Personal Trainers

Heidi Bassin

Heidi is certified in personal training through the American Council on Exercise and the Aerobics & Fitness Association of America. She is also a certified instructor of Body Pump, Body Combat and Zumba. She enjoys working with all types of clients and makes fitness fun, interesting and exciting.

Heidi also teaches group exercise classes and works with participants in our annual weight loss challenges. She is a Syracuse University graduate.

Rachel Benson

Rachel is a certified personal trainer through the American Counsel on Exercise. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Gender and Women’s Studies from Oberlin College, and is working toward a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology and Holistic Health from Lesley University. Rachel is passionate about helping others create balanced lifestyles through exercise, nutrition and holistic wellness. Whether you want to lose weight, build strength, improve cardio health, increase balance or get into a routine, Rachel can help you make positive changes in your life.

Rachel has experience with all ages and fitness levels. Her workouts are safe, dynamic, personalized, varied and fun!

Joe Erwin

Joe graduated from Plymouth State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Exercise Science and minors in Business Administration and Health & Nutrition. He has been involved with sports and fitness from an early age, playing various youth sports and continuing through college. Always having a passion for health and fitness, Joe eventually turned his passion into a career. He became certified as a personal trainer through American Council on Exercise and has been personal training since 1999. He has experience training clients of all ages and abilities, beginners to seasoned athletes, and believes that each client should be approached on an individual basis. What works for one may not work for another.

Joe also wants to help clients understand the importance of maintaining a healthy mind and body in order to achieve ones goals. "My success lies in the success of my clients."

Mike Kozul

Mike holds a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Boston University and a Master of Education from Springfield College. Mike is a certified secondary special education mathematics teacher in Quincy, MA. Mike has been a personal trainer with the Y since 2003. In addition, he is studying for International Youth Conditioning Association and American College of Sports Medicine certifications. Mike uses his experience to meet and exceed the health and wellness goals that his clients have set for themselves. Mike believes personal training should be fun, enjoyable and educational for the client. He works with both kids and adults.

Clarence Richardson

Clarence decided to become a personal trainer after dealing with obesity throughout his adolescence. After losing almost 100 pounds, he worked to receive his personal training certification through the American Council on Exercise. His passion is showing clients that fitness can be fun and rewarding. 

Clarence believes by educating his clients and providing them with a solid knowledge base that every individual can achieve his or her goals. He uses a three-step process--setting goals, planning and implementation--and he works with all ages and fitness levels. 

Justin Sorbo

Justin has a BS in Kinesiology from the UMass Amherst Kinesiology program. He is a certified personal trainer through the American College of Sports Medicine.

Justin enjoys training people of all ages and fitness levels and has experience training everyone from D1 athletes to the elderly.

Alex Trimble

Alex is certified in personal training through the American College of Sports Medicine. He is also certified in massage therapy through the Muscular Therapy Institute. Alex enjoys working youth and adults.

He recognizes that everyone has different needs and abilities, and develops a training plan for each individual taking personal injuries and limitations in consideration when working with each client.

Alex is an avid weightlifter and has been involved in a variety of sports.

Erin Vacaro

Erin holds a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary and Special Education and a Master of Education in Counseling from Providence College.  Erin is currently a special education teacher in Needham.

Erin is an ACSM Certified Personal Trainer and has been with the YMCA since June of 2009.  She is a certified SPINNING and TRX instructor and teaches these and other small group training classes at the YMCA.  Erin is an avid fitness professional with a passion to help others discover the benefits of physical fitness and a healthy lifestyle.  Erin enjoys building on her clients’ strengths and interests.  She is very passionate about exercise and is dedicated to empowering, motivating, and challenging her clients to achieve their personal fitness goals.

Teresa Winstead

Teresa holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Smith College; a Master of Philosophy degree from University of Cambridge, England; and a PhD from University of London, England.  In college, she was a three-time All American in the heptathlon and went on to coach collegiately after graduation.  She is certified and insured through the National Strength and Conditioning Association.  She is also a second Dan in Ji Do Kwon, Tae Kwon Do, and runs a martial arts school at the YMCA.

Over the past fifteen years, Teresa has filled various fitness and health-related roles, including serving as a collegiate track coach, Olympic lifting coach, Tae Kwon Do and kickboxing instructor, and a health workshop speaker and college professor.

She is interested in working with clients of all abilities and fitness levels, whether they be recovering from an injury or training for competition.  Her goal is to make exercise a fun and consistent part of her clients’ hectic lives.