Meet Our Coaches
Dedication. Expertise. Passion.
Our coaching team is highly skilled and ready to welcome you to our Fit After 50 SoCal studio! With a variety of technical degrees and certifications in the field, you're in good hands no matter what class you choose!
MARYANN YOUSSEF
Owner & Coach
MPH | NASM CPT | NASM SFS | NASM CES | PELVIC PRO SPECIALIST | CrossFit Level 1 | CrossFit Masters
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310-853-3805
My name is Maryann, Owner of Fit After 50 SoCal. After eight years as an epidemiologist and Director of public health grants, I could no longer stand the slow pace of getting valuable information into practice. I wanted to help move the needle on people’s health in a more direct way. This desire is what led me to start Fit After 50 SoCal. Our mission is to help women 50 and over improve balance, reduce nagging pain, and build strength and confidence for life’s everyday demands.
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Six pack abs don't mean much, but we do want to walk, stand, and sit on our own accord for as many years as possible. We want to be able to play with grandchildren or garden or golf - or the million other enjoyable ways we can spend our time when we don’t have to worry about health.
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On a personal note, family is everything to me. My dad has been living with Parkinson’s disease for more than 23 years. As his disease has progressed, I’ve watched him lose his balance, strength, and mobility and witnessed firsthand the pain that comes with being unable to complete activities we tend to take for granted. Though I can’t pretend exercise is the cure to his disease, it has certainly been a means of extending his dexterity, mobility and improving his quality of life for as long as possible.
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Because life is unpredictable, in 2019 my previously healthy mom battled an aggressive cancer that was close to being life ending (she has since been in remission, thank God!). Her spine is now fused from her neck down to her mid-back. It would be easy to give up and accept a life of stiffness, reduced mobility, and imperfect balance. Though at 68 years old she never exercised before, I convinced her to start twice a week. The physical gains are evident, but the mental health benefits may be more important. Not only has she built more muscle and improved her balance – she’s happier and more confident in her abilities. As her kids, we also worry less about falls.
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We can’t predict what will happen in the future, but we can give ourselves the best chance for success. Improving quality of life and the way we age matters to me.
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I really believe it’s never too late to be the best version of yourself – for you and your loved ones.
ZACH ROWE
Coach
B.S. Kinesiology | NASM-CPT | ACE Certified Health Coach | NASM Weight Loss Specialist | NASM Fitness Nutrition Specialist
I have been a sports and exercise enthusiast my whole life. It started with sports and playing everything from baseball to swim. I got into the gym and training when I was 16 and didn't know anything about lifting weights but got hooked immediately.
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My ultimate goal as a trainer and coach is to help people develop healthier lifestyle habits and how to be autonomous with their nutrition and exercise. If I have done my job correctly I will have passed on all the knowledge I can on to you and you will go on to continue the same habits you have created as if I was still there. I do not want you to be dependent on me but rather collaborate and learn.
CARLA HEARTWELL
Coach
NASM CPT | NASM SFS
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Specializations:
Cardio, high intensity interval training, kickboxing, strength training, rehabilitation
My passion for fitness started at a very young age. Although I wouldn’t describe myself as athletic I found running to be my most favorite pastime.
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I have since realized the importance of a well balanced exercise program that includes cardio, strength training, adequate recovery and a wholesome nutritional plan.
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My approach to fitness is to view it as a lifestyle, and not just a phase. It’s long term commitment to your health, happiness and overall wellbeing. Five years ago I decided to pursue my passion for fitness and began coaching group fitness classes.
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My experience includes functional strength training, high intensity interval training, and kickboxing. I also have experience as a physical therapy technician where I primarily focused on not only rehabilitative exercises but injury prevention as well.
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Let’s find what works for you and help you achieve the highest quality of life through a safe, effective and fun fitness program!
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On a side note, my newest most favorite pastime is spending time outdoors with my two incredible children, although running still holds a very special place in my routine.
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KHRISNA ALEJO
Coach
AA Kinesiology | B.S. Nursing (in progress)
I truly believe health and fitness is healing for the body. Growing up first generation Filipino, health and exercise was not a priority for my parents. Luckily, having a big family, my cousins influenced me to get into sports. Volleyball and basketball throughout grade school.
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My passion for fitness grew as I got older with self reflection and wanting to create an ultimate healthier version of myself. Having a mother who is on disability due to diabetes and hypertension, a very dangerous combo made me realize her declining health could have been changed just by diet and exercise.
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My goal in life once I am done with my BSN is figuring out how I can keep others away from the hospital while trying to combine nursing with health and wellness.
ISABEL MOSES-CALDERA
Zumba Instructor
I started dancing at the age of three and have been going ever since. I love all forms of dance, I believe it's a wonderful way to express yourself. I'm a Surgical Technician by day and pursue my passion for dance on the side. I belong to two Polynesian performing groups one in Torrance The Wahine Llikeas and the other in Lakewood Mae Ole Hoku (I'm one of the directors).
I started teaching Zumba in 2011 which I fully enjoy. I love how Zumba brings the dance and fitness world together. My students are my inspiration, and seeing them transform, building their self esteem and the great bonds they make with each other warms my heart.
ROB GUILMETTE
Yoga Instructor
I have been teaching Yoga since 2013 and specialize in working with beginners, people with injuries, and seniors. My approach is gentle, breath-centered, and incorporates some of the more subtle and meditative aspects of practice.
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I am passionate about Yoga’s potential to transform people’s lives. Whether recovering from an injury, managing a chronic illness, or aligning oneself with what’s most important to them - Yoga has so much to offer beyond the physical poses! I am currently training to become a Yoga Therapist which is an individualized and holistic approach that is often offered as a private session or in small groups.