5th Gear Fitness

Certified Personal Trainer & Owner

Gretchen has been in the fitness industry since 1988, and has seen many trends come and go over the years.  She started with the Auburn, NY YMCA in 1988, then started a 20 year career with Lifestyle Family Fitness in 1991.  She has held personal training certifications with AFAA and NASM, and various group fitness certifications from AEA, AFAA, ACSM, Les Mills, Real Ryder, and Booty Barre.

Gretchen also holds a BFA in Theatre from VCU.  She thoroughly enjoys helping participants raise their fitness thresholds and accomplish feats they never dreamed possible in a fun yet purposeful environment.

Being a breast cancer survivor, Gretchen holds a special place for empowering individuals to overcome their obstacles.  Her vision for 5th Gear Fitness is one that encompasses all aspects of fitness, healthy eating habits, and healthy living in an effort to bring out the best in every person with whom she has the privilege of working. Although she has an unwavering passion for teaching and coaching fitness and health, Gretchen is driven by her dedication to her two amazing daughters, Ursula and Olivia.

"If you can, you should; if you think you can, you should at least try!"

Learn more about Gretchen's Journey in her interview with Voyage Tampa

Gretchen's Professional Certifications:  AFAA Group Fitness, SCW Mat Pilates, SCW Yoga II, Booty Barre, RealRyder Cycle, Keiser Cycle,  First Aid CPR AED, and Child CPR AED.  Formerly NASM Personal Training, ACSM Group Fitness, AEA, Les Mills BodyFlow, BodyPump, and BodyStep.  Also, LifeVantage Independent Distributor.

Certified Personal Trainer & Owner

NASM and SCW Certified Personal Trainer

NASM Certified Personal Trainer

Schwinn Indoor Cycling Certification

Doug’s fitness journey began in his childhood through participation in youth and high school sports. His journey continued while in the military, as well as through coaching baseball, cross country, basketball, and football. In January 2017 Doug was looking for something different and found it at 5th Gear Fitness. Becoming part of the 5th Gear Fitness Family has changed his life. The high energy and incredible cardio benefits of cycle soon became his favorite class so much that Doug was inspired to become a certified cycle instructor in 2020. Teaching keeps him motivated to reach new fitness goals, but more importantly it has allowed him to inspire others to reach higher.

Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider

Eli is a Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider (YACEP), and an Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher E-RYT 500. She is also a Primary Group Instructor through AFAA, CPR AED certified, and insured.

Eli teaches several yoga styles such as Hatha, Power, Chair, Yin, Gentle, YogaTab℠, Restorative, Nidra, Heated Vinyasa, and Meditations.

Eli has the spiritual gift of diagnosing the condition of the 7 major Chakras (Energy Centers), as well as restoring their innate spin. She is also an intuitive Tarot reader. She leads a healthy lifestyle and often connects with the elements of Sunshine, Wind, Water and Earth. By, nurturing her senses in the symphony of the present moment.

Certified Health Coach

Gabi is a Certified Health Coach, Fitness Nutrition Specialist, Natural Bikini Competitor, Posing Coach and lives a Plant-Based lifestyle.

A Certified Health Coach, you help individuals and families achieve their health and wellness goals by providing trusted, science-based information, positive encouragement and motivation. Health coaches help clients change their lives, improving their physical health and overall well-being. Through coaching, you create individualized solutions that support genuine, lasting lifestyle changes. It’s more than just knowing the science behind nutrition and exercise, it’s understanding how to motivate coaching clients to live happier, healthier lives.

NCEP Certified Personal Trainer

Tabitha’s fitness journey began nearly two decades ago after struggling to lose weight and regain a healthy lifestyle post childbirth. She faced many obstacles while attempting to reach her fitness and weight loss goals both physically and emotionally. Through extensive research, which led to permanent lifestyle changes, Tabitha found the key to success through proper nutrition and exercise. After achieving her 60 pound weight loss goal, she was left feeling dissatisfied with her appearance due to remaining excess skin from fat loss. She also experienced muscle weakness and low back pain from an abdominal muscle separation, called diastasis recti.