CES)

• Certified Exercise Therapist (ISSA)

• Certified Functional Training Specialist (ACE)

• Certified Strength and Conditioning Coach (ISSA)

• Certified Strength Trainer for Older Adults (AAHF)

• Certified Pregnancy and Postpartum Exercise Instructor (Oh Baby! Fitness in collaboration with ACE)

• Certified Pregnancy and Postpartum Corrective Exercise Specialist (Core Exercise Solutions)

• Registered Yoga Fitness Leader (BCRPA)

• Prenatal Yoga Certified (YogaRew)

• Certified Chair Yoga Instructor (BodyWorks)

• Certified Mindfulness Coach (YogaRenew)

• Certified Wellness and Lifestyle Coach (AAHF)

• Certified Life Coach

• Certified Nutritionist (ISSA)

• Certified Nutrition Coach (PN1)

• Certified Gut Health Specialist (The Nutritional Training Institute)

• Certified Sleep Consultant (The Sleep Consultant Academy)

• Certified Zumba instructor(ZIN)

• I am curious and passionate about always learning and growing and I see education as an ongoing life activity that ensures I have a wonderful mix of up to date tools to best serve my clients. I am constantly inspired by what my clients come to me for help with to learn more and more ways to help them thrive through whatever challenges they are faced with in life. I have accumulated a lot of fitness, health and wellness, and nursing continuing certified education in addition to the specialities listed above . I have written three articles published in FitLifeBC (an educational online magazine for BCRPA personal trainers and fitness instructors). I am devoted to helping people with chronic medical and musculoskeletal conditions as well as mental health issues use exercise as an effective and evidence based intervention l to shift from surviving to thriving through these challenges and as such I am a member of the Medical Fitness Network Professionals. Exercise indeed has all the evidence to work as medicine - and I give equal importance to helping people adopt powerful mindsets to create the changes and momentum they need! I enjoy working both with clients who are already very active and wanting to optimize their training for a given sport or life activities to those just starting out or wanting to find ways to get moving again in order to improve their health and fitness'.

My personal passions are dance, fitness, ocean swimming, and adventures in the great outdoors, and helping people find joy, health and empowerment through movement, renewed mindset and mindfulness practices. I work one on one with individuals, couples or small groups in functional training, strength training and stretching and use coaching techniques to help empower clients to make positive changes in their lives through approaching exercise with a renewed mindset. Another difficulty that can put people into a cycle of starting to exercise only to stop and head back to physiotherapy treatment, are longstanding or recurring issues with muscle and joint pain. As a Certified Corrective Exercise Specialist, I aim to help people overcome underlying muscle imbalances and dysfunction to help get to what may be at the root of, or continuously fueling, these ongoing issues. As a Certified Exercise Therapist, I work not only in prehab and post-rehab, but also alongside your rehab as you work through healing from injuries, managing chronic musculoskeletal conditions or medical conditions. Having a dance interest/background (university level contemporary dance courses, competitive ballroom, and Zumba) for those interested, we can have fun adding and infusing dance based exercises into workouts. Integrating yoga into workouts is also an option if requested. In addition to having worked with patients at their most vulnerable, in my life I have personally faced several medical health conditions and have gained a lived appreciation for the power of mindset, mindfulness and movement. I am always excited to share these tools with people facing health challenges and chronic conditions. My goal is to help others move and live in the present moment with gusto!

My mission as a personal trainer is to see my clients squeeze as much joy from each movement as possible. I like to help people discover that no matter what their goals are, the best part is the journey towards them - that it can be a journey filled with FUN and a truly empowering one! It is so exciting to see how the confidence, joy, mindful focus, and sense of calm gained while moving one’s body (whether it’s at the gym, in a dance studio or outside) spills over into work life, family life and other relationships.

I recognize that life throws a lot of challenges our way - especially in the context of when we live with chronic health conditions or difficult life situations. I am honored to be able to partner with clients to help them unearth what they value, discover the directions they want to move in in their lives, and take creative, incremental and sustainable steps so they can thrive in a holistic way.

I have named my business “Own Your Health” because movement and exercise can be one of the most reliable tools people have at their disposal to take ownership of their health!

On a more personal level: I am married with two daughters at the university level.  I can relate to individuals giving to their work, families and friends while trying to carve out time for their own well-being activities. I am passionate about helping others overcome obstacles (whether internal or external) and find solutions so that they can integrate more health promoting movement into their lives!