MEET TEAM VIP
Team VIP is made up of passionate and skilled specialists including Personal Trainers, Kinesiologists, Group Fitness Instructors, Nutritionists, Massage Therapists and more! Our unique approach allows our team to work together on client accounts to ensure that clients are getting the right combination of skills! Our fitness consultant will pair you with the Trainers and Practitioners best suited to you based on goals, history, skills, personality and overall needs!
Josiah Crawford
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Bsc. Kinesiology
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ACSM Certified Personal Trainer
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ACSM Group Exercise Instructor
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Sports Psychology
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Strength & Conditioning
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Running Techniques and Form
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Sports Specific Training
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Gymnastics Background
Josiah (or Si) is an ACSM Certified Personal Trainer and Group Exercise Instructor with a Bachelor of Kinesiology and a minor in Psychology from the University of British Columbia, where he focused on physiology and behavior change. During his time at UBC, he worked as an Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach with varsity athletics, supporting high-performance student-athletes.
With over a decade of experience in gym environments and fifteen years as a competitive athlete in soccer, tennis, ultimate frisbee, and gymnastics, Si combines an understanding of movement and performance with a strong background in sport psychology. He truly believes that the relationship between trainer and client is a collaborative effort, and both need to be committed to the process to produce results. On his end, you can expect clear, consistent programs and personal coaching that are specific to your goals and values.
Outside the gym, Josiah’s passion for movement continues in nature, whether skiing, backpacking, running, climbing, or biking. Most recently, he spent six months guiding mountain bike tours in Colorado. He is passionate about prepping weekend warriors and high performance athletes alike for their next adventure.
Katie Charman
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Level 3 Certified Personal Trainer
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Dynamic 1-to-1 Assisted Stretch Therapy
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Certified Spin Instructor
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Certified Group Fitness Instructor
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Functional Training
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Mobility & Flexibility
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Assisted Stretch & Recovery Work
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Endurance & Event Preparation
Katie grew up in London, where fitness and dance were central to her life. She played netball at district level, learning early the value of movement, teamwork, and discipline. This passion for sport led her to qualify as a Personal Trainer in 2016.
With over 10 years of experience, Katie has helped clients of all levels get stronger, move better, and feel more confident. She recently relocated to Vancouver, bringing her high-energy, people-first coaching style to VIP Fitness & Lifestyle-motivating, supportive, and results-driven.
Katie's experience spans boutique studios, commercial gyms, start-ups, and private practice, coaching everyone from first-time gym-goers to high-performing athletes. Her sessions are dynamic and tailored, combining strength, conditioning, mobility, and mindset work to deliver lasting results
She is passionate about her own fitness journey, having competed in multiple HYROX races, marathons, and fitness challenges, keeping her training diverse and inspiring her clients to do the same. Katie is also massively into the outdoors-she loves skiing, hiking, and exploring new places-which informs her adventurous and holistic approach to fitness.
In 2023, Katie expanded her focus into fitness recovery, earning a qualification in Dynamic 1-to-1 Assisted Stretch Therapy from the London School of Massage, which is often utilized by clients to improve movement, reduce pain, and enhance performance.
High-energy, approachable, and deeply invested in her clients, Katie believes personal training should be challenging, empowering, and fun. Her goal is to help you build a body you trust and a mindset that carries into every aspect of your life.
Andrew Blanco
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Certified Personal Trainer
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ViPR Pro Level 1
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StrongFirst Kettlebell Level 1 (SFG1)
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Precision Nutrition Level 1 (PN1)
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Boxing /Kickboxing coaching
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Pre & Post Natal Specialist
A personal trainer, actor, and professional wrestler, Andrew brings a unique blend of athletic performance, combat sports expertise, and coaching experience to every client he works with. With a competitive and coaching background in boxing, kickboxing, and Muay Thai, he understands the discipline, dedication, and mental resilience required to achieve peak performance both inside and outside the gym.
In addition to his combat sports experience, Andrew specializes in athletic performance, strength and conditioning, and behavior change coaching. His training philosophy focuses on helping clients build strength, improve movement quality, enhance performance, and develop sustainable habits that lead to long-term success. Whether working with athletes looking to gain a competitive edge or individuals seeking to improve their overall health and fitness, he tailors each program to the unique goals and needs of every client.
Committed to ongoing professional development, Andrew holds certifications in StrongFirst Kettlebell Level 1 (SFG1), Precision Nutrition Level 1 (PN1), and ViPR Level 1. By combining evidence-based training methods with practical coaching strategies, he empowers clients to build confidence, maximize their potential, and create lasting lifestyle changes.
Andrew is passionate about helping clients discover what they are truly capable of. Whether the goal is improving athletic performance, building strength, enhancing conditioning, or creating healthier habits, he is dedicated to providing the guidance, accountability, and support needed for lasting success. Seeing clients become stronger, more confident, and more resilient is what drives his passion for coaching.
Al Behar
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ISSA Certified Personal Trainer
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BCRPA Certified Fitness Leader
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SFB Bodyweight Instructor
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SFG Kettlebell Instructor
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Yin Yoga Certified
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Fitness Theory
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Weight Training
Al is a strength coach and personal trainer with a passion for helping people discover the strength that already exists within them. With a background in competitive football, Taekwondo coaching, and years of experience leading both individual and group training, he combines strength, mobility, balance, and conditioning to help clients become stronger, more capable versions of themselves.
Believing that fitness extends far beyond the gym walls, Al focuses on building resilience, confidence, and lifelong habits that support an active, fulfilling life. His coaching style is supportive, challenging, and rooted in the idea that true strength comes from developing both the body and the mind.
Whether working with beginners, active adults, or experienced lifters, Al is committed to helping every client move better, feel stronger, and unlock their full potential.
Julio Textor
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ACE Certified Personal Trainer
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Hypertrophy/Body Recomposition
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Boxing/Kickboxing coaching
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Habit Building/Lifestyle Coaching
An ACE Certified Personal Trainer and graduate of InfoFit Fitness College’s full-time Personal Training Diploma Program, Julio brings a strong foundation in exercise science, anatomy, fitness assessments, individualized program design, and hands-on coaching. His approach emphasizes proper movement mechanics, injury prevention, and sustainable progression, with a focus on helping clients build strong, functional bodies that support long-term health and overall quality of life.
A lifelong athlete, Julio played competitive soccer for 14 years at the HPL level and has extensive experience in combat sports, including boxing and kickboxing. He has also been dedicated to resistance training for the past eight years, developing a deep understanding of strength, performance, and physical transformation.
Having personally rehabilitated two patella injuries, Julio understands firsthand the impact that proper technique, structured programming, and consistent habits can have on recovery, performance, and longevity. His own fitness journey has also highlighted the powerful connection between physical and mental well-being, shaping a holistic coaching philosophy that extends beyond exercise alone.
Specializing in hypertrophy training, body recomposition, strength development, bodybuilding, boxing, and habit-based nutrition coaching, He is passionate about helping clients achieve lasting results. Whether the goal is building muscle, improving athletic performance, losing body fat, or creating healthier lifestyle habits, they are committed to providing the guidance, accountability, and support needed for success. Seeing clients become stronger, healthier, more confident, and capable in their everyday lives is what drives his passion for coaching.
Emma Bergeron
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ISSA Certified Personal Trainer
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ISSA Corrective Exercise Specialist
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Calisthenics Specialist
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Functional Fitness
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Flexibility & Mobility
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Lifestyle Coaching
Emma Bergeron grew up as a nationally ranked athlete, moving to the United States at 17 to pursue competitive show jumping. She represented Team Canada at the international level thrice, and still competes occasionally. With her athlete’s mindset and love for challenging herself, Emma found a passion for calisthenics in 2022.
Believing that control over your own body is the ultimate display of power and poise, Emma is a proponent of the wisdom to be found in the simplicity of ancient training techniques.
Upon experiencing such transformative personal empowerment through gaining strength, Emma felt a deep call to help others discover the same self confidence and self love that changed her life so drastically.
From 2022-2024 she gained immense experience working in a commercial gym space, learning how to be adaptable to individual client needs while finding the balance between her compassion for others, and challenging clients enough to drive adaption.
Working with a scoliotic curve and consequential imbalances inspired Emma to further educate herself on joint health, and how to move unimpeded and without pain. For this reason, her focus with clients is largely on quality of movement, and restoring the bodies natural resiliency and pliability.
With an uncanny love for the collective human race, Emma inspires and uplifts her clients with an exuberance and light that promotes a complete overhaul in mindset to one of positivity and hope.
Jerry Yu
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ACE Certified Personal Trainer
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ACE Fitness Nutrition Specialist
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Group Fitness Instructor
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Boxing/Kickboxing Instructor
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Black Belt (Kyokushin Karate)
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Brown Belt (Jiu Jitsu)
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Competitive Kickboxer
Jerry's fitness journey began at the age of 12, sparking a passion that led him to become an ACE-certified personal trainer and martial arts instructor with over five years of industry experience. After graduating from UBC with a bachelor's degree in Marketing, Jerry sought a career that merged his marketing background with his love for fitness, ultimately finding his dream role at VIP Fitness.
Jerry is a black belt in Kyokushin Karate, a brown belt in Jiu Jitsu, and a competitive kickboxer. He enjoys sharing his martial arts knowledge with the VIP Community. In his kickboxing classes, Jerry emphasizes fitness, coordination, flexibility, and practical self-defense techniques and combos, personalized to suit our members' varied needs. Whether you're starting your fitness journey or are an experienced athlete, Jerry is committed to helping you reach your goals and building a strong community at VIP Fitness.
Fluent in: English, Mandarin
Alex Montague
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B.SC. Kinesiology
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Registered Kinesiologist (UBC 2018)
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Canadian School of Osteopathy (year 5)
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ACSM Certified Personal Trainer
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Fascial Stretch Therapist (level 2)
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Functional and Recovery Specialist
Alex is a certified personal trainer with ACSM, a fascial stretch therapist, and a registered kinesiologist with BCAK. He graduated from UBC with his bachelors of kinesiology in 2015 and has been designing strength, weight loss, and corrective exercise programs for nearly five years.
Alex is skilled in assessing and correcting movement patterns, designing corrective exercise programs, muscle activation, bodybuilding techniques, and sports specific functional movement. Alex is currently a student of Osteopathy manual practice at the Candian School of Osteopathy.
He's a total "human body nerd" and loves to see clients succeed at whatever their goal may be. The puzzle of figuring out not only how to make the client move correctly, and overcome plateaus, but how to modify lifestyle habits and change the way they view food, exercise, and health is what makes him love his job so much.
(Not currently taking new clients)
Mark Krysko
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NAIT - Certified Personal Trainer
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Sports Nutritionist
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Muscle Mass & Strength Development
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Body Transformations & Fat Loss
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Functional Movement and Mobility Training
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High Intensity Metabolic Conditioning
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Muay Thai & Boxing Coaching
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Longevity & Vitality Optimization
Mark Krysko is a dynamic force in fitness, a NAIT-certified personal trainer, lifelong athlete, and professional stuntman in film and television. With over 20 years of coaching across Canada and 35+ years rooted in resistance training, Mark blends elite-level conditioning with functional movement mastery.
From athletes to everyday warriors, Mark delivers high-impact, personalized training. With a background spanning elite hockey, gymnastics, track, team sports, Muay Thai, and boxing, he brings a unique perspective on physical development, mental resilience, and performance, helping clients unlock their full potential.
His philosophy goes beyond aesthetics or athleticism; it’s an all-encompassing approach to optimal living—integrating strength, function, and sustainable lifestyle practices for lasting, positive change.
Mark’s coaching is intuitive, energized, and results-driven. With sharp attention to detail and motivating creativity,.
(Not currently taking new clients)
Katherine McElroy
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Certified Pilates Instructor
Katherine is a Mat Pilates Instructor originally from New Zealand with a passion for combining strength and mindful movement in every class. Her approach focuses on core connection, alignment, and intentional movement to support strength and mobility.
Whether clients are new to Pilates or have been practising for years, Katherine strives to create a supportive environment where participants feel both encouraged and challenged. She empowers people to move at their own pace while building confidence in their bodies. Her goal is for every client to leave class feeling stronger, more balanced, and more connected to their body.
Mackenzie Mancini
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Certified Yoga Instructor
Mackenzie is a certified yoga teacher with a background in psychology from SFU. She has a passion for yoga and mind-body connection.
Believing that yoga is more than just movement, she extends her knowledge to make yoga accessible to everyone. She is committed to creating inclusive, supportive spaces where every one, regardless of background or ability, feels welcomed and valued.
With a heart for teaching, psychology and a focus on well-being, Mackenzie hopes to inspire her students to embrace mindfulness, and approach the world with curiosity, slow down and enjoy the moment.
Giselle Quero
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Administrative Assistant
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Certified Personal Trainer
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Group Fitness Instructor
Giselle is a Vancouver-based trainer with a loud, lively, and bubbly personality that makes fitness feel fun and welcoming.
A former corporate designer turned NASM Certified Personal Trainer, she brings over 12 years of strength and endurance training experience and believes the body is a well-designed machine where every part matters.
Her approach focuses on teaching the why behind movement, helping clients build confidence both in and out of the gym. Passionate about breaking fitness myths, she creates a safe, supportive space where clients can grow physically, mentally, and emotionally—while embracing the process every step of the way.
Jodie Wong
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Studio Coordinator
With a background in studio coordination, Jodie brings a thoughtful and organized approach to creating smooth, welcoming experiences. She has a genuine love for movement - spanning yoga, pilates, strength training, and hiking, believing that true health is rooted in a holistic balance of mind, body, and lifestyle.
She’s passionate about fostering spaces that feel supportive, intentional, and community-driven, where people can feel their best and stay connected to their wellbeing.
Sara Shojaei
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Administrative Assistant
Sara is an Administrative Assistant with a background in education, holding a Master’s degree and experience as a teacher and Administrative Coordinator. She enjoys working in people-centered, wellbeing-focused environments, while staying connected to her passion for yoga and mindfulness.
After completing her yoga teacher training, she continues to practice and share it with others. She feels a strong connection to nature and believes in its healing power, seeing wellbeing as a balance of physical, mental, and spiritual health.
Lindsey Fanning
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General Manager, COO, Co-owner
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Yoga Instructor (RYT 200 Hour Hatha & Vinyasa)
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Advanced Vinyasa (RYT 100 hours)
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Vinyasa Certificate (50 hours)
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Yin Yoga Certificate (50 hours)
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Traditional Thai Yogic Massage (60 hours)
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Meditation Specialist (40 hours)
Lindsey is a dynamic and passionate professional dedicated to fostering wellness through fitness and mindfulness practices.
As the General Manager of VIP Fitness & Lifestyle, she brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the community. With a background in both management and yoga instruction, Lindsey seamlessly integrates fitness with mental well-being to create a supportive and empowering environment for all members.
After discovering the transformative power of yoga for herself, she became a certified yoga instructor, eager to share the benefits of this practice with others. Lindsey specializes in a range of yoga modalities including: Vinyasa; Hatha; Yin; and Pre Natal Yoga. She is passionate about offering an accessible practice for all experience levels.
Her classes are known for their emphasis on alignment, breathwork, and mindfulness, helping students to cultivate strength, flexibility, and inner peace.
With her unique blend of expertise, passion, and leadership, Lindsey is making a positive impact on the lives of countless individuals, empowering them to lead healthier, happier, and more fulfilling lives.
Phaedra Wright
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Founder, CEO, Co-owner
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BCRPA Certified Personal Trainer (2008)
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BCRPA Certified Group Fitness Trainer
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BCRPA Certified Weight Trainer
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Advanced Weight Training
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Sports Nutrition
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Functional Training Specialist
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Glute Training Specialist
With over 15 years in the fitness industry, Phaedra has built a reputation for turning passion into purpose—and helping others do the same. Her roots in competitive and professional dance laid the foundation for a lifelong love of movement, which evolved into a career in personal training, nutrition, and holistic wellness.
After years of working closely with clients, she realized true transformation goes beyond workouts. By integrating mindset coaching, recovery, and sustainable lifestyle practices, she began helping clients achieve results that actually last.
She launched her first training company in 2011, rebranded to VIP in 2015, and opened her flagship studio in 2018. Since then, she’s led an incredible team through challenge and change—navigating a global pandemic, scaling her brand, and continuing to evolve VIP into something more than a gym: a welcoming, inclusive space where people come to grow—physically and personally.
These days, you’ll find Phaedra coaching clients, mentoring her team, curating new wellness offerings, or hanging with her sidekick, Moons (the real boss around here).
She believes movement should feel good, growth should feel personal, and wellness should fit your real life.
Apply Today
We are always looking for all star talent! If you think you belong on team VIP, send us your resume!
HIRING
We are currently hiring for Group Fitness Instructors!
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