Saturday, November 2, 2024 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Visit spra.sk.ca for more information.
About SaskFit
The fitness industry is continually changing and evolving. To help you stay up to date with the most current information and trends, SPRA is pleased to offer the SaskMilk SaskFit Conference.
This event is held annually and is open to anyone who has an interest in fitness. To be eligible to provide instruction at various fitness facilities across the province, SPRA Fitness Leaders are required to earn Continuing Education Credits (CECs). By attending the SaskMilk SaskFit Conference, you can earn CECs, as well as have an opportunity to learn about the latest fitness trends and network with colleagues.
By necessity, the conference was held online during the pandemic, which came with the unexpected benefits of reaching leaders who would otherwise be unable to attend, eliminating travel costs, and avoiding the risk of driving in stormy or icy conditions. Those perks were so popular, we’ve decided the SaskMilk SaskFit Conference will continue to be held online.
Schedule at a Glance
Time Sessions
8:00 a.m. – 8:10 a.m. Welcome to SaskMilk SaskFit
8:10 a.m. – 9:25 a.m.
9:40 a.m. – 10:40 a.m.
Maeve McKinnon
Keynote Session Thriving on the Edge of Chaos: Workplace Wellness Reimagined
Robin O’Grady
Session #1 Best Practices for Modifying & Progressing Exercise
Caitlin Doyle
10:50 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Session #3 An Additive Approach to Nutrition
Brooke Bulloch
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Lunch
1:00 p.m. – 2:10 p.m.
Session #4 Hip Hip Hooray: Yoga & the Hips
Lisa Workman
2:25 p.m. – 2:40 p.m. SPRA Update
2:40 p.m. – 3:40 p.m.
Session #2 Kickboxing 101
Daniela Tempesta
3:50 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Maeve McKinnon
Session #6 Self-Esteem & Body Image
Christina Truscott
Session #7 Engaged, but Not Married
Daniela Tempesta
Session #5 Hardwired 2.0: Discover Your Movement Potential
Avery Van Blaricom
Session #8 Aging Gracefully
Christina Truscott
Session Descriptions
Keynote Session: 8:10 a.m. – 9:25 a.m.
Thriving on the Edge of Chaos: Workplace Wellness
Reimagined
PRESENTER: ROBIN O’GRADY
In the midst of hectic schedules, wellness often takes a backseat. Robin challenges the notion that we can’t fit wellness into our lives. Learn how to seamlessly integrate wellness into your daily routine and enhance peace and productivity. Addressing mind, body, and soul, discover simple daily tasks to boost wellness without sacrificing productivity. If you are ready for a transformative shift in your workplace –decreasing stress while increasing productivity – this session is your key to balance.
Session #1: 9:40 a.m. – 10:40 a.m.
Best Practices for Modifying and Progressing Exercises
PRESENTER: CAITLIN DOYLE
Unlock the power of exercise modifications in this dynamic session designed to elevate your training arsenal and enhance client outcomes. A trainer’s proficiency in adapting exercises through regressions and progressions is a cornerstone skill when catering to diverse populations. Join us as we explore the variables that can influence exercise selection.
You’ll gain insights into the variables influencing regressions and progressions, empowering you to tailor exercises to meet the unique needs and abilities of your clients. From foundational movements to advanced techniques, you’ll discover practical tools and strategies for adapting exercises across various modalities and movement patterns.
Session #2: 9:40 a.m. – 10:40 a.m. Kickboxing
PRESENTER: DANIELA TEMPESTA
Elevate your cardio kickboxing class through proper kicking and punching techniques. Then, learn how to safely implement combos designed to get the heart rate high and the class energy even higher – this workshop is sure to pack a punch!
Session #3: 10:50 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
An Additive Approach to Nutrition
PRESENTER: BROOKE BULLOCH
Brooke Bulloch, Registered Dietitian and owner at Food to Fit Nutrition, explores why moving away from blame, shame, and restriction is key to improving more sustainable health-promoting behaviours around food. She will guide you through concepts and components of an additive approach to nutrition with practical examples. You will build practical skills and tips on how to turn meal planning into a quick and easy process.
Session #4: 1:00 p.m. – 2:10 p.m.
Hip Hip Hooray: Yoga and the Hips
PRESENTER: LISA WORKMAN
Let’s get excited about all the movement patterns the hips do in yoga! With movement through all planes of motion, this multifunctional joint is fundamental to many asanas. Let’s get your clients moving better through their hips so that they get the best possible practice on the mat. Explore movement and functional anatomy as Lisa delves into the connection of the femur to the pelvis. It’s sure to be a good time! Session #5: 1:00
HardWired
2.0 – Discover Your Movement Potential
PRESENTER: AVERY VAN BLAIRCOM
The human body is intricately built and capable of performing amazing feats. However, understanding the body, while fascinating, can be increasingly frustrating. With the complexity of the human body, trying to connect the dots can be extremely overwhelming. There are many different variations of movement that we can perform based on fundamental human patterns. Before we can achieve any of these potential capabilities, we must first understand how to control what we have available to us through biology, giving us the ability to generate both optimal and efficient movement.
HardWired 2.0 works by learning to control our bodies from the inside out, simplifying movement and resulting in increased confidence and ability. These principles of movement continue to help not only myself, but also hundreds of clients who continue to climb toward their full potential. Movement does not need to be difficult or overly complicated. We are designed to move the way we do for a reason; learning to use our bodies to their full potential is a powerful thing.
Session #6: 2:40 p.m. – 3:40 p.m.
Self-Esteem and Body Image
PRESENTER: CHRISTINA TRUSCOTT
“Love yourself first and everything else falls into line.” Lucile Ball
If you have ever struggled with self-esteem or body image issues, or train clients who do, this workshop addresses what causes negative body image and what to do to change your thinking. We’ll take a look at intrinsic and extrinsic factors that affect our psyche. We’ll also discuss compliments and criticism, what “esteem” is and how it can affect us, as well as the big ego vs. the strong ego.
This workshop will hopefully help you feel more successful and more positive about yourself.
Session #7: 3:50 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Engaged, but Not Married
PRESENTER: DANIELA TEMPESTA
Building rapport with clientele takes patience, persistence, and time. However, it’s imperative to create boundaries between teacher and student, leader and learner. This lecture will explore how to create healthy relationships with your participants in a way that is respectful and compassionate to all involved.
Session #8: 3:50 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Aging Gracefully
PRESENTER: CHRISTINA TRUSCOTT
This workshop covers what aging is, how it occurs, cellular damage, changes to the cardiovascular, respiratory, and muscular system, and bones (and how to prevent osteoporosis). We will cover ageism and how to recognize it, the effect on an older adult, and how to deal with it. You will learn about social support, exercise, strength training, and cardiovascular training, which all have an effect on aging. And finally, we will cover how to understand what is happening to the aging body and how to help people learn to love themselves.
“I don't want to complain about what wasn’t or worry about what will happen. For the time I have left, I will simply love life as I have done it to this day.” Judy Dench
Presenters (In order of appearance)
Robin O’Grady
Robin is an international speaker, fitness industry leader, and corporate culture specialist. She is dedicated to empowering individuals and organizations to achieve attainable wellness goals, leading to a sustainable workplace culture. She delivers simple strategies and actionable tools that make wellness achievable for everyone. Robin’s dynamic presentations are tailored for businesses in need of revitalizing their culture, boosting employee engagement, and reigniting team motivation and productivity. She is also known as a trusted educator for fitness professionals seeking to enhance their skills and knowledge and grow their own businesses.
As the founder of O’Grady Consulting, Robin brings a wealth of experience to her speaking engagements, drawing from her diverse energy and uplifting stories, leaving audiences with renewed vigor and a renewed sense of purpose. Outside her professional pursuits, Robin finds joy in dancing, group fitness, aerial arts, and just for fun, doing handstands. Based in Calgary along with her husband and two boys, she embodies the balance of a thriving personal life alongside her dedication to helping others thrive in theirs.
Caitlin Doyle
Caitlin Doyle, hailing from Nova Scotia roots, now calls Fredericton, New Brunswick, home. With over a decade of experience in the world of health and wellness, Caitlin has enjoyed a career in educating others through exercise and healthy behaviours. Currently working as a Clinical
Exercise Physiologist with UNB Reds Recreation in Fredericton, she specializes in working with older adults and adults with chronic health conditions in an exercise setting.
On top of leading programs at UNB, Caitlin works as a Contract Academic Instructor with UNB Kinesiology, a CEP with the EXCEL research project on cancer and exercise, and an instructor for the Older Adult Fitness Leader Course with Fitness New Brunswick. Caitlin’s passion for her career shines through in her work.
Daniela Tempesta
Daniela’s extensive background in dance has led to a successful 23year career in the fitness industry. Her focus is on education and instructor development through courses (American Council on Exercise’s Group Fitness Course), workshops, and mentorship. She is an ACE-Certified Fitness Instructor and a BCRPA Trainer of Fitness Leaders and Personal Trainer. Her Bachelor's specialization is in Kinesiology, Sociology, and Gerontology (one of her favourite demographics to work with). Dani has extensive experience in article writing, presenting, and studio management. Through a foundation in anatomy, she encourages self-inquiry and connectedness, leaving students feeling balanced in body, mind, and spirit. She is a BCABBA Fitness Tall champion, fitness model, and international presenter (SCW Mania Boston, IDEA World Fitness Convention Los Angeles, canfitpro, BCRPA BCFit, Manitoba Fitness Council, Nelson Fitness Forum). Dani is one of Canada’s Top Fitness Instructors of 2021 and 2019 by IMPACT Magazine. If you know Dani, you know you’re getting an authentic, joyful encounter peppered with much laughter! And if you don’t know her, she can’t wait to formally meet you!
Brooke Bulloch
Brooke Bulloch is a Registered Dietitian and CEO at Food to Fit Nutrition. She earned a BSc in Nutrition from the University of Saskatchewan and her work experience began with the Saskatoon Health Region in 2009.
Brooke has been working in private practice since 2012, and today her practice is comprised of a team of dietitians and a social worker. With offices in both Saskatoon and Regina, Brooke and her team support clients in person and online throughout the province.
Brooke is an experienced media spokesperson and has been working with media since 2011. She has been a guest on CBC and CKOM radio and has been published in The Globe and Mail, Huffington Post, Canadian Living, Chatelaine, Cottage Life Magazine, and Inside Fitness to name a few. Since 2019, Brooke has been contributing content for Co-op’s in-store Table Magazine and their online blog. She has been delivering food, nutrition, and health messaging on Global News and CTV News for over 12 years.
Brooke is an advocate for health equity, social justice, and inclusive healthcare practice. She dedicates much of her time to learning, listening, and advocating for change.
As a working mom and business owner, Brooke values simplicity and sustainability in nutrition planning, along with a curious and flexible non-diet approach to food and eating.
Lisa Workman
With an impressive 23 years of experience, Lisa has earned her stripes as an international awardwinning clinical exercise physiologist. But don’t let her accolades fool you – she’s as down-to-earth as they come! Lisa’s journey began at the University of Alberta, where she earned her Bachelor of Physical Education and Masters of Arts (Physical Education) degrees. She dove headfirst into the world of physical activity and health, and she’s been making waves ever since. With a genuine passion for physical activity and health, Lisa firmly believes that staying active is a key ingredient in the recipe for preventive medicine and managing chronic diseases. She’s like a walking encyclopedia of wellness wisdom! For more information about Lisa, visit www.lisaworkman.com.
Avery Van Blaircom
Growing up, Avery played elite minor junior hockey and baseball. After his career as an athlete came to a close due to injuries, he diverted his competitive energy into challenging himself physically and mentally. He was hooked! Physical fitness was now his passion,
which led him to pursue an education at the U of S and receive Bachelor degrees in Kinesiology and Education. His personal fitness journey started as most do, following in the path of Arnold in the gym, training like a bodybuilder, and competing in physique shows. Extreme competitions can have negative consequences due to the nature of the training, which left his body feeling beat up and worn out. He didn’t feel like setting foot in the gym; cue his functional fitness journey!
ProActive Fitness, a functional aging studio in Saskatoon, provided him with his first career opportunity to explore the functional fitness world and, as a result, his understanding of movement grew immensely. Avery believes that it is very important to practice what we preach. We must continue to learn from not only other professionals, but also from ourselves and our own bodies. Avery developed HardWired from over a decade of personal and client experience, and wealth of knowledge gained through continued education.
Christina Truscott
Christina Truscott is the founder and CEO of Body Blueprint Fitness Education. She started teaching fitness classes in 1982 and worked as the program director/ manager at a fitness club in Victoria for 23 years. Her passion for
fitness and her energetic nature led her to excel in the field; she went on to be awarded the Health and Fitness Award on Vancouver Island and the Woman of Distinction for Health and Fitness. She was the keynote speaker for the Osteoporosis Association of Canada and was a guest trainer of fitness leaders in many countries in the Caribbean.
In 1986, Christina founded Body Blueprint Fitness Education. Since that time, she has taught thousands of students across five continents, and trained fitness professionals to become personal trainers, group fitness instructors, older adults instructors, aqua fitness instructors, and weight room attendants. She is the author of over 80 workshops and five course manuals used for continuing education and certification, and to teach fitness courses. Christina’s course materials have been used by colleges, universities, and several Fitness Leader Associations in Canada, as well as by the RCMP. Her commitment to the fitness industry, her knowledge, and her dynamic and entertaining style make her seminars and courses enjoyable and informative.
Christina is still teaching the courses to spread her knowledge to aspiring fitness leaders across the country. She enjoys spending time with her husband, daughters, grandchildren, and three dogs, while of course making time to garden in her beautiful backyard.
MILK : AN EXCELLENT SOURCE OF PROTEIN
BONUS: MILK ALSO CONTAINS 14 ADDITIONAL ESSENTIAL NUTRIENTS!*
8g Protein per 250ml
*Canadian Food Inspection Agency. 2016. Specific nutrient content cliam requirements.