Instructor Profiles
Every fitness instructor brings their own energy, personality and experience to our fitness classes. In our brochure you can view fitness scheduling to see who will be teaching the fitness class you intend to take. Read below for a short profile of all the instructors we have here at BBNC!
As a Fitness Instructor, Jill’s goal is to lead and motivate participants to consistently improve themselves over the long term so they can reach their desired level of fitness.
Jill has always had a passion for fitness and has been an active participant in fitness classes at BBNC and Variety Village for the past 25 years. She took that passion to the next level when she became certified as a Fitness Instructor Specialist through CanFitPro in June 2014. Her work experience includes teaching classes that focus on cardio, core fit, circuit training, HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training), muscle conditioning, strength and flexibility training.
Through sub work, Jill has gained experience teaching Aquafit and Pilates classes. She continues to grow as a fitness professional, having taken various CanFitPro courses; leading to certificates in Tabata Boot Camp, Active Aging (including common medical conditions and exercise prescriptions), and Chair Fitness – to name a few. She maintains a current CPR-A and Standard First Aid with CPR-C.
Toni has over 20 years of experience in the fitness, health and wellness industry. She has extensive training and education holding certifications as a Yoga Alliance E-RYT200 and YACEP, Canadian Fitness Professional Association as a Certified Personal Trainer, Stott Pilates, TRX and Schwinn Cycling instructor.
Toni believes that Yoga and movement practice is a lifelong journey. She honours this with ongoing study, continually fine tuning both her own practice and her teaching by studying with master Yoga and movement instructors internationally. She has trained in various forms of yoga including Hatha, Restorative, Ashtanga, Vinyasa, Anusara and Kundalini.
Toni delivers educational sessions on Yoga Practices for Anxiety, Stress and Depression, Movement and wellness for Older Adults and Movement Practices for the Corporate Employee. She lives a balanced life with health and wellness at the centre of her home. In her down time she can be found reading, exploring, pursuing a daily yoga, movement and strength practice and, most cherished of all, walking with her two daughters and her dog Bella.
I am a certified Fitness Instructor Specialist and have taught Step, Hi & Low Impact, Boxercise and Body Sculpt classes for over 25 years! I currently teach Zumba Fitness and Body Sculpt here at BBNC on Mondays and Thursday evenings.
Zumba is a fusion of dance and fitness. I became a Zumba Instructor in 2009 because of my passion for both. I also love that Zumba is like one big dance party with no dance experience needed, just a passion to move your body. It brings people together and friendships are created for life! So what are you waiting for? Come out and join the party!
Carolyn is a 250HR Certified Yoga Teacher with a zest for life and she believes that a positive outlook can create positive outcomes. She enjoys the benefits of a daily Hot Yoga practice and encourages doing any activity that makes you smile. She prioritizes health & wellness for all ages and also teaches Boxercise and Aqua Fitness.
Carolyn has parachuted out of an airplane; ran a full marathon; raised money for charity by rappelling a 33-story building; and appeared on television doing the CNTower EdgeWalk with her husband. Her goal is to live to be a centenarian– and in addition to having a cake with 100 candles to blow out, she can see herself surrounded by 100 balloons while doing a handstand!
Ester has dedicated over 25 years to instructing fitness. She has been an active instructor of the BBNC family for 18 years. Her expertise is in muscle conditioning utilizing weights. In addition to this, she teaches cardio classes – mainly step and low-impact.
In the more recent years, Ester has focused on Older Adult Fitness. She enjoys helping the aging population get into shape for a longer and healthier life!
Shyanne is a Youth Fitness Instructor, a Youth empowerment Life Coach, and has been teaching fitness programs for youth for 9 years.
“My absolute passion is to educate children and youth on the principles of health and wellness; teaching them the ability to believe in themselves, to become more confident, and to think of health and wellness as more of a lifestyle – not a chore.”
Shyanne empowers children and youth through fitness classes, workshops, leadership training, youth coaching and CPR Courses! Her passion for the fitness industry and working developing others allows her to have the best job in the world!
Lauren believes in the power of connecting body, mind and spirit. As a 30-year veteran of the fitness industry, she is a full-time professional with a diverse skill set. She is a 500-YTT yoga teacher and Fitness Instructor Specialist with The Canadian Fitness Professionals Association. She considers herself a life-time learner.
Lauren is dedicated to motivating people of all ages and fitness levels to become the best versions of themselves. She believes strongly in the power of connection and community. After a recent trip to India, she is even more committed to her own spiritual practice of yoga and meditation.
Lauren envisions a world filled with love, kindness and compassion. When not planning her classes and teaching training, she also enjoys books, travel, piano and guitar and connecting with nature.
With over 20 years of experience teaching throughout the City of Toronto, Mary-Lynn has worked many private clubs and now focuses on working in community centres.
She teaches both land and water fitness programs. In addition to this, she teaches specialty classes such as oesteoporsis, muscle conditioning and yoga. She is WaterART Fitness, OFC and East-West Yoga Certified.
Phong has been training in Okinawan Shorin-Ryu Karate for 30 years and has been overseeing the BBNC Karate Program for 20 of those years.
He has been to Okinawa Japan three times and trained with many recognized masters of Karate in various styles. Other places that he has trained include Florida, California, Virginia, Indianapolis and Texas in the United States, as well as in the Bahamas and Grand Caymans.
Quote: “There’s no secret to Karate but to practice”
My career in fitness began over 30 years ago as a fitness and aqua fitness instructor at the YMCA, while writing in the advertising and publishing industries. My growing interest in fitness soon became a full time pursuit, allowing me the flexibility to raise my daughters while working in an active and ever changing industry. I have been a member of CanFitPro since 2006.
I currently teach a wide variety of both land and aqua classes at BBNC, with an overall focus on cardiovascular and muscular conditioning. Both on land and in the water, training your body to be stronger is an attainable goal, regardless of age or condition.
In most recent years, my focus has been on the role of fitness and nutrition as a lifestyle and how it relates to the aging process. I really love and believe in what I do, and try to bring that to each of my classes.
I was brought up in the world of gymnastics and that’s where my love for fitness began.
Your best fitness results will come from reconnecting your body with your mind. Why do I go to a gym, workout and not see results? Exercising the body is about mindful movement – not just movement. I specialize in body mechanics; the way your body is meant to move. Mind laziness creates body laziness and bad body mechanics.
Stand tall, walk tall, and regain the muscle strength that supports your body.
That’s just the beginning.
The more I practice yoga, I grow stronger, more flexible and balanced, both physically and emotionally. That on-going change inspired me to share my excitement with others and train with YogaFit and East to West. I hold the 200-Hour RYT with Yoga Alliance and Pilates Mat Certification and continue to diversify to yin, power, senior, restorative, and chair yoga. I have been teaching at gyms, high schools and privately since 2012.
I am also a secondary school teacher and love to bring yoga, meditation and stress-release programs to young people. I believe yoga gives us the opportunity to gain awareness, develop mindfulness, and become more compassionate individuals. Let’s practice on the mat so that we can take those skills off the mat.
In my spare time, I enjoy walking on the beach, reading, gardening, swimming and theatre.