Paulette Thabault

Owner/Personal Trainer

Instructor for: Spinning®

Paulette was born in Burlington, VT. Her path to fitness came through her desire to get in shape after having her first child in 1984, and was further fueled by her career in health care and medical law. She worked for many years at Massachusetts General Hospital in Adult Medicine and Women's Health, working with individuals struggling with obesity as well as managing diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol and menopause. Currently, Paulette lives in South Burlington with her husband Peter Gunther, M.D., and their family.

Carol Bennett

Personal Trainer

Instructor for: Spinning®, Yoga

Carol Bennett has been involved in the Health and Fitness industry for more than 13 years. She has been directing group programs in this area for over 10 years, including community outreach programs, children's fitness programs and weight management workshops. Carol's main area of focus is guiding clients through the process of weight loss and lifestyle coaching.

Anthony Frank

Personal Trainer / Equipment Maintenance Manager

Instructor for: Spinning®, Strength & Conditioning

Anthony Frank started experimenting with bodybuilding and nutrition as an overweight teenager. Anthony learned through training and diet to decrease body fat and increase muscle mass while participating in football and power lifting. Since then he has found that weightlifting alone was not enough and has added cardiovascular training to make his training complete. Anthony believes balance is the key for mental and physical well-being.

Phoenix Suskin

Personal Trainer

Instructor for: Strength & Conditioning

Energetic and enthusiastic, Phoenix Suskin coaches her clients on the importance of core strength and promotes exercises to enhance good posture and body alignment. Phoenix's specialty training is in the areas of positive lifestyle coaching and weight loss.

Lynda Bowen

Personal Trainer

Instructor for: Strength & Conditioning

Lynda was born and raised in Glasgow, Scotland. Living in a fitness conscious household, Lynda followed in her brother’s footsteps to become a personal trainer. As a seasoned aerobics swimming and circuit training instructor, Lynda believes variety is the key to maintaining a healthy well balanced lifestyle.

Brandon Dewyea

Personal Trainer

Instructor for: Strength & Conditioning

Brandon has been a personal trainer for 8 years, but has been in the health and fitness industry far longer. Beyond personal training, she teaches group fitness classes such as kickboxing and strength training. She has studied martial arts and ballet, which got her interested in fitness, and she often draws upon when developing creative, fun exercise routines.

Though not a cure, exercise and proper diet can also help if you are mentally fatigued, emotionally drained, or even clinically depressed. Brandon enjoys the challenge of creating effective workout routines that fit within a person's unique lifestyle, schedule, and needs. Personal transformation is within reach of everyone!

Katie Halsey

Personal Trainer

Instructor for: Strength & Conditioning

Katie has been a personal trainer for five years and has been involved in the health and fitness industry for many years. Before becoming a personal trainer, Katie was active in racquet sports, golf, skiing, cross country skiing and snowshoeing. She learned that by strength training, her performance in these activities would and did improve. It was then she transformed her life by working with a Personal Trainer, with hard work and determination she was able to meet her personal goals.

Katie believes people are never too "old" to "get in shape" it may take a little longer than when you are in your 20's or 30's just believe in yourself and you can do it. Whatever your goal is strengthening, toning, flexibility or weight management, with patience and perseverance your goals are attainable. She has found that if you make fitness fun, take the time to listen and give positive feedback on performance clients will give 100%.

Christopher Dryden

Personal Trainer

Instructor for: Strength & Conditioning

Chris has been involved in health and fitness throughout his life. Playing football, basketball and baseball in high school sparked an interest in health and physical fitness. Chris went to Castleton State College where he graduated with a B.S. in Exercise Science in 2008. Soon after graduating Chris moved up to Burlington to pursue his career and passion as a health and fitness instructor. Chris became a member of the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) and the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). Chris specializes in sport specific training, nutrition, weight loss, strength and conditioning, power lifting and functional training.

Emily Nicolai, MS, RD

Registered Dietitian, Nutrition Consultant

Instructor for:

Emily is originally from Wakefield, Massachusetts. She found her way to Vermont by attending the University of Vermont. Emily is a registered dietitian (RD). This credential means Emily is an expert in the field of food and nutrition, having successfully completed a bachelor’s degree in nutrition, internship, and licensing exam. Proper nutrition is often the missing link between health and fitness. Emily is passionate about food, health, and exercise. She can help individuals learn how to maximize their health and fitness with wholesome and nutritious foods. This is achieved by setting realistic and maintainable goals. Most of Emily’s time is spent working at Central Vermont Medical Center in Berlin, VT counseling and educating people about nutrition for diabetes, weight loss, high cholesterol and various other health issues. Emily is excited to be part of the Fitness Options team and looks forward to working with you.