Meet the Trainers
Julie Gronquist
Owner-Personal Trainer and 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.
Personal Trainer
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 achive 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 8 years of experience as a personal trainer for a large chain health club. I am certified through the American Council on Exercise, Pre/Post Natal Certifications, and am experienced in the areas of weight loss and nutrition.
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!
Denise W.
Personal Trainer
I believe that health and fitness is a lifetime journey, there is no finish line. Fitness is something that we all must attend to daily in order to maintain healthy, energetic bodies so that we can play with our kids without getting tired or winded, so we can shovel our driveways or walk up a flight of stairs, so that we can fight off a simple virus with a healthy immune system.
It has become my professional passion to educate other people on the benefits of health and fitness and how daily exercise and healthy eating can improve their lives.
My name is Denise Wellik.
I have been a certified personal trainer for 6 years now.
My twin daughters are 10 years old.
I have weighed 200 pounds.
I have competed in a local bodybuilding show.
I have a back injury.
I use my personal journey to help other people, especially women, know that...
- You can lose the "baby fat",
- You can find time to exercise even as a mom or parent,
- You can work around your past injuries or limitations and come out healthier and stronger than you were in the first place, and
- There is an extreme way to alter your body and then there is the sane way to make lifetime changes that will affect your health for a lifetime to come.
Jamie R
Personal Trainer
Jamie is a Personal Trainer certified through the American Council on Exercise.
As a mother of two, I understand how difficult it can be to juggle a career and your family, yet still have time to incorporate an exercise regime. I love the challenge of designing a personalized program that will motivate you and get you the results you are striving for.
I have experience working with clients and helping them with: weight loss, giving boosts of motivation and encouragement, holding clients accountable to their goals, injury prevention, improving cardiovascular fitness, decreasing stress and helping clients with programs to do on their own time and place in between our training sessions.
I truly believe that anyone can have a greater quality of life with knowledge about how their body works, motivation and support. Allow me to help with each of these on your journey to a healthy life.
Laura R
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.
Elizabeth S
Pilates Instructor/Personal Trainer
Elizabeth has a Master’s of Comparative Literature instead of a PhD because, in the beginning of her third year of graduate school, she told the Chair of the department that she was leaving the program so she could run off and join the circus.
This is a true story.
Though she still finds joy in the aerial arts, Elizabeth also enjoys helping people on the ground. A lifelong dancer and runner, she seeks to guide people to enjoy movement and the freedom it offers. Elizabeth is a certified personal trainer through NETA and is also certified in Stott Pilates. She has performed with circuses/aerial dancers and has taught the circus arts in California and Minnesota for several years. Having taught Spanish, English, and communication for over five years at the college level, Elizabeth finds that her teaching skills translate naturally into the fields of Pilates and personal training.
Angela H
Pilates/Yoga Instructor
Angela is a certified Pilates instructor with ten years experience. Angela,
a former dancer, initiated her Pilates training at The Performing Arts
Physical Therapy and Pilates Studio of Los Angeles. Her certification is
held through the Physical Mind Institute. In addition, she is trained in
Ashtanga Yoga through The Yoga Center of Minneapolis, has been trained in
Thai Yoga Bodywork by Tanya Boiganzhan, and is a DONA certified doula
(labor and birth assistant) on staff at Hennepin County Medical Center
having attended well over 200 births. Her unique combination of training
and experiences has led her to specialize in the pre-and post natal client,
as well as dancers and skaters. She also enjoys working with athletes
wishing to improve performance. She has extensive experience working with
clients with a variety of injuries and post rehab and anyone just wanting to
experience the many benefits of Pilates. Angela offers private yoga
instruction, pilates as well as combination Yoga/Pilates sessions.
Julie Gronquist
Laurie G.
Denise W.
Jamie R
Laura R
Elizabeth S
