Personal Training

Meet Matt, our fitness director! He brings nearly a decade of experience in the industry prior to his arrival at the JCC in 2019, boasting a degree in kinesiology & exercise science and certifications from the NSCA, TRX, and NETA Kettlebell. Matt has all the tools to help you reach your fitness goals and a passion for guiding people on their journeys to feeling better than ever. You’ll find Matt overseeing our fitness center and personal training programs — stop by and say hello!

In addition to being our fitness engagement & Pilates manager, Deb is a NASM and TRX certified trainer who empowers her clients to adopt a functional approach to exercise and wellness. She focuses on helping clients set goals that best suit their lifestyles. Deb is passionate about helping individuals of all ages become stronger, improve their sense of well-being, and increase their quality of life.

Bryan is a seasoned personal trainer and coach, having been in the industry since 1990. He holds a bachelor’s in exercise physiology and a master’s in gerontology. Bryan’s training philosophy is centered on intelligent aging, focusing on posture, movement patterns, and injury rehabilitation & prevention. He stresses building a resilient body that can better recover and repair itself after surgery, accidents, and chronic issues — helping you maintain youthfulness and good health as you age.

Meet Jessie, a NASM certified personal trainer and PN1 certified nutrition coach. She is passionate about helping clients achieve their health and fitness goals by focusing on incremental changes and consistency. In her free time, she enjoys strength training, skiing, waterskiing, and cooking. Jessie grew up in Newton and lives in Needham with her husband and two children.

Marianne is a seasoned fitness pro with 40 years of dedication to strength training and wellness prior to her arrival at the JCC in 2019. As a personal trainer and wellness coach, she takes a holistic approach to training that addresses all aspects of a healthy lifestyle, including mental and emotional health, stress management, physical strength, nutrition, sleep, and spirituality. With a wide range of certifications from the ISSA (including Master Trainer, Corrective Exercise Specialist, senior fitness, group fitness, youth fitness, sports & nutritional, and strength & condition), she’s well-equipped to help you achieve your goals.

Meet Jen, an ACE and TRX certified personal trainer and experienced marathon runner with nine Boston Marathons under her belt. She believes in a holistic approach to fitness, using weight training, cross-training, and healthy eating to help clients reach their goals. Her positive attitude and step-by-step approach make her workouts enjoyable, whether in the gym or in her bootcamp classes. Jen is from Newton and lives in Needham with her two daughters.

Meet Michael, a certified personal trainer since 2002. His goal is to empower his clients to improve their quality of life through better fitness and a greater sense of self-worth. Michael prides himself on taking into account not just your goals and abilities, but your personality and interests, too. He has a wealth of experience working with clients of all ages and abilities, including those with special needs.

Meet Jeannine, a personal trainer and group fitness instructor who holds certifications from the AFAA, AAAI/ISMA, Institute of Human Performance, and Functional Movement Systems. She employs a functional approach to fitness, with an emphasis on balance and stability, and encourages her clients to make exercise an enjoyable and challenging experience. Jeannine lives in Framingham, and enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters.

Meet Joan, a veteran personal trainer who has been training folks at the JCC since 2003. She holds AFAA and FRA certifications in aerobics and personal training, as well as certifications in Spinning®, group fitness, and TRX. Joan helps clients of all ages and abilities achieve their fitness goals, favoring cross-training in her personalized workout plans. In her free time, Joan enjoys swimming and skiing, and is an avid runner, having completed more than 15 marathons and more than 15 half-marathons.

Meet Ana, a lifelong athlete with a passion for living healthfully and nutritiously. With a background in soccer and basketball, including collegiate-level play, Ana brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her role as a personal trainer. She holds a degree in health sciences and is certified through the AFAA. Ana enjoys cycling, hiking, and strength training.

Meet Jimmy, an ACSM and NSCA certified strength & conditioning specialist and exercise physiologist. Jimmy boasts a bachelor’s in kinesiology, and has experience working with clients of all ages. He focuses on designing safe and effective training programs to help you achieve your fitness goals, and has expertise in strength, wellness, injury prevention, and recovery.

Meet Roman, an expert in holistic health, kinesiology, and exercise physiology. Roman holds certifications from the ACSM and Israeli Wingate Institute as a personal, group, and youth trainer.

Petra is a seasoned fitness professional with decades of experience and a plethora of certifications. As a group fitness instructor, she is a master of many class formats, teaching classes like body sculpt, HIIT, barre, yoga, cycle, and more. Her expertise, dedication, and rigor make her one of the most sought-after instructors in the area.

Meet Linnea, a certified athletic trainer, wellness coach, and physical education teacher who holds personal training certifications from the AAAI/ISM and ACTION. Boasting a bachelor’s in athletic training and a graduate degree in nutrition sciences, she has loads of experience providing nutrition services and running training for clients of all ages and levels. Linnea has spent years coaching high school cross-country and track & field, and is a marathon and ultramarathon runner, having completed more than 20 marathons and more than 20 ultramarathons.

Meet Melissa, a certified personal trainer, TBMM Corrective Exercise Specialist, and NBC-HWC. Melissa has a degree in nutrition & psychology and experience in adaptive fitness. She takes a holistic approach to wellness, and is dedicated to helping her clients rediscover their inner strength and the pleasures of being active. Melissa has a wealth of experience in sports, including a black belt in Krav Maga. Her goal is to empower her clients to unlock their full potential, increase their confidence, and feel great about themselves.

As a certified personal trainer since 2007, Justin helps clients integrate fitness into their daily routine. He holds a certification from the NASM and a degree in health & human performance.

After a successful career in high-tech, John followed his passion and became a certified personal trainer and yoga instructor. Passionate about teaching HIIT classes, he also provides dryland training for the swim team at the JCC and coaches high school basketball. John spends his free time lifting weights, practicing yoga, and playing basketball. Outside the gym, he enjoys snowboarding, mountain biking, and hiking.

In addition to being our all-star fitness operations manager at the JCC, Annie is a certified personal trainer through the ACE and holds a degree in nutrition & wellness. She is passionate about sports and physical activity, and encourages regular exercise as an essential component of both mental and physical well-being. In her free time, Annie enjoys HIIT, strength training, and jogging outdoors.

Jiwen is a seasoned personal trainer with a wealth of experience since 2007. Holding a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology and an ACSM certification with a specialization in functional training and corrective exercise, he is dedicated to helping clients reach their highest fitness potential.

Margarita is a certified personal trainer who specializes in core strengthening, stability, flexibility, balance, and functional training. She boasts a degree in physical education and has experience working with individuals of all ages. Margarita’s achievements include being a rowing world champion in women’s doubles for the USSR in 1981 and holding the Masters 40+ age group record in the single at the Head of the Charles Regatta.