Instructors

Jan Quinn has been in the fitness industry since 1976: she has been a YMCA-YWCA Trainer and Evaluator for the Y Education Centre in the area of group fitness, Supervisor of Group Fitness at the Central "Taggart" Y and Educator of the Group Fitness Apprenticeship Training Program. Her certifications include Group Fitness, Older Adults and Stability Ball.  She has been the owner and manager of Jan’s Workout in Blackburn Hamlet for over 30 years.   Her commitment to fitness has been an inspiration to her many fitness participants, having participated in many distance running and biking events, a Marathon, Triathlon and a Duathlon. Jan plays tennis and golf in the summer, and skis and snowshoes in the winter. She has always appreciated the dedication of her fitness participants in the Blackburn area and cherishes those who have been with Jan’s Workout for 30 years.    

Joseph Cull teaches a variety of classes around the city and feels very fortunate to work at a job he loves!  A Volunteer Group Fitness Instructor for the Older Adult Program for the YMCA-YWCA since 2003, and for Jan's Workout, Joseph embraces the philosophy that being fit can be a fun journey and we can achieve that by remaining physically active and engaged in life. Joseph, with his entertaining personality and great sense of humor has a proven ability to motivate clients to achieve, maintain, or renew their personal fitness goals.

Hilary Kemsley became a fitness instructor in her 20’s through the YMCA-YWCA and Carleton University. For 15 years she taught high-impact aerobics to her peers at various locations around Ottawa. As children, family and work occupied more and more time, Hilary switched to being a regular at fitness and yoga classes, played tennis, rode her bike, and jogged. Hilary knows how important it is to keep moving and strong as an older adult, so in 2014 re-trained as an instructor for older adults through the YMCA-YWCA. .In addition to Jan's Workout, Hilary teaches at various locations in the city.

Peter Kusovac is a certified Qigong Instructor and Practice Leader as well as a certified Hatha Yoga teacher. His interest in energy work started as a child practicing Yoga with his mother, continued with a Tai Chi practice and leading Tai Chi classes and evolved with the exploration of various energy modalities including Qigong, Reiki and Craniosacral Therapy. As a teacher, he encourages students to tune into their energy flow and the connection between the mind and body.

Colleen Cotter was certified as a fitness instructor in 2006 and completed her 200-Hour Hatha Yoga Teacher training in 2020. She volunteered for many years at the National Capital YMCA-YWCA, where she led choreography, strength training, Boot Camp, and core classes. Colleen believes that all elements of fitness are important, especially as we age – cardio, strength, balance, and flexibility – and as such, strives to incorporate all these elements into her classes. Colleen loves to be active - she is an avid walker and hiker, and in the winter she cross-country skis and curls.

Lorna Lyttle has been with Jan’s Workout since it began in 1983. After four years of working out regularly with Jan, she became a certified group fitness instructor through the YMCA-YWCA. She has led classes at Jan’s Workout in aerobics, strength training, pilates and golf fitness. She is a certified Stability Ball and Pilates Instructor. As a Pilates instructor, she gives group and private classes with Jan's Workout.  She particularly enjoys the preventative and rehabilitative aspects of Pilates and receives referrals from massage and physiotherapists. Because of her particular interest in strength training, she has studied the work of many core strength experts  Lorna appreciates the benefits of a healthy, active lifestyle and is committed to the mission of Jan’s Workout.

Brenda Hunt became a fitness instructor in 2004 through the YMCA-YICA, where she volunteered teaching classes for 5 years. Brenda was the Fitness Coordinator at Jack Purcell Community Centre for a few years, and has taught a variety of fitness classes at different facilities in the Downtown core for 16 years. She is constantly striving to expand her knowledge by attending conferences, and she also enjoys participating in various fitness classes as well. Brenda continues to teach indoor and outdoor fitness classes in her hometown. Her philosophy is:  be good to yourself, get energized and make time to exercise, while having fun doing it!  

Kristen Wilson has been teaching ballet, tap, jazz, and contemporary for various reputable schools throughout Ontario. She trained as a student of dance for over 20 years and achieved her teacher certification in modern, tap, jazz and ballet through the BATD (British Association of Teachers of Dancing).