Sport & Rec Personal Trainers
At Sport & Rec we're proud to introduce our team of elite personal trainers, each dedicated to guiding you on your path to a healthier lifestyle. Our trainers are not only certified professionals but passionate mentors ready to help you reach your goals, whether you’re just starting out or aiming for peak performance. Please indicate your preferred coach when purchasing a personal training package.
Meet Our Personal Trainers!
Raiya Thomure
- PhD student in Kinesiology
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- Specialization in Physical Cultural Studies and Sexual Diversity Studies
- Advocate for accessible, accommodating movement approaches
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- Prioritizes well being and longevity
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- Passionate about power-lifting, basketball, and track & field throwing
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Charles Viernes
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- Two years of coaching experience at the University of Toronto
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- Involved in power-lifting and climbing
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- Specialize in creating personalized and enjoyable training programs that align with each client's goals and lifestyle
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Vanessa Lin
- U of T Kinesiology graduate
- 2nd-year MSc student
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- 7 years of soccer coaching
- 3+ years as a strength coach
- Varsity rowing experience
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- Experience in women-only programming and group fitness
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- Passionate about soccer, hockey, lacrosse, volleyball, and figure skating
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Kyle Bertrand
- Pursuing a Master's in Physical Therapy at UofT
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- Passionate about inspiring others through fitness
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- Focus on training athletes, promoting active lifestyles, and supporting injury rehabilitation and prevention
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- Enthusiastic about hiking , running, cooking, exploring new places
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Queenie Zuo
- Fourth-year kinesiology student
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- 2 years of coaching experience
- Former professional track athlete
- Current dancer
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- Personal training with a focus on making it fun and effective
- Resistance training, Aerobic training, Speed/power training
- Specializes in integrating running and dancing into workouts
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- Languages include English and Mandarin
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Alora Riddle
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- Strong background in competitive soccer
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- Experience with Varsity Blues
- Training high-performance athletes
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- Creating personalized programs based on athletic experience and academic knowledge
- Passionate about helping clients achieve their goals through tailored support
- Focus on building strong, empathetic coaching relationships
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Nadia Bhatti
- Recent Kinesiology graduate
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- Experience in medical settings
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- Rehabilitation services
- Focus on connecting with clients and tailoring coaching to their needs
- Dedicated to combining academic knowledge with practical skills
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Elyse Gorrel
- Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC)
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- Focus on integrating psychological and physiological aspects of sport and exercise
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- Focus on movement fundamentals and overall well-being, with the goal of empowering clients to manage both mental and physical demands
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- Experience as a competitive athlete in sport karate, enriching the coaching practice
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Hafsa Ezzo
- Pursuing a Bachelor’s in Kinesiology and Physical Education
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- Extensive personal training experience in various gym environments with a focus on enhancing clients' relationships with strength and fitness
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- Avid fan of rugby, flag football, swimming, martial arts, and gymnastics
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Alfred Wang
- Pursuing a Master's in Physical Therapy at the University of Toronto (UofT)
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- Inspiring others through fitness, with a focus on training athletes and promoting active lifestyles
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- Supporting injury rehabilitation and prevention
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- Passionate about hiking, running, cooking, and exploring new places
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Tiffany Tu
- Current Role: Physiotherapy resident
- Coaching Experience: Entering 5th year with F&P
- Specialization: Combining biomechanics and pain research
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- Building movement literacy and global strength through compound movements
- Managing musculoskeletal issues with therapeutic exercise
- Coaching for sports performance
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- CSCS (Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist), expected by September 2024
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Sami SHASH
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- Personal Trainer
- Exercise Physiologist
- Youth Basketball Coach
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- Fostering an inclusive environment for health and well-being with experience working across diverse populations
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- Passion for basketball and fitness
- Attends a run club every Saturday:Training for a first half-marathon
- Huge Raptors fan and enjoys listening to Drake
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Josh Sidharta
- Third-year Physiology and Nutrition student
- Aspires to become a Physiotherapist or Clinical Exercise Physiologist
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- 100+ clinical hours in musculoskeletal and return-to-sport rehab
- 6 years in S&C, general training, and rugby-specific training
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- Former rugby player with 7 years of experience, including first-team/IASAS selection
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- Canadian-Indonesian, raised in Singapore
- Speaks English, Cantonese, Mandarin, and Indonesian
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Anna May
- Third-year kinesiology student: focused on sports medicine and biomechanics
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- Ice hockey goalie coach for 6 years
- Worked with a wide range of athletes, from beginners to those who have signed entry-level NHL contracts
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- Former national-level ice hockey goalie
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- Positive and outgoing
- Passionate about movement and exercise: enjoys trying new forms of exercise
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- Values open-mindedness and positivity
- Strives to inspire athletes to do their best and enjoy their sport
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Kierra Mathias
- Academic background in Human Biology and Physiology
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- First-year strength coach with four years of gym experience
- Specializes in personalized wellness strategies focused on longevity, preventative health, and goal achievement
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- Committed to empowering others in health and performance
- Enthusiastic about long-term physical wellness journeys
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- Enjoys hiking with her dog and recreational swimming, reflecting a holistic approach to health
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- Integrates an athletic mindset into fitness routines
- Fosters dynamic, growth-oriented relationships with clients and athletes
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Michelle pang
- Kinesiology and Physical Education student at the University of Toronto
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- Fluent in English, French, and Mandarin
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- Explored a variety of sports: gymnastics, badminton, volleyball, swimming, ultimate frisbee, curling, spikeball, and bouldering
- Passionate about trying new activities and learning new sports
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- Believes in making physical activity fun and enjoyable for a consistent and healthy lifestyle
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- Loves making new friends and embracing new experiences
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Arvin Farsyad
- Fourth-year biotechnology student
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- Passion for strength training and a healthy lifestyle
- Background in powerlifting (2 years)
- Focus on coaching functional movements for athletes and everyday applications
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- Background in volleyball
- Recreational-level tennis player
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- Committed to providing the same support and kindness received in their fitness journey
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- Athlete Facilitator at the NBO Toronto Tennis Tournament
- Native fluency in English and Bahasa Indonesia
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Jaye Pan
- Third-year KPE student
- Diploma in Fitness and Health Promotion from Humber College
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- Focus on functional training to enhance athletic performance
- Experience in basketball
- Holds a Chinese National Level 2 Athlete Certificate
- Member of the school women's rugby team
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- Originally from mainland China. Fluent in English and Mandarin
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- Integrating fitness into daily life to make everyday routines more enjoyable and fulfilling
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Christopher roberts
- Second-year Kinesiology and Physical Education student
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- Created and led exercise programs for adults with special needs
- Trained a minor league hockey team off the ice
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- Competitive background in hockey, soccer, and track
- 5 years of gym experience with a focus on bodybuilding
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- Excels in navigating the competitive mindset during training and understands the distinct dynamics between team and individual sports
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- Aims to gain new perspectives and broaden knowledge on physical activity
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Alexis Whitehorn
- Certified Personal Trainer: 8+ years of experience
- PhD Candidate: 4th year, specializing in older adult physical health
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- Division 1 Athletes: Wheelchair basketball, cheerleading, softball
- Older Adults: Community-dwelling individuals
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- Conditioning, Strength Building, Power
- Beginner Fitness Programs: Focus on physical activity maintenance
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- Football Player: 6+ years; currently in a Toronto women’s league
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SAM SHARIFI
- 3 years coaching at UofT while pursuing a Master’s in Professional Kinesiology
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- Works with clients of all levels, with a focus on those with low to moderate gym experience
- Experienced in programming for hockey, soccer, and basketball athletes.
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- Speaks Persian, which can be an asset in coaching
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- Dedicated to helping clients achieve their fitness goals and maximizing the effectiveness of each session
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Vian Chan
- Final year of Nursing School at the University of Toronto
- First degree in Kinesiology from the University of Toronto
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- 3 years of coaching at UofT, applying an evidence-based approach to fitness
- Background in nursing and coaching, fostering strong connections with people from diverse backgrounds
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- Strength and technique building tailored to individual anatomy and mobility
- Focus on empowering clients through scientific principles, regardless of athletic background or injury history
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- First language: Cantonese
- Practicing Spanish for the past 5 years
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- 3 years on a competitive dragon boat team
- Currently enjoys playing volleyball and inner tube water polo
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Sultan Butt
- Former varsity athlete with the University of Toronto Varsity Blues men’s rugby team, bringing a deep understanding of competitive sports
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- 4 years as a fitness and performance coach at UofT, working with football, hockey, swimming, and volleyball teams, as well as recreational programs like IMPACT and Big HIIT
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- Assistant coach and team manager for UofT men's rugby team
- Player/coach for the Toronto Buccaneers rugby club
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- Expert in creating tailored fitness programs for individuals of all skill levels, drawing from extensive experience in competitive sports and performance training
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