Fitness and Weight Loss Trainers
Meet your fitness trainers!
​Each of our trainers has different experience, specialties or areas of interest, which gives you options when selecting the best trainer in Naperville to help you reach your goals. Selecting a fitness trainer is as important as deciding whether to do one-on-one or group training or selecting a weight loss program or some other class. ​
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All trainers have certifications from the leading strength and conditioning academies and set the standard in the club industry with continuing education and professional development.​
Carla Linder-Mayer
Philosophy​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
I believe that everyone's "reality" is different and my job as a trainer is to help each client reach their personal goals whether it is to run a marathon or get down on the floor to play with their kids or grandchildren. There is not "one size fits all" when it comes to nutrition or physical activity. Getting to know my clients helps me work with them to set each of their goals based on their individual lifestyle and desired levels of change.
Certification​​​​​​​​​​
National Association of Sports Medicine, 2009
Personal Training Style​​​​​​​​​​
Fitness is not something that comes naturally to me. About 6 years ago, I lost 125 pounds and realizing the positive effects that my lifestyle change made on me both physically and emotionally, I chose to make a mid-life career change that would allow me to work with individuals to help them realize their own "realities"! I love what I do!!
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Favorite Pastime​​​​​​​​​​
I enjoy biking, hiking and spending time with friends and family......especially my new grandson!!!
Catharine Zelonis
Philosophy​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
Being mindful of each client's level of stress both mentally and physically comes into play with each training session. If I can be in tune with their body's strengths and weaknesses I can train them effectively.
Education​​​​​​​​​​
NASM Certified Personal Trainer since 1993
Numerous continuing education classes including: Functional Training, Stability Ball, BOSU, Plyometrics
Personal Training Style​​​​​​​​​​
Evaluating each client prior to training is vital in order to determine how to train them effectively and efficiently. Each session should be a learning experience for the client and well as fun. The ultimate goal is to educate clients about their body and how it can operate at its best.
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Favorite Communication Tool​​​​​​​​​​
I communicate best with my clients by listening to what their body and mind tells them about each session.
Favorite Pastimes​​​​​​​​
I am an avid gardener and love being outside. I enjoy long bike rides with my husband, long walks with good friends, watching movies, playing with our cat and watching the birds at our birdfeeder.
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Note from Catharine:​​​​​​​​​​
I have been training at Reality Fitness since 2000. Formerly trained 11 years at Four Lakes Athletic Club where I got certified by National Academy of Sports Medicine in 1993. Previous to 1993, I taught fitness classes since 1985. The privacy of the training rooms for me makes our training sessions all about our clients.
My passion is to help our clients learn how to work their body to their ability and to reach their goals. I enjoy helping clients who have finished with their rehab from surgery (hips, knees, etc.) to seniors wanting to keep moving.
I am currently working on my senior fitness specialist credentials through NASM. I love to ride bikes, play disk golf with my husband, gardening, going to the movies and eating.
Marge Lyse
Philosophy
"Don't let your mind talk your body out of doing it"Fitness is 80% mind over body and we can think of every excuse not to follow our road to health. Believing in ourselves gives us the inner power to achieve the impossible. I know...I did it! I believe personal Training is just that....personal. Everyone has their own goals and can conquer their fears. There's nothing generic about your fitness routine. The goal of my training is to train "from the inside out" From nutrition, to imbalances to strengths. Fitness should be fun but should be viewed as a lifestyle not a passing phase. "If you don't take care of your body now, where will you live later?"
Certifications
National Association of Sports Medicine, 2014
TRX, Kettle bell
Training Style
My training is simple. Correct Form and Fun. Everything can be turned into an exercise. I learned that when I started my weight loss journey 13 years ago. After losing 212 lbs I knew the only way to stay healthy was to stay active. My training can include anything from dumbbells, to kettle bells to exercise machines to park benches to bottles of water for weight. If you use it in your daily life I can incorporate it into your training session.
Favorite Pastime
I love to go bike riding and do 5ks. I'm not a runner but I love to try!!! I also love to run and play with my 3 year old grandson. Boy can he keep me moving!!
Rachel Grundner
Philosophy
To live life to our full potential. And to do so, we need to be functioning optimally mentally, physically, and spiritually. Our bodies are our vehicle, our mind the driver, and our spirit the windshield we view the world through.
Education
Bachelors of Applied Science
200hr Hatha Yoga Teacher Certification
Yoga for 12-Step Recovery Certification
Favorite Communication Tool
Guiding students into their poses and modifications using words so that they can feel the subtle transitions within their own bodies. Even with adjustments, I aim to verbally communicate so not to pull students outside of themselves and become distracted. The goal is to allow individuals to fully release and let go so that they can move deeper within their own practice.
Teaching Style
I definitely like to include the mind-body-spirit component when teaching, as the whole is what creates the human experience. My classes include techniques to increase flexibility while getting a good workout… both mentally and physically!
Favorite Pastimes
Exploring new adventures with my family, continuing education, reading, anything that involves being outside and under the sun.
Kelly Puchta-Pak
Philosophy
When people are in physical shape they feel great about themselves and their lives. They feel more confident, have more energy, and tend to accomplish more. Being fit not only helps you physically but also mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
Becoming fit is a satisfying experience and is something you can be proud of. My goal as a trainer is to find you the right balance of muscle strength, endurance, flexibility, and overall fitness performance.
Education
NASM Certified Personal Trainer since 2014
Training Style
I know having worked full time and being a parent, that it is not always easy to find enough time to workout, therefore I like to make sure each workout is fulfilling and an opportunity to be "selfish"—to work on yourself.
You don't have to spend hours a week at the gym, I can give you a total body workout out in less time. I love to use a variety of tools and exercises therefore never getting bored of the same routine.
Favorite Pastimes
I love to run and go road biking and spinning. My favorite exercise is long walks with my daughter in the stroller. I love reading, cooking, and just being with friends and family.