Dartmouth team - 112 woodlawn
DANA MASON - MANAGER & HEAD PERSONAL TRAINER
Dana grew up in Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia spending much of her youth in the rink playing Ringette. It is through the sport that she discovered the love of athletics, training and competition. She played other sports- Swimming, Soccer, Tennis, Volleyball , Cross Country and Track but Ringette was her main focus and where she excelled. A three time All-Canadian she started giving back to the sport after University and began coaching.
Dana holds a BSc in Health Education from Dalhousie University. In 1988 she began teaching fitness at various studios and gyms in the HRM, eventually becoming a Trainer of Trainers for the YM/YWCA. With almost 35 years experience leading fitness classes Dana has taught many different styles such as Aerobics, Boxfit, Aquafit, Toning & Strengthening, Slide , Spin and her favorite Step.
Always active and loving a challenge Dana took up running when she turned 40. She has since run 13 Full Marathons with a goal to run all 6 of the majors ( To date she has run 3 of them- Boston, New York & Chicago).
Dana is married ( Paul ) with 2 adult children ( Kirsti & Liam) She has a dog, Marli ( a Morkie) and 3 granddogs- Fleury (German Shepherd)/ Leo ( Beagle)/ Rylee (Dachshund).
“ It’s NEVER too LATE to BEGIN’ is what she likes to tell her participants. Dana recently joined the Evolve team as the Head Trainer / Manager of our newest location in Dartmouth after leaving her job of 22 years in the Pharmacy sector. The decision she admits was a tough one but she quickly realized that working Full time in the Fitness Industry is where she was best suited.
Dana looks forward to growing our Dartmouth location.
DAWN MONK
The day after my 28th birthday, my father was playing softball with his lifelong buddies and died of a heart attack on the field. He was 58.
By the age of 30, after having had 3 children, I still hadn’t ever been able to touch my toes, but I also “didn’t have to exercise” because I was “gifted” the genetics of being slim without effort. I was young and painfully naive.
Knowing cardiovascular health was super important given my family history, I eventually began to attend some aerobics classes (it’s ok if you instantly thought of sweatbands and wristbands). I was addicted.
It was only 6 years ago when I mustered up the courage to become a FIS. I have the biggest case of Imposter Syndrome you could ever come across.
Since I am a little late to the fitness game, I have a profound sense of kinship with the newbies, the fraidy cats and the “everyone else knows what they’re doing but me” participants in my class. I completely get the outsider feeling, like you don’t fit in. With that in mind, I have never been in better shape physically, or maybe more importantly, mentally in my life and want to help everyone get to that place.
If you and I haven’t crossed paths yet, and you consider yourself an underdog, I can’t wait to meet you and cheer you on. I’m kinda loud.
Oh, and be forewarned, I might challenge you a little.
JENN HOGG
Born and raised in Dartmouth, I grew up paddling on Lake Banook. Training at a higher level for several years until I reached university. Where I stopped fitness all together for about 7 years. One day I wandered into a local gym in Charlottetown, PEI where I was living at the time and fell in love all over again. From there I got my spin certification and began teaching there until I moved home later that year. I continued to teach when I moved back home to Dartmouth and eventually got my FIS and started teaching bootcamps and never looked back.
As an RMT I have a huge passion for wellness, and keeping people moving the best they can regardless of the circumstance. I truly believe fitness is for everyone regardless of fitness level, injuries and such and will modify as much as I can for everyone. But don’t be fooled, I’ll still be there for an encouraging nudge to make it more difficult if you need it.
If I’m not at the gym, you can find me enjoying the local coffee shops with my partner Scott, hiking, walking my pup Luna, cuddling with my cats Draco and Sirius (yup I’m THAT Harry Potter fan) or with my face in a book studying. Aside from working as an RMT and teaching fitness I decided to go back to school in September to continue my passion for health and wellness and start Osteopathy school.
I can’t wait to meet you and introduce you to what some have called the unreliable 5 second warning (sometimes it's 3 seconds, sometimes it’s 10).
JACKIE KELLESTINE
I love working in the gym! I got my first gym membership when I was 12 years old and still love the vibe 25 years later.
I have lived most of my life in Dartmouth/Cole Harbour. I moved to Calgary after high school, and did the wild wild west thing for 8 years. I cherish those years deeply, but NS is my home and I am happy and thankful to raising my kids here.
I keep busy with my family and love spending time with my kids. At ages 13 and 11, my babies are growing up and I have started a new career as their professional chauffeur.
Things I love (no specific order):
My kids, my man, my mom, my friends, food, running, swimming, cycling, racing, my dogs, accounting, the sun
JENN MOSHER
Bio coming soon
ERIN RILEY
Bio coming soon
DONNY MOSS
Bio coming soon
LAURA LITTLE
Along with her sister, Becky Lytle, Laura currently teaches Cardio classes at Evolve Fitness Halifax and promotes a welcoming community atmosphere through her positive energy and friendly personality. Laura learned early on that a positive attitude will take you far and brings this mentality to her instructional style. A firm believer in making fitness accessible for all, Laura is always ready to suggest modifications to different exercises.
Laura joined Evolve as a client in 2016 and has been attending boot camps ever since. With a background in government policy and administration and an unnatural love of spreadsheets, Laura’s involvement on the business side of Evolve began with providing administrative assistance for the popular Evolve Fitness Challenges. She began teaching, alongside her sister, the original Cardio/Core classes in 2018.
Growing up, Laura was not involved in organized team sports yet showed promise in individual sports such as gymnastics and track and field. Ultimately, she didn’t pursue either of these paths due to a lack of self-confidence and poor body image. Instead, she followed her other passions of singing, musical theatre, and academia. It wasn’t until her mid-twenties that Laura decided to revisit individual sports such as running, fitness, cycling, and kickboxing that she ultimately found the confidence to complete a Sprint Triathlon in 2015.
As a new mom, Laura understands how challenging it can be to find time for yourself while balancing work, home, and family. While her schedule may look different now that she’s a mom, Laura now prioritizes health and fitness not only to stay strong and healthy but also to model healthy habits and body image for her daughter. Laura is proud to be helping others realize their own potential by supporting their progress, embracing balance, and living by example.
“It’s not brave if you’re not scared”
COURTNEY TAYLOR - YOGA INSTRUCTOR
Bio coming soon
LIZA MACDONALD
Liza was one of Evolve’s first clients in 2007 “pre Benvie brothers” and has always had a passion for fitness. A busy career led to a long hiatus but she found her way back in 2018 when the new Strawberry Hill location opened and has been a loyal member ever since. She is a firm believer that Evolve is so much more than a gym, it’s a community and one she’s proud to be part of.
Liza’s background may be a bit different than most trainers. Her career has been spent in the financial services industry. She has an MBA from Saint Mary’s University, holds her Personal Financial Planning designation and is a Royal Roads University Certified Executive Coach. She has a love of coaching and leadership and has now found a way to combine her depth of experience with her love of fitness, nutrition and overall wellness.
She is certified with the International Sports Sciences Association as a Personal Trainer and Fitness Nutritionist and is currently working on her Health Coach and Lifespan Coach certifications. Liza is a believer that it’s the small consistent changes in behaviors over time that warrant the best results – it’s about lifestyles choice that are sustainable.
You can find this “client turned trainer” covering classes at the Halifax and Dartmouth locations and of course working out herself in bootcamps and in the women’s strength training program.
“Nothing changes if nothing changes”
LYNN MELONEY - SPIN INSTRUCTOR
Lynn has always embraced an active lifestyle and, as she gets older, she increasingly recognizes its crucial role in supporting her overall well-being. She firmly believes that physical activity is vital not only for our bodies but also for our minds. And, of course, there's no better feeling than the joy that comes at the end of a class.
A dedicated member of the Evolve family in Bedford for a few years, Lynn's passion for spin led her to complete a trainer course through Evolve last year. Her love of music is evident in her classes, where she carefully curates a diverse playlist to motivate and uplift. Lynn encourages everyone to sing through the challenging moments, ensuring there's a song for everyone.
In her daytime job, Lynn often finds herself sitting for long periods, so she loves providing a class that gets everyone moving. She hopes to continue living this active lifestyle and teaching well into retirement. Lynn's classes welcome all levels of experience, creating a fun and inclusive environment for all participants.
BEA EHRENBERGER
Bio Coming soon
SAM WARSHICK
Growing up Sam was always active, playing field hockey, running track, cheerleading and playing and coaching soccer here in Dartmouth. As she got older, she moved from the fields to the gym and became a certified personal trainer in 2013, and certified spin instructor in 2016. She has been teaching classes and helping people reach their fitness goals since.
By day, you can find Sam working in communications and public relations, but you can find her on the bike early mornings and after work- her classes are approachable for all levels and the music is always pumping.
When Sam is not at Evolve (or working her day job), you can find her taking tennis and golf lessons with her husband, or visiting the newest restaurant in the city.
JACLYN POOLE
Bio comin soon