Our Team of Fitness Professionals
(NEW CONTENT) At Fitness Excellence, we believe in the power of hard work and enjoyment to achieve results. That’s why we carefully select knowledgeable and enthusiastic individuals who have a genuine passion for assisting others.
BEN NEWMAN – PERSONAL TRAINER
Areas of Expertise: Strength Training, Personal Training.
Ben is an experienced personal trainer with over 15 years of direct experience and a degree in Physical Education specializing in sport performance, rehabilitation, and health education. He has worked with individuals, groups, teams, and medical teams. His knowledge extends to basic massage and stretching techniques he learned as a child, along with his own injury recovery stories.
Ben’s clients have ranged from 13 to almost 90 years old, including firefighters, military, police, and paramedics. He is a practicing yogi, teaches meditation and martial arts, and believes in balance. Ben is also trained in Zone® nutrition, and he has developed his own systems to accelerate fat loss, increase energy, enhance muscular growth, and reduce pain.
Aside from his skills and experience, Ben is known for his genuine, caring, and compassionate personality. He has a good sense of humor, and he is always ready to help his clients.
KATHARINE LOGAN – PERSONAL TRAINER
Areas of Expertise: Nutritionist, Personal Training.
Kate has lived in the Comox Valley her entire life. Currently certified as a personal trainer and nutritionist, through The International Sports Sciences Association. Her passion for fitness and health first started eight years ago when she became a mother to her son. Concurring her own challenges of health and fat loss, Kate has set personal goals in bodybuilding and continuing her education, to help bring more value and knowledge to assist a variety of clients. She has an enormous passion in helping others reach their goal from fat loss, body recomposition, strength training and muscle building.
“Having the opportunity in helping someone in such a personal journey and seeing them achieve goals they once never thought possible, is one of the greatest feelings I’ve ever had”. If you can’t find Kate at the gym, she spending time with her family, in the garden or walking and exploring the outdoors. Kate is very excited to be joining the amazing team at Fitness Excellence that has already been changing so many lives.
Whether you’re beginning your fitness journey or taking your fitness to the next level, she would love the opportunity to help guide you.
LAZELLE DE RIDDER – GROUP INSTRUCTOR
Areas of Expertise: CrossFit, SPing & TRX Training, Nutrition Counselling, Personal Training.
My name is Lazelle de Ridder. I moved to Canada from South Africa 26 years ago. I am a certified spinning instructor as well as certified in 3 levels of CrossFit, TRX suspension training, personal training and nutritional counseling.
My husband and I competed in triathlon and specifically Ironman distances. I owned and operated a CrossFit and spinning studio in Alberta for 15 years.
The class I’m planning for Fitness Excellence will be 30 minutes of spinning followed by 30 minutes of strength/ TRX / core. We will end off with a good stretch to relax our tired muscles.
