Meet the Trainers
Julie Gronquist - Owner
Certified Personal Trainer/Pilates Instructor
Julie Gronquist received her BS in Kinesiology with a minor in Coaching and Nutrition from the University of Minnesota. She started out in the fitness industry in 1993 teaching aerobics both floor and aqua and is certified through ACE (American Council on Exercise) as a group fitness instructor. She then began to work with individuals and became certified through ACE as a personal trainer and ACSM (American College of Sports Medicine) "The gold standard of certifications" as a health fitness instructor. Julie wanted to be able to work with wide variety of clients so she also became certified from Healthy Expectations as a Pre/Post Natal Specialist and received a certification from AAHFP (American Academy of Health Fitness Professionals) in Post Rehabilitation. Julie also attended massage therapy school at Sister Rosalind's in St Paul and received training in Neuromuscular Therapy.
Julie then went on to receive her training in Pilates the STOTT® Conditioning Method and was trained in both mat and reformer. Julie has worked at a variety of facilities everything from the large chain health clubs to a small independently owned club as a personal trainer and manager. Julie is able to work with a wide variety of clients because of her diverse background. She specializes in working with clients both men and women in weight loss and post rehabilitation of injuries. She encourages her clients to recognize where they are starting from, set realistic goals and then reach their individual goals through education, motivation and positive reinforcement.
Laurie G.
Certified Personal Trainer/Pilates Instructor
My mission in training is to educate my clients in areas of nutrition and physical well being through changes in exercise habits and diet to ultimately achieve a healthier lifestyle.
My vision for you, is to develop strength and confidence as we work together towards reaching goals and pushing yourself to know no limits. Together we will develop a highly individualized training program that will help you be the best you can be!
My training experience encompasses individuals of all ages and abilities. These experiences have ranged from youth to seniors, general fitness to athletes with sport specific goals.
My training background consists of 10 years of experience as a Personal Trainer. I am an ACE (American Council on Exercise) Certified Personal Trainer, Pre/Post Natal Certified, and trained in STOTT Pilates Reformer.
As an athletically active mother of 3, I hope to be an inspiration to others as they learn to harmonize fitness goals with the rest of their busy lives. My hope for you is that you learn to experience your inner power and celebrate your body's beauty, inside and out!
Jamie R
Certified Personal Trainer
Laura R
Certified Pilates Instructor/Personal Trainer
Laura received her MS in Kinesiology from California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) with a minor in Nutrition. She was certified as a Pilates Instructor in 1997 by the Pilates Institute in Boulder, CO. She has continued to seek out workshops that are specific to Pilates which are lead by Linda Joy Lee, P.T., Christine Wilson, RN and Pilates Instructor. These workshops keep her work up-to-date, continue her growth as a professional, and create an extensive network of colleagues.
While attending Cal Poly, Laura obtained her certification as a health and fitness instructor through ACSM, the “gold standard” of certification for fitness professionals. She chose to continue her education and specialize in prosthetics and earned a MS degree in prosthetics from California State University, Dominguez Hills. She completed her residency and continues to work in the field of prosthetics and creates functional and comfortable prosthetic devices for her patients.
Due to her extensive education, Laura seeks out a wide variety of clientele to customize and individualize functional and specific exercised to improve fitness and health. Laura has provided service most recently in an out-patient physical therapy clinic and therefore has a strong grasp in rehabilitative therapeutic approaches. She also enjoys working with high level athletes to improve performance by introducing new approaches along with more traditional Pilates exercises.
Her greatest desire is to improve fitness one person at a time, and therefore enjoys the inter-personal relationship that develops by creating a specific program for all over health.
Sandra S
Certified Personal Trainer/Pilates/Yoga Instructor
Sandra holds a BS in Nutrition and is a fitness specialist as well as a nutrition educator. She has been a certified personal trainer, group fitness instructor, yoga instructor and lifestyle and weight management consultant for over 20 years. She specializes in helping individuals set and meet realistic health and fitness goals.
Sandra also works as a consultant and leads courses with pilates trainers, personal trainers and fitness instructors to further develop their skills in the fitness field.
Her workshops and lectures for clients cover a range of topics with a central theme of the value of good nutrition and moderate exercise. Her interest and passion for sharing her knowledge about wellness and fitness training make her a much sought-after presenter.
Wendy T
Certified Pilates Instructor
Wendy is originally from Minnesota but school brought her out to the east coast, where she began teaching Pilates for New Jersey/New York dancers in 2003. She continued her Dance and Movement Studies at Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts and winning honors and prizes for both performance and choreography. Through dance, she found the magic and rewards of Pilates and began to pursue certification after her first session with a Reformer.
She is a STOTT Certified Pilates Instructor trained in Mat, Reformer, Cadillac/Tower, Chair, Prop Integration, Jump boards, Pre-Natal, Injury Prevention, Neuromuscular Stretch and Special Populations. She is also NASM Certified Personal Trainer and PHI Certified.
With a kind and light-hearted manner, her goals are to assist those she works with to access their deepest stabilizing muscles for breath and movement with optimal alignment so they can leave each session feeling longer, stronger and free to do what they do best. To Wendy, it's not a matter of what you are moving, it is HOW you move that results in feeling at the top of your game.
Lori L
Certified Pilates Instructor
Lori has over 20 years of movement experience as a Pilates teacher, Massage therapist, dancer and choreographer. She studied Massage Therapy at the Raj in Fairfield Iowa. She has trained numerous Pilates teachers throughout the Mpls/St Paul metro area and has started and run Pilates programs around the Midwest. She has studied dance with Martha Graham, Loyce Holton, MDT and others. She has studied Pilates with master teachers all across the country including: Romana Krysnowska, kathy Grant, Jillian Hessel, Michelle Larsson and completed her teachers training at the Pilates Center in Boulder, CO in 1996
"I love Pilates! I totally believe in its ability to completely transform one's body, mind and spirit.
Joe L.
Certified Personal Trainer
Joe holds a bachelor degree in Exercise Science with an emphasis in Athletic Training from the University of St. Thomas. He is also certified in Medical Exercise from the American Academy of Health, Fitness and Rehabilitation Professionals and Corrective Exercise from the National Academy of Sports Medicine.
Joe has worked with the University of St. Thomas Athletic Training department, The Minnesota Twins Rehabilitation department in FT Myers Florida, local doctors, and in the fitness industry since 1997.
His programming is designed to of identify muscle imbalances and/or underlying weakness that might be holding you back. Once these muscle imbalances have been identified a plan of action is implemented making it easier for you to achieve your desired results.
All of my programs emphasize the concept of functional exercise to improve your current level of fitness. I believe in one simple philosophy: To train smarter not harder.
Joe specializes in post rehabilitation, injury prevention, corrective exercise, weight loss, body sculpting and working with clients with certain medical conditions to get them back to 100%.
"Let me help you bridge the gap between health care and fitness."
Click here for Massage Therapist's bios
Julie Gronquist
Laurie G.
Jamie R
Laura R
Sandra S
Wendy T
Lori L