About The Trainers

Recreation Services personal trainers have developed their personal training skills by working with clients in one-on-one and group settings through previous employment in health and fitness clubs, YMCA's, community recreation programs or through classroom experiences.  Trainers are certified through a national organization and hold certifications in CPR/AED, Blood Borne Pathogens, and First Aid.

Andrew
Ashely
Breanna
Brett
Jason DaCosta
Kevin
Rachael
Ryan

Andrew Otwell
Hometown: Naperville, IL
Education: BS, Arizona
Certification: ACE CPT, USAW Sports Performance Coach, CPR/AED
Favorite Form of Excercise: Resistance training/cross training/ interval endurance training.
Fitness Philosophy: Coming from a background of training high school and college athletes, to middle aged working professionals and retirees, I have found they all have a common goal; to be stronger and perform better in their sport or daily lives. I believe total body strength and proper mobility is the key to physical success. Often, there are limitations in range of motion that inhibit the potential a client has for sport or quality of life. To improve this I use stretching and myo-facial release techniques. I also address strength issues in the client. In my opinion, the body works best when you train it as a whole, and not just break it down into individual muscles and isolated exercises. To achieve this goal, I use balance training, and a variety of resistance training styles in addition to cardio programs with me or at home.

Ashley
Hometown: Yorkville, IL
Education: Kinesiology- Exercise Science Major
Certification: ACSM Personal Trainer, First Aid/CPR/AED
Favorite Form of Excercise: Dancing, swimming and resistance training.
Fitness Philosophy: It is NEVER too late to make the change to live healthier. The body is a terrible thing to waste, so take care of it! 30 min a day is all it takes to reap the health and disease fighting benefits of exercise.

Breanna Bock
Hometown: Holland, Michigan
Education: Graduated with a degree in exercise science with an emphasis in health fitness instruction from Grand Valley State University. I am currently working on a second Bachelor’s in Nutrition and Dietetics.
Certification: CPR/AED
Favorite Form of Excercise: Gut-busting circuit workouts!
Fitness Philosophy: I believe that one’s physical fitness is made up of many components which attribute to your overall health. Physical, emotional, mental and spiritual are all components that are part of complete health. I think it is integral to address all of these aspects when it comes to healthy living. Achieving your fitness goals is a lifelong journey that takes place in an environment of change. It requires a lot of hard work and dedication and is SO rewarding! Be committed to your health, find things that are enjoyable and have fun with it!

Brett
Hometown: Barrington, Il
Education: Pursuing Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Science
Certification: ACE Personal Trainer
Favorite Form of Excercise: Resistance Training
Fitness Philosophy: Work = Reward. If you don’t work, you won’t see the rewards. You have to push yourself everyday in the gym to a point where you want to stop, where you the only thing you can think about is quitting. Then you have to go further. Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.

Jason DaCosta
Hometown: Glenview, IL
Education: Pursuing Bachelors in Exercise Science
Certification: AFAA Certified Personal Trainer, Les Mills Body Combat & Body Pump, AFAA Group Fitness, Illinois Food Sanitation Certified, American Heart Association CPR/First Aid Certified
Favorite Form of Excercise: Resistance Training, Bikram Yoga, Dance
Fitness Philosophy: Every human being is the co-author of his/her own health or disease, so take care of your body because you only get one in life.

Kevin Stroud
Hometown: Downers Grove, IL
Education: Physical education Major, Health Minor
Certification: ACE Certified
Favorite Form of Excercise: Weight/Resistance training, Circuit training and Running
Fitness Philosophy: “I view fitness as a long-term strategy for building and maintaining endurance, strength and agility. It's a continuous cycle of training and recovery”
“A plateau is just another obstacle waiting to be beaten”

Ryan O'Hern
Hometown: Tinley Park
Education: Business Marketing
Certification: AHA: AED & CPR, ASFA: Personal & Sports Nutrition
Favorite Form of Excercise: Anaerobic Exercise
Fitness Philosophy: "The journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." - Lao Tzu