Gisèle Tennant, PhD
President
- Tennant Solutions Inc.
Professional Information
Gisèle
Tennant, PhD
President
Tennant Solutions Inc.
Health, Wellness and Fitness
Education, Honors & Awards
Walden University/ University of Montreal/ University of Ottawa
PhD-Walden University- Psychology; MSc.-University of Montreal '90 -Physical Education/BSc.-University of Ottawa '80 - Biology
2013
Yes
Personal Information
Canada
Alberta
Calgary
Member of Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology; Member of The Obesity Society; Member of Canadian Obesity Network; Member of the Alberta Fitness Leadership Certification Association (President); Volunteer YMCA Calgary
Dance
Dr. Tennant is a respected Certified Exercise Physiologist and an experienced AFLCA Master Trainer. She received her Bachelors of Science in Biology from the University of Ottawa and her Master’s degree in Science of Physical Education from the University of Montreal. She is a member of both the Walden University Chapter of the International Psi Chi Honors Society in Psychology and the Golden Key International Honour Society. Dr. Tennant holds a PhD in health psychology with a focus on changing health behaviors.Her accomplishments include the development of the Active Y Kids Program™ for the YMCA of the Prairies. The purpose of the program was to increase after school physical activity for children. She presented her research findings at the international conference Improving Health for Children: What Works? in June 2011, and at the Chronic Disease Prevention Alliance of Canada (CDPAC) in February 2012. Dr. Tennant collaborated on the development of the physical activity curriculum for the YMCA of Metropolitan Atlanta Start For Life project aimed at decreasing obesity levels in preschoolers. Through evidence-based weight management programs, she has helped numerous women reach and maintain a healthy weight. Recently, she co-developed a Weight Loss and Maintenance Trial for obese women with the Director of Wellness Advancement/YMCA of Metropolitan Atlanta. The funded pilot project is underway and Dr. Tennant looks forward to the research findings. From 1993 to 2012 Gisèle landed her expertise to YMCA Calgary, YMCA of the Prairies, and YMCA Canada. As a YMCA staff, she held the positions of Fitness Director, Program Manager, General Manager, and National Health and Fitness Manager. In 2010, along with the President and CEO of YMCA Canada, Dr. Tennant sat on the Advisory Board of the CBC Live Right Now initiative, inspiring Canadians to lead healthier lives. Recently, she was sought out by the CBC for a live television interview to give her expert opinion on the launch of the new Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines. For several terms, Gisèle sat on the Mount Royal University Personal Trainer Advisory Board. She is currently president of the Alberta Fitness Leadership Certification Association (AFLCA). She has authored several fitness instruction manuals for the YMCA and co-authored a deep water tethering manual for the AFLCA. Gisèle has been interviewed both for television and in print, from Midday (CBC), to Homemakers, Canadian Living, and Maclean’s Get Physical advertising supplement. As a health and wellness professional, with over 30 years of experience, Dr. Tennant brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to her work, whether in front of a group fitness class, working one-on-one, or at an academic conference. Her passion is about helping people change their health behaviors and reach their full potential. Her research interest and expertise are in body image, body areas satisfaction, self-regulatory skills for weight management for overweight and obese individuals, and curriculum development for children’s after-school physical activity program. Currently, Gisèle is the research coordinator for YMCA Calgary for a study which will be conducted as a collaborative effort between the YMCA of Calgary, the University of Calgary, and the Alberta Children’s Hospital. As such, she is developing the exercise protocol for this research project which will study the effects of exercise on adolescent depression. Dr. Tennant is owner and president of Tennant Solutions Inc., a health, fitness, and wellness consulting firm in Calgary, AB
More Than 25 years
Dr. Tennant holds a PhD in Health Psychology and a Master’s degree in Science of physical activity. She has co-authored several peer-reviewed academic papers. Her research interest and expertise are in body image, body areas satisfaction, self-regulatory skills for weight management for overweight and obese individuals, individuals with chronic diseases, and curriculum development for children’s after-school physical activity program. She specializes in working with overweight and obese women with current studies including A weight loss and maintenance trial for obese women (Atlanta, USA) and The effects of aerobic exercise on adolescents with depression (Calgary, Canada). Dr. Tennant is a certified exercise physiologist, an Alberta Fitness Leadership Certification Association (AFLCA) Master Trainer, AFLCA Certified Fitness Trainer Examiner, a certified fitness instructor and personal trainer, and currently president of the AFLCA. She is owner and president of Tennant Solutions Inc., a health, fitness, and wellness consulting firm in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Published in Int'l. Journal of childbirth Education 2014, Permenente Journal 2012, Psychology Health & Medicine 2013, Health Education & Behavior 2014, Research Quarterly for Exercise & Sport 2011, Archive of Exercise in Health & Disease 2012, Psychological Roberts 2012
Weight Management; Personal Training & Fitness Training; Health and Wellness; Fitness Assessment; Changing Health Behavior; Fitness Instructor Training;
Websites & Social