Personal Training

Steven has long been involved in sports and fitness. He dedicated his high school years to playing football, soccer, and participating in weightlifting competitions. He now dedicates his life to learning and teaching the importance of exercise and nutrition to everyone he meets. His passion for fitness has taken him far in his career of personal training. A graduate of the American Academy of Personal Training, Steven has taken his clients to another level of fitness and healthy lifestyle choices. He is known for intense calisthenics and sports training.

After graduating from SUNY Albany in 2011, Akeem left the office work behind soon after to pursue his passion in fitness and working one-on-one with clients/athletes. He focuses on building clients’ strength and flexibility through safe and periodized training programs. Akeem tailors every client’s training and recovery program to fit into their current lifestyle and current fitness. He also takes into account client injuries to rehab and “pre-hab” appropriately. Akeem keeps his athletes engaged in their own wellness and betterment to ensure solid results. The goal of every session is to learn and have fun!

Kira is a NASM-certified personal trainer and NASM-certified nutrition coach with a holistic approach to fitness and wellness. After suffering from a chronic running injury, Kira became a trainer to learn more about strength, mobility and comprehensive training and share it to help others. Kira is also passionate about mental health and healthy eating/cooking. In addition to training at the JCC, she is pursuing a Ph.D. in counseling psychology at Fordham University. She also utilizes her nutrition coaching background as a private (healthy and kosher-focused) chef for individuals, families and events. Kira believes that an integrated approach to training that encompasses all facets of wellness is essential for a physically and mentally healthy life.

Ms. Espel was most recently the Fitness and Programming Director at the world renown Pritikin Longevity Center in Miami, FL. She has her master’s degree in Exercise Science and Nutrition from Columbia University. Ms. Espel was awarded Program Director of the Year by the International Dance and Exercise Association (IDEA) as well as years of industry recognition for expertise in all things exercise as a media spokesperson. With over 30 years of fitness and wellness industry leadership, she is back in NY and eager to renew her connections with colleagues and friends

Jeanene has been a Personal Trainer privately for the past 3 decades. She is excited to bring her passion for fitness and integrating it with Body-Mind wellness to meet the needs of members here at the JCC. As a Physical Therapy Assistant, her specialty is hands-on rehabilitative exercise and Holistic Biomechanics with a focus on injury prevention, strength conditioning and balance. She incorporates functional training with a variety of movement methods including MELT, Yoga, Qi Gong and Cranio-Sacral Therapy. Jeanene's clients affectionately refer to her as "one-stop shopping".

Jay is a Certified Personal Trainer focusing on overall health and wellness, body mechanics, strength training, conditioning, core training, and rehabilitation. Jay’s training style focuses on the basics and key fundamentals. He believes that his clients' success is his success. With patience, a breadth of industry knowledge, and experience as a former athlete, Jay gives purpose and meaning to every session.

Clayton has been training, inspiring, motivating athletes, students, and gym members for 30 years. His dedication is infectious and successful and delivers impressive results. As a Gray Institute, GIFT Fellow, Clayton has studied, learned, and developed professionally with the most innovative, authentic and renowned physical therapists, athletic trainers, and personal trainers in the world. Clayton’s love of sports and fitness has taken him, as an athlete and coach, to hundreds of fields, courts, and swimming pools around the US and Europe. Whether you want to improve your golf game, or increase your flexibility and strength for triathlons or playing with the kids or grandchildren, Clayton will help you achieve your goal. Clayton enjoys improving the many acquired habits the body has obtained after several years of screen time. Clayton’s motto is “everyone is an athlete!”

After a 30 year career in the performing arts, Jonathan decided to transition into the Health & Wellness space shortly after beginning to compete as a Masters athlete in road racing and track & field. Foremost in his mind was a desire to leverage what he was learning while working with his own coach in service to the community at large, helping people live longer and better lives through exercise. He has been a 4x NYRR Runner of the Year, 2x USATF Masters Long Distance Athlete of the Year, & Running Times Honorable Mention Age Group Athlete of the Year, as well as being an intercollegiate Ultimate athlete, avid skier & biker. Jonathan is comfortable utilizing many different exercise modalities, and working with a wide range of ages & levels of fitness, from teens to seniors, both one-on-one & in a class setting.

Rizel comes from the corporate background working for law firms in NYC. With a passion for health and fitness Rizel received her certification from Mary Mount College. She has been training for 15 years with experience in weight loss, weight maintenance, strength training and overall wellness. Rizel utilizes her extensive fitness background to help members achieve a more healthy and productive lifestyle through her personal training. She truly enjoys helping people achieve their fitness goals and feel better about themselves. She strive to give 110% to each individual making sure they walk out of their session (The JCC) feeling excellent. I believe in my clients when they are feeling at their lowest and do not believe in themselves. SO TO HEALTH AND FITNESS, MAY WE ALL LIVE LONGER. LET’S TRAIN. CAN’T IS NOT IN MY VOCABULARY.

While Carol was working in the business world for 40 years, she was keeping active in her modern-jazz, ballet and Pilates classes. This evolved into Carol’s “gym fanatic” phase, meeting each morning with her “gym fanatic” buddies in classes or on the gym floor. When the 40 years in business finally came to an end, Carol enjoyed working with her elderly Dad, making sure he was getting the most out of his rehab programs. Carol found her new home in a full time personal training class where she naturally fell into the roll of the class’ “active ager”, better known as “senior”! The body is an amazing machine that needs to remain active and strong and she loves helping people be their best strong selves.

After years spent training at commercial establishments, Natasha is delighted to be part of the warm and welcoming fitness community at the JCC. Natasha was a JCC kid growing up in Westchester, and is a graduate of Mount Holyoke College (B.A. in cultural anthropology) and Sarah Lawrence College (MFA in nonfiction writing). he discovered her love of fitness by studying how calisthenics, anthropological bodybuilding fieldwork, and powerlifting could help enhance her skills in dance and martial arts. She now enjoys using those modalities to keep her clients pain-free, self-sufficient, and ready to take on the world, just as they take command of their bodies.

Frances comes from a professional dance background and is originally from Los Angeles, where she earned her B.F.A. in dance from California State University at Long Beach. She has been performing and dancing for over 20 years, and teaching dance and movement since 1987. Her personal and professional philosophy focuses on balancing body, mind and spirit through the creative connection of movement, exercise, holistic health, personal empowerment and supportive community. She often employs a variety of training techniques when working with clients. Each session is tailored to the client’s specific needs and goals. She works with a wide range of clients, from teens to older adults, post rehabilitating after illness or injury, pre/postnatal clients, and those wanting to lose weight or simply feel better and more energized.