Team Members' Bios
 Mark Ofuji - Personal Trainer
Specialty(s): Body Building/Sculpting, Dance Instruction, Massage Therapy, Personal Training, Home Training Specialist.
Mark is an American Council on Exercise (ACE) & National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) certified Personal Trainer with over 18 years of experience. He is also a natural drug-free, competitive bodybuilder, Latin dance instructor (Salsa; cha-cha) and a Licensed/Certified Massage Therapist who specializes in acute/post injuries and pain.
Mark uses an array of techniques in his workouts including weights and calorie burning exercises (core training, cardio and interval training) while offering very effective, safe, FUN, personalized training plans tailored just for YOU!
"My training method is clear and simple so you can have fun while achieving your goals. It’s not the quantity, it’s the quality"
NPC bodybuilding Contest Video: Click Here |
 Lauren Valentine - Pilates
Lauren received her Pilates training in New York City from both LindaFit Pilates, as well as The Pilates Academy International which is located at the Pilates on Fifth studio. She also taught as a certifying instructor for PAI, training students to earn their Pilates certificate. Lauren received her B.F.A. in Dance Performance from the Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio.
Lauren’s Pilates sessions can adapt from an invigorating, highly energized wake-up call to a stress releasing, easy unwind from a long day. Emphasis is given to correct movement patterns, balances muscle groups, reducing muscle tension/tightness and strengthening the core muscles of the body to improve postural alignment.
|
 Maureen Hurley - Yoga
Maureen is a certified yoga instructor registered with Yoga Alliance at the 200-hour level. She has a background in dance and choreography and discovered a love of yoga several years ago while recovering from an injury. Maureen is originally from Michigan and has been living in Los Angeles for the past five years. She received her teacher training at Yoga Works Center for Yoga in Larchmont Village in 2008 and has been teaching privately ever since. She enjoys sharing the joys and benefits of yoga with others, learning from each student she teaches. Maureen also practices martial arts and has a black belt in Hapkido. In her spare time, she also likes to travel, learn about wine, discover new hiking spots in L.A., and spend quality time with her husband and their dog Isabel.
|
Joanna Obuchowicz Beckwith
I am 30 years old, intelligent and well educated (psychology, MA) Polish female, an experienced dance teacher (6 years of teaching contemporary dance in several arrangements beginning with the State Ballet Center in my home town, through workshop environment /all ages and levels/, ending teaching and choreographing my own ballet group). i have 3 years experience in fitness industry: full-time work for Crunch Fitness Premiere Aston Quay in Dublin, Ireland ( i was teaching classes: step, pump, body conditioning, spin, aqua aerobics, elements of yoga & pilates stretch; and providing members with the basic personal training services - building the first and following programs, introducing new members to the equipment and its proper use) part-time work for The Little Big Gym of Hollywood, LA (personal training, fitness evaluations). since march 2008 i continuously work for Hollywood Boxing Gym in Los Angeles as a group fitness instructor. I am fascinated with the "new me" i discovered through fitness and I wish nothing more than to share the possibility of this considerable achievement with others. Cheers!
|
 Ashley Baclesse - Make-up/Hair
Ashley is an accomplished and creative makeup artist with experience in all aspects of beauty, high fashion and FX (special effects makeup). She educated herself at the Make-up Designory School in Los Angeles. In 2003, the Los Angeles campus of Make-up Designory received national accreditation from and was honored by ACCSCT as a distinguished school. Ashley's diverse background and experience creates a unique style accredited only to her and her artistic talent. She has the ability to bring out the natrual beauty of her subject, no matter the gender, ethnicity or character. |
 Sabrina - Massage
Sabrina began her career as a MsT in 2003 and feels as though she has found a beautiful way to blend her passion for holistic wellness and joy in working with the physical body. Currently her work focuses on injury and surgery recovery, pre & post natal support and integrating essential oils for holistic wellness. She brings a deep love for her work and the ability to hold supportive space for her clients process. She also teaches aromatherapy classes at IPSB a massage school in Culver City.
|
 Nissim
Born in Haifa, Israel, Nissim had begun his studies in alternative healing arts 14 years ago. He always had a feeling as a younger child, that he had the power to heal people by touch and by word. That led him at the age of 22, to embark on a 4-year journey to the Far East, were he studied several massage techniques, healing, meditation, breathing, emotional release, and naturopathy. Nissim always felt that he had a deeper power and could contribute more than touch. People always feel comfortable with expressing their feelings to Nissim; they feel they can trust him. Hypnotherapy was his next journey, studied at HMI- the first nationally accredited college for hypnotherapy in the USA. His studies consisted of several approaches to effective relief from mental, emotional, and even physical issues many of us suffer from. He has also an extensive trained at Landmark Education in communication skills, and human behavior. Today in his practice, Nissim incorporates his knowledge he accumulated throughout the years about human behavior, and spirituality into a compressive and holistic approach to change, and self- improvement.
|
 Lisa - Make-up/Facials
Lisa has been a licensed esthetician and professional make-up artist for 22 years. As an esthetician, Lisa’s fascination with skin care led her to advanced studies in the biology and chemistry of skin, thereby creating effective and exceptional facials including the latest in facial technology: microcurrent rejuvenation. As a make-up/hair artist, Lisa graduated from esteemed Hollywood make-up school, Joe Blasco, in 1991. Her career in the entertainment industry has included photo shoots for many magazines, television shows, and music videos, and make-up/hair for over 100 celebrities and music personalities. She has also been a make-up instructor at the Make-up Designory in California, and abroad in Japan and Taiwan. A native Angeleno, Lisa wholly embraced the California lifestyle of health and beauty, becoming a fitness instructor at the age of 16, and enjoys the balance of both careers in her life. Her love of people is evident in her work, as she blends knowledge, experience and talent to make all of her clients look and feel beautiful with results-focused treatments and attention to detail!
|
 Rania Hoteit - Pilates Instructor
Rania is a certified aerobics trainer, Pilates and dance instructor, with extensive knowledge in nutrition. She holds certifications from ACE, AFAA and FITA, she also holds a CPR /AED certification.
At the age of 7, Rania started her dance training for 10 years training in classical ballet at the Russian Cultural Center dance academy in the city of Beirut where she grew up. She began her training in flamenco, belly dance and modern oriental dance at the age of 15 where she joined the renowned lebanese Caracalla Dance group for 5 years. She began extending her knowledge by self-education on health and nutrition. Her training in Pilates started 7 years ago and have been teaching dance and Pilates for 3 years.
Rania believes that some of the keys to happiness is self confidence and satisfaction and the great impact of physiological health on our psychology and lifestyle. Her philosophy is that "any body type" can achieve high fitness levels through the right training and sincere commitment. By utilizing her education and training, Rania combines different techniques and programs that are customized for each client depending on their goals to help achieve their dream toned, flexible, strong body and gain a great look that they always wanted to have.
|
 Ara - Massage Therapist
I realized my passion for massage therapy at a very early age. I noticed that throughout our lives, we're immersed in a touch based environment. Whether it was through my family, my culture, my surroundings, or my friends, the rewards of massage therapy became very clear to me in my own life.
My grandfather was my greatest influence for getting me involved in this specialized field. From the age of about 11, I would work on him with simple neck and shoulder massages. He would praise my work to others, which soon brought volunteer bodies to work on and gain a lot of experience from. As time progressed, my talents sharpened as I learned various modalities and techniques, and created my own style of healing.
Now with almost a decade of professional experience, over 500 hours of certified training, and nearly 3000 bodies treated, I have developed a proven method of massage that relieves pressure both from the body and the busy mind. To this day I continue to study holistic healing and explore the benefits of alternative medicine and massage therapy.
|
 Chani Nicholas - Yoga/Reiki Master
Chani Nicholas began practicing yoga 20 years ago with various teachers in Canada, India and the United States. She recently received her 200 hours TTC with teacher Saul David Raye. Initiated into the healing art of Reiki 19 years ago, Chani has extensive experience and knowledge working with people as a healer.
|
 Virginie - Reiki Master
Virginie is a creative, multi-talented healer and artist. With a
strong background as a singing and dancing performer with opera's in
Paris, she now explores uniting various spiritual interests with
Buddhist lineages from Tibet, India and Japan. Imbued with a wise and
heartfelt presence and contact, Virginie elegantly offers channeled
healing guidance in the form of speech, touch and intuitive
transformational guidance. Virginie creates a custom blend based on
the clients needs based on experience in several modalities
including: Reiki, Johrei (Japanese energy art), essential oils, and
light technologies such as cold laser and SCENAR. Being with Virginie
is almost like going on a journey to the beautiful land of France and
the wise peaks of Tibet.
|
 Khara - Massage Therapist
Khara began her career as a CMT in 2009 from the National Holistic Institute Encino, CA. She also completed her CIMT (Certified Infant Massage Teacher) through Liddle Kidz' Tina Allen while in school to add to her expertise of therapeutic modalities. Khara's work is focused on massage for women, and babies, specifically Swedish, Myofascial Therapy, Pregnancy; Pre & Post natal support and teaching Infant Massage Sessions to new mothers that encourages a deep bond with a nurturing touch. She is a member of ABMP and a native to West LA, Khara hopes to continue healing the world through bodywork one soul at a time.
|
Mahnaz - Facial/Waxing
Mahnaz loves what she does and is dedicated in providing you with the best service; be it a facial, waxing or just shaping your eyebrows. Not only will she give you a great service, but she will do so in a safe, caring, comfortable and cleanliness manner. For the first time in her life, she is truly passionate about what she does and is constantly educating her self about new products, techniques and treatments to give the best she can to her clients. Giving you a heavenly experience is her priority.
|
|
|
