About
Erin Cantrell Owner & Personal Trainer
As featured in the January 2018 issue of
As a mother of two teenage boys and a baby girl – I know what it means to be busy with the activities that children can so easily bring into our lives, such as hockey, crew, school, and anything else their schedule begs of me. Pregnancy was also difficult in the weight gain arena, as I gained 70 pounds for all three babies for a total of 210 pounds! I understand the struggles of weight loss first hand and also have the tools to be successful.
To keep care of my health and the health of my family, I incorporate strength training, cardio, and clean eating into our everyday lives. I believe in the 80/20 rule and stay on my maintenance clean diet 80% of the time, 20% of the time I enjoy ice cream, pizza, or indulge in extra korean BBQ!
I am not always able to find time to do a workout, which is true for many people, but that just means that I have to make time. When I make the time to work out, I feel healthier, more alert, strong, and ready to take on the day. The best gift that I can leave for my children and clients is the knowledge of eating healthier and working out so they can live with the energy to take on their days and feel their best.
Our Core Principles
Accountability
We will hold you accountable for your health and fitness through measurements & goal setting.
Fun
Not only do you get effective workouts, but fun is always an extra bonus with us.
Attention
Together we will set goals, milestones, a schedule, and lifestyle changes that fit your busy life.
Community
Next-level motivation & education from trainers, classes, and online groups.
Meet the Team
Jalissa Favors
Manager
Former collegiate tri sport athlete and All- American, Jalissa suffered a career ending injury of a torn ACL in 2017. The recovery of the injury turned her love for the court into a promising career of Group Fitness and Personal Training specializing is Sport Injury Recovery, Corrective Exercise and Functional Training. With Jalissa’s many years of coaching and training, upon graduating with a BS in Sport Management she turned her focus to mentoring young trainers to reach their full potential through proper education and motivation.
“ When You Move, Move With Confidence”
Mandy Brennan
Personal Trainer & Group Classes
My Always had a passion for fitness….love to run and sprint interval train…it’s like meditation for me….what makes me smile the most and keep me warm and fuzzy is how happy and good clients feel after a fabulous workout with me…leaving the body and mind feeling great!!
Dylan Rodrigues
Personal Trainer
I come with a background of six years in the Army. During my time in the Military, I earned several high achievements for my physical performance; to include the highest score in our Physical Training test out of 100 plus soldiers while in Basic Training, as well as an Air Assault Badge during Active Duty. However, my passion for fitness began well before the Military. From a young age I have always been involved in sports. As I grew older, I realized how fitness could forever change my life for the better – both physically and mentally; especially after becoming a husband and a father. In 2022, I completed my 1st half Ironman triathlon; it was one of the best experiences of my life. Looking forward, I plan to continue pursuing this sport and eventually completing a full Ironman 140.6. Triathlon has taught me a lot about preparation for endurance sport. For events like this you don’t just sign up and go. It requires a lot of time, blood, sweat, and sometimes tears! “Failure to prepare is preparing to fail.” I have gained so much through fitness and I want to instill these same values and the confidence I have been able to gain in each and every person that I have the opportunity to train.
Fallon Johnson
Personal Trainer, Boxing, Group Classes
My passion for fitness and physical movement kicked off when I was just a toddler. After receiving my BFA from New York University I knew I wanted to build a career I was passionate about, and coaching found and inspired me. I have instructed everything from Kickboxing, Strength & Conditioning, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, to OCR Training and am NCSF Certified. My goal is for you to leave every session inspired, motivated, and with a fierce sweat glow!
My words to live by: “Don’t limit your challenges. Challenge your limits.”
Lexi Dixon
Personal Trainer & Group Classes
Since I was a little kid, I have always been passionate about fitness. Whether I was playing a sport, running around outside, or following a workout video, I always found a way to move my body. After high school I went on to complete a bachelor's degree at Central Michigan University. While I was at college I tried to stay active, however, I fell out of a routine and felt lost in the gym.
During my senior year of college I found out I had 3 autoimmune disorders. I knew that I needed to make a change to better myself. Balancing my physical and mental health became of great importance to me. This was the push I needed to get back into making my physical health a priority. After college and finding my love for moving my body again, I became NASM certified as a personal trainer and corrective exercise specialist.
I love coaching and making fitness fun! The best part of being a coach is seeing the progress clients make and knowing that they are bettering themselves. It brings me such joy to be a part of their journeys. I will forever be grateful for the positive impact fitness has had on my mental and physical health. I hope to help others have a positive experience with fitness and find a passion in it like I have.
Frank Plonka
Personal Trainer & Group Classes
Hey! I am a personal trainer and group class coach at ECF! I have been in fitness for the past 10 years and have worked with youth athletes, elderly populations, and everything in between! I earned my B.S. and M.S. in Exercise Science and currently preparing for Physical Therapy school. Personally, I am training for CrossFit and Ironman Triathlons. Outside of the gym, I love hanging out with my 4 dogs, visiting national parks, and just being outdoors.
Kenzie Knue
Pilates & Group Classes
I’ve always been unable to stand still, so workout classes showed up early in my life. I’ve been teaching for years, from HIIT to Pilates and back again, I love helping people find the right workout to move their bodies and feel good. My goal is always to build confidence and reach your goals, whatever they may be.
Annie Kula
Mat Class.
Annie Kula is a native of Cleveland, Ohio and moved to Ann Arbor in 2022.
Annie is a professional dancer and choreographer working with Royal Caribbean Int, Twenty One Pilots, Exhalations Dance Theatre & more.
Fitness has always been a key focus in her dance career leading her to train and gain knowledge in strength training, pilates & barre. Since retiring from the stage she continues to use her background and training to give back to young dancers and the A2 community.
She believes that movement is medicine, dedicating her time to help others improve their fitness and overall goals.
Mary
Mat Class.
Mary holds her BA in Dance Performance and Choreography from Hope College. She has an extensive dance background training with the Joffrey Ballet, Virginia School of the Performing Arts, Merce Cunningham, and Paul Taylor to name a few. After teaching dance for several years Mary discovered Barre, and became an instructor in Minnesota in 2017. Since moving back to Michigan in 2019, Mary now teaches Barre and Pilates. When she’s not in the studio Mary has 5 children who keep her very busy! What Mary loves most about teaching group fitness is the connection with her clients.
“ I want everyone in my classes to feel welcomed, safe, and like they are being personally trained by me even in a group fitness atmosphere. I love to motivate my clients and help them effectively get the most out of their workouts.”
Mason
Personal Trainer
I am excited to be a trainer and group fitness instructors at ECF! I played football at the University of Louisiana — Monroe and was a cheerleader at Louisiana State University. After my collegiate career, I began training youth, high school, college, and professional athletes at Traction Sports Performance in Baton Rouge, Louisiana where I was also a head strength and conditioning coach at a local high school. My passion is to make others move easier, live longer, and be a better functioning human! I seek to do this in the best way possible — with JOY! I graduated from LSU with a degree in Exercise Science and Human Performance. I am gaining my CSCS certification and wish to pursue my masters in Exercise Physiology in the near future! My long term goal is to be a strength and conditioning coach at the University of Michigan and then in Europe! Come hang out and get better! I promise you’ll have some fun and laugh a little.
Emma
Personal Trainer
Emma has been a personal trainer in Ann Arbor for almost 2 years! I graduated from Alma College with a degree in Integrative Physiology and Health Sciences where I also played college soccer for 4 years. I specialize in working with general population, but have experience training those ranging from skilled athletes to individuals struggling with chronic illnesses or injuries. I am Ann Arbor native and I love helping my community become more involved in health and fitness!
Leslie
Yoga
Leslie came to yoga 15 years ago, as a way to manage everyday stress. The practice quickly became her favorite way to feel mentally, physically and emotionally balanced. Yoga has grown with and served Leslie through three pregnancies, post partum, and years of nurturing herself and her three young girls. In this next chapter of life, Leslie is sharing the gift of yoga as a teacher. Leslie’s goal for her classes is for students to find and fill their unique daily needs, on the mat. She hopes to make each class a journey to and through self, with music, movement and postures that evoke emotion, energy and inspiration.
Lindsey
Yoga
Lindsay found yoga over 10 years ago to heal her relationship with herself. Her yoga practice has helped her learn that she is capable of staying in her body during moments of intensity or discomfort and it has taught her that she and her body are on the same team. Her teaching philosophy is to provide a safe place to land: a space where every student can show up just as they are, a space where we can peel back the layers and masks of inauthenticity in order to foster a deep and authentic connection with our true selves, and a place to hold space for students to dive deep and sit with emotions or feelings that may come up during the practice. Yoga has been a critical component to Lindsey’s emotional, physical, and spiritual healing, and she knows sharing this tool is part of her soul's work and life purpose: to feel it all through movement, to show up authentically herself in her practice and invite others to do the same.
Sarah
Yoga
Sarah began their yoga journey in 2017 after ten years of dancing, having always enjoyed movement as a form of self expression, and a way for connecting to the strength of mind, body, and spirit. Sarah tried a vinyasa yoga class shortly after and was hooked immediately by the power and endurance of the practice, and intentional linking of breath and movement like a dance. Sarah completed their 200 hour YTT at Invoke Yoga and Pilates in Indianapolis in June 2023. In Sarah’s classes you can expect a grounding, playful space for cultivating intentional exploration of breath and movement. For Sarah, yoga is time for practice, curiosity, self study, and for finding zen amidst the beautiful chaos of everyday life.
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