Chris Kirchoff

Chris Kirchoff grew up traveling all over the world. Her passion for fitness began as a young child playing ‘football' in Germany. As many young girls do, Chris also struggled with self esteem and body image. It was the mental and physical focus of athletics and fitness that helped build her self esteem and improve her overall mind, body and spirit.

Her experience in sport is as much ‘all over the map' as her childhood. Turning her passion for soccer into teaching she began coaching youth in US leagues. Chris attended the University of Washington and was an exchange student in Japan where she was on the cycling team and rode 560 miles across Japan. After receiving her master's degree in teaching she went on to teach Japanese, ESL, as well as World and American History in the Public high schools in the Seattle area. During that time she ran the Honolulu marathon and several half marathons, participated in sprint triathlons, rode in three century rides, played in the Washington State Women's Soccer Division 1 and continued to coach high school and premiere level soccer.

As a passionate fitness enthusiast Chris was excited when many of her students, players and colleagues approached her regarding their own health and fitness programs. She began reading and educating herself regarding health and fitness. That's when she asked herself ‘Wouldn't it be awesome if I could make a living designing fitness programs for people?”

In 2000 Chris left the public schools to continue her career in teaching in a different realm---in the world of personal training. She is an ACSM and NASM certified personal trainer. She is also a certified SPIN and FITBALL instructor and a USSF National “C” licensed youth soccer coach. Currently she also works for FreeMotion Fitness Inc.as the Western US Regional Education Coordinator writing programs and teaching.

As an educator, Chris believes in the process as well as the result. "A lot of fitness experts focus on technique," says Kirchoff. "That's important, but I think that's secondary. The first step is motivation. Technique means nothing without the mind-set." To that end, Chris tries to infuse a desire in people to want to get out there and exercise and improve their overall quality of life. Whether it's participating in a first triathlon or 5k run, dancing, hiking or swimming, Chris states that "After they get that fever, I work on their technique.

My passion is helping people. If I can show my clients what I learned when I was younger and how it changed my life, we both have been successful.

John Verd

John is a Northwest native, a personal trainer by education and works out because he loves to. His experiences have been varied; after high school, John served as a Diver in the US Navy and studied diving medicine at the NDSTC in Panama City, Florida. An avid cyclist, he started a cycling club while stationed in Norfolk, VA. In 1995 he rode his bicycle solo across the United States, Portugal, Spain, France and Italy. In 1998 he competed as a bodybuilder in the EAS Physique Transformation Challenge.

"That experience was a real eye-opener for me. I hired a personal trainer to get started, and I couldn't believe the difference it made. I'd worked out for years on my own, but never had anyone get me on a program and really push me. That girl really kicked my butt! In 14 weeks I gained 10 pounds of muscle and lost 7% bodyfat. That experience influenced me several years later when I was looking for a new career..."

John attended Ashmead College in Seattle and graduated with honors, the top of his class. He then went on to earn a certificate from the American College of Sports Medicine.

Although he enjoys adventurous sports like hang gliding, he is also down to earth and knows what it takes to set goals and achieve them. He has completed several triathlons and enjoys helping others achieve that same sense of accomplishment. His philosophy is to train smart and have fun. He has worked with clients of all ages and fitness levels and understands that enjoying a workout is equally important to preventing injuries. He encourages multiple modes of exercise and goal setting as tools for building a healthier life beyond the gym.

Adriana Allison

Adriana Allison is a graduate from Ashmead College and is a certified personal trainer through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). Adriana has worked in a few of Seattle’s great fitness club and is currently working at the Seattle Athletic Club Downtown. In addition to training one on one Adriana loves to train women’s groups and Boot Camp groups. Adriana has also been involved in Premier soccer since she was 13, currently playing on a Premier Co-Ed soccer team. She also enjoys rock climbing, squash, and power lifting. Adriana encourages people to make life changes and make exercise a part of every day life. She excels in motivating and coaching each of her clients to achieve their personal goals from weight loss to running half marathons. “With a little guidance and motivation the possibilities are endless.”

Slade O'Neill

Slade was born and raised in the small town of Ketchikan, AK. He has been around sports and exercise from the time he was an infant. “My dad gave me my first baseball glove when I was three years old. I believe I used that glove until I was about sixteen. Growing up on an island there isn’t much to do as a kid but play sports and do a lot of hiking and camping. Exercise and staying healthy wasn’t really a decision, it was more a way of life. I guess without even knowing it my path was chosen for me."

After graduating high school, Slade, like a lot of teenagers bounced around a bit from school to school. “ My first school was the University of Idaho. ( go Vandals!) I didn’t get much studying done but it is where I learned to love snowboarding.” Then Slade took a 2 month hiatus, travelling to Europe with his best friend Paul. Slade spent the majority of the time in Germany but traveled into France, Italy, and of course Switzerland where he did a bit of snowboarding. Eventually he ended up in Phoenix, AZ which is a whole different story. While in Phoenix Slade enrolled in a sports medicine program at Glendale Community College. He also met his future wife Maria, bartending at her family restaurant. He knew she was the one when on a whim they decided to go skydiving together after only their third date! To pass the time in the heat Slade played in a competitive slow pitch softball league and managed to squeeze in a wee bit of golf. Slade eventually ended up in Seattle where he had spent many summers as a kid traveling with his parents. While in Seattle he graduated from Ashmead Colleges fitness program. Slade is now on his way to becoming a leader in the fitness industry. “ Seattle is the perfect place for me. It is extremely similar to Ketchikan in environment. It has all the outdoor activities you could want plus the big city vibe that is right at your fingertips.” Slade continues his education with plans to get a degree in sports medicine.

Camy Cohen

Camy is a graduate of the fitness trainer program at Ashmead College and is certified through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA).  She grew up in Bremerton, Washington and is a self described "tomboy".  She excelled in various sports growing up and still participates in intramural leagues today.  Her approach to personal training relies heavily on variation.  She incorporates numerous forms of exercise into her programs to keep her clients stimulated and engaged.  "I have found boredom to be a major reason people will stop an exercise program.  I am here to make sure that does not happen."  We welcome Camy to Game Plan and know she will be successful in helping her clients reach their goals!

Charlene Powell

Charlene Powell has been practicing Yoga since 1988 and the Pilates Method since 1998. She recieved her Pilates Matwork certificate through Physicalmind Institute. Charlene is also an ACE certified personal trainer and AAFA certified Group Exercise Instructor.

Charlene majored in Human Movement Studies at Hunter College C.U.N.Y. to complement her interest in human health and the promotion of physical well being, with a holistic approach.

Through the years of developing practical teaching experience, Charlene also updates and refines her knowledge with continuing education courses in Anatomy and Physiology, Yoga teacher-training, Pilates apparatus and matwork, and Stability Ball conditioning.

Margaret Travaille

Margaret is a natural athlete who grew up playing many different sports. As a child her passions were swimming and tennis, competing by the age of eight. She quickly learned the importance of being a team player, the discipline it takes to train the body as well as the mind needed to compete. After Margaret was introduced to soccer, her passions for swimming and tennis were put aside and she began to train full time with the state team while playing with various select teams in California.

After a successful career playing youth soccer she went on to compete at the collegiate level while pursuing a BA in clinical and sports psychology. While studying psychology she began to develop an interest in women studies, as well as theology and combined the two for her minor.

“ I find that sports has always been male oriented. Women play and respond differently to coaching as well as how they play the game.” She took her passion for soccer to the next level and started coaching various types of teams. “I don’t know how it happened, but I was coaching under 10 girls, high school varsity, and an over 40’s league all at the same time. I had so much fun because I was constantly learning how to adjust my coaching to relate it to the different populations.”

Margaret reached a turning point in her career and decided to put her enthusiasm for training into action. She attended Ashmead College for fitness training and became certified through the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). She continues to work one on one with clients, teaching them the skills to live a healthy and active life. Teaching groups how to have fun and inspire one another to fulfill their dreams and goals of fitness is also a passion of Margaret’s.

Greg Lewis

Greg Lewis became a certified Personal Trainer with the American Council on Exercise shortly after graduating from the Fitness Trainer program at Ashmead College (Seattle,WA)in 2003, after an externship at the downtown Seattle 24 Hour Fitness, beginning in December, 2002.

He has been training in various fighting arts since 1978 and teaching since 1991.
Greg earned his 2nd degree black belt in Kenzen Karate in 2004, from Sensei Vernon Owens. Other arts studied include (but are not limited to) Western Boxing, Taekwon-do, Kickboxing, Wing Chun Kung-Fu, and Brazilian Jujitsu.

Greg has also served as event/door staff at various festivals and nightclubs in and around Seattle, WA., providing security at events such as Umoja Fest and the recent Massive Monkees Day B-Boy/B-Girl Celebration at the University of Washington.

Over the years, he's taught self-defense, violence-prevention, and anti-abduction courses for organizations, including Home Alive, University Family YMCA, Harmony House, African-American Heritage Museum and Cultural Center, Anti-Racist Action, A.P.O.C., and Seattle Public Schools/Seattle Parks and Recreation Department after school program.

Upcoming projects include: The official release of his new self-defense instructional video on dvd, "Controlled Chaos: Real Karate for the Real World.", featuring an all NORTHWEST hip-hop cast and soundtrack.