Tara Keller, Essential Kinetics’ founder, received her Honours Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology in 1995 from the University of Waterloo after completing five years of focused studies, including two years (3800 hours) of clinical practice.  She is a Registered Kinesiologist under the British Columbia Association of Kinesiologists (BCAK) and Canadian Kinesiology Alliance (CKA). Tara became certified as a Medical Exercise Specialist through the American Academy of Health, Fitness & Rehabilitation Professionals (AAHFRP) in 1997 and voluntarily elected to recertify under clinical examination by a Registered Physiotherapist in 2006.

The History of Medical Exercise Specialists:

Dr. Michael K. Jones founded the AAHFRP in 1992 to address the need to “bridge the gap between health care and fitness by providing a forum to educate fitness professional to work cooperatively with the medical community in developing safe and effective fitness programs for special populations and post-rehab clients”.  The AAHFRP developed the Medical Exercise Specialist training and certification program in conjunction with licensed medical professionals who recognized the need for supportive fitness training for those individuals with special medical considerations.  The AAHFRP has played an integral role in certifying health professionals in the provision of post-rehab and medical exercise to clients with a wide array of medical conditions worldwide, including Canada, the United States, Australia, England, Burma, Bermuda, Ireland and Germany.