Continuing Education Workshops and Certifications

The workshops welcome certified instructors. They provide information on the latest developments and training techniques, and enable instructors to enhance their skill set and professionalism all at once.

Our new virtual program allows you to complete your training from the comfort of your home with a live instructor, other students and educational materials on a digital platform.

Workshops - WINTER 2026

Rhythm & Power: Boxing Choreography & Step Toning

In english

This high energy workshop combines aeroboxing combinations with step-based strength training for a full-body workout. Participants will learn powerful punching and kicking sequences to improve cardio endurance and coordination, followed by targeted strength exercises using the step platform to build muscle and enhance stability.

Saturday, January 17, 2026 | 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.*
Instructor: Cheryl Guillen
Cartierville YMCA - Studio 2
Registration begins: November 24, 2025

*Eastern Standard Time Zone (EST)

Outdoor training

In french

As an instructor, the outdoors can be your best ally to get people to move, enjoy the fresh air, and reconnect. This workshop will guide you in fully exploiting the physical and mental benefits of the outdoors, both for your participants and for yourself. You will learn how to get into the right mindset, adapt to the unexpected with ease, and create energizing classes.

Friday, March 13, 2026 | 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.*
Instructor: Marie-Ève Ricard
Virtual class
Registration begins: November 24, 2025

*Eastern Standard Time Zone (EST)

Workshops - SPRING 2026

Integrated Movement Conditioning

In english

Attendees will be introduced to ground-based movements designed to enhance strength, flexibility and coordination. These movements engage the entire body, promoting functional fitness and mobility. The practice can be performed as a standalone workout or integrated into existing training routines, making it versatile for all fitness levels. (attendees will be spending a lot of the course on their hands.)

Saturday, March 28, 2026 | 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.*
Instructor: Farrell Kaufman
Westmount YMCA - Studio 2
Registration begins: February 16, 2026

*Eastern Standard Time Zone (EST)

Complete the interest form

The Power of Stillness: Meditation & Breathwork for Enhanced Teaching and Personal Resilience

In english

The purpose of this workshop is to equip yoga and fitness instructors with practical meditation and breathwork techniques that:

Improve their own mental clarity, emotional regulation, and energy levels.
Deepen their understanding and experience of being in a “flow state”.
Enhance class delivery, student engagement, and retention.
Support member well-being and promote YMCA’s holistic health mission.

Workshop Goals

Instructor Well-being – Provide tools to reduce burnout, increase focus, cultivate personal balance and depth in practice and teaching.
Teaching Skills – Help instructors integrate short meditation and breathwork segments seamlessly into existing classes.
Member Retention – Enrich members’ experience with new practices that increase satisfaction and loyalty.

Saturday, May 9, 2026 | 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.*
Instructor: Jayme Hernandez
Westmount YMCA - Studio 2
Registration begins: February 16, 2026

*Eastern Standard Time Zone (EST)

Complete the interest form

More Information

To maintain valid certification, the YMCAs of Québec’s instructors and trainers are required to participate in continuing education workshops, for a total of 16 hours over a two-year period.

Two of these workshops or six hours must be taken as part of the YMCAs of Québec’s continuing education program.

Please consult the recertification form for full recertification requirements.

Recertification form

Our Speakers

Brigitte Robitaille has been a STOTT PILATES™ instructor since 2004 and a Instructor-Trainer for the company since 2009. She has also been a massage therapist since 2008. She teaches functional anatomy as well as several workshops on movement and posture.

With a university degree in psychology, she believes that by becoming aware of our body and mind, we can greatly improve our health and overall well-being. Her holistic approach—both in massage therapy and movement—always considers the body and mind as a whole.

For the past 20 years, she has taught a wide variety of people, including children, seniors, athletes, and special populations. She has a particular interest in working with special populations, especially women from pregnancy through to menopause. In addition to Pilates, Brigitte is trained in Hypopressives®, Bellies Inc© Core Confidence, Postnatal Corrective Exercise, Pfilates, Brain Gym, EFT, Breathwork, and is a Pain Care Aware specialist for working with people dealing with chronic pain.

Brigitte is approachable, calm, and grounded, which creates a warm and friendly training environment. Her attention to detail, patience, positive energy, and motivation help her clients reach their goals while feeling confident and connected.

Cheryl Gillen has been an instructor with the YMCA for over 35 years, teaching at various centres including Cartierville, Westmount, NDG, Saint-Laurent, and the West Island.

In addition to being a certified Pound® instructor, she has taught a wide range of classes over the years including hi/low aerobics, step, toning, HIIT, circuit, aerobox, stretch and strength, aquafit, fitness for seniors, just to name a few. Is there anything she cannot do? Come join her for this energizing fun filled event!

Farrell has served as a master instructor for both Fitness Kickboxing Canada and EBFA Global. He has a certification in FMS 1 & 2, Animal Flow 1 & 2, Precision Nutrition 1, Bioforce Conditioning, and YMCA Corrective Conditioning and Individual Conditioning.

Farrell has taught the Personal Trainer Certification course as well as many other continuing education workshops at the YMCA. In 2022, Farrell began facilitating webinars for AARP. Teaching is one of his great passions and he is excited to bring this course to you.

Jayme Hernandez is a yoga, meditation, and psychosomatic healing, teacher/transformational coach with over 25 years of experience helping people transform stress, anxiety, and burnout into clarity and resilience. She has created multiple teacher training certifications, including prenatal and mother–baby yoga, a 200-hour therapeutic yoga certification, and retreats that blend movement, dance, and energy work. As founder of a trauma-focused life coaching practice, she combines body, mind, and energy techniques to address core wounds and unlock lasting well-being.

Louka Kurcer, also known as “The Kettlebell Guy,” has been teaching kettlebell training for over 10 years all across Canada.

He is part of an international school of strength called StrongFirst, developed by Pavel Tsatsouline.

He teaches specialty courses such as Bodyweight Training, Flexibility and Mobility, Functional Movement and Breathing. Louka is also the founder of the Kettlebell Club in Montréal, where the focus is strength training for people over 40. Besides strength teaching and training, Louka enjoys spending time with his wife and two-year-old little boy.

With a strong background in fitness leadership and a keen interest in promoting healthy lifestyles, Louise Malone recently joined the Sylvan Adams YM-YWHA team as fitness engagement manager.

Louise is certified in multiple disciplines, including injury rehabilitation, corrective exercise, Pilates and group fitness. Louise is also a trainer for YMCA Canada, teaching in their Personal Training Certification program.

Louise studied physical education at McGill University, and holds a certificate in sports therapy. In her spare time, Louise enjoys teaching small group personal training and indoor cycling, and networking with fellow fitness professionals.

With over 20 years of experience in the fitness industry, Marie-Eve Ricard is a PRO TRAINER for canfitpro, and she is renowned for her accessibility-, enjoyment-, and holistic health-focused approach. As the inaugural recipient of the Industry Impact Award, she leverages her expertise to train instructors and enhance the quality of group fitness classes.

Holding a bachelor’s degree in physical and health education, Marie-Eve collaborates with various organizations to deliver engaging trainings, both in person and virtually. Her contagious passion makes her sessions unique, motivating, and impactful.

Martin has been working for the YMCA for over 25 years and teaching at the University of Montréal’s School of Kinesiology and Physical Activity Sciences since 2001. His kinesiology specializations include training for athletes and non-athletes, fitness assessments, exercise physiology, and the effects of exercise on health.

He is self-employed and works as a trainer for a diverse clientele. Additionally, he is a lecturer and co-author of the series Mythes et réalités sur l’entraînement physique, la musculation, la course à pied et le vélo, published by Éditions de l’Homme.

I obtained my kinesiology degree from Université de Montréal in 2012 and I have been actively coaching since 2010. Through my journey, I have achieved a wide range of goals in endurance sports (marathon, triathlon), body sculpting and strength training, including joining the 1,000-pound club. I leverage this wealth of experience to fine-tune my teaching and coaching style, staying focused on efficiency, understanding the “why” and achieving sustainable results.

Since 2022, I have also taught anatomy, physiology and sports biomechanics at École de massage professionnelle À Fleur de Peau, and written articles for the Réseau des massothérapeutes professionnels du Québec.My approach—a balanced blend of scientific rigour, hands-on experience and pedagogical know-how—is aimed at helping and coaching instructors as they deepen their knowledge.

Sarah is a Registered Kinesiologist, Clinical Exercise Physiologist, and group fitness instructor with over 25 years of fitness industry experience. She is the owner of Continuum Fitness and Movement Performance in Ottawa, a personal coaching studio offering one-on-one coaching instruction, athletic therapy, physiotherapy, and registered massage therapy services (www.continuumfitness.ca).

Sarah specializes in bridging the gap between rehab and a return to sports activities, focusing on correcting muscle imbalances and perfecting alignment, movement patterns, and optimizing kinesthetic awareness. Sarah is a published author with Human Kinetics. She is the creator of the Prenatal and Postnatal Strength workout DVDs. Sarah is a former international fitness competitor, a nationally ranked race walker, and a regular fitness expert on CTV’s Morning Live Ottawa.

Currently the assistant director of operations at the Saint-Roch YMCA, Simon Louis-Seize completed a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology at Laval University in 2008. He co-founded the weightlifting club Les Athlétiques in 2009, where he was the head coach until 2022. From 2008 to 2017, he was a fitness trainer for Excellence Sportive Québec-Lévis (ESQL) and the Institut National du Sport (INS).

He also worked as an athletic trainer for Laval University’s Rouge et Or athletic sports team and coached several Québec teams in football and weightlifting. From 2017 to 2021, he trained Canadian Armed Forces members at Valcartier (Personnel Support Programs).

Sonia is a graduate of Concordia University and has been certified since 2012. Passionate about following sports event coverage, she works with college and high school teams as well as athletes at Dawson College, where she has grown her client base and treats all kinds of injuries. She has completed functional movement screen training and works with active people to ensure safe physical activity.

Continuing Education Workshops and Certifications

Workshops - WINTER 2026

Workshops - SPRING 2026

More Information

Recertification and Continuing Education

General Information

Our Speakers

Brigitte Robitaille

Cheryl Gillen

Evan Beloff

Farrell Kaufman

Jayme Hernandez

Louka Kurcer

Louise Malone

Marie-Ève Ricard

Martin Lussier

Nathalie Lacombe

Nicolas Clanet

Sarah Zahab

Simon Louis-Seize

Sonia Adhami

Valérie Gautherot

You May Also Be Interested In

Discover Our Training Development Programs Personal Training

Discover Our Training Development Programs Functional Training Certifications for Seniors