fit pros

I am a Certified Personal Trainer, Group Exercise Instructor and Nutritionist and involved in the health and fitness industry at SVAC for 12+ years. Most of this time has been dedicated to providing my clients with evidence-based education and to put up a good fight against the many misconceptions surrounding exercise and nutrition.

In 2012, I graduated from the University of Alberta with a degree in Physical Education, specializing in Sport Performance and Physical Activity. I went on to complete my Precision Nutrition Certification and currently offer online nutrition coaching.

I’m always looking to extend my skill set as a coach and has completed many other certifications including Pilates Reformer, Spin, Sports Nutrition, ED Awareness in the Fitness Industry & many more. I am currently completing my 200hr Yoga Teacher Training.

My dedication to school and sports in early life rewarded me with Female Athlete of the Year, Volleyball MVP and academic and athletic scholarships.

I currently play women’s basketball in the EBA and most recently participated in the sport of bodybuilding as a figure competitor, completed the Banff Half Marathon, 35km in Sinister 7 and countless fun runs such as Mud Hero, Spartan Race, Color Run, Run for the Cure, West Country Hearth Attack etc.

I train clients and run spring/summer bootcamps out of my home garage gym in Edmonton. I also have a subscription-based fitness app for clients looking to train from home, or follow a gym-based program, “Train with CVG” which offers my own training program, right at your fingertips.

My focus is the unique training, nutrition and mindset needs of women.

I love to teach yoga and to move with our wonderful members at SVAC. My love of yoga developed as I found that it is the one place I can truly clear my head, I hope to inspire others to enjoy mindfulness through movement through practice. Meet me on your mat Sunday mornings at 10 am.

200 HR YTT, CSEP-CPT and CPR-C Certified.

I’ve played a variety of high level sports including volleyball and soccer. As a teenager, my passion for instructing fitness classes started when I joined a fitness club and fell in love with group fitness. Since then, I achieved accreditations in both AFLCA and Canfit Pro. Canfit Pro is the most current. Family is the most important aspect of my life. My husband Ian, twins Kayden and Evalina and my dog Bear, love to spend time together doing various activities. I believe all of my participants are capable of achieving their own greatness and I feel truly blessed to be able to be part of their fitness journey.

I have been in the fitness industry for over 20 years. I have a degree in Education with a Specialization on Physical Education. I am currently certified with Canfit Pro and teach Stages Spin, Sculpt and Evolution. My classes are full of energy and cater to all fitness levels.

One Life, One Body, One Opportunity.

IronMan Certified Coach Stages Spin, TRX, TRX Yoga and Yoga for Runners, CoreAlign, BOSU.

I am the General Manager at SVAC. You’ll see me in your classes, and leading a few as Fitness is my passion. I love sweating, smiling, cheering, cueing and being with your Community. We can put ourselves off as a priority for many reasons, but the truth is, that the time is now. Now to take care of yourself. What are you waiting for?

• General Manager SVAC
• CPFT
• AFLCA Cycle, Portable equipment, PrePost Natal with Resistance trainer
• AFLCA Assistant Trainer of Trainers
• Prenatal and Postnatal Fitness specialist
• Obstacle course race training specialist
• Fascia release and taping
• Ever Active Children and Youth
• Run Coach
• Spartan Strong Certified
• Barre
• Olympic Lifting
• Sports Conditioning
• Fitness Kickboxing
• Stages Cycle certified
• Agatsu Kettlebell Level 1
• And MORE.. Stay Hungry

AGE HAS NO BARRIER – Your fitness is more important than your age. When I started teaching group fitness classes, I was accompanied by a solo pianist at the YWCA for music. As the years passed and aerobic dance became the workout of the day, I used record albums that I lined up by the record player and changed as needed. Then came tapes, CDs and today, iTunes on my iPad. Oh my goodness; I have taught many fitness classes from Aerobic Dance, Step, Pilates, Cycle, Evolution, Stages Spin, Queenax and my next challenge…online fitness classes due to COVID restrictions.

There have been many changes, but some things never change. The enthusiasm of participants is stellar, then and today! The music remains inspirational, touches our souls and keeps us moving year after year. We have ROCKED to the music of Queen of the 80’s and DANCED to Billy Eilish of 2020! No matter how I feel, I walk into class and see the smiling faces ready to workout. I turn on the music. Magic happens. I have taught at the YWCA, City of St Albert and owned my own Aerobic Dance Studio, The Body Shop.

Today, I am deeply grateful to have a home at SVAC! The opportunities here have allowed me to move forward year after year and challenge myself. I am also SO thankful to have known so many wonderful participants that became dear friends. Many have attended my classes from the beginning, experiencing the live piano music at the YWCA, and now are experiencing the high-tech class of Stages Spin at SVAC! I am proud to say that yes, you CAN teach an old dog new tricks!

• Bachelor of Recreation Administration, specializing in Physical Activity
• AFLCA Certified
• Stott Pilates Mat Certified
• Balance Bodies Reformer Certified

Fitness for me is not just something that I do but a way of life. I plan my days around my workouts not the other way around. I have been in the fitness industry for over 15 years. I have been involved in fitness activities from a very early age. I did swimming lessons, figure skating, track and field, Ultimate Frisbee and Martial Arts (Kempo Kung Fu, BJJ and Muay Thai).

For a few years I was a strength and conditioning coach and athletic trainer for both the St Albert Fury football team and for the St Albert Mustangs Track team. My knowledge of functional movement from martial arts training and Pilates helped the Fury have fewer injuries than ever before while I was working with them. I discovered Obstacle course racing about 5 years ago and found a new passion. We are capable of so much more than we believe. There is a feeling that you get when you accomplish something that you thought was impossible for you and it is indescribable.

I love that feeling and I love helping clients find that feeling as well because I get to share in it too. Spartan Race has a slogan “You’ll know at the finish line.” that is based entirely on that feeling. There is a quote from Lazarus Lake, the creator of the Barkley Marathon, that describes it pretty well. “They just sit there and you can see this, the extremes of joy that can come with sports. That you only get when failure was probable.”

• Pilates Reformer
• Mat through Balanced Body
• Agatsu Kettlebell
• FKCC Kickboxing
• CanFitPro Personal Training
• Fitness Instructor
• Spartan SGX Coach
• OCR Coach
• Spartan Obstacle Coach
• Diploma in Holistic Nutrition through CSNN

Fitness has been my passion all my life starting at a young age. I grew up playing all sports but fell in love with hockey and still continue to play today. Being a Registered Massage Therapist made me realize I wanted to help people more with their goals towards a healthy lifestyle and after 12 years I decided to join the fitness industry leading classes at SVAC.

I love leading all fitness classes but Spin is my happy place, my place to encourage you through your best potential while riding to the beat of a killer playlist. Whether I’m on the spin bike or in studio expect energy, expect sweat! Join me in spin, evolution, barre and strength classes here at SVAC.

• AFLCA
• Group cycle, portable equipment, Aquasize and Resistance Trainer
• Barre Above

I am committed to movement and exercise in any form. I fell in love with group fitness at a young age, when I was dragged to the classes my mother led at the local Y.M.C.A. I began my journey as a group fitness instructor at SVAC in April 2021 and look forward to sharing my love of fitness with you.

• Agatsu Kettlebell Certification Level 1, 2021
• HIGH Fitness, 2021
• HIGH Low Fitness, 2021
• AFLCA Group Fitness Leader, 2020
• Crossfit Level 1, 2017

My passion for health & fitness is to help all my clients become their best. I am a Canadian Society of Exercise Physiology Personal Trainer and Group Fitness Leader. I have post secondary education, practicum experience and am always participating in continuing education. I have been a trainer for 8 years and have been coaching skating for 10 years. My training has varied from when I figure skated, to when I was in strength competitions, to FEMSPORT competition and in 2021 when I competed in the TNT Muscle Showdown and qualified for nationals by placing 1st and 3rd in my divisions, as well as the Alberta Natural Canadian Physique Alliance Show where I placed in the top 5.

I have been practicing yoga on and off for the past 20 years, but dabbling in the practice just wasn’t enough to satisfy my need to know more about this beautiful practice and philosophy.  I also needed to understand why each time I stepped on the mat I was able to release so much of the tension that I had accumulated from my work day.  As a Corporate Professional I have spent over 2 decades developing and applying my knowledge in the field of workplace health, safety and wellness.  Yoga was a natural fit to my strong focus on organizational wellness, ergonomics and how a persons’ job impacts their body.  

The more I learned, the more my need for knowledge grew and I decided to start a new adventure and become a Yoga Teacher.  I am now a RYT-500 and am constantly growing my yoga and wellness knowledge.  This perpetual learning cycle benefits myself and in turn my students and pushes me towards my goal of growing a community of people who have a yoga practice that fosters grace, personal growth, strength, stability and physical, psychological and spiritual wellbeing.

• CRSP
• RYT-500v

Bio coming soon.

Before yoga and mom life I worked in a high stress accounting job. When I started practicing yoga, it was all about the workout, it was all about the sweat. It took me one class with intense breathwork to realize what that deep connection with my practice-beyond the physical capacity.

I started teaching yoga to children, and then moved teaching towards adults and yoga to sports and hockey athletes. I have my RYT 500, Certified meditation Coach, 75 Hr Rocket training, 250 hour RCYT (registered Children Yoga Training), Prenatal Postnatal certification, Aerial Training certification, Fitness Fusion training, hiit training . While some days my practice is handstand based or more physically demanding other days it’s meditation, breathwork. My practice has helped me along the way in the new transitions in my life being a single mama of SIX (including baby twins).

Bio coming soon.

Dot Laing applies her 25 years of industry experience and training as a fitness leader, personal trainer, and coach to inspire people to get active and train their minds and bodies for high performance living!

Dot holds a Master’s degree in Exercise Physiology and Health Behaviour and a BComm from the University of Alberta. She is also an AFLCA Trainer-Educator and an accredited Exercise Physiologist (CSEP-CEP).

A true believer in the power of the mind to move the body – you are stronger than you think – she will always challenge and inspire you to succeed in your health and fitness journey.

Dot joined the SVAC Fit Pro team in 2021 and is loving the positive energy and spirit this community has to offer!

My passion is to inspire others to discover how fitness can positively impact their lives. My goal is to help people define what STRONG means to them. Expect to be pushed, encouraged and celebrated. I will be your fitness partner in crime and help you become a stronger, healthier, version of yourself.

I love a team atmosphere and I like learning from those around me. I am always happy to help and always up for an adventure. I love a good laugh, especially playing pranks, so count me in for that. See you on the gym floor!

• Can-Fit-Pro PT
• NASM Nutrition Coach

I am a Certified Personal Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor and have been training clients for the past 7+ years.

I’ve been involved in sports and fitness activities all my life and have been a gym enthusiast for 30+ years.

I’m currently leading the MetCon class here at SVAC where I will challenge you on pushing your limits and getting you out of your comfort zone.

If you’ve plateaued in your progress or you’re looking for a new way to sweat and gain lean muscle mass, then come train with me!

I ran my first Spartan Race in 2015, and have been hooked on running and strength training since then. I am a CSEP-certified personal trainer and a graduate of the NAIT Personal Fitness Trainer program. My personal achievements include a sub-3-hour finish in the 2019 Boston Marathon and the completion of the Sinister Triple Ultramarathon series in 2021.

My passion is helping other people find a style of training that they love, and watching them achieve their fitness goals. When I’m not in the gym or on the trails I like to relax with my two cats or hit the road with my band.

I love working at SVAC because the membership has embraced fitness as a lifestyle. I’m in fitness to share my passion that all movement enhances the quality of life. I love training on the Pilates reformer because it stretches and strengthens the myofascial lines of the body, which improves everyday mobility. I enjoy sharing my passion for fitness as a trainer educator and running certification courses for group fitness instructors.

• CSEP-certified personal trainer
• AFLCA Trainer Educator
• AFLCA Group fitness instructor
• Balanced Body Pilates Reformer 1,2 Mat 1
• ACE Health Coach
• ACE Fitness Nutrition Specialist
• ACE Pain-Free Movement Specialist

I am a mother of three, a dream weaver and an anatomy enthusiast who has been teaching yoga for 17 years. Always a student first, my yoga classes are filled with humor, fun and functional range. If you’re looking for a movement class to help with an injury, gentle yoga infused with functional awareness or a good laugh, come and stretch with me!

I am a Fully Comprehensive Pilates Master Trainer recognized for my ability to make movement accessible to everybody. I’ve been involved with movement in one form or another all my life. Active as a participant and active as an instructor. I am trained in Silk Suspension, all equipment for Pilates, Mat, Gravity Yoga, and Ball Release Therapy.

I have my B.Education with specialties in Physical Education, and Special Education. I have taught in the education system for over 25 years teaching workshops, classes, and professional development programs. My passion for Pilates and mind body practice came when I took a serious injury. Pilates was my saving grace back to safe, purposeful movement. The ability to calm the mind, body, and spirit became a daily practice.

I am a Fully Comprehensive in Pilates Academy International (PAI) and in Balance Body University BBU. I currently master trains Silks, Mat, and all the apparatus pieces for PAI. Mindful inclusive movement has led me to dive deeper into my own practice and the desire and passion to share it with like minded souls. She currently owns a studio and teaches workshops, master trains, mentors instructors, and works with clients in studio, online, and on my YouTube Channel Mobile Fitness and Pilates Corp.

I am a passionate, energetic person who loves learning how to optimize the body. I have been in the health and fitness industry for 19 years, during these 19 years, I have taken my journey outside of the box to learn how to heal the mind and body.

I specialize in resolving chronic pain and dis-ease through somatic therapy. I work with fascia, breath, trapped emotions/trauma to start healing the mind and body and get to the root causes for body pain, weight gain, digestive issues and nervous system dysregulation.

If you have tried everything and haven’t seen the change you are looking for, this could be exactly what you have been looking for! You don’t have to suffer alone and you don’t have to heal alone.

“The Cure is… feeling good” I am here to help you and everyone around you feel good. Looking forward to sharing and holding space with each one of you!

• NAIT Diploma (hons)
• CSEP – CPT
• Exercise & Wellness Specialist

I’m Emma and I’m absolutely pumped and so grateful to share my love for yoga with you! I’ve always had a constant urge to dance and move, so yoga has allowed me to channel my energy purposefully. After truly transforming my mental, emotional, and physical state throughout years of practicing yoga, I felt called to share these amazing benefits with others.

Whether you’re looking for a sweaty energetic flow, flexibility and balance, a killer core workout, mindfulness, or just an escape from the busyness of life, I’m your girl! I’ll see you beauties in the studio! 

• RYT200
• Level 1 Children’s Yoga Certification 
• BEd