About Gaia Adventures

Gaia Adventure's Mission

• GAIA provides leadership, direction and support to help women achieve optimum living.
  

Gaia Adventure's Goals

• To teach and empower women to achieve healthy living practices.
• To encourage and promote greater participation of women in outdoor recreation.
• To design effective programs to ensure success and self-management of our clients.
  

About... Catherine D'Aoust

• Catherine worked as an aeronautical engineer for Transport Canada until 1997. After earning her MBA, she then became a Certified Personal Fitness Trainer and set up GAIA Adventures to empower women to achieve healthy lives and encourage their participation in outdoor recreation.
  
• She is a YWCA Fitness and Osteofit instructor with over twenty years experience and holds a degree in Kinesiology/Gerontology. She consults for ICBC (the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia), Health Care Benefit Trust and conducts regular Body Ball and Osteofit classes. 
  
• Gaia Adventures programs include Hiking, Kayaking, Cross Country Skiing, Snow Shoeing, Team Building and Backpacking. Catherine takes pride in leading adventures in British Columbia and to international destinations - amazing places like the Grand Canyon, Zion Canyon, Mount Kenia, West Coast Trail, Juan de Fuca Trail, and the Galapagos Islands.
  
  

Just a few examples of what clients say about Gaia Adventures and Catherine:

• About... Personal Training with Catherine
  
  "It's two years now that you've been my personal trainer working with me to increase my strength, and what a difference I see and feel!
  
  I remember in January 2006 going with you and some fit women to cross country ski at Manning Park. I love hiking and out walk most people on Vancouver streets as I march briskly by them, so I was sure my legs would take me up the cross country ski trails easily. My arms I wasn't sure about and banished that thought from my mind.
  
  At Manning Park, to my chagrin, I found my legs could only carry me slowly up and down the cross country ski trails, but worst of all, my little chicken wing like arms could barely propel me up the trails. At the half way mark, we ate our lunch at the warming hut. I couldn't go one step further. My legs felt like jelly and my arms couldn't plant one more ski pole in the snow. To my embarrassment, I ended up waiting two hours at the warming hut by the wood burning stove for the other women to finish their ski day and for you to come back, pick me up in your car and drive me back to Manning Park Lodge. What a wake-up call!
  
  I hired you as my personal trainer and ever since, three times a week, I've been working out at the West End Community Centre gym on a circuit you designed just for me: cycling, a variety of arm and core strengthening exercises, weight lifting for arms and legs, aerobic exercises, sit-ups and stretching.
  
  I was never a gym type! I'm an outdoor girl, still 120 lbs and now 57 years old. Without you in the background, spending one hour every two weeks with me in the gym, I would never have kept going to the gym all this time. You've really encouraged me and kept me in exercises and pace good for me so I slowly get stronger and stronger.
  
  This January 2008 I went with you and some other fit women to Manning Park. We skied the same cross country ski run as two years ago! This time I felt strong and confident. I easily glided and sped along the cross country ski paths, and even danced gracefully along in some parts. I flew down the gentle hills like a bird flying and was sorry to see the slopes end so soon. My arms and legs felt strong and powerful the whole time. What a triumph!! I felt so proud of myself! All my work at the gym paid off in spades!
  
  Thank you so much for all your encouragement, professionalism and work with me in the gym! I'll keep going indefinitely with you as my personal trainer."
  
                      - Margaret Cowen
  

• About... Biking the Galloping Goose Weekend

"Thanks for the adventure. It really was a fantastic weekend! Felt a bit sore on Monday but it was worth it."

                    - Cathy

• About... Hiking the Grand Canyon Backpacking Trip

"I want to take a moment to thank you for the most amazing adventure to date! The Grand Canyon was a difficult and thrilling experience, and we made it! You and my sisters will always have a special place in my heart. Thank you!"

                    - Zaidah

• About... Kayaking Deep Cove/Indian Arm

"I love going on Gaia Adventures - they're well planned, I can pick what fits my fitness level, the women are great! So's Catherine!"

                    - Marylee Stephenson, CS/RESORS Consulting Ltd

• About... Kayaking Bowen Island

"Thank you for organizing a really great day! You were so good to me and the others and I really appreciate all the time and organization you put into the day."

"I am very happy with my accomplishments today! I pushed myself but I didn't overdo it to the point of hurting myself. I feel refreshed, relaxed, healthy and spiritually energized and right now (10:00 pm) a bit physically tired. A good tired."

                    - Susan