As a celebrity trainer and international development worker, Ramona Braganza brought a message of wellness for the body, mind and spirit to students at West Hill CI.

Students got moving by taking part in her fitness training program. They were also motivated by her message of putting your best foot forward every day in order to achieve your goal – and once you reach it set another! Her leadership skills, life experience and philosophy of “wellness for the mind, fitness for the body and peace for the spirit” inspired students.

Grade 11 student Mithurna Mylalagan came away with a message of confidence and strength. “As a girl of colour it’s truly motivating to see that someone else, with similar experiences as me, is making such a big impact on others. Not only is she helping those in Canada, but she’s spreading her love and wisdom to anyone she comes across around the world, not hesitating a bit.”

Raised in Brockville, Ontario, Braganza is the daughter of Indian immigrants. She overcame bullying in her community and thrived in school as well as in competitive gymnastics. After high school, she moved to Los Angeles where she became a cheerleader for the LA Raiders and a fitness trainer to celebrities including Halle Berry, Jessica Alba, and Tom Welling.

Today, Braganza is also working with a charitable organization in Mumbai, India which supports young women to overcome homelessness by building career skills. She will be there this month to assist the first six graduates of her program to secure work in the field of fitness and well-being. 

Braganza’s visit was particularly meaningful at this time of year. On October 17, TDSB marks the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, a day dedicated to ending extreme poverty and creating a sustainable future for all. At the request of West Hill students, Braganza has also promised to come back and share more perspectives on her work at home and abroad.