Alice Kolessar has been fitness instructor and trainer since 1983, when she had a falling out with her favorite bathing suit. Noticing that more was falling out of her bathing suit every year, she decided to take matters into her own hands and join the ranks of the budding fitness industry. Since that time she has developed her own training program for potential trainers and instructors as well as pursuing her own love of post rehab conditioning for her own clients. She has lived in Key West for so many years that many of her older clients swear she went to school with their kids.

Alice’s areas of certification include group fitness, senior fitness, one on one strength and conditioning, and her specialty: helping clients manage diseases, injuries and maintain day to day functionality. She is currently pursuing her Medical Exercise Specialist certification.

In 1998, she and her long time friend and co-worker, Tom Wheaton, decided to strike out on their own and Paradise Health & Fitness was born. It was their dream and personal goal to provide a fun atmosphere where anyone could feel safe, comfortable and motivated while reaching optimal health and quality of life.

Key West has known Tom for more than twenty years; he has been a resident for the past sixteen. His fitness career began in New Jersey in 1989 and took off during his first year after moving to Key West in 1990.

His certifications and continuing education include Floor Aerobics, Step Aerobics, Cycle Reebok, Weight Resistance Training, Basic Nutrition, and Yoga.

Working with individuals has been his main focus for the last ten years but he has begun to enjoy training small and more cost efficient groups for the past two years. This innovative approach allows clients who may not be able to afford one on one training the same benefits from Tom’s knowledge and experience. His response to the question “How can I get in shape?” is just this: “I can give you all the bells and whistles with computer generated programs and digital technology, but you still have to set aside the time for a well planned personal workout along with a healthy diet. It must be something that’s somewhat enjoyable, something you’ll stick with.”

Tom’s love of good food and his training in culinary arts in New York feeds his second passion. Creating healthy, delicious recipes and menus for himself as well as clients rounds out his “Eat right and exercise” philosophy. A healthy lifestyle can taste good and be fun too. Or at least tolerable.

Lucy and Leon have been dance partners and instructors since 1995. They travel to dance festivals, week long dance camps and workshop weekends to stay abreast of what’s happening on the dance scene and to learn from nationally recognized instructors.

Leon and Lucy were once dancers and instructors with the Southernmost Dancers, a country-western dance group here in Key West and have appeared on national TV, both on Club Dance and Wild Horse Saloon. In 1995 they were instrumental in forming Southernmost Ballroom Dance Club in Key West and share instructing for that group which meets on Sunday nights, right her at Paradise Health & Fitness.

In 1998 they taught swing at the Florida Keys Dance Center in Marathon and have been associated with Paradise Health& Fitness since 1999 where they have taught swing, hustle, Texas two step and are currently teaching salsa on Friday evenings.

They are available for private lessons which include preparing couples for their first dance at their wedding, the bride and father, etc. as well as anyone getting started in social dance and those looking to sharpen their own skills.

Lucy and Leon also perform and teach for corporate functions in the Keys. Their personal dance philosophy is that learning any dance discipline makes one a better dancer in all styles. “We enjoy helping others develop their dance skills.”

They may be reached directly at 305-296-6348, or through Paradisehealt594@bellsouth.net.

John Creighton has been a resident of Key West for 20 years. Though primarily in the restaurant business he has always been involved in fitness whether it was a membership at various gyms or running the beach and participating in the 7-Mile Bridge Run consistently since 1989. Recently he has been under the wings of Master Trainers Tom Wheaton and Alice Kolessar and has completed his personal training certification as well as a nutrition course through the University of Florida. John currently teaches 5 Body Toning classes and 2 weight room classes weekly along with maintaining his personal training clientele. John believes that fitness and nutrition are very important parts of everyone's life and he does his best to make it fun, safe and effective.