“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then is not an act, but a habit."

  Theresa Cordova is an exercise physiologist, Certified Personal Trainer, Resistance Training Specialist and Muscle Activation Techniques practitioner, as well as, an exercise science educator, founder and president of Changes For Life and Fit Kids For Life. 

Theresa is also the Vice President, Director of Certification and professional development creator and instructor for the Academy of Personal Training Education. A National Accredited certifying agency for aspiring and credentialed personal trainers.

Specializations: exercise physiology, human movement mechanics, neuromuscular aspects of human performance, strength training, assessments, cardiopulmonary function,  and clients of special populations: i.e. orthopedic and cardiopulmonary limitations, hypertension, and metabolic disorders.

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  Through his business career, Stephen brings his management and leadership skills to Changes for Life. First, as an engineer, operating his own consulting engineering company for twenty years, then later as the Health and Wellness Director, then as the Executive Director for the YMCA of Long Island.

As the Health and Wellness Director for the YMCA of Long Island, he was responsible for managing the fitness staff, group exercise schedules, and personal training. Stephen assisted in developing the YMCA’s Weight Loss program which is currently taught throughout the United States. He was also Long Island’s Director for the Pre-Diabetes Self-Management program.

As the Executive Director for the East Hampton YMCA. Stephen was responsible for the day-to-day branch operations, leading the various departments, and working closely with the town to advance the mission of the Y. 

Stephen is also a martial artist and as such, fitness and health has always been important to him. The study of the body as a “structure” made up of strengths and weaknesses is fundamental to a martial artist.

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 Katie works with clients of all ages with varying abilities.  Katie is passionate about helping others to feel the best they can in everyday life.

Certified Personal Trainer and Group Exercise Instructor specializing in Small Group Trainings, Cycling, HIIT and more.

BBA, Pace University

Certifications:

Certified Personal Trainer, Academy of Applied Personal Training Education (AAPTE)

AFAA Group Exercise Instructor Certified

Schwinn & FiTour Indoor Cycling Certified 

Moving for Better Balance Certified

Les Mills BodyPump Certified

MetaFit Bodyweight HIIT Training

Precor Queenax Small Group Trainin

TRX Training

Aqua Boga Training

Small Group Facilitation

Diabetes Prevention

Michael is a certified Health Coach and Personal Trainer. He has over 20 years of personal training and health coaching experience, working with clients to improve health and wellness, body composition, and performance. He is also an avid swimmer and was the Assistant Women’s Swim Coach at LIU Post. Michael continues to train clients individually in the pool and also conducts aquatic aerobic classes.  Michael is also an adjunct professor at LIU Post where he teaches Nutrition, Lifespan Motor Learning and Development, Fitness and Conditioning, and Kinesiology. He is also an adjunct professor in the Department of Health Professions at Hofstra University where he teaches Fitness Programming and Anatomy and Physiology.   Michael is a continuing education provider for the Academy of  Personal Training Education (APTE). His continuing education seminars include; Nutrition, Behavioral Modification, Performance Enhancement, Lifespan Motor Learning, Upside of Stress and Stress Management, Special Populations: Exercise Considerations, and Adaptations to Exercise Training.  

 Ellen’s career in fitness began when she became a Personal Trainer with AAPTE in 2010. She currently works at the Patchogue Family YMCA. In addition to personal training and group exercise, she is a facilitator/trainer for the Y’s community-based programs such as Moving for Better Balance, Livestrong Cancer Survivor Exercise Program, the Diabetes Prevention and Weight Loss Programs. Ellen is committed to health, physical fitness, longevity and educating others to reach their full potential.

Specializations: Works with active older adults and people with chronic conditions such as Arthritis, MS, and Parkinson’s Disease. Ellen is a MELT Method Instructor, Cancer Exercise Specialist, and is a volunteer for the Long Island Alzheimer’s Association as a Caregiver Support group facilitator.

 Andrea provides her clients with a realistic, sustainable, and comprehensive program that not only focuses on personal fitness goals, but also helps them to reach optimal levels of health related fitness. She takes a functional approach to training, addressing proper dynamic posture, stabilization and core function. With a Master of Science in Physical Education,

Andrea’s certifications include NASM CPT, TRX Suspension Training, TRX Rip Training, CrossCore Rotational Body Weight Training, TriggerPoint Therapy, and EBFA Barefoot Training. She has served on APTE’s Job Task Analysis, Subject Matter Expert committees and is currently a director for their Certification Advisory Board.

 A reformed 20+ year corporate executive, Michele's lifelong passion for whole-being health evolved into a career in 2017. Michele was certified as a personal trainer with APTE in 2014 and then went on to pursue her 500+ hours of yoga teacher training and a Reiki Master certification.  Michele's mission is to create a safe and sacred environment for self-empowerment.  She advocates for those who want to connect with their physical, spiritual, and emotional bodies, and desire a relationship with the natural world that surrounds them.  Utilizing the practices of self-study, breathwork, movement, and meditation, Michele will guide you on the path to embracing and embodying your most authentic self.  

Specialties - Yoga - Yin, Vinyasa, Ashtanga - Pranayama (Breathwork) - Meditation - Trauma Informed Training certified - Yoga Therapy Level 1 - CTT Certified Turbulence Trainer 

 Babette Connor Pisco started her professional career as a ballet dancer & continued on to teach in NYC for 25 years at a performing arts high school. Babette, a Registered Yoga Alliance (RYA) 500 hr instructor, received her yoga certification from Peaceful Warrior & Always at Aum Yoga School. In addition to receiving other certifications in Hot Vinyasa, Ashtanga, SUP, Barre, Yin/Nidra, Restorative, Reiki healing & Chair yoga. 

Babette holds an MA from NYU, BFA from SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Dance & a NY State Public School Teacher Certification in Dance Education.

     Michele attended the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and became a certified integrative nutrition health coach in 2011. To take her health coaching to the next level, Michele achieved an additional certification as a National Board-Certified Health and Wellness Coach in 2020. Michele partners with clients seeking to enhance their well-being through self-directed, lasting changes, aligned with their values.    Certifications:National Board of Health and Wellness CoachesWorksite Wellness SpecialistIntegrative Nutrition Health Coach 

 Evan Lawrence is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, certified personal trainer with the AAPTE, and integrated health coach. He has studied the mind and body to gain the complementary knowledge that allows him to support his clients intelligently and efficiently so they will reach their goals. He earned my bachelor’s in psychology at UCONN and his masters at CUNY John Jay. In 2013, he became certified as a personal trainer through the AAPTE, and has been working to help people move better, and move more since. Along the way, he also picked up some other certifications including becoming a yoga instructor (RYT200) through Breathe for Change, a nutrition coach through Precision Nutrition, and more. He founded Evan Lawrence Integrated Health, a practice focused on the interconnectedness of body and mind and a "one-stop-shop" for total health.    

 John Petrizzo is a Physical Therapist, Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, and Starting Strength Coach, as well as a full-time faculty member in the Exercise Science Department at Adelphi University. He has a B.S. in Exercise Science from Hofstra University where he was a member of the football team.  John holds a Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the New York Institute of Technology. He has worked in the fitness industry since 2006 in a variety of roles and settings and has helped many patients and clients achieve their health, fitness, and sports performance goals through resistance training. In 2012, John began competing in powerlifting.