About Us
Andrea James - Owner/Coach
Andrea has always been involved in sports. She swam competitively at Wilfrid Laurier University, and played high school basketball, volleyball, cross-country, and enjoys all sorts of outdoor activities. For most of her adult career, she worked as a competitive swim coach with young Provincial and National level athletes, coaching both their in-water and out-of-water training. In 2010, she was introduced to CrossFit by a friend at her children’s play group. It was a game changer. After having 3 children, and being out of the competitive sports world, CrossFit was just the kind of training she needed to get back into shape. In 2011, she took her CrossFit level 1. In 2015, she moved back to her hometown, Bracebridge. There weren’t any functional fitness gyms in town, so she decided to build a gym in her garage. She took her CrossFit level 2 certification, and hasn't looked back, expanding into a larger facility on Barron Drive in November 2017. Coaching her members has been beyond exciting. It’s been very rewarding for her to watch someone get their first pull up, jump onto a box that seemed way too high the first time they saw it, or try their very first clean and jerk. She truly believes that coaching the members at Bracebridge Strength and Conditioning is the best job she could ask for!
Standard First Aid/CPR Instructor
CrossFit Level 1 and 2 Coach
NCCP Level 2 Swim Coach
CrossFit Weightlifting Coach
Shana Handrigan
Shana comes to Bracebridge Strength and Conditioning with over 20 years experience coaching gymnastics to athletes from toddlers to adults, as well as her CrossFit Level 1 certification. She has a passion for making fitness training fun and sustainable. Beyond the gym, Shana enjoys experiencing new sports and activities, such as kayaking, ninja courses, obstacle races, and masters gymnastics. She is looking forward to helping members at Bracebridge Strength and Conditioning find their passion for fitness.
CrossFit Level 1 Coach
CrossFit Weightlifting Coach
Kerry Beauchesne
CrossFit Level 1 Coach
CrossFit Weightlifting Coach
Tammy Plested
Tammy grew up involved in team sports, such as ringette, hockey, basketball and baseball. As a Paramedic shift worker with a shift working husband and 2 daughters, team sports became harder to fit into her schedule. She eventually switched to yoga, running, and individual sports. She has competed in half marathons, Tough Mudders, triathlons and a few trail-running races. Training on her own was hard, unless an event was fast-approaching, and she missed the fun and competitive push of training with other people. In March of 2018, Tammy discovered Bracebridge Strength and Conditioning, and has been training 4-5 times per week at the gym. She loves the comradery of working out alongside the other members, and decided to give coaching a try once she took her CrossFit Level 1 in August of 2018. Tammy is excited to improve the quality of life for the BSC members through strength and functional movement training. She believes that it is never too late to learn new skills, improve your strength, meet new friends, and gain new confidence in your abilities.
CrossFit Level 1 Coach
CrossFit Weightlifting Coach
Lisa Overholt
Lisa Overholt lives with her husband and dogs in Muskoka year-round. Moving from the city to cottage country in 2000 brought on new fitness challenges, and Lisa changed her whole lifestyle to embrace activity. Lisa is a Schwinn Indoor Cycling & Bootcamp Instructor and as well as being a certified personal trainer. She is passionate about creating efficient, fun and healthy programs that keep participants coming back for more!
Clerissa French
CrossFit Level 1 Coach
CrossFit Weightlifting Coach
Melanie Parsons
Melanie was 25 and pregnant with her first son when she started yoga. She was timid, insecure and had very low self esteem. Now a single mother of two teenage boys, life is busy and there are days where she has to juggle being the mom, the dad, the chauffeur, the confidant, the counselor, the maid and the chef, all at the same time, which she would never change as they are her life. Through it all, she has found FREEDOM, PEACE and LIFE BALANCE again with her yoga. She believes you have to take time to nourish YOURSELF in order to be your BEST SELF for everyone else in your life.
200HR YTT Certified Yoga Instructor
Reike Practioner
Certified Travel Advisor
Essential Oil Consultant
Interested In Coaching?
We are always looking for new, enthusiastic coaches to join our coaching staff.
Contact Andrea if you would like more details about our internship program.