Certified Trainers

Every trainer at Ultimate Fitness is professionally certified and thoroughly experienced in slow-motion strength training techniques. More importantly, our trainers are here for only one reason: to help, coach and guide you through your individual program while ensuring that you prevent unnecessary pain or injury. For people who know they need to invest in better care and maintenance of their bodies but are concerned they don’t have the time or ability to succeed, our friendly team of trainers is ready to help you achieve your individual fitness goals.

Sara Ellis   Owner | Certified Trainer

Sara Ellis is a former Volvo-Cannondale, World Cup XC Mountain Bike racer and coach who has been recognized with many award-winning finishes to her career. After retiring from the World Cup circuit, Sara turned her focus to those who wanted to improve their riding and competitive skills and enhance their overall physical and mental condition. She found that strength training was the essential ingredient to help people achieve their personal best. With this insight and vision, she opened Ultimate Fitness as a personal training and fitness studio to help people of all ages and in every physical condition gain strength, enhance flexibility and improve personal performance.

Certifications: AFAA Certification, Johnny G Spinning Certification, Professional world cup mountain bike and road racer, Olympic Trial Participant

Syndee Collison   Certified Trainer | Nutrition Consultant

Syndee is a certified personal trainer with 20 years experience in the fitness industry. With eight years of Slow Motion Strength Training at Ultimate Fitness, she has had the good fortune to help many achieve results beyond their own expectations. Slow Motion Strength Training is a very effective technique, and with the guidance of a certified personal trainer, clients are able to move past their perceived limitations, safely and confidently. And with a 30 minute workout, we’ve heard from clients over and over, that it’s manageable and therefore they stick with it; some for over 8 years. Syndee has a passion for both fitness and nutrition. She is a graduate of a 2 year nutrition and culinary arts program. She has practiced healthy nutrition everyday in her own life and loves to inspire others to do the same. She is fun, creative, energetic and knowledgeable and loves training clients to be their very best.

Certifications: AFAA Personal Trainer, AFAA Group Exercise, Certified Boot Camp Instructor, Certified Nutrition Consultant through Bauman College, AED and CPR Certified

Judi Durham   Certified Trainer

Judi started her fitness education and instruction career in 1994 as a pre and post natal exercise instructor. She then turned her passion for fitness to childbirth education where she taught classes to expectant parents and worked as a birth labor coach. From there, she moved on to become a certified instructor in aerobics, body conditioning, step and spinning. She has been teaching yoga since 1996 and became a personal trainer in 2006. She is certified in the Egoscue P3 pain, posture and performance alignment technique. Judi also teaches body alignment and senior fitness programs throughout the Bay area.

Certifications: AED and CPR Certification, ACE Personal Trainer Certification, AFFA Group Exercise Instructor Certification, Egoscue Certification Pain Posture Performance Certification (P3), Iyengar Yoga Teacher Training, Sivananda Yoga Teacher Training, Erich Schiffman Yoga Teacher Training, Childbirth Education Instructor Certification, Pre-post Natal Exercise and Yoga Certification, Keiser Cycling Certification, Cruzer Cycling Certification, Precision Performance Cycling Certification, Johnny G Spinning Certification

Gunilla Bell   Certified Trainer

Health and fitness has always been a big part of life for Gunilla. Born and raised in Sweden, she brings her passion for fitness to Ultimate Fitness as a personal trainer. She is inspired every day by the opportunity to enable people on their journey to a healthier lifestyle by helping them become, stronger, more flexible and physically fit. By connecting with them, one-on-one at Ultimate Fitness, she understands first hand how the results of her guidance can help people achieve their personal best through slow-motion strength training and consistent fitness programs.

Certifications: AFAA Personal Trainer, AFFA Primary Group Exercise Instructor, AFAA Kickboxing Instructor, Johnny-G Cycling Instructor

Zinaida   Certified Trainer | Nutrition Educator

“Come train with me!  I’ll share with you what I’ve learned about being strong, fit, and healthy”.  Zinaida believes we all have what it takes to be strong and vital at any stage of our lives. Whether your goal is to lose weight, find your abs, alleviate your back pain, or improve your game, she can help.  Her integrated approach to fitness includes slow motion and functional strength training, core and balance exercises, yoga inspired flexibility poses, and personalized nutrition.  Zinaida has been helping clients improve their quality of life through better food choices and exercise since 1992.  ”I love what I do and my goal is to guide and support your personal transformation in a safe and efficient way”

Certifications: NASM Personal Trainer, APEX Fitness Professional, Bauman College Nutrition Educator, Personalized Metabolic Nutrition

Carl Cruz   Certified Trainer

Carl is a competitive triathlete and fitness enthusiast who has finished in the Ironman Wisconsin (2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run), Escape from Alcatraz triathlon, and “The World’s Toughest” Half Ironman triathlon in Auburn, CA. He has been delivering personal training for over seven years while also pursuing his recently completed degree from California State University, Hayward. He is a passionate Spin class instructor and helps clients at Ultimate Fitness recover from back pain, knee issues, and shoulder injuries. Carl sees strength training as an essential ingredient to achieve optimal health and he strives to help his clients thrive in the gym and in outdoor fitness activities.

Certifications:  A.C.E. Fitness Trainer