Team Endurance

I AM ALFA because Teamwork makes the Dream Work

Team Endurance

Website: Team Endurance

Instagram: @endurance8health

Photographer: Ali Sohrab

Make up: Shannon Payne

About Team Endurance

Team Endurance was established in 2006, marking the beginning of their journey into competitive fitness and the initiation of training programs for aspiring athletes in natural bodybuilding competitions. The founders have consistently endeavored to demystify bodybuilding for newcomers within the industry, believing it should not evoke intimidation but rather serve as an accessible platform for those seeking fitness or wellness transformation through dedicated effort towards stage readiness.

Over the span of 18 years, Team Endurance has achieved numerous natural pro cards and provided guidance to over a thousand athletes in nutrition, training, and posing for competition.

Witnessing significant industry evolution since their inception, their coaching approach has transitioned from primarily one-on-one and group training sessions in 2006 to leveraging technological advancements in 2014, enabling the establishment of an online community through the Endurance training APP. With clients spanning the globe, the team finds fulfillment in aiding individuals of diverse backgrounds, ages, and experience levels in realizing their fitness aspirations. They take pride in the growth of Team Endurance, which has evolved into a supportive community of natural athletes, fostering camaraderie and mutual encouragement throughout each participant's journey towards competition and lifestyle goals. Their motto, "Team Work makes the Dream Work," encapsulates the spirit of Team Endurance's collaborative ethos.

Dr.Kevin Ashby and Dr. Wendy Carvalho-Ashby

Kevin and I first crossed paths in the 90s, and little did we know, it was the beginning of an incredible journey together. We were initially neighbors in Calgary, sharing interests in sports and academics. It wasn't until university that we truly connected, and from there, our bond only grew stronger. Over the past nearly three decades, we've accomplished so much together—becoming doctors, starting a successful practice, and even founding a Natural bodybuilding federation. Through every milestone, our love, teamwork, and communication have been essential in overcoming challenges and realizing our dreams. Our family, including our two children and beloved dog, fills us with immense pride and joy.

Now, as co-owners of Endurance on 8th Health Centre and co-presidents of NPAA, we find fulfillment in our roles despite the demands. We prioritize teamwork, trust, and organization, and occasionally switch roles for fresh perspectives.

Balancing our professional and personal lives is crucial, and we make sure to set clear boundaries and prioritize family time. Our advice for others embarking on a similar journey is to communicate openly, work together as partners, and establish supportive systems to maintain balance and fulfillment.

Danielle Polson

My name is Danielle Polson & I have worked in Oil & Gas industry my whole life, as well, I have acquired my Personal Training & Nutrition Certificates. I have always been into fitness but have recently decided to take it up a notch, especially after having children. I realized I didn’t just want to be fit, I wanted to get into the best shape of my life and that meant tweaking many aspects I thought I had under control.

I have always gone to personal trainers to help reach my goals, but after becoming a member of Team Endurance, they have helped me overcome some of the daily obstacles I encounter to be successful and the results have been amazing.  

Always be open to learning new things to help you in your day to day.

Erin Mackie

Fitness, health, and wellness has always been a passion of mine. After enduring many personal difficulties and adversity in my life, I decided to use this to my advantage, get out of my comfort zone more, and take my fitness to a new level by becoming a fitness competitor. I’m so grateful to have joined Team Endurance with Dr. Wendy Carvalho-Ashby as my coach.

Wendy helped me to win my Pro Card as an NPAA bikini athlete in 2022 and I recently competed again this year achieving my personal best. Wendy has guided me so much along the way on all aspects of health, nutrition, and training, both during competition preparation and in the off-season.

With a challenging, yet balanced approach. Dr. Kevin Ashby has also helped me with old-injury rehabilitation and proper training techniques specific to my individual health needs. I have discovered so much about myself through my fitness journey. I have met so many amazing, like-minded people on this team and through this community. It is the best thing I could have done for myself. At 45, I feel more healthy, fit, and stronger now than I ever have before.

Lacey Brown

I have a background in dancing and have explored various genres in my youth. As I grew older, I transitioned to competing in ballroom-country dance across the United States. Despite my strong performances, I fell short of claiming the top spot.

Upon my husband's suggestion, I incorporated strength training into my routine to enhance my stamina, power, and overall performance. The results were remarkable, leading me to become a world champion, largely attributed to the conditioning from strength training.

I developed a passion for it and years later, I attended an NPAA show in 2013 while quite pregnant, supporting my sister as she competed. Witnessing her dedication and stage presence inspired me to follow in her footsteps. In 2016, I made my debut at an NPAA show, guided by Kevin at Endurance on 8th, recommended by my sister. I immediately fell in love with the journey, reveling in the physical transformations and stage experiences. The thrill of competing kept me coming back, allowing me to accumulate knowledge in fitness and nutrition, alongside muscle gain. Presently, I am actively engaged in the NPAA community, serving as a guest poser at workshops due to my commanding stage presence. I take pride in supporting my peers at Endurance on 8th and look forward to my return to the stage post my ankle injury recovery. The love for fitness, the supportive community, and the exhilaration of performing onstage continue to be my driving forces.

Laurel Kucy

I have always been moderately into fitness, having been a track and cross-country runner in junior high and high school, and a marathon and ultra-marathon runner from 2002-2015. I was introduced to bodybuilding by a friend in high school. It interested me but at the time I lacked the confidence to pursue it.

In my early 30s I met more women who were competing in bodybuilding and I started asking myself what made them better than me, what made them more worthy to compete in a specific sport than me? Having no real answer to that question, I finally decided to compete myself. The next step was to find myself a coach. After being vegetarian for most of my adult life, I had gone vegan earlier that year, a decision which I was not willing to go back on. It was important to me that whoever I was working with understand vegan nutrition and respect my beliefs. This is what lead me to Team Endurance. I ended up having a very successful first year, bringing home multiple medals and an NPAA elite pro card in Masters Bikini.

Since becoming a member of Team Endurance, I have gained so much more than I ever thought I would. Confidence, community, family – I feel like I have found the place where I belong. I am also proud to be someone that others look up to, both as it relates to fitness and veganism and I hope to be able to continue to be that inspiration for others.

Martha Marks

I am excited about the person I have become over the years. Growing up with a single mom that struggled with mental health had a huge impact on my personal experiences with health and wellness and shaped me into the person I am today. Growing up I learned that we could make choices in life that can impact our future and have a direct result on the things we achieve.  I personally have faced a few challenges in my journey, primarily struggling with body dysmorphia and disordered eating, both of which were heightened in my early 20’s and again after becoming a mom.  

The thing that ignited my fitness journey was the desire to be healthy for my family, and to be an example for my children. I joined the fitness industry ten years ago to learn about health and wellness and then eventually started a path to become a group fitness instructor and personal trainer. My initial goal was to learn about health and wellness to teach my children lifelong skills in wellness, however, it turned into an avenue of encouragement leading other women and modelling that they could reach their full potential and see their personal value. My first connection to team endurance was posing practice with the amazing coach Wendy, then I was blessed to win one of the Instagram giveaways that team Endurance was hosting about 3 years ago, it was a game changer in my fitness journey, and I have been trusting them with my health ever since.  

I feel the healthiest in my mind and body right now, strong and focused on the goals I want to achieve in my personal journey. Some key lessons I have learned through working with Team Endurance are that my health matters and that with the right support team you can achieve anything. I have found my strength in this journey; I have found a community of likeminded individuals and I have learned that even though I may face setbacks or challenges in my life I can overcome them and be renewed in strength and purpose.

My message to others reading this would be, don’t let your past define you, as it is never too late to change your future. Our past will always be our past, but our future still has great possibilities.  

Sabrina Van Der Voet

My name is Sabrina Van Der Voet. I have always had a huge passion for Health and Fitness starting from when I was very young. I played numerous sports throughout my life and started weight lifting in 2019 to transform my body.

In the past I suffered from infertility due to high levels of stress over a few years and put on more weight than anticipated due to side effects of fertility drugs. The added weight also caused insulin resistance, which is now stable. This was a huge struggle mentally knowing that I was unsuccessful conceiving, and I felt like I had lost my identity with the weight gain since I had always been very fit and lean.

I absolutely loved my results with Team Endurance so decided I wanted to try out the sport of bodybuilding. I have fallen in love with the continuous improvements in my physique and this amazing fitness community. I finally feel like I belong as I have found so many other likeminded people. I’m so thankful for Kevin and Wendy, and I am in a much better place to start a family. I plan on returning to the NPAA IPE pro stage after a few more years of building, hopefully after starting a little family. You can truly do anything you put your mind to.

Sher Follett

At 65 years old, I find myself reflecting on a journey that spans a 40-year career as a Director in the Oil and Gas Energy sector, alongside my roles as a wife and mother. However, it was when my health took a serious turn that my true journey began. In 2012, heart palpitations led to the discovery of an electrical imbalance and a congenital bicuspid heart issue, which required repair. Subsequent to a severe ankle break in 2015 and two surgeries, I faced yet another challenge with a diagnosis of breast cancer in 2016. Through concussions, broken bones, heart surgery, and various treatments, having a coach to guide me back to health became indispensable. Prioritizing sleep, stress reduction, nutrition, and consistent training became pivotal elements of my recovery.

Reflecting on my past, I recall a time when athleticism, music, and dance were integral parts of my life. However, as work responsibilities took precedence, these passions fell by the wayside, contributing to health and weight concerns. Climbing out of that metaphorical hole made me acutely aware of others facing similar struggles, particularly those of my age or younger, who may feel daunted by the prospect of change.

It was during a moment of seeking natural methods for body transformation that I stumbled upon an ad for Endurance8Health. Connecting with Dr. Kevin Ashby proved to be a turning point. Initially hesitant about participating in the transformation division, Dr. Ashby's encouragement, along with Dr. Wendy Ashby's guidance, ultimately convinced me to take the leap.

In May 2022, I participated in the transformation division, an experience that proved transformative in more ways than one. Surrounded by supportive athletes, judges, and the Endurance team, I felt like a true athlete. What began as a desire to share my story evolved into something greater as people approached me, curious about my journey. My advice to them was simple: start small, with one step at a time. Emphasizing the importance of a knowledgeable coach, proper nutrition, and consistent training, I stressed that results and health improvements come with perseverance and positivity. My own journey has led me to step onto the stage as an Endurance Team Athlete, participate in my first photoshoot, forge friendships within Team Endurance, and witness a growth in confidence while continuing to work on my physique.

I aspire for others to recognize that overcoming obstacles and achieving a healthier, happier self is within reach if they trust in the process.

Suzanne Lin

My name is Suzanne Lin, and I was born and raised in Calgary, Alberta. I became an accountant in the oil and gas industry, got married and have two beautiful children, ages 15 and 11. I have been active all my life, starting martial arts when I was 13 and competing in several local tournaments. I have always enjoyed working out and staying active. When my youngest was 2, I decided to become a full-time mom and become more focused on family and health, but as they became older and less dependent on me, I started losing my way. My whole world revolved around them and our family. My husband suggested I do something for myself, and I decided to try a bucket list item of competing in a bodybuilding competition. I am an introvert and very shy, so this was a challenge that was going to be difficult, but luckily, I do have a competitive nature. I was set to compete in 2019 and then COVID hit, and I ended up doing the virtual NPAA show. I placed top 5 in Masters Bikini and was happy, but I still wanted to know what it was like to really be on stage, so I enlisted Coach Kevin Ashby’s help. Kevin and his wife, Wendy, were the MC’s at the virtual show and I thought they were really positive and upbeat. At the November 2022 NPAA Canada Championship Pro Am show, I placed 3rd in Grandmaster Bikini and 4th in Masters Bikini and in May 2023, I won Grandmasters Bikini.  

I am so thankful I found Kevin and Wendy and this community. I learned with hard work, gratitude, and the support of people around me that I can achieve great things. Some of the lessons that I want to share with others are, have a goal, be kind to yourself, and most importantly we are all only competing against ourselves. If we have bettered ourselves in some way, then we are winners whether we have a medal or not.