Hi everyone!

I’m Charlene, and after 20 years away from the fitness industry I am excited to be teaching fitness and wellness programs again!  Though I’m new to it here in Thunder Bay, my previous experience includes running a gym for a YWCA where I taught 15 classes a week, trained and certified fitness instructors, and developed strength and fitness training programs for a wide variety of people in the community where I lived.  I have also conducted fitness testing for RCMP candidates as well as the Canadian Standardized Test of Fitness for new members of the gym.

In 1998/1999, life threw me a few curve balls that knocked me off that trajectory and I became very sedentary.  And even though I knew I should be moving my body and looking after myself, it took 20 years and a serious decline in my health to wake me up and motivate me to come back to my fitness roots.

In 2018, I took the first steps to start teaching fitness again by taking two fitness instructor programs and in 2019 I became a certified Fitness Instructor Specialist through canfitpro.  But it still took me a couple of years to gain the confidence to put myself out there and teach!  It wasn’t until the summer of 2021 when the Covid restrictions on gatherings were relaxed that I took the plunge.  I knew our older adults were in need of an exercise program after being away from it for more than a year, and I was pretty sure I could deliver something that would help them.  I led 2 types of classes that summer – a strength and stretch program and a step aerobics class.  They turned out to be a great success, and a much-needed boost to my confidence!

The reason I share all of this is to let you know that I know what it’s like to be at the top of my game and come crashing down. To come back from illness, injury, depression and plain old lack of motivation (which, by the way, still strikes more often than I’d care to admit). When you come to my classes, you’ll find someone who is empathetic and energetic.  Passionate and transparent. And above all, you’ll find someone who’s there to support you and cheer you on!

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