Our lecturers

Louka Kurcer, also known as “The Kettlebell Guy,” has been teaching kettlebell training for over 10 years all over Canada. He is part of an international school of strength called StrongFirst, developed by Pavel Tsatsouline. He teaches specialty courses such as Bodyweight Training, Flexibility and Mobility, Functional Movement and Breathing. Louka is also the founder of the Kettlebell Club in Montréal, where the focus is strength training for people over 40. Besides strength teaching and training, Louka enjoys spending time with his wife and one-year-old little boy.

Allison Russell has a BA in Human Relations and over 10 years of experience as a Youth Worker and Program Coordinator at the West Island YMCA. After losing over 100 lb, she decided to obtain her YMCA Individual Conditioning Certification and began her own business working exclusively with women focusing on helping them build a healthy relationship with exercise and improving their body image. In 2021, Allison became certified as a Size Inclusive Specialist and is working to sensitize fitness professionals to the stigma and obstacles people in larger bodies face when accessing fitness spaces and services. Allison believes, based on her own personal experience and her work with clients over the past three years that focusing on a person’s previous history with exercise and their current mindset is paramount in helping them build a relationship with exercise that is healthy and sustainable.

Andrea Lombardi works directly with adults to reverse pre- and T2 diabetes using dietary strategies alone.  She is the founder and owner of NormalBloodSugar.ca and consultant for The Fasting Method.
Andrea brings a unique vantage point, having practised family medicine as a Canadian Certified Physician Assistant (CCPA), and participated in strategic planning at the clinic, community, hospital, and provincial levels of the Canadian healthcare system. Her career has also spanned a variety of healthcare sectors including mental health, cancer care, primary care, and home and community care. 
Andrea has drawn upon this extensive experience to identify and fill a significant gap in the way people with pre- and T2 diabetes are being managed by the publicly funded healthcare system. She is so confident in her approach that she guarantees her clients will improve one or more markers of metabolic syndrome without the use of medications.
Andrea earned an Honours Bachelor of Arts from York University in Toronto, and completed her Bachelor of Health Sciences in Physician Assistant Professional Studies and Master of Business Administration at McMaster University in Hamilton.  She earned her Canadian Certified Physician Assistant (CCPA) designation in 2012. She is a proud member of the Canadian Clinicians for Therapeutic Nutrition, a grassroots movement of physicians and allied healthcare professionals who advocate for evidence-based dietary guidelines.

After suffering from Guillain-Barré syndrome, which left her paralyzed for four months, and dealing with the consequences of a severe motorcycle accident in 2000, Chantal learned the importance of developing a good body-mind relationship. A philosophy strongly encouraged by the Pilates method. Chantal has close to 19 years of training experience in the smart movement field. For almost 15 years, she has been training and supporting future Pilates instructors in their learning at the world-renowned Polestar Pilates school in the US. She generously shares the various tools she acquired over the years, presenting them in a simple and clear manner, all while ensuring you enjoy yourself in the learning process.

Enrico is a PhD candidate in the Rehabilitation Sciences Institute at the University of Toronto and the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation of Greater Montreal. He runs a community-based physical activity program for adults with moderate-severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) that is supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC). Enrico obtained an undergraduate degree in Education from Concordia University and a graduate degree in Adapted Physical Activity from McGill University. Enrico has been working as an advocate for TBI awareness, in addition to working in the fitness industry since 2008. He was a winner of the 2019 SSHRC Storyteller Competition, and he was nominated for the 2018 Change-Maker Award by the Neurological Health Charities of Canada.

Helen holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Science from Concordia University with a specialization in Adapted Physical Activity. She has been in the fitness industry for over 20 years, a presenter for over 15 years, and has been working with older adults since the beginning of her career. Helen is a trainer for the YMCAs of Québec and helped develop the FIT Functional Training for Aging Adults course offered by the YMCAs of Quebec as well as several of the FIT courses offered by YMCA Canada. She is a personal trainer and group fitness instructor specializing in special populations, older adult fitness, group fitness and indoor cycling. Respecting the human body and its limitations are Helen’s fundamental values. She believes in having fun and working hard in her classes without jeopardizing the safety of her participants. Helen brings a wealth of knowledge into all her presentations and hopes to share her passion for making group fitness classes a success.

Jacqueline is the Executive Director of Santovas Foundation, a Montreal-based charity that provides free, trauma-sensitive mindfulness-based yoga programs to underserved youth in Quebec. Jacqueline has been teaching mindfulness-based yoga and working with youth since 2003. Merging her academic training in critical race studies in education with over 25 years of yoga practice, Jacqueline is driven by her commitment to social justice for underserved youth, through yoga service work.

Nibal Chahine, Adalie Le Nguyen, and Hanaa Taleb are three speech-language pathologists with a shared passion: to prevent and treat voice disorders. 
Together, they have accumulated varied work, teaching, research, and volunteer experience in hospitals, and community and rehabilitation settings with pediatric and adult clienteles. 
They have been offering voice disorder popularization and awareness workshops since 2018. Among others, they have collaborated with the University of Montreal to offer voice conferences for students in the education and physical education departments. They have also participated in research projects on noise in schools and the prevention of voice disorders with the Centrale des syndicats du Québec.

Sarah holds a Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree in Perinatal Fitness and completed a microprogram in Kinesiotherapy, making her a perinatal expert. Sarah wanted to combine her passion for sports and training with her passion for maternity. 
Wanting to share her knowledge with women and break down some of the taboos, she opened Bougeotte et Placotine® in Quebec City in 2012. 
Ten years later, she opened two other locations in Quebec City and two franchises, one in Montreal and one in Sherbrooke. A third franchise is on the way. 
She is proud to work with doctors and perinatal physiotherapists to optimize the care of expecting mothers. Her postnatal re-education course, “Premiers Pas de Maman”®, is her most popular and meets a real need. 

Louise Malone is the founder and president of the Exercise Specialist Institute, a community college program dedicated to the development and mentoring of fitness professionals. As a fitness program consultant, Louise’s projects include the development of the Therapeutic Exercise & Active Living program at the YM-YWHA, and the development of the Corrective Conditioning certification for the YMCA.
Louise studied physical education at McGill University, and holds a Certificate in Sports Therapy. In her spare time, Louise enjoys teaching small group personal training and indoor cycling, and networking with fellow fitness professionals.

Luce Boulianne has a Bachelor’s Degree in Kinesiology from the University of Montréal and a Professional Master’s Degree in Kinesiology. A personal trainer for over 15 years, she works with different clienteles, including the under 18. Passionate about functional training and the mother of a young active girl, she has seen first-hand the positive effects of training on young people. She is also a conference speaker, FIT trainer, and Assistant Director of Health and Fitness Activities at the Notre-Dame-de-Grâce and Westmount YMCAs. 

Coach and cupid of the fitness industry! Blending 25 years of international experience with degrees in Psychology and Exercise Science, Nathalie passionately shares her insights. She is the Vice President of the Fitness Industry Council of Canada and a canfitpro Advisory Panel Member. She uses her uniquely vibrant leadership style to make profound and lasting changes with her teams, clients, and audiences.

With her trademark brand of edutainment, Sue breaks down and shares the skills and knowledge that she has gained in her 25 years as an award-winning fitness instructor and practising physiotherapist. She helps fitness professionals build confidence as fitness leaders who live their purpose by improving the lives of their participants.