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MJ

MILEAGE: I’ve been teaching fitness, dance and yoga across North America for over 25 years. As a (now retired) actor, theatre director, choreographer and producer, much of my career was spent on stage and set. As an entrepreneur, I founded Dynamic Retreats, Seventh Stage Theatre, co-founded LaRouge Entertainment and worked on biz development for various fitness companies. I was the 2018 & 2019 Canfitpro Fitness Professional of the Year Finalist and have appeared as a Fitness Expert on the Dr OZ Show, CBC Radio & TV, BNN, CTV Your Morning, CP24, CBC, BTV and more! Certifications: Can Fed Coach, ACE, Canfitpro and AFAA (Group & PT), RYT and more. Major in Religion & Politics, HBA in Acting/Theatre, and MA in Drama Studies from University of Toronto.

WHAT GIVES YOU SOUL: Empowering people through movement. I believe your pain can be converted to power by positively empowering yourself and others. This has largely and proudly been my life’s work. My son Samuel and husband Dan are the heart and soul that empower me.

WHAT’S YOUR FUEL: Moving bodies to music! I’ll gladly honky tonk to bad country, head bang to trashy 80s rock, twerk to hip-hop, twinkle my toes to Tchaikovsky…Dance is my easiest access to joy. I’m also fuelled by great story telling in all forms, be it book, film, play or someone telling me theirs.

LAURIE MERREDEW

MILEAGE: Managing a fitness studio was the ideal career transition, as I have been a professional Stage Manager for the past ten years, working on both large and small scale plays, musicals, events, coordinating and managing schedules, technical elements, and people! Favourite productions I've worked on include The Brothers Size at Soulpepper, The History Plays with VideoCabaret and touring a show to China. I have an Honours BFA in Theatre Production and Design from York University

WHAT GIVES YOU SOUL: I love helping people accomplish their goals - whether that be staging a new musical or opening a new fitness studio! I love creative problem solving and the feeling that comes from working on a project through from an initial idea in the beginning and developing it into something big, tangible, and special.

WHAT'S YOUR FUEL: I love starting my day with a run along the lake or going paddle boarding! I grew up on a lake in Northwestern Ontario, so I'm very attached to the rejuvenating effects of being on the water. Combine it with a fun physical activity and it's the perfect way for me to fill up before a long day!

AMELIA CHAND
MILEAGE: I have always been an athletic kid from competing in track, playing basketball and volleyball... Also dabbled with a bit of badminton and distance running. In my adulthood however, I have settled with cycling and have been pushing my distance every year. Pre-pandemic I completed a Gran Fondo only after a year of cycling. I graduated with a degree in Human Rights and Law, and have been working for the Ontario government. I joined Soul Fuel because I wanted to improve my overall fitness and strength, so you might catch me in some classes!
WHAT GIVES YOU SOUL: I find getting stuck in that 9-5 mindset and always looking forward to Friday is unhealthy thinking. So I try to make sure I am dedicating time to my hobbies daily. Hobbies include: cycling, reading, drawing, painting, and gaming.
WHAT'S YOUR FUEL: I am going to go literal and say food! My mood is completely tied to whether I have eaten or not. Think of that Snickers commercial from a few years back. Though besides that I find I am energized when I am around my friends, partner, and my cat
ARIELLE GIBLON
MILEAGE: I’ve always been super into fitness, movement and staying active. I’m a former hockey player, have been on numerous baseball teams over the years & I’ve also dabbled in dodgeball and tennis. Over the last few years I’ve found a passion in strength training. I used to love bootcamp and HIIT classes before my knee injury, and now love lower impact workouts, so you will definitely see me in Fitpop, Fuel Barre, and Soul Pilates. By day I am a closed captioning operator and live described video talent with a large broadcasting corporation. I love watching television, and nothing brings me more joy than ensuring everyone is able to enjoy it. I have diplomas in both television and radio broadcasting, and am grateful to work in the industry.
WHAT GIVES YOU SOUL: Keeping busy! I live a very go-go-go lifestyle. If I have any gaps in my schedule I need to fill them, whether it be with a workout class, spending time with a loved one, exploring our beautiful city, or taking my dog Nala out for an adventure. Other hobbies include cooking, reading (I’m on a major audiobook kick and have so far read 20 books this year), and travel! 
WHAT'S YOUR FUEL: Self care! I believe prioritizing self care and “me time” is so important. Some ways I like to take care of myself is to unplug (easier said than done), take a bath, skincare, occasional massages, solo walks with a podcast or audiobook, being in nature, and treating myself to a delicious meal (mainly sushi, my favourite) 🙂
DENYS GAMOTIN

MILEAGE: Exercise has always been a big part of my life. From teaching myself the splits to swinging on the monkey bars at school, gymnastics kickstarted my love for fitness. I started off taking rec gymnastics classes, to then competing on the trampoline team at T. Dot Tumblers, and most recently, getting certified as a gymnastics coach. When I wasn't coaching, I was playing ultimate frisbee on school teams or skiing and snowboarding with my family. During Covid, I realized how much I love being outdoors and spent a lot of time going on fall hikes with my puppy, Simba. I have always enjoyed conditioning and strength training, and discovering the online classes at Soul Fuel has helped me continue to stay active and strong. 
WHAT GIVES YOU SOUL: My passion for graphic design and social activism gives me soul. I always find ways to integrate diversity, representation and inclusivity into the work that I do as a student and young entrepreneur. I am currently running my own graphic design business JDDESIGNS, which I will continue to grow while attending Ryerson in the fall for Graphic Communications Management.
WHAT'S YOUR FUEL: Food and travel. Growing up as a vegetarian has inspired me to learn about nutrition, cook creative meals, and try new dishes. I am now a self-proclaimed foodie with a love for fresh, flavourful food with lots of spice! I recently travelled to Costa Rica where I hiked in the jungle, surfed on the beach, and drank lots of fresh coconuts. I love travelling to new countries and immersing myself in the culture, food, and language.  

MAGZ KORDIUK

MILEAGE: I’ve been teaching fitness classes for almost a decade, everything from HIIT, Spin, TRX, Boocamps, Lifting and Stretching: movement is my jam. I have a BA in History, but Fitness is my true vocation. Certifications: Canfitpro (PT Specialist), TRX and more. Certified Plant-Based Nutritionist.

WHAT GIVES YOU SOUL: Plant based food/fuel has led me into a new passion towards healthy eating and lifestyle. But travel, the ocean and nature have my soul - I love being under water and I love diving.

WHAT’S YOUR FUEL: Exercise, movement, getting strong physically and mentally. This should be accessible to everyone and enjoyable for everyone! I’m fuelled by empowering people to feel the immense benefits of movement and strength that I’ve felt in the studio and in life.

STEPHEN SINANNAN

MILEAGE: I have been teaching fitness classes full-time for 10 years. My certifications range from dance to kick boxing and from aqua to HIIT (and a whole bunch in between). I have had the pleasure of presenting at fitness conferences both in Canada and US. Also I spent some years as a Master Trainer for an aqua program and was featured in some of their instructional DVD’s.

WHAT GIVES YOU SOUL: Aside from fitness, the 2 things I love are Doritos and white wine. Classy and affordable and a little faux bougie. I also don’t mind creating some fierce lip sync content on my social media. Actually, creativity in any form excites me, from choreography to costume making with household items.

WHAT'S YOUR FUEL: I lead everything I do in my life with the principle that ‘we must be the change we wish to see in the world.’ I believe that as humans we are called to leave the world a little bit better than we found it.

CHELLE MARTINDALE

MILEAGE: I grew up dancing competitively and I started the dance program at an energetic school in Brampton. I have a History and Drama degree from McMaster and my education degree from OISE. I get to be on stage every day teaching school age kiddies how to love themselves, work together and find a passion in life through my dance program. I am a certified POUND and Generation POUND instructor because rocking out those green drum sticks is something I have to share with people daily. I love teaching the Dance AQ through York University to help teachers bring the love and creativity of dance to their programs.

WHAT GIVES YOU SOUL: I am the mom of two incredible boys with the sweetest husband and all three of them fill my soul with laughter, love and adventure. Being active outside brings me joy and a makes me feel powerful. I live my life by my Mama's motto "Move your feet and your mind will follow".

WHAT’S YOUR FUEL: Building a sense of community through movement is my passion for life. We are all superstars and I make it my mission to show kiddies and adults I work with that they were born to shine.

JACOB SAPHRA

MIILEAGE: Seven years ago as a career-chef with a passion for personal fitness, I stumbled into a heated ashtanga yoga class. Invigorated by the practice, I was thrown into a whole new world of possibilities. Two years later I gave up my catering business and went to Goa, India to take my Yoga teacher training and haven’t looked back since! Since then I’ve gone from an Ido Portal movement training seminary’s in upstate New York, to practicing Muay Thai on a remote Thai Island. In the last 5 years I’ve been teaching yoga, mobility and personal/group fitness all over the GTA, and am hoping to one day become a qualified physiotherapist.

WHAT GIVES YOU SOUL: I love to give people the same ‘A-ha!’ Moments in their movement practice that I constantly achieve in my own practice. I love seeing people have epiphanies during their practice as we find the interconnectedness between mind and body. I want to help people heal their bodies through movement and find empowerment through strength.

WHAT'S YOUR FUEL: Movement is my life! Everything from strength training to mixed martial arts to yin yoga. Beyond that, I’m passionate about plant-based cooking, live music (if it ever exists again:), rescuing stray dogs and reading anarchist philosophy.

TASH FRANCESCA

MILEAGE: The first time I tried to wander into a yoga class was at Extreme Fitness and I was late so she said, come back. And since then my practice has been grounded in this idea of coming back - each time I do there is always something new to learn, something new to observe. This was about 10 years ago and in 2017 I completed my first 200 hour pilates training in a studio *that is no longer in operation*. Since then I’ve completed a 225 hour Hatha + Vinyasa training at Union Yoga, a 40 hour chair + accessible yoga teacher training, 40 hour restorative + nidra training, 40 hour mental health sensitivity + foundational trauma-informed yoga teacher training and level one + two reiki attunement. All the while continuous yoga philosophy satsangs with my primary teacher Hali Schwartz. My offerings are a by-product of my own practice, as I aim to share what I know: to: encourage others to be in the same experience of witnessing Self.

WHAT GIVES YOU SOUL: I am deeply moved by the totality of self. I am also deeply curious and in constant examination of what it means to be a person beyond what I can understand from my very limited vantage point so I often turn to philosophy, movement, conversation, meditation and community. My biggest influences are connection and responsibility to land, self + community (some folx may call this decolonization and I would agree) along with yoga philosophy. These two things are my *secret ingredients* in my *secret sauce* in all things that I consciously do.

WHAT'S YOUR FUEL: I am fuelled by the awareness that I am the Filipinx womxn I’ve been searching for in wellness spaces in a sea of others that don’t look, talk, move or look like me. I am fired up knowing the space I occupy isn’t made for me, but I rock it better than I have ever imagined. I wonder who else is looking for a way of moving that is familiar - yet denied. I wonder who else is looking for freedom in their form - yet denied. If you are reading this, I humbly welcome you: all of you -- just as u are.

KIM ALLAN

MILEAGE: My first love has always been dance. I attended Ryerson University for the dance program and graduated from Randolph College Triple Threat program. I worked as a professional dancer for about a decade and along the way got into acting. I adore film and television. I had the pleasure of acting in film, tv and commercials for several years before my love and interest in movement lead me down the path of a fitness career. I'm a Can Fit Pro Certified trainer, certified prenatal/ postnatal and Diastasis recti and pelvic floor exercise recovery specialist.

WHAT GIVES YOU SOUL: Empowering other's through movement. It fills my heart with joy when I see people come into their own through movement. I am grateful and honoured to be part of people's fitness and dance journey's. Building communities where people feel honoured, respected and welcome. Helping people uncover and unleash their strength and love for their bodies. Since becoming a mother myself it has become my passion to help mama's have an empowered birth and recovery. I also love understanding how movement works and the science of it. I am big on empowering people with the understanding of movement, function and proper form.

WHAT'S YOUR FUEL: Family. I love being with those I love! Laughing till I am crying. Enjoying all the precious little everyday moments especially with my daughter. Sun on my face. Any music with soul makes me want to dance. Spontaneous dance parties. Feeling sexy. Creating communities where everywhere is welcomed, invited and encouraged to thrive. Chocolate, definitely chocolate.

WANDA PROCHAZKA

MILEAGE: I grew up performing in plays and dance groups around the world with the Toronto Slovak Dancers and rhythmic gymnastics. In my late teens I also coached rhythmic gymnastics. I later went to the University of Toronto and completed a biophysics degree and later a business degree and became a Certified Financial Manager. However, I always knew I would go back to a career in fitness and seven years ago I "retired" from finance and started that career. I teach HIIT classes and all levels of strength training as well many forms of dance fitness. Although I love the high energy classes the last few years I have also moved into providing safe strength training for older adults and those completely new to any form of exercise.

Certifications: CanFitPro FIS group fitness instructor, Strong Nation, Zumba (Basic, Gold, Step, Sentao, Aqua)

WHAT GIVES YOU SOUL: Mountains!!! I never feel more alive and intune with myself as I do on a mountain. I love to travel and most of my vacations entail ultra running trail races or multi day hikes. Last summer I did a solo trek of Killarney. I speak multi languages and love engaging with international racers at events worldwide. Such as Portugal, Lavaredo 125km ultra in Cortina d'Ampenzzo in Italy, Mont Blanc 101km traversing Italy, Switzerland and France, Mozart 100 in Salzburg, New Zealand and hopefully more to come.

WHAT'S YOUR FUEL: Encouraging and empowering those around me to fully express themselves through movement and body awareness. When a participant does something they never thought they could, the sense of accomplishment and elation they feel is unparalleled and spreads to all aspects of their life. It's a beautiful thing to be a part of and witness.

ELLEN FIELDING

MILEAGE: I have been been dancing, bouncing, and shaking since I could walk. I grew up studying various forms of dance, movement, and trying as many sports as possible. After graduating from the University of Toronto in 2016, I began managing a pilates studio to support my career as a visual artist. I got deeply into movement again to balance out my poor artist’s posture and rediscovered my love for dance. I believe movement should be generative, not punitive. I encourage focusing less on external changes to the body, choosing to focus more on longevity, functionality, and fun. I am a certified pilates instructor, group fitness instructor and personal trainer. I am trauma-informed and constantly working towards anti-oppression and braver spaces for all. I am a visual artist and reiki practitioner. I’m so excited to move with you!

WHAT GIVES YOU SOUL: I have a passion for changing the way we view and treat mental health, advocating for education and support especially among children and teens. Learning about the body and studying somatics has been healing in managing fluctuations in my mental health. I am a volunteer crisis responder and an advocate for the reform of mental health support in our communities. I believe in encouraging kids to dance like nobody is watching, and to focus on how it feels rather than how it looks.

WHAT'S YOUR FUEL: I’m fuelled by movement of all kinds - dancing, running, swimming, boxing, and anything else I can find. I love discovering new music, and live music is fuel to my soul. I am a storyteller and writer that genuinely loves to connect with other people. Basketball soothes me, and I am an avid fan of the NBA and WNBA!

LISA METZGER
MILEAGE: I have been in the health and fitness industry as an instructor and Master Trainer since 2006 and I love it just as much now as I did when I started! I teach a variety of classes including Dance Fitness, Barre, Yoga and Youth Programs. I have a background in theatre and performance and spent many years in my 20's touring Canada with various children's theatre companies. When I finally hung up my theatre shoes for good I moved on to work at Credit Valley Hospital teaching and encouraging activity and movement for our families at the KidFit Health and Wellness Clinic as an Activity Specialist. I have had the honour of shadowing and presenting on stage at various fitness and medical conferences. Oh, and I'm originally from Nova Scotia, so you'll probably hear a little Maritime accent when you least expect it.
WHAT GIVES YOU SOUL: Spending quality time laughing and being silly with my friends and family. Any time spent cuddling and playing with animals. Being creative (I have a very small pottery business that I started last year). Being outside in nature. All of these things help keep my fuel tank full!
WHAT'S YOUR FUEL: The community and power of group fitness, I have met so many amazing mentors, instructors and members over the years who I am now honoured to call friends. I want to make movement accessible, fun and enjoyable for EVERY BODY!
LESLEY STOYAN
MILEAGE: I dreamed of being an “aerobics instructor” the first time I saw Olivia Newton-John’s “Physical” video on tv. I set up my own studio in our That 70’s Show-style basement and haven’t stopped teaching since! My career began in corporate and employee wellness in 1991 and evolved to focus on high-performance fitness for competitive young athletes. Struggling with my own personal health issues sparked an interest in food as medicine and led me to an additional career as a plant-based chef, designing whole-foods menus and creating healing recipes. After the birth of my son, Luke, post-natal wellness became paramount and designing successful support for mums, both new and seasoned for organizations like MumNet, a career highlight. My personal fitness focus now is movement for medicine: processing stress, grief, and healing trauma through the incredible power of exercise and helping others move through challenge. Certifications: George Brown College Fitness and Health Promotion; CAN FIT PRO (FIS, PTS); ACE; RYT; Schwinn Spinning.
 
WHAT GIVES YOU SOUL: Building strong and healthy communities drives me, and led to the creation of The AppleTree Group, a non-profit organization co-founded in 2008 with my amazing husband, Chris. Through our branded fresh food markets, outdoor family-friendly
programs, and reinvention of public green spaces, we are determined to give Toronto that small-town feel, and put the neighbour back in neighbourhood – now more than ever.
 
WHAT'S YOUR FUEL: Besides rockin’ my middle-aged bod to Britney Spears? Running. Spinning. Yoga. Hiking. Cooking. Hosting raucous dinner parties. All to an awesomely cheesy all-80s soundtrack. (And some nachos now and again...)
DENYS GAMOTIN

MILEAGE: Yoga and wellness have been a part of my life for the last 10 years. I have a BA in Health Sciences, and I’m currently studying to become an Acupuncturist and Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner. I completed my 200-hour YTT in Koh Samui, Thailand, where I learned the value of prāṇāyāma and meditation, discovered the strength in stillness, and developed a more mindful approach to movement. My practice quickly evolved from sweaty vinyasa flows and inversions into a practice that focuses on the breath, and to listening and honouring the body and heart. I’m currently in the GOODBODYFEEL 200hr Teacher Training + Empowered Embodiment Program. I took Rachel Ricketts' online course Spiritual Activism, New Leaf Foundation’s Reaching In, Reaching Out, a trauma-informed training, and continue to work towards dismantling systems of oppression within the wellness industry.

WHAT GIVES YOU SOUL: So many things. I’ll try to list a few of them… Being present and authentic. Honouring all parts of me and feeling all the feels. Having a deep understanding that our joy is important and that "rest is a meticulous love practice" (see T. Hersey). Community. Music… lots and lots of music. Dancing in a dark room with flashing lights with my sweet friends. Laughter, sun and the ocean. Home cooked Filipino meals and food that grows from Mama Earth.

WHAT’S YOUR FUEL: There were many times in the past when I entered a movement space and thought: “I don’t belong here.” Because of the patriarchy and the way that society sets up expectations of how we define beauty, I would often feel bad about myself in that space of “wellness.” I am actively working to achieve the exact opposite feeling. Providing a safe, accessible and inclusive space is my main goal: a warm, welcoming, sacred space for each of our individual healing journeys, a space where you can show up as your authentic self, a space where you can move and rest and explore joy in your body.

EMILY MATHER

MILEAGE: My first love was running - I lived, breathed and fuelled for running for the better part of 25 years; I did yoga, Pilates and strength training to improve my running. In my late 30s, I was sidelined by chronic pain and injury. In that time, and over the course of experiencing my body change in pregnancy, I came to Pilates in a much bigger way. Getting certified as a Pilates instructor and Personal Trainer helped me understand the true importance of cross training, injury prevention, and core strength for day to day living.

WHAT GIVES YOU SOUL: My happy place is in the middle of the lake at my cottage, on a paddle board or in my rowing skiff; breathing in the fresh air and detached from the rest of the world. I treasure the gift of mind-body connection; now in my 40s, I can finally say that I'm getting better at talking to and listening to my body. I trust my intuition and do my best to let it guide me.

WHAT'S YOUR FUEL: People! I was a school teacher and running coach for many years, I’m a mom of 3, and I love working with people. I live for my family and friends, and I love making connections - this is what fills my tank.

DIONE MASON

MILEAGE: Since 1999, I've been teaching group fitness classes in the GTA and internationally.  I'm known for my infectious and contagious fiery energy, while demonstrating excellence in teaching technique that comes from my investment in education, training, and years of experience. Some of my awards include the 2021 IMPACT Magazine Canada’s Top Fitness Instructor Award, 2019 canfitpro New Presenter of the Year, 2017 canfitpro Fitness Instructor of the Year. I've been featured in Sway Magazine, Metro News, Breakfast Television, SNAP Magazine, canfitpro Magazine, CP24, Toronto Star, City TV, Rogers TV and more.

WHAT GIVES YOU SOUL: I get it from MY MAMA! 😉 Seriously…what moves me each day is constantly remembering how finite our lives are.  I don’t ever take a day, minute or second for granted.  I’m unapologetic about living my life OUT LOUD and squeezing out every bit of juiciness I can get whether I’m reading a new book, discovering a new nook in the city via bike or on a run, wine tasting, salsa dancing or enjoying some natural herbs, I marinate and embrace each moment, while not sweating the small stuff.

WHAT'S YOUR FUEL: Meditation is the key to elevation, and I do it every day.  Not only do I feed my mind and spirit, but I also invest in my temple by properly nourishing it and engaging in activities such as running, cycling and dancing my bootaaay off! And YES, I drink WINE and love it!


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