Gail Johnson has been teaching group-fitness classes at several Vancouver gyms since 2001. She was encouraged to pursue personal training because of the feedback she heard from so many participants: full of enthusiasm, energy, and obvious passion for fitness, Gail was said to motivate people in a way that made her workouts stand out.

An American Council on Exercise personal trainer and British Columbia Recreation and Parks Association group-fitness instructor, Gail is also a Fit for Two–certified pre- and postnatal fitness specialist. In addition, she has expertise in exercise and aging.

The benefits of regular activity on physical and mental well-being are tremendous. Take a look.

Exercise...

• Builds muscular strength and endurance
• Strengthens your heart and lungs
• Helps with weight loss and maintenance
• Strengthens bones
• Decreases the risk of chronic illnesses and conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, and certain kinds of cancer
• Improves circulation
• Helps pregnant women have smoother deliveries and faster recoveries
• Helps women who have C-sections recover from surgery
• Helps new moms with the physical output required for caring for a baby
• Boosts mood and helps decrease the chance or severity of depression, anxiety, and the blues
• Combats stress
• Clears and calms the mind
• Increases productivity and concentration
• Builds confidence and self-esteem
• Boosts energy
• Increases sex drive
• Improves quality of sleep
• Helps with balance and coordination
• Can be a social activity and outlet
• Reduces resting heart rate
• Aids with digestion and metabolism
• Alleviates menstrual cramps
• Can help reduce back pain

Why work out with a personal trainer? Lots of reasons.

A good trainer will...  

• Listen to your needs and preferences and design a program tailored specifically to your interests and objectives
• Create a balanced program that incorporates cardiovascular, strength, core, and flexibility training
• Help you set and meet realistic, attainable goals
• Teach you proper technique, form, and posture, which will help reduce the risk of injury and maximize the effectiveness of your exercises
• Motivate and encourage you
• Meet with you as often as you like
• Give you the information and tools you need to keep up an effective exercise program on your own
• Provide you with tips to move beyond training plateaus
• Give you suggestions on how to avoid boredom in your workouts  
• Be in contact with other health professionals, such as your doctor, naturopath, or physiotherapist, if you are recovering from an injury or illness or have serious health concerns
• Refer you to other health professionals if you have questions that are beyond her scope of knowledge

Available for consultations and workouts in your own home or outdoors, Gail also trains out of the YWCA Health + Fitness Centre in downtown Vancouver (535 Hornby Street). This expansive and beautiful facility has a hot tub, steam room, and ozonated pool, all available for use at no extra charge following a personal-training session. Click see Gail's profile.

For YWCA rates, please go to www.ywcahealthandfitness.com, e-mail memberservices@ywcavan.org, or call 604-895-5777.

For other rates or inquiries, please contact Gail directly.