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MARIA
BODYBUILDING
IFBB Nationally Qualified Bikini Competitor
BC Cup Natural Championships 2018 – Silver Medalist *1st show
Van Pro Qualifier 2018 – Bronze Medalist
PERSONAL TRAINER CERTIFICATION American Council on Exercise
EMERGENCY FIRST AID/AED LEVEL 3 Red Cross
SPORTS CONDITIONING SPECIALIST PROGRAM American Council on Exercise
LEVEL 1 TWIST SPORTS PERFORMANCE ESSENTIALS: SPORT CORE American Council on Exercise
LEVEL 1 TWIST SPORTS PERFORMANCE ESSENTIALS: SPORT STRENGTH CHEST & BACK American Council on Exercise
LEVEL 1 TWIST SPORTS PERFORMANCE ESSENTIALS: SPORT STRENGTH LEGS & SHOULDERS American Council on Exercise
ABC (AGILITY, BALANCE, COORDINATION) FITNESS TRAINING SPECIALIST American Council on Exercise
FITNESS PROFESSIONALS’ GUIDE TO SPORTS NUTRITION & WEIGHT MANAGEMENT American Council on Exercise
PERIODIZATION OF STRENGTH TRAINING Human Kinetics
FUNDAMENTALS OF COACHING BEHAVIOUR CHANGE SPECIALIST PROGRAM American Council on Exercise
SIZE INCLUSIVE TRAINING ACADEMY FITNESS SPECIALIST PROGRAM American Council on Exercise
VEGAN / PLANT-BASED lifestyle & nutrition coaching
BACHELOR OF ARTS philosophy major, UBC
SELF-MANAGED FITNESS TRAINING since 2004
SPECIALIZATIONS
High-Intensity Fat Loss
Total Body Strengthening
Functional Training
Physique Sculpting
Bodybuilding
Athletic Conditioning
Postural Correction
Healthy Lifestyle Coaching
Mindset + Self-Empowerment
Philosophy of Fitness + Training
Maria
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TIA
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SOPHIE
PERSONAL TRAINER CERTIFICATION ISSA
CPR/FIRST AID ISSA
FITNESS THEORY 1 InfoFit
MINDFULNESS MEDITATION Open Path Collective
NUTRITION AND EXERCISE Open Path Collective
- SCAR RELEASE TREATMENT MSTR
SPECIALIZATIONS
Total Body Strengthening
Bikini Bodybuilding
Strength Training
Body Recomposition
Healthy Lifestyle Coaching
Postural Correction + Alignment
Injury Recovery
Mindset + Mindfulness
Hello, my name is Sophie Gillett, aka. @surgery2strong from Vancouver BC, Canada. Living on the West Coast, I have always been drawn to the ocean and mountains – which unfortunately lead to my accident in 2014. In the blink of an eye I incurred a life-threatening fall while snowboarding, which rushed me into emergency surgery. I ended up with 35% of my pancreas (a critical organ in our digestive system) removed.
Waking up to nine tubes coming out of my body and a 5-inch vertical scar down my stomach left me with not only physical trauma, but mental trauma as well to overcome.
In the hospital I made a promise to myself to get STRONG, dedicating the next five years in pursuit of this goal. I chose to focus on holistic practices to help myself recover from an intense abdominal procedure along with being diagnosed with PTSD. I have done all my own physical and mental training to avoid prescription drugs and therapy. Recovering has truly shown me the benefits and importance of what an active lifestyle, healthy choices, and determined mindset can achieve.
I started sharing this journey of recovery on Instagram, which allowed me to connect with the fitness and mindfulness communities in Vancouver and find and motivate others in similar situations!
Now as a personal trainer I hope to use my experience and knowledge to help build the strongest you!
Read the full story about my accident in the Daily Mail
Instagram @surgery2strong
Maria
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TIA
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HENRY
PERSONAL TRAINING CERTIFICATION ISSA
STRENGTH & CONDITIONING ISSA
FIRST AID & CPR Intensive Care First Aid
SPECIALIZATIONS
Sports-Specific Training
Athletic Performance
Teen + Kids Sports Training
Strength Training
Bodybuilding
Form + Technique Correction
Joint Mobility
Calisthenics
Postural Realignment
Weight Loss
Physical Rehab + Prehab
Hi! My name is Henry and I am a strength & conditioning coach here at Tribe. I started my fitness journey when I was only 11 years old, when my dad brought me a pair of dumbbells. I have been self-taught throughout my journey, but was very fortunate to have been taken under the wing of 1983 Mr Canada, Steve Keesa, at the age of 17 years old. I thank Steve for pushing me and showing me excellent technique and form. He helped me reach new heights in my own training regimen as I progressed throughout my training journey.
I started personal training/coaching because I wanted to help clients to become the best versions of themselves, and also educate everyone about better quality of life. Fitness is a lifelong journey and it’s benefits are unlimited. Stay fit and stay strong!
Instagram @trainwithhen
Maria
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TIA
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TRIBE Origins
MARIA’S STORY
I moved from Hong Kong to Vancouver when I was one. Like all Chinese kids, honour roll status was a must. The only in my grad class to score 100% on the English provincial, I went straight to UBC and left with a Bachelor’s in philosophy. My critical thinking skills were honed to a fine science, but no career awaited.
I could debate, research, and analyze, but finding a career I could be fulfilled by? I bounced from job to job, industry to industry.
A few years later I bit the bullet and enrolled in a documentation specialist program at BCIT. Midway through, I landed my first full-time as a technical editor. I’d always enjoyed editing anyway. I was set!
Reality check. I spent 9 to 12 hours a day behind a desk, stressed to the max. “Sedentary” is defined as sitting — to me, it meant a slow death. Stagnating in a chair, tissues deforming, leaving work exhausted to drive 2 hours in gridlock home. Three or four more decades of this?!
Thankfully for my health, my happy hours were spent cradling dumbbells, not beers. My therapy for the extreme stress was the gym. Training alleviated my carpal tunnel and hip injuries. My workouts were immensely healing and precious.
I knew I wasn’t the only one whose body was becoming damaged by our modern day lifestyle. How could I help others?
A year and a half in, I decided to switch to the health and fitness industry. I left editing immediately after earning my PT certification. Leaving a stable salary, job security… to start afresh in an industry known for high turnover? My poor mom was worried sick! But I decided it was too important not to, in today’s era of mounting dis-ease.
I made this vow to myself: I WOULD NEVER WORK FOR SOMEBODY AGAIN.
Now I will dedicate my life to bettering others so they can become their BEST VERSION by strengthening the body, mind, and spirit through positive challenge, nourishing food, and unwavering belief.
I made the exhilarating decision to leap into the entrepreneurial fray in the summer of 2014. I created Tribe Fitness in December.
I’ve since helped hundreds of clients lose up to 100+ pounds and reverse ‘obese’ body compositions to ‘fit and healthy’. Alleviate chronic issues that worsen quality of life. Achieve a body that they feel comfortable living in.
I’ve repeatedly witnessed the spark ignite in those who believe themselves beyond hope but are then proven WRONG.
GOING VEGAN
In September 2015, I met an activist who would become my catalyst for change. I’d already cut out meat from my cooking years ago, but I still subscribed to the “clean protein” myth of sashimi and eggs. Some days I’d eat 4 eggs! His social media posts deeply resonated with my heart. What we eat literally makes us who we are. And I was fuelling my body with decayed flesh that had suffered so much.
I then made my second vow: I WILL RESPECT ALL LIFE AND MINIMIZE THE HARM I DO
Switching to vegan was one of my best life decisions EVER.
For the first two months, the word I kept gravitating to was BUOYANT. I felt weightless. A beautiful glow radiated from everything. I felt at peace and joyful like never before.
My immune system has been superhuman ever since. No inflammation anywhere. Everything runs like clockwork: digestion, menstrual cycle, mental clarity, emotional well-being. My recovery from training is lightning quick. Injuries take a fraction of the time to heal. When I sprained my ankle, I was back on the treadmill in 3 days! It felt like I’d unlocked a new level of physical, emotional, and spiritual alignment.
Now I help people transition to mindful health-conscious eating. Clients who’ve made the switch all tell me they feel lighter, healthier, and stronger!
Training with Maria was one of the best decisions I have ever made. She is one of the most experienced and committed female trainers around. Although I only train with her once a week, I have already learned so many techniques. KENDY
You are the best trainer that I have met. You care about every client and you try your best to push the limit on us. Sometimes I don’t feel like going, but every time after I had the session with you, I wanna come again. It’s really magic! LOTUS
Apart from you being a kick ass trainer. I’ve really enjoyed meeting some of the fellow gym goers and getting to know them. That’s another reason I renewed. ANNA
Before meeting Maria, I was very nervous about getting a personal trainer, but one session with her and I was hooked! She is an extremely positive, enthusiastic and passionate person, who actually cares about your progress. In the 6 weeks that I have been training with Maria, I have lost almost 7 lbs and 6% body fat. SALIMA