Our Team

Clark Carabelas

Clark is a Certified Personal Trainer with the National Academy of Sports Medicine. He has a B.A. in Psychology and completed two years of graduate studies in Physical Therapy. Clark’s extensive background includes more than 12 years in orthopedics and geriatrics, and the past 10 years as a Personal Trainer and Nutrition/Lifestyle Consultant.

He has completed advanced studies in scientific back, core, and specialized sports conditioning subjects, including golf, motocross, tennis and horseback riding. Clark has presented as a guest speaker at numerous business meetings and healthcare seminars. His experience extends to all ages and lifestyles, from the sedentary to the elite athlete, with or without complex medical histories. Clark also specializes in post injury rehab and re-injury prevention.

With his vast knowledge and experience, Clark is able to individualize programs for each person he works with, and feels there is nothing more gratifying than making a positive difference in someone’s life.

Emily Klein

I am originally from Seattle, Washington where I was raised and studied Nutrition Science. On my journey to becoming a Registered Dietitian, I realized that what I really wanted to do was find a career that focused more on preventative care and fitness. After becoming a certified Personal Trainer I started working at an active senior home and got a lot of exposure working with seniors and multiple chronic diseases. Soon after becoming a personal trainer, I started training to become a yoga instructor after finding that flexibility and a calm mind complimented senior fitness. Before moving to California I also worked at a YMCA in Seattle as their Health & Wellness Supervisor. With this position the variety of clientele I was exposed to grew dramatically. I taught fitness and yoga classes, Boot camps, Adult and Child Nutrition classes, physical education for teens, fitness classes for Cancer Survivors and personal trained beginning fitness levels to advanced athletes. I have recently moved to Santa Cruz, California to obtain my Masters in Chinese Medicine at Five Branches University. I am excited to be here at Santa Cruz Core and to be living on the beach. I love animals, the outdoors, cooking and meeting new people. I look forward to meeting you and supporting you as you work towards obtaining your fitness goals.

Jaimi Ellison

When driving my bike down from the University of California at Santa Cruz I was hit by a car. Little did I know at the time that the accident would be instrumental in my career choice. After five surgeries and lots of doctors appointments, I realized how crucial certain therapies were in achieving optimal health. Through my frustration of having to communicate to many practitioners the same story of my health, not to mention the time it took to get to my appointments everywhere, I dreamt of a place where I could go and everyone I needed to see was under one roof. I later became a personal trainer and decided to open an integrative wellness center June of 2009; Santa Cruz CORE Fitness + Rehab.

As an athlete and rehabilitation patient I became aware that massage, personal training, physical therapy, and chiropractic are all integral modalities in achieving optimal health. Through my personal experiences and challenges I have been able to learn how to be a better personal trainer. The importance of effective communication between my healing practitioners. Santa Cruz CORE embodies this. We have it all under one roof and we have something for everyone, where ever you are on your journey to achieving optimal health.

Whether you are an athlete seeking to improve your performance, a pregnant mother-to-be, rehabbing an injury, post surgery, wanting to increase flexibility, or lose weight we are here to partner with you on your path. We develop personalized programs to ensure you get what you need. Practitioners all meet weekly to keep abreast at current athletic trands. We interrelate to eachother about the progress on our clients.

Jay Negron

Jay Negron began his training in bodywork therapies during the winter of 2000, at the New York Open Center, where he studied basic Swedish and Shiatsu massage, Yoga, and earned an Associate Polarity Practitioner certification. In 2003, he became certified as a Teacher of Interdisciplinary Yoga at the Omega Institute for Holistic Studies and a few years later achieved his certification as Professional Massage Therapist through the Utah College of Massage Therapy family of schools. His studies included Injury/Rehab, Sports, Swedish and Deep Tissue massage along with Trigger Point therapy and Structural Bodywork. His additional training in Thai massage has offered him the opportunity to explore the connection between strength, flexibility, and soft tissue healing from a dynamic perspective. Jay currently continues his education in therapeutic bodywork at the Midline School of Massage and Bodywork, Santa Cruz.

Laura O’Brien

Laura integrates a variety of therapeutic techniques along with her receptive energy and intuition to address each individual. She is certified as a massage and polarity therapist through Cypress Health Institute; her training includes Swedish, deep-tissue, polarity, acupressure, gentle rocking, and stretching. There is so much value in releasing pain and stress from our bodies and minds to restore balance in our lives and to support our health. She can release tight muscles and facilitate the movement of energy leaving lasting treatment for you on many levels.

Laura continued her studies in prenatal massage and doula work at Twin Lakes College of the Healing Arts. She feels honored to support women and their families on their journey and transformation of birth and life.

Natalia Cordoba Velasquez

Natalia is 100% sabor Colombiano! She has been dancing since she can remember and enjoys Latin Rhythms from her heart. She has choreographed for High School and University recitals, as well as performed Salsa, Merengue, Latin Pop, Belly dance, Cumbia and other Colombian dances in different venues. Natalia has also won numerous dance contests! She is currently learning belly dance and plans to continue opening the doors to enjoying life with much passion towards those choices that make us happy and contribute to our well being. She loves teaching and encouraging others to become happier and healthier. Join me to lift up our spirits following the steps of the Zumba magic!

Tobin Shaeffer

Tobin Shaeffer is a certified Health and Fitness Instructor who also holds a degree in Physical Education. He has been a Personal Trainer since 1998. Tobin specializes in functional movement (for everyday life and sport performance), posture strengthening, and post-physical therapy strength re-integration. Over the years his clients have benefited from his deep understanding of how the body moves and his attention to his clients needs. He has trained clients including; individuals recovering form injury, seniors, diabetics, weight loss, and professional extreme sports athletes.

In 1999 he helped found and was president of the Cabrillo College Martial Arts Club, and currently holds a black belt in Martial Arts (Real World Combat, founded by David V. Burt). In 2003 Tobin was co-founder and President of Fit Culture online gym, but later moved to start Daily Fitness, Inc which was touted as the newest trend in fitness by Heath Magazine in 2005. Tobin returned to Toadal Fitness/Cabrillo Fitness in 2006 to return to training individual clients.