YMCA Personal Trainers are certified and dedicated, not only to your personal goal attainment, but also to helping you experience all of the benefits of personal training. Read about our trained staff below and get ready to start your journey to a stronger, healthier life!
Education: B.S. in Communications
Certifications: Certified Personal Trainer: National Council on Strength and Fitness, Cooper Clinic
Group Cycling; Cooper Clinic
Prenatal Exercise; YMCA
Focus: Rehab, Sports Injuries, Flexibility, Balance, Endurance Athletes
Bio: Hey there, I’m Sean. I have been Personal Training for about 3 decades now and am still loving it. Outside of the Y, I have worked with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in training their cyclist team for a 100-mile bike ride. My thought on exercise is being healthy is like Sudoku, you have to make sure all the pieces work in order to achieve a healthy lifestyle. Outside of training, I love to ride my bike outside with my wife, and work on my flexibility and balance. I don’t recommend it, but I have ridden my bike around Big Bend National Park. I have the best dog in the world, if I can train him I can train you.
Education: B.S. in Psychology. M.A. in Teaching with Technology
Certifications: Certified Personal Trainer; National Academy of Sports Medicine
Boxing, Active Aging, Kettlebell, AOA Nutrition, Barre, Pilates, Hatha Yoga- SCW Fitness Education
Primal Play-Primal Play (England)
Aqua Fitness-Aquatic Exercise Association
TRX Qualified Instructor
Behavior Change in Exercise, Exercise and Stress Management-PTA Global
Focus: Active Older Adults, Post-Physical Therapy, Corrective Exercise, HIIT/Interval, Circuit, Functional Fitness, Aqua, Primal Play, Virtual Instruction
Bio: Hi guys, I’m Rachel! I believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to grow and find health. I am a life-long learner and love to grow in my expertise. I have a drive and a passion for helping people. I’ve done everything from learning and living a Paleo lifestyle to CrossFit, to group exercises at the Y, which is how I got started here! I currently live in Vegas so training with me would be virtual-you can do it anywhere!
Education: B.S. in Exercise Science and Education
Certifications: Certified Personal Trainer; International Sports Sciences Association
Focus: Strength Training, Athletic Performance, Mobility, Free Weights
Bio: Hi, I’m Collin! I’ve been in fitness for over 30 years, before that I was in sales (fitness membership sales). It’s my life, I guess. I initially got started working with people through coaching at North Mesquite High School and teaching PE. I’ve been playing sports my entire life, I played football, track, and baseball. I actually made it into the Hall of Fame at Hardin-Simmons University in 2009. I started at he Y in Youth Sports in 2000 then moved my way to training in 2017. Outside the Y I love to grill and detail cars, I actually detailed a Ferrari one time. I see fitness as a stress reliever and, bay far my favorite exercise is the squat because it hits the ENTIRE body. Expect to do plenty of these working with me!
Education: B.S. in Exercise Science, Summa Cum Laude
Certifications: Certified Personal Trainer; American Council on Exercise
Certified Senior Fitness Specialist, American Council on Exercise
Certified Weight Management Specialist; American Council on Exercise
Titleist Performance Institute Golf Fitness Specialist
C.H.E.K Institute Certified Golf Fitness Specialist Bio-Mechanic
Focus: Seniors, Golf Fitness, Osteoporosis Prevention, Strength Training
Bio: Hi All! I’m Dale! My fitness journey began at the age of 16 when someone asked me about exercise while I was working out one day. Now, 36 years later, I am still in the career that I love. I grew up in Michigan, lived in Florida mostly and made my way to Texas a few years ago. I’ve worked with a wide-scope of clients, anyone from general population to professional athletes. It’s exciting and fun knowing I am helping people with their health and have a job that changes day-to-day. I absolutely LOVE what I do! As if I haven’t had enough, I am currently pursuing studies in Physical Therapy. Outside of work I love to go fishing, kayaking, bowling, bike riding, playing golf and I play the guitar! Fun fact: I’ve played in a band called Battle Axe in front of 2,000 people (back when I had hair).
Favorite Quote: Golden Rule: Treat people how you want to be treated.
Education: B.A. in Sport Leadership
M.S. Sport Management
Certification: Certified Personal Trainer; International Sports Sciences Association
Certified Nutritionist; International Sports Sciences Association
Youth Fitness; International Sports Sciences Association
Focus: Young People, Running, Wellness
Bio: Hi, I’m Liz! My passion is helping people attain their fitness goals. I got started in fitness as a kid playing sports and fell in love. As far as exercises go, running is my absolute favorite, it is a great space to clear my head. And, fun fact, I have run 5 marathons. I also enjoy reading, specifically historical fictions, biographies on world leaders and intelligence books about the history of the FBI and CIA. For training, I enjoy working with sports and kids, I actually played on 18 different intramural teams in college. My favorite saying is “There are days when I don’t know if I can run a marathon, but there is a lifetime of knowing that I have” meaning even though sometimes you don’t always hit your goals, you can keep trying.
Certifications: Certified Personal Trainer; National Academy of Sports Medicine
Group Exercise; National Academy of Sports Medicine
Weight Loss Specialization; National Academy of Sports Medicine
Mat Pilates; SCW Fitness Education
Senior Fitness; National Academy of Sports Medicine
Focus: Cardio, Core Strength, Resistance Training, Balance, Weight Loss
Bio: Hello, I’m Janice. I was born and raised in Scotland and moved to the U.S. in 2004. I have had a life-long passion for fitness and have been an avid runner for over 30 years, competing in Cross Country and road races over distances from 5K to marathons. I love working with a diverse range of clients from 8 to 80 years old! I love to encourage my clients to reach their personal fitness goals and enjoy the benefit of a healthy lifestyle. Outside of training my clients, I also teach Bootcamp and Pilates Reformer.
Education: B.S. in Sports Performance
M.S. Kinesiology
Certifications: Certified Personal Trainer; ACSM
Focus: Strength, Functional Movement, Older Adults, Previous/Current Injuries, Athletes, Corrective Exercise
Bio: Hello! I’m Kayla! My overall fitness journey started as a gymnast and did that for 11 years. I started with collegiate athletes, switched over to the recovery and rehab side of things and found that I loved it. I would love to help others better their health and reach their athletic, personal, and health goals. My goal is to allow others to feel stronger, gain stability, attain knowledge of proper form and exercise selection, and better body and spatial awareness, as well as providing my accountability and expertise. In my free time I love weight training, walks, traveling, baking, research, and being outdoors. My favorite exercise is a deadlift because it is a difficult movement and works many muscle groups. Come ask how to do one!
Education: B.S. in Exercise Science Hendrix College
Certifications: Certified Personal Trainer; National Academy of Sports Medicine
Nutrition Specialist; National Academy of Sports Medicine
Certified Spin Instructor
Focus: Beginners, Athletes, Health Seekers, Strength and Conditioning
Bio: I first got into fitness in 9th grade while on my school's track team. During those four years, I learned how to lift and discovered I loved it. This interest has traveled with me throughout my life since then, which is why I majored in exercise science in college and why I became a personal trainer. I started playing volleyball when I was 12 years old, and I am thankful my knees still allow me to play it today. During the summer, I escape the devil's furnace that is Texas to go to Colorado for vacation, where I LOVE to hike! If you ask me about a place in Rocky Mountain National Park, be it a lake or peak, I've probably been there. I have a massive sweet tooth, so politely refusing dessert has always been difficult for me. Ask me about my fish! They are my children, and I love them dearly.
Education: B.S. in Business from University of Phoenix
Certifications: Certified Personal Trainer; National Academy of Sports Medicine, National Federation of Professional Trainers
Corrective Exercise Specialist
Performance Enhancement Specialist
Weight Loss Specialist
Nutrition Specialist; National Academy of Sports Medicine
Level 1 Nutrition Coach; Precision Nutrition
Focus: Mobility, Power, Corrective Exercise, Flexibility, Gait Mechanics
Bio: Hey, what’s up I’m Jay. For over 20 years I have focused on leading people as a Strength and Conditioning Coach. I have dedicated my life to helping one’s performance, life, longevity, personal growth and becoming the best versions of themselves. From a fighter to someone working on basic hip mobility, I can train anyone anywhere at any time! Other than training and helping people, my interests include video games, guns and trucks.
Education: B.S. in Physical Education (Kinesiology)
Certifications: Certified Personal Trainer; American Council on Exercise
Group Exercise; American Council on Exercise
200 Hour Yoga Certified
Les Mills BODYPUMP
Focus: Overall Wellness, Functional Training, Posture/Alignment, Mobility, Holistic Approach, Pilates Reformer
Bio: Hi, I’m Julie! My fitness journey started as a competitive gymnast then I taught group fitness in college. I did competitive body building and powerlifting in college as well. After graduating, I naturally went into Group Fitness and Personal Training as a profession. Outside of work, I focus self-improvement and growing myself. I love to read and listen to podcast and focus on my Tao Te Ching, or being present.
Heraclitus-“No man ever steps in the same river twice, the only constant in life is change.”
Shelli Cheyney
Education: B.A. in Business
Certifications: Certified Personal Trainer; National Council on Strength and Fitness
Certified Nutrition Specialist; National Academy of Sports Medicine
Silver Sneakers Instructor
LIVESTRONG Instructor
Diabetes Prevention Coach
Focus: Strength, Functional Fitness
Bio: I have been involved in health and fitness my whole life. I was a cheerleader from the fourth grade through graduation and running track. After graduation I started weightlifting and became Miss Hard Body in the 1990’s in Texas. I had a fabulous sales career while still maintaining my healthy lifestyle until 2005 when a very tragic accident happened in Paris France where and I was a victim of a random act of violence. It literally changed the course of my life. I have 26 screws and 2 steel plates holding my face and head in place. All the bones on the left side of my face were broken. After 2 years of plastic surgeries and 2 years of depression, I just could not do the sales thing anymore. I wanted to help others do what I had done my whole life, maintain a healthy lifestyle by staying fit! So…. In 2011 I went to work for the YMCA in Downtown Dallas as a Personal Trainer and a Group Fitness Instructor and it changed my life again. I now specialize in Senior fitness, strength training and nutrition. When I am not working at the YMCA, I am playing tennis, spending time with one of my 9 grandchildren, traveling with my husband or snuggling with the love of my life – Coco, my 11 year old shih tzu.
Certifications: Certified Personal Trainer; International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA)
Focus: Strength training, HIIT, Flexibility and Mobility, Weight gain, Conditioning.
Bio: Hey guys, I’m Latrae. Dallas, TX born and raised. I'm a huge Anime fan, and a Video Game enthusiast. I love music of all genres, and drawing as well. I've been on this Journey for almost 10 years, and I'm still learning every day. I love to encourage and motivate those around me and want nothing but the absolute best for them. I have 2 kids, both boys, I'm also married. My goal and purpose with fitness is to help individuals create a version of themselves that they didn't know existed.
Trainer Philosophy: There's no room for growth in comfort.
Favorite Quote: “Hard work is worthless for those that don't believe in themselves.”
Chiyo Fraser
Education: B.A. in Theatre and Dance
Certifications: Certified Personal Trainer; National Academy of Sports Medicine
Primary Group Exercise; Athletics and Fitness Association of America
Weight Loss Specialist; National Academy of Sports Medicine
Oh Baby! Prenatal/Postpartum Exercise
TRX Qualified Instructor
Focus: Functional Movement, Strength Endurance, Prenatal/Postpartum
Bio: Hey everyone, I’m Chiyo! Being physically fit and living a healthy lifestyle has always been a passion for me. I started my fitness journey as a professionally trained dancer before focusing on group fitness, so body awareness is a big focus of my training style. Building on a foundation of proper form and execution of functional movements allows my clients to work smarter, not harder, to achieve their desired goals. Previously an instructor with Oh Baby! Fitness, and a Mom of 2, I have experience with prenatal and postpartum exercise, helping moms-to-be stay fit and healthy throughout their pregnancy and helping new moms navigate the safe return to exercise. I love keeping my clients engaged and excited, so expect to see a wide variety of exercises while training with me!
Education: B.S. in Health and Human Performance/ K - 12 Licensure (University of Tennessee at Martin)
Certifications: Certified Personal Trainer; National Academy of Sports Medicine
Focus: Nutrition, Calisthenics, Hypertrophy, Endurance, Strength, Running
Bio: Hello, I’m Dylan! Anything involving Health and Fitness lightens up my World! As a kid, competing with friends on who’s the fastest, who could jump the highest, and or who can do the most push-ups and sit-ups made me feel immortal in my neighborhood growing up. My title of Personal Trainer is very very new, but it has been the core of my being all along. I am an ex-collegiate Wide-Receiver playing football at the University of Tennessee at Martin from the years of 2011 - 2013! Your skill level doesn’t matter to me. I enjoy making relationships with all people approaching Personal Training from the holistic view aiming to help people in all areas of Health and Fitness. Weekly, I attend Spin Classes, Yoga, HITT, along with training myself in Resistance Training, Calisthenics, and Long Distance Running. When my body has had enough, I jump right into the pool to swim for laps of Active Recovery in which my body always thanks me for. Lastly, the most important part, Nutrition, rounds out my practice. Eating healthy has been the best way to show my body the love and affection it needs daily to keep up with my high energy demands. A great protein shake is the highlight of my day. I would stack ones made by me against the best companies out there!
Favorite Quote: “Be somebody who makes everybody feel like a somebody!” Robby Novak
Favorite Exercise: Distance Running/Weight Lifting
Education: B.S. in Finance from Southern Methodist University
Certifications: Certified Personal Trainer; American Council of Exercise
Focus: Strength, CrossFit, Mobility, Elasticity, Powerlifting, Athletes
Bio: Hey, I’m Holden. My fitness journey began with my love for baseball. In high school I wanted nothing more than to make varsity but freshman year I didn’t have the physical tools to make that goal a reality. The weight room became my friend and working out became my stress relief. After a year of training, I made varsity and won state the next three years. I choose to become a trainer because I love seeing people set and reach their goals. Whatever your fitness goals, there is no better feeling than putting in the work and seeing the progress develop. My training philosophy is centered around mobility and form. I like to keep things interesting by incorporating unique exercises into my programs but also LOVE a good deadlift. Outside the Y I am a full-time student at Southern Methodist University where I am on the powerlifting team and studying finance. I’m a big-time gamer and avid Netflix watcher. Come chat with me about sports, video games, or fitness anytime!
