TARA VASI
Certification
International Sports Sciences Association
Tara Vasi is a Certified Personal Trainer through the International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA) with over ten years of experience in the fitness industry. She also holds certifications in Yoga (500-hour RYT), Core Recovery, Pilates, Barre, Mindfulness/Meditation, and Sound Healing. In addition to her wellness credentials, Tara earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Multimedia and Graphic Design from Champlain College in Burlington, Vermont in 2007.
Tara’s athleticism and love of human movement began early in life. Captivated by the mind-body connection, she participated in various sports as a child and throughout high school, including soccer, basketball, and tennis. Her true wellness journey, however, began when she turned to yoga to relieve chronic lower back pain caused by scoliosis. The healing she experienced sparked a deep fascination with movement and personal empowerment, revealing her life’s purpose: to help others – regardless of age or ability – feel good from the inside out.
In 2014, after relocating to San Diego, Tara earned her personal training certification to complement her yoga background and expand her ability to support individuals seeking improved health and well-being. Tara later embarked on her most profound journey yet: motherhood. After giving birth in 2021, she experienced severe diastasis recti, which inspired her to dive deeply into the Pilates method and core recovery techniques. Her goal was not only to heal her own body, but also to support others navigating postpartum recovery and pelvic floor dysfunction.
Tara’s favorite exercises are combination exercises, or compound exercises, that involve performing two or more exercises consecutively within a single rep, targeting multiple muscle groups simultaneously.
In her free time, Tara enjoys being outdoors – whether it’s hiking solo or playing with her daughter at the playground. She also finds joy in painting, creative writing, and chanting. A passionate traveler, she’s always dreaming up her next overseas adventure.
TARA’S PHILOSOPHY ON FITNESS
Tara takes a holistic and inclusive approach to fitness, empowering people to reach their fullest potential so that wellness and exercise become more than just routine – they become a joyful expression of vitality, a powerful tool for managing stress, building strength (both physical and emotional), and staying grounded. Through consistent practice, determination, and resilience, Tara believes we can all become better equipped to navigate life’s unpredictable challenges.
TESTIMONIALS
“One of the things I love about Waverley Oaks is the many means they offer to improve my flexibility, strength, and range of motion. The latest is the wonderful Wellness Center, which offers multiple options from facilitated stretching to breath work and yoga. I recently worked with Tara for passive stretch and yoga/breathwork, and found it was a great complement to my workouts, aiding with my flexibility and centeredness.” – Bruce K.
“I am 78 years old and not as flexible as when I was younger. Although I am quite active with tennis and pickleball, I started having problems with my back. Our mile daily dog walks in the woods were becoming difficult and causing quite a bit of lower back pain. I started stretching sessions with Tara a couple of weeks before a planned trip to Morocco, where we anticipated doing a lot of walking. She has been terrific, and I am happy to report that Morocco was great. I had no issues at all with my back. I recommend Tara highly. Her assisted stretching helps in ways I could never do on my own.” – John P.
“When the stretching program was introduced, I was very excited, as one of my goals is to improve my flexibility. I was even more thrilled to learn that Tara would be my stretching coach, since I had previously worked with her in personal training. Tara is deeply engaged with how my body works, what it will benefit most from, and how I perceive movement (I’m not the most coordinated individual). She is excellent at communicating what a stretch is, why she is doing it, and what you should expect to feel (or not feel). She also makes sure to “check in” to see how you feel about the movements. I don’t feel that Tara is just going through the motions; she is connected to what is happening in the moment and to what you need. I highly recommend this program to anyone looking to improve flexibility and better support their body. It’s a great complement to the training, and it’s also a relaxing experience that will leave you feeling less tension and stress.” – Kelly