Our Trainers

Charissa
 

– “Practice doesn’t make perfect, it makes progress.”

I used to dislike training cardio – a lot. I was also terribly uncoordinated with two left feet. But during the lockdown I saw an influencer on Instagram shuffling with a jump-rope, and I was mesmerized. There are just so many skills to learn with a single rope, and it makes cardio actually addicting, while training my agility, coordination, stamina, and performance in other sports.

Since then, I started the first jumprope community in Penang (Malaysia), and founded the Jump-rope company WINGS with some friends. I am also a Certified Personal Trainer in my own private gym, and complement jumping with strength training for a well-balanced fitness program.

What my cohort will look like

Activities

• This cohort will consist of a warm up, some basic bodyweight exercises, basic jumps in Tabata format, and a skill workshop to develop specific weekly skills. The only equipment needed is a jump-rope and a comfortable pair of athletic shoes.

Who do you imagine will benefit most from this cohort?

• Anyone interested in improving their cardio endurance, or learning a new sport. Total beginners are welcomed, as long as you have a rope at hand. You don’t have to be naturally coordinated, just willing to learn.

What would the outcomes of this cohort be?

• Unlocking up to 12 basic jump-rope skills by the end of our 6-week program, and being able to combine the skills together into a personalized combo. I’d love to see participants finish the program with a newfound love for freestyle jump-rope as a hobby and sport.

What might weekly interaction look like?

• We will mostly focus on learning new jump-rope skills together that you can practice in your own time. We may also have a group chat that allows for the sharing of progress videos and skill tutorials/unlocks.

Matt
Cohort Trainer

– “My vision for coaching is to enable, empower and challenge individuals to reach their potential, find meaning, and live a balanced life.”

I’m a family man with a lovely wife and three amazing kids. I grew up playing soccer and doing karate at an elite junior level and went on to study sports sciences at university after that. From there God lead us to serve with a mission and development organisation in East Africa and Asia for eight years, doing sport and development related projects with local churches and also government ministries and sports associations. For the past eight years I have worked for a global coaching company, which focuses on holistic performance coaching. My clientele is made up mostly of corporate executives and the focus of my coaching work covers topics like general health, nutrition, physical activity, sleep, and energy management. In addition to this, I’m also involved in member care and BAM related work with the mission and development organisation that we worked with in the past.

What my cohort will look like

Schedule

• Mixed group Zoom video calls every Tuesday at 12:00 pm Singapore time (60 Mins).

Who do you imagine would benefit most from this cohort?

• Individuals who are struggling with their health and wellbeing, but feel like they don’t know where to start, or what they should do. They might feel intimidated by some exercise programmes, and don’t perhaps feel that they are very athletic. Most likely they’ve tried some things in the past, and those might have helped, but they struggle to follow through and achieve sustainable changes in their habits.

How would you describe this cohort?

• Do you feel that you would want to improve your health, wellbeing, or fitness, but you don’t really know where to start, or what you should do? Have you tried different types of diets or exercise programmes, but haven’t really been able to make these into sustainable habits? Do you keep pushing back the idea of looking after your health more, because you feel that it will be too hard, or too much work and effort? If these are questions that you can relate to, this cohort could be good for you.
• Improving your health and wellbeing does not need to be hard, nor does it require going on a very restrictive diet and doing high intensity exercise each day. It’s all about small changes that you can implement sustainably in your everyday life, which ultimately lead to significant results.

What would you aim for the outcomes of this cohort to be?

• Building confidence in looking after your own health and wellbeing
• Getting clarity on what type of changes I can make in my life, which are suitable next steps for me.
• Achieving small improvements in some relevant health markers during the 6 weeks, but more so, providing tools for continuing the journey beyond that

What might weekly interaction look like within this cohort?

• A weekly group call
  • During the first call we will be focusing on what needs to change, or what you want to
    improve. We’ll reflect on why, to explore motivation, and start to think about how, to find
    the biggest wins in terms of where to start. We will also discuss key behaviour change
    issues around motivation, capability, and opportunity.
  • The following calls will focus on gradually progressing towards your goals and
    providing further guidance on topics related for example to exercise, nutrition, sleep,
    and behavior change in general. The exact content of the calls will depend on the
    needs and progress of the participants.
• A group chat could perhaps be possible for sharing and support.

What might weekly “programming” look like?

• I would most likely not do specific weekly programming. I would rather give homework and aim to get participants do their own programming. I could naturally give examples and options of sources where they could go to for support.

Siree
Cohort Trainer

“Your life purpose isn’t to lose weight. Achieving better health is about more than simply shedding the pounds, improving muscle tone or achieving a lean physique. We are both body and spirit and I incorporate this in my whole-person health coaching.”

I actually have a background in Business and Economics but a health crisis in my family made me appreciate the importance of health and recognizing that many trade-off health for “success” in life. As I already had a personal passion about health/exercise/nutrition, I decided to make a career pivot to focus on helping others use health as a resource for life and adding value to the world. Knowing first-hand how hard it is to serve when you have health issues, I am empathic to my clients who are trying to do their best in life with the health conditions they have.

In addition to being a John Maxwell certified coach and trainer, I am a certified Health Coach, Personal Trainer, and Fitness Nutrition Specialist.

What my cohort will look like

Who do you imagine would benefit most from this cohort?

• Someone who would like to troubleshoot some health issues and is serious about getting healthier in areas of daily movement, nutrition and rest. The participant would be interested in the topics of setting nutritional goals, choosing tasty and nutrient-dense food for themselves and their family, learning practical stress management and working-in techniques to reduce cortisol levels and burn excess fat.

How would you describe this cohort?

• Health is a gift and it is a vital resource for us to serve others. When we neglect taking care of our bodies, we can end up paying for it later through higher medical bills and insurance premiums. So that we can fulfill the work that God has called us to do, we need to be responsible for our overall health as well.
• The purpose of this cohort is to support you in caring for your whole person health in the specific areas of movement, nutrition and rest.
• Most people know what they need to do to get healthier, but putting in place habits to get them going in the right direction is a challenge. Health coaching as a group is effective in helping participants start and maintain new habits together.
• Participants will get free access to my Udemy course “Nourish Away Your Fat” and go through the course together as a group.

What would you aim for the outcomes of this cohort to be?

• Appreciate that health is a resource for everyday living and serving. Be empowered to minimize the risk of non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, adult-onset diabetes, and abdominal obesity.
• Replace any kind of “diet mentality” with grace-based choices appropriate for their body and lifestyle.
• Understand the power of habits. Identify positive and negative habits.
• Learn and apply practical techniques to achieve efficient metabolism of food as fuel.
• Learn working-in and stress management techniques to help the body return to rest and digest daily.
• A safe space to learn from one another. In a group coaching session, participants have the opportunity to hear experiences of how others have overcome their similar health struggles in the past.

What might weekly interaction look like within this cohort?

• Staying connected and encouraging each other during the week via the FiTT app.
• Weekly Zoom group coaching calls on whole-person wellness topics and answering any questions participants have from the Nourish Away Your Fat course (60 mins):
  • Intro/Fight or Flight/Rest and Digest
  • Guided Intuitive Eating/Am I Full?/Portion Guide
  • Sleep Matters
  • Digestive Health/Anti-Inflammation Smoothies
  • Reducing Toxic Load
  • An Intro to Emotional Intelligence and Competence

What might weekly “programming” look like?

• Healthy habits check-in.
• Participants are encouraged to create their own meal plan based on new learnings and submit to the group on Sunday evenings to inspire each other.
• Optional workout program in the FiTT app (using dumbbells and bands).

Sean
Cohort Trainer

– “I believe anyone can make progress in their personal fitness. When you do, your quality of life is elevated to the next level as well.”

I’ve been a competitive athlete most of my life. I was raised in the US and grew up playing a myriad of sports and went on to play collegiate rugby. Not long after university, my wife and I moved to China where we served for the next 10 years. From there, we’ve lived in Costa Rica, then Kenya and now we are based in Southeast Asia. We’ve been privileged to raise a big family of six kids internationally.

I have continued to play and coach rugby at each stop. Since 2012 my primary fitness regimen has been CrossFit. I love the scalability and variety it offers. I became a certified Functional Fitness trainer in 2018 and have placed in the top 10% in Asia for men aged 40 and above at the worldwide CrossFit Open competition for the last four years.

What my cohort will look like

Schedule

• Asia group Zoom video calls every Thursday at 12:30 pm Singapore time (60 Mins).
• Europe group Zoom video calls every Thursday at 7:30 am London time (60 Mins).

Who do you imagine would benefit most from this cohort?

• Men who are wanting to get fit or stay fit. Generally already have the motivation to get up and get going and maybe also have some experience with exercise and have a general idea what their work capacity is. This program will work well for the beginner and intermediate participant as it can be “scaled” to meet the challenges for each person.

How would you describe this cohort?

• Do you want to improve your fitness and feel better? Do you want to learn foundational movements that will help you be more confident in your everyday life?
• Functional fitness exercises train your muscles to work together and prepare them for daily tasks by simulating common movements you might do at home, at work or in sports. Examples are carrying groceries, picking up heavy objects and placing them on a shelf, or playing soccer with your kids.
• We combine short, high intensity workouts as well as slower, measured workouts and combine formats to build stronger and leaner bodies.

What would you aim for the outcomes of this cohort to be?

• Understand how to move your body in a safe, efficient and fun way.
• Set and meet realistic goals for weight loss.
• Increase your capacity to work and play.
• Feel more confident designing your own functional fitness workouts to do at home, at the park, in the gym or in a hotel.
• Camaraderie and support from cohort peers.

What might weekly interaction look like within this cohort?

• A weekly group call
• Getting to know each other and sharing experiences of workouts together
• Asking questions, coach modeling and demonstrating movements, etc
• One-on-one call with coach as needed and available
• Whatsapp group for peer encouragement

What might weekly “programming” look like?

• 3-5 Workouts for 30 minutes maximum

Lyn
Cohort Trainer

– “Life is the ultimate endurance race. The GRIT you develop through physical training will strengthen your mind and character. None of us can run this race of life alone. Let’s do this together!”

As a TCK, I spent my childhood years in Southeast Asia. After a short stint in the USA for college, I returned to Southeast Asia and have lived cross-culturally all my adult life in Malaysia, Indonesia, and currently Thailand. Answering the question of where I am from is difficult for me, but I am confident in where I am heading: heaven. Keeping that eternal perspective has helped me through the ups and downs of life. After teaching high school math for 9 years, I took a career shift to become a full-time mom and part-time fitness class instructor and personal trainer for twelve years. I love exercising with other people because together we build community and keep each other motivated to reach our goals. I discovered my favorite hobby when I started running (actually, slowly jogging) in college for weight loss. Twenty-five years later, I can attest to how running and exercise have been crucial not only to my physical health but also to my mental wellbeing. Some highlights of my running career include winning the 2019 North Face Thailand 100 KM Ultra and winning the 2020 KMK50 KM Ultra in Thailand.

What my cohort will look like

Who

• Stronger Together is for women who want to improve/maintain their fitness in a positive and supportive group environment as a team with other like-minded women because fitness is better together.

When

• Stronger Together is a 6-week cohort that meets via Zoom every Thursday at 4:30 pm Bangkok time (60 Mins).
• Contact FiTT Admin for the start date of the next Stronger Together cohort.

What

• Goals: At the beginning of the cohort, each team member will set a fitness goal for herself.
• Weekly Calls: Each weekly cohort call will be a time of sharing (each member will give an update about her goal progress), exercising together, and motivating each other.
• Encouragement: We will celebrate each other’s fitness victories and goal progress (no matter how big or small) and encourage each other to stick to our goals.
• FiTT App: We will use the FiTT App to communicate within our cohort. Cohort members may also request to be subscribed to a workout program within the FiTT app.
• Other Workouts: I may host additional workouts that are optional but encouraged for cohort members to join.
• Additional Support: I may be available by request to offer one-on-one coaching and guidance support to cohort members as they work to achieve their cohort goals.

Lyndsey

– “Women everywhere can raise flourishing families by nourishing themselves.”

Nutrition has always been an integral part of my life. At the age of 10 I was a junior elite gymnast. Over the years I cross-trained and competed in gymnastics, springboard diving, trampoline, and power tumbling. I recruited for NCAA Division I Athletics for both gymnastics and springboard diving, ultimately chose diving, and helped my team win 3 1st place conference championship titles throughout my 4 years. Nutrition has always been important to me personally, as remaining healthy and strong is essential in performing high level sports. Additionally, I have always had a propensity towards science and medicine. I told my parents I wanted to deliver babies around the world when I was 9. I watched reality medical shows instead of cartoons, volunteered at crisis pregnancy agencies, and developed a deep appreciation for what mothers’ bodies can do throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and lactation.

I am thankful to God that He placed interests and passions in me but did not stop there. He continued to grow those desires in me and provide opportunities for them to flourish. Throughout life’s journeys, God led me to a Public Health program in the Global Health capital of the world at a Top 5 school. There I was able learn about nutrition for women of reproductive age before, during, and after pregnancy/lactation. I focused on maternal under nutrition and the interplay between culture and nutrient consumption. I love working with women, families, and communities on affordable, convenient, culturally appropriate, and adequate dietary intakes.

My husband and I currently live in Thailand. I work with Burmese migrants/refugees on the Thai-Myanmar Border and he teaches high school art at an international Christian school. We love to bake, cook, visit museums/galleries, swim, hike, explore, and immerse in new cultures and indulge in new cuisines.

Erin Anderson

– “I’m primarily about helping people discover growth in 4 areas: EAT (holistic nutrition), MOVE (functional movement/ training), REST (resting well/ true self care) and HEAL (healing toxic mindsets around food and bodies)”

I am a Licensed Diplomat of Pastoral Science and Medicine who works virtually with clients to support their whole health and wellness (spiritual, physical, and emotional). I am also a Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner specializing in holistic nutrition and have previously worked as a Weight loss Coach and a Certified Group Exercise Instructor in the past. I am Australian by birth and have lived in Australia, Hong Kong, Malaysia and now reside in the USA. I have been married for 12 years to my husband, Chad, and we have 2 kids ages 10 and 8. As a family we enjoy hiking, weight lifting, mud runs and mountain biking.

Mandi

– “You don’t have to be EXTREME, just CONSISTENT.”

With some inherited health issues becoming apparent in my 20’s and 30’s, I have become more and more aware of just how powerful the gifts of habits are in exercise and nutrition for maintaining a vibrant life on the field. I’m convinced that habits and fun can go hand in hand when done in the accountability of community. Barre is a fun, low impact, yet intense and upbeat fitness program. Expect to build lean muscle, improve flexibility, and increase endurance. Grab some friends and and make it a party.

I’ve been married for 23 years and, together, my husband and I have served Internationally for 20. We have 3 kids at home and 3 now attending university.

Anthony

– “I want missionaries to be strong in their minds, their bodies, and their spirits so that they can live out the calling that God has placed on their lives.”

After returning to the US after being a missionary in Guatemala for a year. God gave me the calling to a fitness ministry. I started Crash Fitness with my wife, and we have a program serving churches and missionaries by giving them access to a virtual fitness community, online video as well as written programmed workouts throughout the week.

I also do one-on-one individual coaching for those that want to take their fitness to that next level.

It has been great to partner with Talent Trust to share many of our video workouts with the FiTT community as I want to invest in as many people and help them improve their health and fitness so they can live out their calling as well as they can.

Karissa
Cohort Trainer

– “If it doesn’t challenge you, it doesn’t change you” – Unknown

I am a recent graduate with a passion for the Lord, helping others reach their goals, and living a well-balanced life. I graduated during the pandemic of 2020 with a Bachelor’s in Exercise Science and minors in Psychology, Coaching, and Christian Studies. I was blessed with the opportunity to play sports my entire life. I attended Dalat International School in Malaysia where I played basketball, volleyball, and softball. I was also able to play volleyball at the collegiate level for four years. During those four years, I learned much about exercising, setting realistic goals, taking care of the body, mind, and soul, while honoring God through it all. Since college, I have been able to work in the fitness industry as a gym manager and volleyball coach. This experience included coaching clients through workouts, explaining proper form, guiding others through nutrition plans, and recording online workouts during gym shutdowns. I am currently working in a physical therapy clinic as a rehab aide as I work towards applying for physical therapy schools. I am excited for this opportunity to encourage and push others towards their fitness goals.

What my cohort will look like

Schedule

• Zoom video calls every Friday at 8:00 am US Central time (60 Mins)

Who do you imagine would benefit most from this cohort?

• Anyone who wants to develop healthy living habits and are unsure of where to start. I want to take away the anxiety and uncertainty surrounding fitness. This cohort will be focusing on the simplistic outline of how to live a healthy life. Healthy living is all about starting from ground zero and placing the right building blocks of raising your heart rate, challenging your muscles, and properly fueling your body. I want this cohort to be completely accessible to all from the comforts of your home without any need for complicated equipment. If you are someone who wants to gain confidence and develop an appreciation for all the capabilities God has given your body then this is the cohort for you.

How would you describe this cohort?

• This cohort is completely focused on removing the daunting stigma around fitness and healthy living.
• This cohort will provide information about how to implement habits that benefit the mind, spirit, and soul through fitness.
• This cohort will consist of individuals from all walks of life and different points of fitness to encourage one another to take control of their personal health.
• Big changes are simply small changes added up. I desire this cohort to provide the tools and resources to start the small changes that will lead to the big changes. It is all about starting small.

What would you aim for the outcomes of this cohort to be?

• Increase in personal confidence and appreciation for the body.
• Improvements in cardiovascular (aerobic) fitness in both endurance.
• Weight loss and improvement in anthropometry measurements.
• Inspiration to continue to implement healthy living habits.

What might weekly interaction look like within this cohort?

• A weekly conference call between all group members. This call will consist of talking through any questions, celebrating improvements, keeping each other accountable, discussing weekly topic worksheets, and breaking down next week’s program.

What might weekly “programming” look like?

• Two weekly workout videos (10-30 minutes) that require minimum equipment.
• Cardiovascular activity suggestions that members are encouraged to complete 1-2 a week.
• Information and worksheets focused on the weekly topic that brings an understanding of fitness from multiple avenues.
• Exercise log and nutrition log to track progress.
• A weekly conference call between all group members.

Emily
Cohort Trainer

– “Go on! Try something new this year. Something you never imagined yourself doing – Spin class? Swimming? Salsa Dancing? Trail Running? Abstract painting? You never know, you might fall in love with it! Keep exploring who God created you to be, never underestimate the depth and capacities He put in you.”

Emily was born and raised in the Bay Area, CA and has always loved being in sunshine, by the mountains or the ocean, playing outdoor sports, exploring, dancing and loving Jesus with all her heart. From 6th Grade onwards, her family moved every 2 years around the USA and Asia. This resulted in a love for travel, culture immersion, meeting new friends, and carrying a global oriented mindset which then set the precedence for her to move back to Taipei, Taiwan in 2004. What was meant to be a 1 year business internship turned out to be a lifelong journey that God has taken her through Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, London, and Malaysia. She now currently resides in New Taipei City with her husband from Germany and her 2 young boys. Emily is a worship leader, spin instructor, personal trainer, triathlete and open water swimmer. She is passionate in sharing her love for health and wellness, specifically with helping young women, new moms and busy women build their inner confidence by becoming strong, fit and happy. She is known for her beat tappin’ music playlists – so get ready to bombed with 70s,80s,90s, Hip Hop, EDM, Rock n Roll.. you name it! You’ll move to it!

What my cohort will look like

Schedule

• Zoom video calls every Monday at 9:20 pm Taiwan time (50 Mins)

Who do you imagine would benefit most from this cohort?

• Anyone who is willing to put in 40 minutes of movement and sweat! Women who were previously fit, but may have struggled to find workout consistency and want to build up cardiovascular fitness and muscle tone. Women who have never felt confident in exercising, but need a little encouragement. I will take time to watch your form on Zoom and give live feedback, if the individual is comfortable with it.

How would you describe this cohort?

• This cohort will spend most of its time in a physical workout. I will be challenging you.
• We will use the TABATA Workout style which will be 30-45 seconds ON/15-20 seconds OFF. There will be warm up and warm down.

What would you aim for the outcomes of this cohort to be?

• Increased fitness, strength, mobility, cardio endurance and a place for members to bond and cheer each other on.

What might weekly interaction look like within this cohort?

• I will start each workout with a short prayer, and end with personal quiet reflection during a worship song/Cool Down.

What might weekly “programming” look like?

• The workouts program will focus on Total Body Toning, with each session targeting Upper Body, Lower Body, Core and Mobility/Flexibility.

Nicola
Cohort Trainer

– “Be kind to yourself. Do what you love. Stick to the plan.”

I am almost 50 and have 4 grown up kids who have left home, with one to go. I have always loved fitness and been interested in nutrition. I qualified as a Personal Trainer when my youngest started kindergarten and have run both women’s outdoor high intensity bootcamp classes and low impact indoor classes for women who did not have the confidence to join a ‘hard’ class. I have trained individuals who didn’t feel comfortable going to the local gym, and have helped women with weight loss. Having lived in nine different countries, I understand the pressures and joys of living abroad, and have navigated the challenge of juggling multiple schedules with personal self care. I am a vegan and love running.

What my cohort will look like

Schedule

• Monday group Zoom video calls every Monday at 5:00 pm London time (50 Mins).
• Tuesday group Zoom video calls every Tuesday at 5:00 pm London time (50 Mins).

Who do you imagine would benefit most from this cohort?

• Women who have had children/ babies and are struggling to get back into fitness, or who would simply like to take better care of themselves. Women who are nervous about getting back into fitness will benefit from the small class sizes and individual attention. I believe that fitness is best done as a community and that women sweating and sharing together can be addictive!

How would you describe this cohort?

• A group of women committed to changing their fitness/strength.

What would you aim for the outcomes of this cohort to be?

• For each woman to gain confidence, core strength and fitness as they are gently pushed a little. I believe this can only be achieved alongside a goal of zero injuries. You can expect to be encouraged in each class as you challenge yourself.

What might weekly interaction look like within this cohort?

• Spending time in the warm-up phase talking about a fitness or nutrition related topic, followed by a 25 minute class including cardio and core strengthening, using body weight exercises. You don’t need any equipment apart from an exercise mat. This will be followed by some nutritional tips and a sharing time as we plank and warm down.

What might weekly “programming” look like?

• Our workouts will be tailored to the individuals in the class, easier for beginners and harder for those who are already stronger. We will target the core in each class and move between upper and lower body conditioning. Each class will leave your body tired and your heart encouraged.