Meet The Mackay Team

Certifications: Group Exercise Leader; RPM, BODYPUMP, LES MILLS SPRINT, LES MILLS GRIT & BODYATTACK

Who is “Ann-Louise”? That’s the name her mother gave her but most of us know her by one of her many nicknames - G, Grechy, Grechstar, G-banger, Annie.... this list goes on. Born and bred in the Mackay area, Grechy was a dedicated group fitness participant well before she was convinced to complete her Initial Module Training in RPM back in 2015. From there she trained in SPRINT, BODYPUMP, LES MILLS GRIT and BODYATTACK. Grechy is one of our favourite instructors at WORLD GYM MACKAY. Her vivacious personality, dedication to fitness and her organisational skills were recognised by WGM’s owners and she was offered the role of the gym’s chief before the gym even opened in 2018. She is at the gym by 5am most days, instructing the 5:30am class before stepping into her manager role, greeting members, attending to emails, gym sales and the day to day paperwork that she effortlessly keeps under control; consistently training staff to strengthen the World Gym team, always looking for new ideas to make WG even better, and then often instructing another class at 9am or in the afternoon (sometimes both!). When asked to describe Grechy, her colleagues say she is “supportive and ...will find a positive in every situation”, “she provides constructive feedback and checks in on me to see how I’m going”, “she is one awesome friend”, “is always fair and tries to find the best solution for everyone”, “will always give you an honest answer”, “she loves ice cream and chocolate”. But it’s her sense of humour that gets noticed by everyone especially when it makes for unique coaching in classes such as calling the SPRINT participants “noodles” because there was 2x 1 minute

Certifications: Certificate III in Fitness; BODYSTEP, BODYPUMP, RPM, BODYCOMBAT, CXWORX, LES MILLS GRIT, LES MILLS SPRINT, BODYBALANCE & BODYATTACK

Experience: Group Fitness Instructor since 2004

Alana is the Group Fitness Manager at World Gym Mackay and has been instructing group fitness since 2004.

Check back again later for more information!

Certifications: Certificate III in Fitness, Certificate IV in Personal Training, & Level 1 Master trainer speciality

Specialitie(s): Rehabilitation, Sports specific strength & conditioning, Hypertrophy, Weight management, and Competition preparation

I’m a highly experienced personal trainer from South Africa, I have over 10+ years experience in the fitness industry (body movement science) it’s my pride and joy to get people into shape and all bout long longevity. So, no matter your age I can help u with your needs in any pace. Come see me and let’s get u started in a long healthier life.

Certifications: Group Exercise Leader; Certified in BODYSTEP, BODYATTACK & BODYCOMBAT.

Kathryn is a Group Exercise Leader certified in BODYATTACK, BODYSTEP (AIM1) & BODYCOMBAT. She first trained in BODYATTACK in 2016 after another BODYATTACK instructor encouraged her to DO IT! Kathryn loves the music, energy and cardio peaks in her programs, loves the new challenges that come with new releases and music every quarter, but also loves the social aspect of group fitness and is passionate about creating an inclusive atmosphere for everyone. Kathryn’s biggest achievements are her family and receiving a university degree at the age of 36! Favourite quote? “Be yourself, everyone else is already taken.” - Oscar Wilde What superhero/villain would you like to be? Thor What superpower would you like to have? Time travel Most daring feat? Sky diving If you had to be on a reality TV show, which would it be? Survivor

Maria has a passion for YOGA. Some classes incorporate the use of different equipment including blocks, bands, wheels, and sticks to enhance her classes which are all provided for you. Do you love Maria's classes? Let us know!

Certifications: YOGA

YOGA Instructor

Certifications: Certificate IV in Fitness. Certified in BODYPUMP (AIM1), BODYSTEP, RPM (AIM1), LES MILLS GRIT, BODYVIVE/TONE, BODYBALANCE, BODYCOMBAT, CXWORX, Punch Fit & Thump Boxing

Anne is an inspiration to a WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE! She is currently instructing BODYPUMP, RPM, GRIT Strength and ABT with World Gym Mackay. Anne loves instructing and this is why she has been doing it since 1981 (back in the days of Jane Fonda!). She brings a wealth of versatility and experience to the World Gym Mackay team. Her biggest achievement is surviving triplets and seeing them grow up to become successful human beings whilst her biggest fitness achievement is participating in the Outrigging World Sprints in Sacramento USA at 16 weeks pregnant! Anne has zip-lined at 4200m in South America and cycled the Road of Death on a Mountain Bike in Bolivia, yet she still gets a thrill out of teaching a great class or seeing her PT clients reach their goals big and small.

Certifications: Certificate III & IV in Fitness. BODYCOMBAT, Les Mills GRIT Series, Les Mills SPRINT, Metafit, MetaPWR & BODYATTACK

Maree has a Certificate III & IV in Fitness and is certified in LES MILLS GRIT Series, BODYCOMBAT, BODYATTACK, Metafit & MetaPWR and is trained in LES MILLS SPRINT. She has worked in the fitness industry since 2013 and loves each of her programs for very different but similar reasons. Maree loves getting to know the people that come to her classes, to watch them grow and see them improve whether it’s their technique, fitness, strength gains or some other goal. Maree brings huge PASSION to the World Gym Mackay team – she loves her job and it shows every single day. Biggest fitness achievement? Completing a 70.3 Ironman in Cairns 2017. Goals? Busselton IM in December 2018 (3.8km swim, 180km bike, 42.2km run) Favourite quote? Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. What superhero/villain would you like to be? Wonderwoman! She can kick ass without a gun, deflect bullets and who doesn’t want a golden lasso…still think hair being down is stupid though, seriously who wants hair in their face when they’re kicking butt??

Certifications: Certified in BODYBALANCE; Group Exercise Leader

Melinda has been participating in BODYBALANCE classes for YEARS! She completed her Initial Module Training in BODYBALANCE in 2018 and was one of our inaugural BODYBALANCE instructors at World Gym Mackay when we launched live classes in 2019.

Certifications: Certified in BODYATTACK, BODYSTEP, LES MILLS GRIT, Boxing & Spin.

Sam first began participating in BODYATTACK when she was just 13 years old. She had only recently moved from Africa where she had played a multitude of different sports. After being in Mackay a few weeks and not having joined a sporting team, her mum Laura dragged her to the gym much to her disgust. It was there that she met a BODYATTACK instructor by the name of George who was sipping on a can of coke just 15 minutes before the start of class. For the next 55 minutes, George took them through a grueling 55 minute sports inspired cardio workout that Sam has been hooked on ever since. It was 4 years later in 2008 when she travelled to Brisbane to do her own BODYATTACK Initial Training Module and she has been teaching this inspiring class in gyms ever since.

Tash is certified in RPM and certified in SPRINT mid-2019. She is also a qualified Learn to Swim Teacher, a qualified Environmental Scientist/Manager and works as a Teaching Assistant. Tash initially started attending RPM classes in Moranbah to improve her fitness and to be able to train harder with lower impact, as she had just 2 babies and had previous knee operations. After a couple of years of going to class and feeling fitter and stronger, she then changed her focus to going to RPM class to become faster on her road bike as she was training for triathlons. Unfortunately, Tash had a significant fall off her road bike whilst competing in an event. The only activity she was allowed during recovery was training on a stationary bike. So RPM then became her passion. Tash says, “I just loved that I could keep exercising whilst recovering, keep my fitness (physical and mental) up and return to sport from injury. I then fell in love with the SPRINT program when it was released, with its High Intensity Interval Training on a bike to awesome music.” Tash says her biggest achievement is her family while her biggest fitness achievements are finishing a 90km ride after a big bike fall halfway, being RPM certified and also her Open Water Swims - last year 2km Whitehaven Ocean Swim (a very big thing for a country girl) and a 2.7km River Swim.

Qualifications and certifications? Advanced Instructor Certified in Les Mills Grit Series, RPM, Body pump and Sprint. I started instructing in 2012 to share my love of fitness and help others feel fit and strong. Supporting and encouraging people to improve their health and fitness and see their confidence grow is extremely rewarding. What motivated you to start working out, and are you still working out for the same reasons? I have come from a big sporting family so have always had an active lifestyle. I think the mental benefits of exercise are just as important as the physical benefits. I work out because I like to feel fit and strong in mind and body. What does your current/average workout week look like? A Combination of strength training, Hiit workouts and I start every day running with our dog Frank. And of course, instructing GF classes. What is your favourite way to exercise? Weight training What do you do for recovery and rest? Relaxing with my husband and two boys, usually fishing, camping or exploring our beautiful region. You win $10 million dollars. What do you do with it? Invest some as a nest egg for my kids, buy a house with lots of land on the coast, a huge fishing boat for my husband and I would share the rest. If you could have any superpower, what would you choose? Teleportation, so I could see friends and family more often. What’s on the horizon for you? Where do you see yourself in the next five years? The next five years I am making the most of the time with our two boys. Making memories with them and supporting their goals as they grow into young men. They are growing up way too fast!