About Us

 

Vernis "Coach V" Blair

Lifestyle Coach & Personal Trainer

Certifications:

  • CPR & First Aid
  • Nutrition & Meal Planning
  • Life Skills Management
  • Personal Training Specialist

Accomplishments:

  • 2007 FAME Muscle Model, 2nd Place
    FAME Bodybuilding, 4th Place

Interests: Kickboxing, Basketball Coaching & Training, Soccer, Cycling, Hiking, Natural Bodybuilding

Since the age of six I have been involved in team sports. My first and best coach was my dad, a former professional soccer player. Soccer was my first sport but I played them all – from badminton to hockey to volleyball. My true love, though, was basketball. With an opportunity to play for Team Manitoba, I was able to go to Long Beach, CA. to play other North American basketball teams.

The first thing I noticed was that most of the American players obviously started a weight training program because at the ages 14-16 the majority were bigger and stronger then me. I took that knowledge back to Winnipeg for my last year of high school. After graduation, I was fortunate enough to earn a partial scholarship to Brandon University. At the time, they represented the class of CIAU basketball. Entering training camp with guys 3-5 years older then me, I again found myself to be lacking the strength to match up with some of the older players. Athletically it was no problem, but the weight room was calling me to gain more muscle. I took two years off to workout hard and improve as a player.

I ended up playing for Capilano College in North Vancouver, British Columbia. My first year, I was named the top defensive player and awarded the Rucanor scholarship for the highest grade point average of all the basketball players. It was one of the best athletic careers of my life.

After that season I was provided with an opportunity to try-out for a pro team in France. Unfortunately, three days before I was to leave, I was hit by a drunk driver. My ankle was broken in three places and the completion of a life long dream was taken away. I realized then that nothing in life was a given.

But as one door closes another inevitable opens. Struggling through rehab, everyday was an opportunity to build my body to the pinnacle of health and physical fitness. Following my rehab I spent over 200 hours working with professional football players from the CFL, learning about nutrition and meal planning, taking courses on life skills management and obtaining certification to be a personal training specialist.

What I bring is a passion for helping others learn about their lifestyle, offering motivation to grow and the tools to transform you into your best self.

Mary Ann Masesar, BN

Fitness Nurse

Certifications:

  • Personal Training Specialist
  • CPR & First Aid
  • Nutrition & Wellness Specialist

Accomplishments:

  • 2005 – 2007 FAME Fitness Model Competitor

Interests:
Natural Bodybuilding, Easy Cooking, Clean Eating, Health & Fitness Writing

Mary Ann believes that to be a true health and fitness role model, you have to “walk the talk”. That means learning and applying what you know about health into your own daily practices and routines. She strength trains 3x/week; participates in Bikram’s yoga at least weekly to de-stress and cleanse her mind and incorporates cardio activity outdoors as much as she can by walking, hiking, and biking. Daily rituals include meditation, journal writing, daydreaming and spending time connecting with loved ones. She drinks lots of water to stay hydrated and constantly has to remind herself to not take life so seriously.

With a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from the University of Manitoba, her goal is to continually teach and learn from others about the importance of activity, mental stimulation and helping people. She has focused her nursing primarily on community development, health promotion, research and nursing informatics.

Other accomplishments include:

  • Personal Trainer Specialist, Can Fit Pro Certified
  • Health & Fitness Freelance Writer
  • FAME Fitness Model Competitor

The road to achieving optimal health and fitness is not easy. “I’ve been working out since the days of Rachel McLish, Lenda Murray, Susie Currie and Monica Brant. But during my university years, I picked up unhealthy habits… smoking, drinking, sleepless nights and anorexia. We all have our own vices. Eating well and living a healthy lifestyle were not my priorities. But after my father passed away from a sudden heart attack and my uncle from an aggressive cancer, I realized the value of a healthy lifestyle. It’s an everyday struggle but I believe that we all have the responsibility to ourselves and those we love to continually improve how we live and help those that surround us. By contributing to this interdependent relationship… we all gain.