Meet the Personal Trainers

• Eric Savva

  “If you want to live at a higher level, you have to move at a higher level.”

  I was first introduced to Variety as a Birchmount student. Years later, I brought my children to Variety to participate in classes and the weight lifting program. After being self-employed for ten years I was looking for a new challenge; I joined the Variety Village Personal Training team four years ago and provide over 1700 sessions annually.

  I am a Canfitpro Certified Personal Trainer, Older Adult Specialist, Agatus Kettlebell Certified and Thai Stretch Certified and Kickboxing Canada level one certified. At Variety, when I am not personal training, I teach Aquafit and chair fitness classes. On Monday mornings at 11:00, I instruct group fitness for Toronto Rehab’s TIME Program, a program that helps members to continue their rehab.

  My sport of choice is weightlifting. I have competed in the Canadian Masters championships and won golds in the 69kg division. I’ve also competed in the Pan Am Masters Championship and received the bronze.

  Personally, I believe in an active lifestyle and taking personal responsibility for your own health. I exercise every morning, some days are easy and some are hard but I keep going because in the end I know the lifestyle will pay off.

• Jill Moreash

  “Every day is a new opportunity to get stronger, to eat better, to live healthier and to be the best version of you.”

  My background includes certification as a personal trainer (Canfitpro), Group Fitness Instructor (Goodlife), Kickboxing Instructor (Canada Fitness Kickboxing) and Thai Yoga Stretching Fitness Professional (Navina/Canfitpro). I also have a B.A. in Psychology as well as a Bachelor of Education with additional qualifications in Special Education and Health and Physical Education. I find that my teaching and special education experience help me build a strong rapport with clients of all ages and abilities and assist me with breaking down programs and exercises to fit each client’s individual needs and goals.

  My functional fitness approach to exercise brings out the best in each of my clients, helping them to set and achieve their fitness, health and/or rehabilitation goals. I am constantly researching and experimenting with exercises to ensure that my clients’ training sessions are interesting, fun and most importantly, effective.

  I currently teach two Active Aging Aquafit group classes a week and the Thursday evening Kickboxing class. When I’m not training clients or teaching classes at Variety, I spend my time taking kickboxing classes and doing Caveman Circuit Training. I am an outdoor enthusiast and am most happy when hiking through the woods or relaxing by the water.

  This is one of my favourite quotes: “Every day is a new opportunity to get stronger, to eat better, to live healthier and to be the best version of you.” Let me help you achieve your goals.

• Evan Hind

  “I believe that wherever you are in life, whatever shape you are in, there are always options and opportunities to help you achieve your goals and obtain the quality of life you seek.”

  I am a graduate of the George Brown College Fitness and Lifestyle Management program (2007), where I completed my CESP. I attended Monarch Park Secondary School where I participated in volleyball, cross country running, throwing (discus and javelin) and basketball. Later on, I returned to the school to mentor athletes and coach track and throwing.

  Karate is the sport I am most passionate about. I have trained in traditional Goju-ryu Karate almost all my life. I have years of experience training and testing Karate enthusiasts of all ages and abilities. I continue to train and compete on a regular basis.

  Personal training, coaching and teaching have been the focus of my career. The skills required for these are comparable and I enjoy adapting them to the challenge of working with the members at Variety. I will consider your fitness and health history, assess your current ability level, and offer you a variety of workouts that appropriately challenge you but don’t overwhelm you.

  I believe that wherever you are in life, whatever shape you are in, there are always options and opportunities to help you achieve your goals and obtain the quality of life you seek.

• Kevin Lalog

  
  “I believe that fitness is a lifestyle. It influences our entire well-being and shapes the way we see the world.”

  My name is Kevin and I like being a personal trainer here at Variety. My relationship with Variety started in high school when I came to train for track and field. I was amazed the first day I walked in and also inspired by all the different levels of athletes that trained here.

  After high school, I completed three years of post-secondary education; one year in Health Sciences at George Brown College, followed by a Fitness and Health Promotion Diploma at Durham College. This made me eligible for certification from the Canadian Society of Exercise Physiology, a certification which I am constantly updating. I have been a trainer at Variety Village for three years and have enjoyed the opportunity to use my skills to help people reach their full potential.

  I believe that fitness is a lifestyle. It influences our entire well-being and shapes the way we see the world. I love what I do. I am passionate about bringing positive change to the lives of others. I can help you make that positive change here at Variety.

• Oshane Thompson

  “Take care of your body. It’s the only place you have to live.”

  I am a recent graduate of the Fitness and Health Promotion diploma program at George Brown College. Prior to that, I attended Pickering High School where I was active in basketball and track & field. I have also completed my Canfitpro and continually update my skills with the latest seminars and workshops.

  Working at the Abilities Centre for the last couple of years made the transition to Variety easy. I enjoy the energetic atmosphere and the awesome clients I work with here.

  For every client I train, I create a custom training regime based on the client’s goals, abilities and potential abilities. With that said, I try to implement a balanced training program for all my clients that includes cardio, resistance training and core training. I often use bosu balls, resistance bands, free weights, medicine balls and the weight machines when training my clients.

  My own training program consists of full body training, core training and high intensity cardio. I do a lot of compound exercises such as squats, deadlifts and bench press. I try my best to maintain good form and technique when exercising, rather than trying to lift too heavy with bad form. Some of my other fitness interests include playing basketball and going for long bike rides.

• Mustafa Tokhy

  
  “There is no reason to have a Plan B because it distracts from Plan A.”

  We all have to unlock what our true passions and interests are in life. My passion just happens to be fitness and health. Truth be told, I’ve had my own struggles with weight and health over the years and know first-hand how important it is to live a healthy and active lifestyle. It’s not about trying the latest dieting fad or working out occasionally, but rather a long-term commitment to becoming the best version of yourself possible; physically, emotionally, and cognitively.

  If you’re an athlete looking to work on a sports-specific skills or improve your strength and conditioning, I’m your trainer. If you’re just looking to improve your overall fitness, lose weight, or boost your confidence, then I’m your trainer. Athlete or not, whatever your goal may be, I will help you achieve it!

  I have completed a Fitness and Health Diploma at George Brown College and I am currently doing my Bachelor’s Degree in Kinesiology and Health Science at York University. I am also a Certified Personal Trainer from the Health and Fitness Federation of Canada (HFFC-CPT).

  As your personal trainer, I don’t succeed unless you do. I will only be content as long as I have given 100% of my dedication towards your goals and needs. Training with me will mean setting yourself up for success. It also means that you will enjoy your workouts and learn about your physical capabilities. Not to mention, you will also get a fully customized training program catered to your goals!

  Knowing how critical motivation and goal setting is towards your lifestyle change; I would like to leave you with one of my favourite quotes that paints a simple yet strong message:

  “There is no reason to have a plan B because it distracts from plan A”

• Kyle Bowers

  
  “Clients need to enjoy themselves while exercising in order to stay motivated. I truly enjoy helping my clients reach their unique goals.”

  My name is Kyle Bowers and I am a personal trainer at Variety. My first exposure to Variety came as an undergraduate student while enrolled in an adapted physical activity course, where I was able to use my knowledge of fitness principles to support a diverse group of athletes. Since graduating I have worked here in various roles, with personal training being my passion.

  I hold a Bachelor of Kinesiology and a Masters of Teaching degree with Health and Physical Education qualifications, both from the University of Toronto. When I am not working with clients as a trainer, I work as a teacher where I am able to share my passion for physical activity and instil in my students the importance of living healthy, active lifestyles. I find that my experience as a teacher greatly enhances my relationship building with clients

  My favourite way to be active is to train for and play baseball. At the University of Toronto, I was a member of the Men’s Varsity Baseball team and I continue to play competitively today. I have worked in the past as a coach and fitness instructor for a variety of youth and adapted adult sports teams. I have also worked individually training elite adolescent athletes.

  My approach to training is that clients need to enjoy themselves while exercising in order to stay motivated. I try to continually change exercises, movements and intensity so clients are faced with novel challenges to overcome and master. I truly enjoy helping my clients reach their unique goals.