Quality, high standards, expertise and family feel are the words our students use to describe us. Founded in 2010 by fitness industry expert and medical doctor: Dr Dane Vishnubala. CORE Fitness Education is a group of doctors, physios, sports scientists, university lecturers and experienced fitness professionals with a passion for imparting their experience and knowledge.
We pride ourselves on delivering evidence (research) based high quality courses by our expert team of tutors and supporting our students on their journey, whether it be finding employment or setting up their own business.
We set our bar extremely high and in our biased opinion, our students are the best fitness professionals in the country!
Delivering world-class research based education by the right people, raising the standards of the fitness industry and making sure our students are employable is our key goal. To do this, Dane has handpicked this extremely experienced team that you see below. Our team members are trained by us and only teach for us! What makes our team unique is not just their experience and qualifications but rather that the majority of the team have known each other for many years, some even decades, making us less a team and more a family!
Share this:
Dr Dane Vishnubala MBBS PGCME MRCGP FHEA
Director
Dane has over 14 years experience in the health and fitness industry as an exercise professional and has worked in a number of gyms and freelance in the North and South.
Dane is a GP at Haxby Group in York, an NHS Sport and Exercise Medicine Doctor and Public Health England GP Clinical Champion for Physical Activity. As a Sports Medicine Physician, Dane is currently the Great Britain (GB) Basketball Senior Men's Team Doctor and the York City Football Club Doctor.
He is also the Royal College of GPs (RCGP) Lead Clinical Advisor for Physical Activity and Lifestyle and a British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine (BASEM) Executive Member. He is passionate about physical activity and health and writes for patient.co.uk and has contributed to a number of national newspapers and magazines.
Dane is passionate about teaching and designs the majority of our courses and teaches our tutor team regularly. He is a lecturer at Hull York Medical School and Leeds Beckett University and is a visiting lecturer at a number of other universities including Leeds University, Queen Mary's University London and UCL. He teaches on undergraduate medical school, sports therapy, and sport science courses as well as Sports Medicine MSc courses. He regularly presents at a number of national conferences.
Interesting Facts! Dane captained the University of York Men's Basketball 1st team when he was at university. Dane is a twin! He is 15 minutes younger.
Paul Turnbull
Director
Paul has been working in the fitness industry for over ten years and is a level 4 instructor. He has worked in a number of gym chains as well as freelance. As well as working as a senior tutor for CORE Fitness Education, he currently works as a Personal Trainer at David Lloyd.
When Paul is not teaching or delivering PT sessions, he can be found in the weights area of the gym!
Qualifications: Diploma in Personal Training, Kettlebell Instructor CertificateSuspension Instructor Certificate, , Studio Cycling Instructor, Exercise to Music Qualification, Diploma in Exercise Referral, Diabetes and Obesity, Emergency First Aid at Work Certificate, Gait Analysis
Interesting Facts! Paul is born and bred in Hull. Paul and Dane met initially when Paul was working at Fitness First in Hull back in 2006.
Kate Rose
Operations Manager
Kate's background is in education. She achieved her Qualified Teacher Status in 2012 and taught at secondary schools within York and Selby. Kate retrained with CORE Fitness Education in 2016 and worked part time as a Personal Trainer and Zumba teacher and part time in adult education until 2019. She's now made the leap to working in the fitness industry full time; Kate now works for CORE Fitness Education combining her education expertise with her love of fitness.
Qualifications: BA Hons (Language and Linguistics), MSc (Forensic Speech Science), PGCE, QTS, Circuits Instructor Certificate, Zumba B1 Training, CPCAB Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills , Certificate in Fitness Instructing, Diploma in Personal Training
Interesting Facts!
Kate is currently in training to run the London Marathon for the National Deaf Children's Society.
Joe Thorpe
Tutor
Joe has been working in the fitness industry for over ten years. He focuses predominantly on strength and conditioning and works at both David Lloyd in York and freelance with a number of athletes.
As well as his vocational qualifications, Joe is completing his Strength and Conditioning degree. When he is not teaching for CORE Fitness Education or personal training, he can be found on his road bike, generating some serious speed!
Qualifications: BSc Strength and Conditioning (pending), Diploma in Personal Training, Kettlebell Instructor Certificate, Suspension Instructor Certificate, Studio Cycling Instructor, Exercise to Music Qualification, Emergency First Aid at Work Certificate
Interesting Facts! Joe, Dane and Jo Battson used to work together at Nuffield Health.
Hannah King Bsc
Tutor
Hannah has been working in the fitness industry for over 5 years and holds a degree in sport science from Leeds university. She is currently completing her masters in strength and conditioning.
Having completed the year long customary CORE Fitness Education tutor training, Hannah teaches on a range of courses. With her blend of academic qualifications and vocational experience she meets the CORE Fitness Education ideals for a tutor. Hannah is also an old CORE Fitness Education graduate!
Qualifications: BSc Sports Science MSc Strength and Conditioning (pending), Diploma in Personal Training, Kettlebell Instructor Certificate, Suspension Instructor Certificate, Studio Cycling Instructor, Diploma in Exercise Referral, Gait Analysis, Diploma in Sports Massage Level 3, Sports Massage Therapy Level 4, Emergency First Aid at Work Certificate
Interesting Facts! Hannah was runner up in the Miss York contest. She is an avid York City Football Club Supporter!
Emma Chapman BA (Hons), QTS
Senior Tutor
Emma is an experienced teacher with qualified teacher status through her studies at Leeds Beckett University for a degree in Physical Education, specialising in Sports Psychology. In addition to working for CORE Fitness Education, Emma is a Senior Leader responsible for staff training at a large independent school.
Emma has a longstanding interest and experience in personal training through her training and employment as an Officer in the Army Reserves. She also regularly teaches studio cycling.
When Emma is not teaching or away with the Army she can generally be found swimming or studying for her M.Ed.
Qualifications: BA (Hons) Physical Education with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), PGCE Coaching and Mentoring for Teacher Development, Far from Help Wilderness Medic Trained, Circuits Instructor Certificate, Diploma in Personal Training, Kettlebell Instructor Certificate, Suspension Instructor Certificate, Studio Cycling Instructor, Aqua Instructor, Diploma in Exercise Referral, Pre and Post Natal Exercise Instructor, Emergency First Aid at Work Certificate, Gait Analysis
Interesting Facts! Emma was one of CORE Fitness Education's first graduates.
Jason Feavers
Tutor and Assessor
Jason has over 20 years experience in various roles within exercise referral and public health. He has worked as an exercise referral instructor, coordinator and as scheme manager responsible for a city wide exercise referral scheme. As well as working with clients with a range of medical conditions, he has developed numerous programmes to increase physical activity levels in people with medical conditions. This has included physical activity workshops linked to an NHS diabetes education programme, a cancer exercise scheme and working with a range of mental health service providers to increase access to community based activities. Jason also developed an outdoor wellbeing programme for a national fitness training provider. Jason's main interest is behaviour change and motivational interviewing. As well as tutoring for CORE Fitness Education in Exercise Referral and Mental Health Awareness, Jason still teaches a regular exercise class for people living with cancer, and sessions for improving mental health and wellbeing. As part of his Masters in 'Behaviour Change for Health and Wellbeing', Jason conducted a research project exploring the relationship between mindfulness and physical activity adherence. Jason is a lay advisor to the Faculty of Sport and Exercise Medicine and sits on their council and appraisals committee.
Qualifications: Level 4 Qualifications in Cancer and Exercise, Cardiac Rehab, Gym, Circuits, Mental Health First Aid, Motivational Interviewing , Lower Back Pain, Diabetes and Obesity, Diploma in Exercise Referral, Studio Cycling Instructor, Gait Analysis, Suspension and Kettlebell Instructor Certificate, Diploma in Personal Training
Interesting Facts! Jason enjoys running long distances in hilly places, stopping only for cake. Jason is a volunteer ambassador for 5K Your Way, Move Against Cancer, an initiative to encourage people affected by cancer including those undergoing treatment, to take part in a local 5K Your Way parkrun event which are held on the last Saturday of each month.
Joanne Battson
Tutor
Jo has been working in the fitness industry for over 15 years as both a Personal Trainer and an exercise to music (ETM) instructor. She has worked and managed numerous gyms including Next Generation, Cannons and Nuffield Health. Jo's passion is ETM and she is an experienced freelance studio instructor teaching a wide variety of studio based classes as well as Aqua. Notably a number of years ago, she developed a 6 week intensive nutrition and weight loss programme called Bootcamp for a major fitness chain. Jo has been with CORE Fitness Education since the beginning!
Qualifications: Diploma in Personal Training, Exercise to Music Qualification, Step Instructor, Pre and Post Natal Exercise Instructor, Diploma in Exercise Referral, Suspension Instructor Certificate, Kettlebell Instructor Certificate, Studio Cycling Instructor, Aqua Instructor, Emergency First Aid at Work Certificate
Interesting Facts! Jo does a range of charity work with her husband Andy, as well as short term fostering. Her other passion is Daschunds and can be found walking York with Barney regularly! Jo was a keen ballet dancer when she was younger. Jo and Dane have previously worked at David Lloyd together.
Dr Michael Cooke MBBS BSc
Research and Development Team
Michael is an emergency medicine doctor working in Leeds with a degree in sports science, a rare combination! He is well published and has presented many of his research. His research interests lie in obesity and biomechanics.
Michael also has a specialist interest in sport and exercise medicine. Michael is one of the key members of our exercise referral and level 4 qualifications research and development team.
Michael has completed his fitness qualifications with CORE Fitness Education and we are proud to call him one of our graduates! When Michael is not working in the NHS or writing for CORE Fitness Education he can be found pursuing a variety of sports.
Qualifications: MBBS Medical Degree, BSc Sports Science, Advanced Life Support (ALS), Certificate in Fitness Instructing
Interesting Facts! Michael has recently become a dad to Anya! Michael is married to Victoria!
Adam Sawyers MSc
Research and Development Team
Adam is a core fitness education graduate and final year medical student. He completed his masters in clinical exercise science at Portmouth University and is a keen powerlifter.
On top of his medical studies, Adam runs his own personal training business focusing on strength.
When he is not writing for CORE Fitness Education, Adam can be found in a spit and saw dust gym, pumping iron!
Qualifications: MSc Clinical Exercise Science Portsmouth University, 5th Year Medical Student (Hull York Medical School), Diploma in Personal Training, Diploma in Exercise Referral
Interesting Facts! Adam has won gold for England at the powerlifting commonwealth championships. He was sponsored by CORE Fitness Education. Adam has been a medical student of Dane's.
Sam Bacon Bsc MSc CSCS
Research and Development Team
Sam is a sports scientist with a masters in strength and conditioning (S&C). He has worked with a number of professional teams and athletes and has a strong interest in the research side of S&C.
As well as writing courses and reviewing research for CORE, Sam works as a personal trainer and strength and conditioning coach up in Newcastle.
Qualifications: MSc Strength and Conditioning Northumbria University , BSc Sports Science Northumbria University, Diploma in Personal Training, Diploma in Sports Massage Level 3, Sports Massage Therapy Level 4, Emergency First Aid at Work Certificate
Interesting Facts! Sam was a CORE Fitness Education graduate! Sam likes cats!
Chris Statham
Co Founder and Tutor
Chris has been working in the fitness industry for over 20 years. He also holds a diploma in Sports Psychology and has worked and managed numerous private gyms in Manchester and Yorkshire.
Chris currently runs a highly successful Sports performance and therapy business. When Chris is not writing or teaching for CORE fitness education he may be found swim coaching, teaching studio cycling or fuelling his sporting passions. Chris is also a British triathlon coach and a founding member of the York triathlon club. When he is not working, Chris can be found on one of his many bikes, breaking the sound barrier!
Qualifications: British Triathlon Coach, Diploma in Personal Training, Kettlebell Instructor Certificate, Suspension Instructor Certificate, Studio Cycling Instructor, Gait Analysis, Emergency First Aid at Work Certificate, Diploma in Sports Massage Level 3, Sports Massage Therapy Level 4, Emergency First Aid at Work Certificate
Interesting Facts! Chris is originally from Manchester and cannot live without coffee. He can be seen around York in his very cool VW Camper Van.
