We provide lecturers with certifications that confirm they are highly committed to their work and have received training in a particular specialization. Offered by outside instructors at the YMCA, our certifications are internationally recognized by other fitness professionals.
Allison Russell
Allison Russell is a YMCA certified personal trainer with over seven years of experience and a Level 1 Agatsu kettlebell coach. She works exclusively with women, focusing on creating inclusive, empowering fitness spaces.
Specializing in size-inclusive fitness, Allison helps clients develop healthy relationships with movement and addresses body image in her sessions.
Through her private studio and online coaching, she promotes strength, mobility, and mental well-being, encouraging movement as a form of self-care. Allison is dedicated to helping women build a lifelong positive relationship with fitness.
Bassam Ghozaiel
Bassam Ghozaiel is a fitness and combat sports expert. He has had an impressive career as both an international trainer and judge certified by the World Association of Kickboxing Organizations in Germany.
He also possesses broad expertise in group coaching and has obtained several internationally recognized certifications such as the YMCA Fit certification for cardio cycle, PMA USA, Radical Fitness International (Germany), Piloxing Academy (USA), among others.
Brigitte Robitaille
Brigitte Robitaille has been a STOTT PILATES™ instructor since 2014 and a trainer for the company since 2007. She became a massage therapist in 2008. Brigitte also teaches functional anatomy and several other workshops on movement and posture. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and believes that being in tune with our body and mind improves our health and well-being.
Her holistic approach, both in massage therapy and movement, looks at the body and mind in their entirety.
Since the age of 18, she has been teaching a different people including children, older adults, athletes, and special populations. She is especially interested in working with special populations, more specifically with pregnant and postnatal women as well as women with injuries.
Since the birth of her first daughter in 2012, Brigitte has been particularly interested in the physical and psychological health of pregnant women and new mothers. In addition to Pilates, Brigitte has completed training in Hypopressives®, Bellies Inc.’s© Core Confidence, Postnatal Corrective Exercise Specialist Program, Brain-Gym, EFT, and Pfilates.
She recently received her Pain Care Aware Specialist certification to better help people in pain. Brigitte is approachable, calm, and down to earth, which creates a warm and friendly training environment. Her attention to detail, patience, positive energy, and motivation help her clients reach their goals all while feeling confident and connected.
Cheryl Gillen
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!
Evan Beloff
Evan Beloff is a personal trainer, wellness coach, and certified naturopath with a focus on dietary epidemiology. Outside his private practice and teaching, he has worked for the Westmount YMCA for close to a decade.
Helen Neves
Helen Neves holds a bachelor’s degree in exercise science from Concordia University. She has been in the fitness industry for over 25 years, a trainer for the YMCA Canada for over 20 years and a presenter for over 15 years.
Helen is a personal trainer as well as a group fitness instructor who specializes in special populations, older adult fitness, group fitness, and indoor cycling. She has been teaching a variety of group fitness classes including indoor cycling since the beginning of her career. Since completing her cardio cycle certification with Reebok in 2000, she fell in love with teaching this type of class and has taken several workshops to master her skills and delivery since then. Respecting the human body and its limitations are Helen’s fundamental values.
As a group fitness instructor, she believes in having fun and working hard without jeopardizing the safety of her participants. She shares her passion and ensures everyone has fun while achieving their goals! Her classes unite all her participants, cyclists and non-cyclists alike, beginners to advanced!
Helen brings a wealth of knowledge into all her presentations and hopes to share her passion as well as her secrets for making group fitness classes safe and successful with you.
Louise Malone
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.
Luce Boulianne
Luce Boulianne has a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from the University of Montréal. She also completed a professional master’s degree in kinesiology, with a specialization in pre/postnatal training.
A lecturer, FIT trainer, and the assistant director, territory operations for the YMCAs of Québec, Luce has also been a private trainer for over 20 years. As a CrossFit amateur athlete and coach, she uses the CrossFit methodology with her clients.
Marie-Ève Ricard
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 Lussier
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.
Mathieu Boulé
Mat Boulé is an osteopath and posturologist. He is the founder of the Innovation Performance Institute and the North-American representative of the Collège International d’Études de la Statique (CIES).
Nathalie Lacombe
An award-winning presenter, Nathalie Lacombe is a top coach and motivator in the fitness industry. She blends decades of international experience with degrees in psychology and exercise science.
As vice president of the Fitness Industry Council of Canada and a canfitpro advisory panel member, she uses her joie de vivre to foster profound and lasting changes with her clients and audiences.
Robin Glance
Robin Glance is a registered dietician with almost 20 years of clinical experience. Robin is a graduate from the McGill School of Dietetics and Human Nutrition.
Robin began her career as an oncology dietician at the MUHC and currently has a private practice where she works with clients of all ages to help improve both food habits and relationships with food.
Robin takes a non-diet approach to counselling and does not believe in strict rules or deprivation. Robin is an experienced speaker who has presented at multiple conferences and workplaces in the Montréal area. She has appeared on Global News, Breakfast Television, CJAD, and CBC Radio as a nutritional expert.
Sarah Zahab
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.