I started Sally Sunshine because I saw a gap.
Too many seniors were being told to “just stay active” — but without structured guidance, proper progression, or exercises designed specifically for aging bodies. At the same time, many mainstream fitness programs were simply too aggressive, too fast, or not adapted for balance limitations, joint sensitivity, or mobility challenges. Read about my journey below-
Sally MacDonald, RHEP
Registered Health & Exercise Practitioner
ASFA Certified Advanced Seniors Fitness Instructor
Insured by the Fitness Practitioners of Ontario
Certified in First Aid & CPR
Sally MacDonald, Certified Seniors Fitness Instructor
Sally Sunshine Gentle Fitness
Sally Sunshine Seniors Fitness Studio
Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada
📧 sallysunshinegentlefitness@gmail.com
🌐 sallysunshine.ca
📞 519-270-6747
Credentials
I hold an S.F.I.C. certificate from the Canadian Centre for Activity & Aging at Western University, one of the most widely recognized Seniors’ Fitness Instructor certifications in Canada.
In addition, I hold numerous certificates from various seniors’ fitness courses, programs, and workshops, and I continue to further my education on a regular basis. I am currently enrolled in the Bellyfit “Sage” course and University of Ottawa’s Heart Smart course.
I am fully insured to instruct seniors’ group exercise classes as an F.P.A.O. Registered Fitness and Health Professional with the Fitness Practitioners Association of Ontario, and I am certified in First Aid and CPR.
Experience
I currently have more than 15 years of experience instructing group exercise classes in various fitness facilities in Owen Sound.
To gain experience working with older adults, I originally became a V.O.N. volunteer instructor. After completing several of their training programs, I was mentored by several excellent senior fitness instructors while leading the S.M.A.R.T. (Seniors Maintaining Active Roles Together) group exercise classes in our community.
After furthering my credentials and obtaining my S.F.I.C. certification, I became employed by Grey Bruce V.O.N. as a paid instructor.
My V.O.N. certifications include:
- Fall Prevention Classes – Level 1
- Fall Prevention Classes – Level 2
- Parkinson’s Exercise Class
Now
I currently instruct six morning classes from Monday to Saturday at 10:30 a.m. and three afternoon classes at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
These classes are offered live online using Zoom, where participants can exercise together in real time.
Please see the Live Zoom Workouts Schedule for full details.
For those who prefer more time flexibility, I also provide recorded classes through my YouTube videos, allowing people to follow along whenever it is convenient for them.
Follow my exercise videos on YouTube.
These are lively and fun 50+ active seniors’ cardio and strength classes, along with seniors’ yoga classes.
History
Like everyone, I have worked at many different jobs throughout my life, and many of them caused injuries, problems, and pain — sometimes at the time, and sometimes later in life.
- Delivery driver — neck and hips
- Dance teacher — knees and hips
- Desk job — neck, back, and knees
At one point, I was at a loss to know what type of work I should try next to avoid further health problems.
The answer came when I read a newspaper advertisement from the VON, inviting people to become volunteer seniors’ fitness instructors. They were offering eight weeks of free training, held once a week on Mondays. After completing the course, I could become a certified VON Seniors’ Fall Prevention Instructor if I agreed to volunteer one hour per week for one year, teaching a class.
This sounded like the perfect way to launch a new career that would benefit my body instead of harming it—and perhaps something I could do for the rest of my life.
I became very excited about the opportunity, registered for the program, booked those eight Mondays off from my desk job, and approached the training with great enthusiasm.
As life would have it, after completing most of the course, I applied for a position as a Health & Wellness Coach at a new health and wellness facility that was about to open—and I was hired. Because of this, I did not complete my volunteer hours at that time.
Deborah Dempsey and I trained together as the first two employees hired. Our training took place in Barrie and lasted four weeks, five days a week. During that time, we quickly became good friends.
The training was extensive. We learned a great deal about vitamins and supplements, nutrition, diet, and exercise. My strengths were organization, clerical work, and enthusiasm for sales, while Deb was the exercise expert.
She taught me a great deal about fitness, cardiovascular and strength training exercises, yoga, and the importance of stretching. The program was fantastic, and our clients thrived. Many lost weight, became healthier and happier, and some became lifelong friends.
I soon began teaching classes myself and never looked back. Having previously taught dance for 10 years, I found teaching fitness to be a natural fit and very rewarding. I became fitter and more knowledgeable, and eventually became the manager.
Although I loved the job, the business sadly closed after several years. Deborah then opened her own women’s fitness facility, A Woman’s Journey – A Women’s Fitness & Wellness Facility, which included a fully stocked gym. We continued working together there for the next six years.
During that time, I worked very hard learning more about fitness, including weight training with machines and hand-held weights, yoga, Pilates, and much more. In many ways, Deb gave me a free education in fitness while I worked as the office manager and instructor, teaching three evening classes.
During a slower period when my hours were reduced, I decided to reconnect with the VON. Without that first course, I would never have entered the fitness field. Now I had the time to complete my volunteer hours and was eager to reconnect.
When I contacted Dorothy Embacher at VON, she was pleasantly surprised. I was the first person ever to call and say that I owed her one year of teaching classes.
We soon became friends, but more importantly, she became my mentor. She opened my eyes to the world of older adults and the aging process, including the changes our bodies go through. She helped me understand how important exercise is in helping older adults stay strong, active, and healthy.
While I continued working with Deborah, Dorothy encouraged me to keep teaching and to continue my education. At the time, I was in my early 60s, still very fit, full of energy, and teaching high-level classes. But learning more about the aging body began to reshape my thinking.
I began to wonder whether I should continue exercising at such a high level myself.
I soon became a VON-certified Fall Prevention Instructor, qualified to teach both seated and standing classes, and I finally began teaching my volunteer classes.
Working both jobs was fulfilling, and Dorothy continued to encourage me to expand my knowledge. She mentored me and tested my skills while I completed additional certifications through Western University’s S.F.I.C. program.
Over the next few years, many changes occurred in the world of seniors’ fitness. The government began supporting fall-prevention initiatives, and VON was chosen to deliver its Fall Prevention classes, now known as the S.M.A.R.T. Program, throughout the community and in retirement homes.
This created a need for many more instructors, and some of us were able to become paid instructors. I was very grateful that Dorothy had encouraged me to obtain the certifications required to be hired.
Within a few short months, I found myself teaching 18 classes per week.
Although I left my position as office manager, I continued teaching three evening Gentle Fit classes at the gym that I had designed specifically for women aged 50+. In fact, Dorothy Embacher herself attended some of these classes.
Over time, my life began to feel repetitive, so I decided to make a change and start my own small business: Sally Sunshine Gentle Fitness.
I began offering classes in condos and apartment buildings, and they quickly became successful. This project was incredibly rewarding—from launching the idea to watching it grow to 12 classes, including:
- Men’s Weight Training
- Chair Yoga
- Women’s Fitness Fun for 50+
- Active Seniors
- Seated Seniors
For several years, I transitioned from teaching 20 classes per week for VON to teaching 11 classes per week for my own business.
I enjoyed the variety of teaching classes in local retirement homes, church halls, a condo community room, and a local seniors’ centre, and continued working with VON.
By the time I turned 68, I felt comfortable teaching seven classes per week.
After the six-month pandemic shutdown in 2020, I gradually restarted my business in a smaller way at a local church hall. To allow proper distancing, I ran six weekly classes for four months.
When restrictions tightened again, I launched a new chapter of my classes online using Zoom.
All former Sally Sunshine Gentle Fit classes moved online.
Seniors and older adults in our community began learning how to use technology to stay fit and active. During the pandemic, staying strong and healthy was more important than ever.
Many of my former in-person participants successfully transitioned to online fitness classes designed specifically for older adults. Many of them live with conditions such as diabetes, arthritis, and back problems, yet they consistently report that regular exercise helps them feel better and stay active.
Participants now join using desktop computers, laptops, tablets, iPads, and even cell phones. Some connect their computers to smart TVs using HDMI cables.
There are many ways to access Zoom classes and safely exercise from home—no exposure to germs, no winter falls, and no snow to clear off the car.
The knowledgeable staff at The Source and Staples are also available by phone to help people find the equipment or cables they may need to get started.
I want to thank Deborah Dempsey and Dorothy Embacher for their many years of encouragement, wisdom, and inspiration.
Being a Senior Fitness Instructor is an incredibly rewarding career—one that can truly last a lifetime.
Join My Classes
If you are looking for safe, enjoyable fitness classes designed specifically for older adults, I would love to have you join us.
My classes focus on:
- balance and fall prevention
- gentle strength training
- mobility and flexibility
- staying active and independent
Strengthen Your Heart
Gentle cardio exercises help improve circulation, stamina, and overall cardiovascular health. Staying active keeps your heart strong and supports energy for everyday activities.
Strengthen Your Bones
Weight-bearing and resistance exercises help maintain bone density and support joint health. Regular strength training can help reduce the risk of osteoporosis and keep your body strong.
Improve Your Balance
Balance exercises are one of the most important parts of staying active as we age. Practicing balance regularly helps improve stability, coordination, and confidence while walking or moving around. Strong balance skills can also help reduce the risk of falls and support independent living.
Build Strength and Mobility
Gentle strength exercises help maintain muscle mass, support healthy joints, and make everyday tasks easier—like getting up from a chair, climbing stairs, or carrying groceries.
Classes are available in Owen Sound and online using Zoom.
👉 View the Class Schedule
👉 Contact Me With Questions
Sally Sunshine Gentle Fitness primarily operates out of Owen Sound, Ontario, with both indoor and outdoor class locations.
Primary Studio Location
Most in-person classes, including the Strength & Balance and Cardio/Interval sessions, are held at:
Sally Sunshine Seniors Fitness Studio
Inside Heritage Place Mall
1350 16th St E, Unit #216
Owen Sound, ON N4K 6N7
The studio is conveniently located near the Food Basics entrance and Service Canada.
Additional Class Locations
- Seated Gentle Fit: Held at the Owen Sound Library on Tuesday afternoons.
- Pole Walking Workshops: These sessions take place at various outdoor walking routes in Owen Sound or at the Bayshore Community Centre and Heritage Place Mall indoor tracks during inclement weather.
Virtual Options
For those who cannot attend in person, Sally MacDonald also offers:
- Live Zoom Classes: Interactive sessions you can join from home.
- Video Archives: Pre-recorded workouts available on her website for on-demand use.
If you need to confirm a specific time for the Winter 2026 schedule, it is best to check the official SallySunshine.ca schedule page for the most current updates.
Find Our Studio in Owen Sound
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