Meet the instructors

Chris Rask

Chris is a dedicated student of fitness, dance & yoga. She has practiced and coached many forms of physical expression: from rhythmic gymnastics to hatha yoga; from ballroom & latin partner dancing to bootcamp fitness; from ballet to belly dancing and taught toddlers to boomers.

Wawa Fitness, Dance & Yoga was founded in 2006, by Chris Rask, to offer Wawa area residents dynamic, safe and effective physical activities. She aspires to help others create radiant health for themselves and feel good in their own skin; wherever they currently may be in life and whatever their current body shape & image may be!

Her certifications and training include:

Graduate of Sivananda Teacher Training Course-certified 200 hours standard for Registered Yoga Schools (RYS),

Seniors Fitness Instructor-certified by Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging,

Fitness Instructor Specialist-certified by Can-Fit Pro,

Personal Trainer Specialist-certified by Can-Fit Pro,

Acro-Dance Teacher - Module I and II certified by Acrobatic Arts,

Zumba-Basics 1 and II and Zumba-kids certified by Zumba,

Level I Rhythmic Gymnastics Coach-certified by National Coaching Certification Program

Stand Up! Falls Prevention Program Facilitator

Minds In Motion Program Facilitator

Contact: wawafdy@shaw.ca, phone (705) 852-1089.

Shelley Neufeld

Shelley is a fitness enthusiast and enjoys promoting a healthy lifestyle. She received her Can-Fit Pro Fitness Instructors Certification in 2013 and has recently trained in bootcamp workouts.

Sam Stewart

Ms. Stewart is originally from Ottawa, Ontario where she started dancing at the age of five. Samantha completed Ryerson University`s diploma in dance in 2001 where she studied Ballet, Jazz and Modern dance as well as Pedagogy under the tutelage of some of Canada`s most respected dance professionals. Since moving to Wawa in 2002, Samantha has been teaching dance to students aged 2 to adult as well as starting her own company, Defined Movement Dance. Her students have enjoyed success in both examination and competition and Ms. Stewart continues to further her education in dance by attending conventions and workshops. Recently she has been to Chicago (Hollywood Vibe), Toronto (Metro Movement), New York (Broadway Dance Centre Teacher's Workshop), Ottawa (Capital City Dance) and Waterloo (Royal Academy of Dance) to keep up with today's new styles in dance.

Samantha is excited to be instructing for the Wawa Fitness Bootcamp!

Contact dmdance@shaw.ca, phone (705) 856-2074.

Mirinda Patterson

Mirinda has Personal Trainer and Fitness Instructor Specialist qualifications through CanFit Pro and is also Zumba certified.

As a Power Barre instructor, she has developed her own workout based on her ballet training to develop strength and core stability, as well as, improving posture.

Mirinda spent her early years in Sault Ste Marie skiing, cycling, swimming, and playing soccer competitively. She moved to Wawa when she was 14 and began taking dance classes as an extra-curricular activity. What began as an activity to pass the time, quickly turned into a great passion. Mirinda spent her high school years as a student with Defined Movement Dance and upon graduation went on to study dance at university.

Mirinda holds a Bachelor of Arts in Dance from York University. She has studied extensively in ballet and modern dance as well as conditioning with imagery for dancers, somatic education, and dance kinesiology. She has a love of movement and a great interest in motor learning and pattern development.

She currently teaches a number of fitness and dance classes to participants of all ages through Defined Movement Dance and the Michipicoten Memorial Community Centre. She is looking forward to sharing her love of fitness through a variety of classes at this year's bootcamp!

Kyla Ward

Kyla Ward graduated from the Sault College Fitness and Health Promotion Program and is a CSEP Certified Personal Trainer and OFC certified Group Fitness Instructor. She operates her independent business Infinity Wellness Personal Training and Lifestyle Coaching here in Wawa.

Steph Stamler

Movement has always been a form of medicine for me, in particular pilates gave me a window to feeling present and “in” my body. It inspired a life long passion to help others find their movement in their body-to just enjoy moving. My purpose is to help people feel connected to their bodies so they can find freedom, strength and ease of moment. Its about building body awareness, because when we move well, we live well.

Credentials:

Body Harmonics Pilates Mat (2016)

Reformer Certification (2018)