Vital Steps is proud to have a wealth of education, experience, and just really good people on our team. Each person brings special skills, expertise, and her own personality to the table. Please get to know our team better by reading about each trainer/instructor. We’re sure you’ll grow to love them as much as we do!
Jo-Ann is the Vital Steps founder and veteran fitness professional with over twenty-five years in the industry. She has helped many people achieve fitness goals and dedicates her energy in making wellness and fitness related education, training and advocacy a part of the public discussion on lifestyle and health matters. Jo-Ann has had many experiences and held several offices for several Toronto organizations which include but are not exhaustive of the following: Fitness Director for both McGill Club for Women and Columbus Center in Toronto, Canada, training instructor in exercise protocols and seminar conductor and spokesperson in women’s fitness. She is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario, and her certifications include an M.E.S., P.R.T., O.F.C. OFC certified, Bone Fit certified and she specializes in safe exercise design, strength training and training older adults.
Teodora has been inspiring people for over 15 years in her homeland Romania, & other areas of the world such as Kuwait, United Arab Emirates and Canada to view fitness as a lifestyle. Teodora is an accomplished swim coach in Romania and Canada, and a former bronze medalist at the junior European championships as a competitive swimmer. As a certified personal trainer and nutrition and wellness specialist, her areas of expertise include: aqua-fitness, pre/post-natal issues, and training with the TRX suspension trainer and Gymstick.
Michelle holds a Master’s degree in physical education, specializing in exercise gerontology. In her research and 15+ years in the fitness industry, Michelle’s focus has been on women’s motivation for exercise and how to best strengthen each woman from the inside out. She strives to preserve the “personal” in personal training by consistently listening to and observing clients, industry leaders, and scientific researchers for their insights, expertise, and ideas for practical application of exercise theory. Michelle is a certified personal trainer, course conductor, and practical assessor with the Canadian Professional Trainers Network (CPTN).
Ashley is a certified personal trainer, boot camp, gliding disc & kickboxing instructor, has a background in senior fitness, and is a child obesity clinic instructor with an infectious passion for physical activity. She has her First Aid/CPR/AED certificates, and is a Yoga Exercise Specialist. As a lover of continuous learning and challenge, Ashley uses her positive energy to motivate, support, and expose her clients to the most fun and cutting edge training techniques.
Julie is a George Brown College graduate and a certified bellyfit instructor and personal trainer with experience in group fitness classes. Julie trains in cardio aerobics, muscle conditioning and stability ball classes. Julie’s bellyfit class is a fantastic fusion of traditional and modern influences. She particularly enjoys working with and conducting seniors group fitness sessions.
Juliet has been teaching yoga since 2005, and exploring it since 1998. A Kripalu graduate who’s also interested in the Ananda and Anusara styles, she has 400+ hours of training (so far). She offers a meditative but gently challenging practice: slow, steady and deep. Students leave her class stretched out, strengthened, and ready for more.
Alona Picovsky Ph.D., CAPT, Pilates certificate, B.M.Ed is an accomplished professional musician, dancer, teacher, fitness and pilates instructor. She has taught at Universities around the world: Canada, USA, Australia, Kenya and Israel. As a lecturer and clinician she has taught and supervised undergraduate students, led creative workshops for teachers, developed curriculums and implemented creative music and fitness programs in the schools and fitness centers.
Chelsie is a dedicated yoga practitioner and certified teacher. She creates the ultimate mind/body exercise by blending two complementary yoga approaches: Yang yoga acts as a primer for building energy and strength, while Yin yoga allows for stretching and focus. Chelsie enables participants to experience a union of mind, body, and breath by taking them through a variety of targeted postures and routines. She is also a certified fitness and spinning instructor.
