Mary Anne Cappellino

If there is power in positive thinking, Mary Anne Cappellino would light up Manhattan. You can feel the energy the minute she walks in the room with her contagious affirmative attitude.

Mary Anne not only guides many people to improve their physical condition as an exercise specialist and personal trainer, she actively promotes good health - appearing on TV and radio and inspiring thousands through her seminars and presentations.

An active runner and cyclist, Mary Anne participates in many marathons and biking events and even began a community fitness event. The Kids Run race takes place each May in Delaware Park in Buffalo and is in its 18th year. Running is so instrumental in Mary Anne's life, it led her to love. Mary Anne and husband Gary met at a "Turkey Trot" race in Buffalo in 1995. About five years ago, Gary and Mary Anne decided to add to their family and in 2001 they traveled to China and adopted 3-year old Mya from an orphanage

As a fitness coach, Mary Anne preaches the benefits of an active lifestyle and the importance of a fit mind. But after determining life's stresses need more than just physical exercise, Mary Anne created a motivational "training experience" for the mind - an entertaining, engaging and practical seminar to help people learn to exercise the brain "muscle". Combining wellness of the body and wellness of the spirit in this most unique way gives Mary Anne Cappellino's audiences an experience they never forget - a fitness class for the mind, body and soul.

Among her many certifications, Mary Anne holds credentials from the American Association for Fitness and Aerobics, the Cooper Aerobic Research Institute, the National Dance and Exercise Instructor Training Association, the Federal Department of Health Certification to teach physically-challenged classes, Body Recall Older Adult Exercise and Silver Sneakers Health Care Dimensions. She's also received the New York State Physical Activity Coalition Chairman's Award. Mary Anne is also a spokesperson for Be Active New York State (http://www.beactivenys.org) and the American Heart Association.

In her current position as Wellness Director at the Buffalo Athletic Club (BAC), she not only teaches exercise classes and coordinates corporate wellness initiatives, but also acts as the radio and television spokesperson for the BAC. Mary Anne's media experience extends beyond commercial spokesperson - she served as host of her own weekly fitness segment on Buffalo's ABC television affiliate, fielding live call-ins from viewers and is the fitness columnist for After 50 News.

Her media work coupled with her years of experience as an assistant director of a fitness program for a local HMO makes Mary Anne especially qualified as a wellness consultant and speaker. For more than 15 years, audiences have learned, laughed and launched into exercise programs, inspired by Mary Anne's creative and unique presentations.

Mary Anne is the author of Move Me, a collection of inspirational short stories designed to help motivate the reader mentally, spiritually and physically. She's also written a book chronicling her adoption of a young Chinese girl and currently is working on a series of children's books promoting health. An avid artist, Mary Anne's watercolor designs appear on the cover of Move Me and on a series of note cards.