Our Trainers and Instructors
BALANCE fitness functions on the philosophy of "whole fitness": the belief that physical, mental and spiritual well being is intertwined, the strengthening of one, strengthens them all and the weakening of one, weakens them all.
Mubarakah Ibrahim is the owner and head trainer of BALANCE fitness Studio for women in New Haven, CT where she offers fitness education, personal training and group fitness classes for women.
Her innovative fitness studio functions on the philosophy of "whole fitness", the belief that physical, mental and spiritual well being is intertwined, the strengthening of one, strengthens them all and the weakening of one, weakens them all. It is with the philosophy of "whole fitness" that Mubarakah (pronounced moo-ba-ra-ka) has worked with women and wellness related issues for the past nine years.
In her fitness career she has gained a reputation as a leader in innovative fitness for women. Her notoriety includes multiple appearances on ABC affiliate WTNH News Channel 8, CBS radio Affiliate WELI Morning Show. In addition she has recently become contributing expert to Prevention Magazine on fitness for women over 40.
Her fitness education was earned through the internationally recognized Aerobic and Fitness Association of America (AFAA) as a Certified Personal Trainer/Fitness Counselor. She also holds several other certifications, including pre/post natal certification, Group Resistance Training, and both beginner and advanced Mat Science Instructor certifications.
Mubarakah lectures, promotes and conducts workshops on alternative health, fitness and healthy living throughout the United States. She is a national speaker and both a published freelance writer and poet. She lives with her husband and 4 children in New Haven, CT.
Our Fitness Instructors
Cheilla "Cameo" Gilliams
Personal Trainer and Group Fitness Instructors
Chaila Gilliams has worked with clients and consulted on the design and management of fitness and massage. She also lectures on health, fitness and weight loss and has been a sought-after personal trainer and aerobics instructor for several years. She gives her clients professional and personal attention, while they acheive their fitness goals.
Amanda "Muneerah" Hilton
Belly Dancing For Beginners
Wednesdays 5:45 pm - 6:45 pm
Amanda grew up in Connecticut where she began her training in ballet, jazz and tap at the age of seven. She continued her studies in dance in Boston while attending Northeastern University.
Amanda always had an interest in Middle Eastern dance and finally began classes in Oriental dance in 2003. She began her studies with Gia Khalsa and the Venus Rising Troupe where she learned a basic fusion style of dance. She then began to have her own performances under the dance name Muneerah. Muneerah began training with Adina learning a combination of Turkish, Egyptian and cabaret style dance and later began a co-teaching and performing with Adina as a duo. In early 2005 she auditioned and became a member of the professional tribal fusion/folkloric troupe the Kadira Noor Ensemble under the instruction of Nerine Avital.
Along with her studies with Gia, Adina and Nerine she has taken various workshops with Farasha, Su’ad, Joe Paul Williams (Delsarte Method) Rania, Aszmara, Ayshe (Wings of Isis), Rimarah Hare, Amira Jamal (double veil), Amani, Natica Angilly, Ranya Renee, Karim Nagi, Kay Hardy Campbell, Amel Tafsout and Nourhan Sharif.
Muneerah works for Yale University Law School and lives in New Haven continuing her studies in various forms of oriental dance and performs in various venues with her own unique style of fusion Turkish and Egyptian dance using props such as veil, sword, tray and candle and Wings of Isis.
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BALANCE fitness
Look Good! Feel Great!
Head Trainer and Owner
Mubarakah Ibrahim, CPT
Favorite Saying:
"Fitness is not a look, it is state of being"
Never Leave Home Without
"My cell phone, a bottle of water and a protein bar"
Favorite Exercise:
"Lunges, because they hit just about every leg muscles and you can vary them a hundred ways so you never get bored"
Favorite Diet Staple
Breakfast: Oatmeal
Snack: Cottage Cheese with fruit
Favorite Cheat Food
"Chocolate"
Nazorine Paglia
Bio Comming Soon!
