Outdoor Online Success Stories Team BN Blog

Meet the BUFFnation family!

Empower driven women 40+ to achieve their best selves through personal development, fitness and nutrition.

Leslie Gordon Christie

BUFFnation Personal Development, Fitness + Nutrition

Leslie Gordon Christie is a mindset and personal development coach, helping professional women step into their best selves by shifting their THINKING.
 
She is the creator of BUFFnation (BUFF stands for Beautiful, Unique, Fearless, Females), an online community empowering driven women 40+ to awaken their unstoppable force within through personal development, fitness, and nutrition.
 
Leslie's coaching methodology goes beyond surface-level motivation and temporary fixes. She dives deep into the core beliefs and thought patterns that hold her clients back, helping them reframe their perspectives and cultivate a positive and growth-oriented mindset.
 
Through personalized coaching sessions, workshops, and transformative exercises, Leslie equips her clients with the tools and strategies they need to navigate life's challenges, embrace change, and cultivate a mindset of resilience, abundance, and wellness. Her clients range from entrepreneurs and executives seeking to level up their performance, boost their energy, and live more peaceful lives, to individuals wanting to release weight, gain clarity, and create a life of purpose.
 
Leslie has more than two decades of experience in the health, wellness, and personal development industries. Leslie is a Certified Consultant with the Proctor Gallagher Institute, a Culinary Nutrition Specialist, and a certified personal trainer and lifestyle coach.
 
Prior to building her own business, Leslie was an anchor and reporter for Canada’s largest private network, CTV. Aside from her television work, she was also the associate editor of Oxygen magazine and a freelance health journalist for a variety of Canadian publications.
 
Originally from Providence, Rhode Island, Leslie grew up in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, and has her undergraduate degree from Carleton University in Ottawa, ON. Leslie studied journalism and fitness leadership at Humber College in Toronto.
 
Leslie lives in Conestogo, Ontario, (that's an hour and a half from Toronto), with her husband Kyle and two sons, Carter and Allister, and Labradoodle Ace.
 

 

Leslie Christie personal trainer at BUFFnation

Nora Young

Success Advisor

Personal Development Programs

Nora Young is a soul-preneur with over a decade of experience in personal development. As an 800+ hour Certified Yoga Therapist, Instructor, and Energy Medicine practitioner through Reiki, she began her yoga journey in 2009 to manage stress and anxiety. This experience led her to train across Canada and the U.S., eventually opening a home-based yoga studio and expanding into virtual offerings. Real, raw, and authentic, Nora’s teaching style embodies her deep connection to the work. She is passionate about sharing the teachings of yoga, meditation, energy, mindset, and essential oils, aiming to empower, educate, and inspire healing for a balanced and joyful life.

Nora recently joined BUFFnation's personal development division as a Success Advisor, helping members clarify and achieve their goals.

As a dedicated student of the Thinking Into Results program, she embraces powerful concepts that inspire personal growth and transformation.

She is deeply committed to guiding others in recognizing their infinite potential, believing that by harnessing the power of the mind, anyone can create the life they envision.

In her free time, she enjoys nature with her husky, studying, meditating, and engaging in the arts.

Courtney Butler "Coach Courtney!"

BUFFnation Fitness

Courtney Butler joined BUFFnation in 2011, where she started as a participant. 

She instantly fell in love with training through the program which kick-started her career in 2013 as a Canfitpro Certified Fitness Trainer. By 2014, Courtney started instructing classes at BUFFnation.

BUFFnation has grown into something special for Courtney through the love of how it brings community together.

“I appreciate the strength I have built over the last 10 years. Fitness has become a lifestyle, a stress reliever, and it saved my sanity. I am forever grateful for this program - the women who sweat and work hard right alongside me.”

Courtney is almost 45 years young now and lives in Cambridge, Ont., with her 3 amazing kids. Together with her supportive husband, their family enjoys their two dogs and a crazy cat.

Courtney Butler personal trainer at BUFFnation

 

Erin Caldwell

BUFFnation Fitness

Erin Caldwell is a 40+ mom, leader in the post-secondary education industry, professional singer and Registered Yoga Teacher. Her passion for developing relationships and supporting the success of others is fuelled by her love for her son, outdoor adventures, performing and dedication to lifelong learning. 
 
Erin joined Buffnation as a participant in 2020 and began engaging with the online community by attending workouts, mindset coaching, master classes and Delish by Design, ultimately leading to her success as the winner of the Buffnation Spring Challenge in 2022.  
 
The Buffnation program compliments Erin’s commitment to her yoga practice, a journey she began more than ten years ago. After a decade of practicing yoga and becoming immersed in her yoga community, Erin completed her 200-hour yoga teacher training and became a Registered Yoga Teacher in 2024. 
 
Erin brings a creative perspective to her yoga classes, leading participants through sequences that support the mind, body and spirit, including breath work, meditation and physical postures designed to engage and challenge her students in a safe and inclusive setting. 

Christina Horner

BUFFnation Fitness

Christina has been in the fitness industry for over 15 years. She is a proud mom of two amazing boys and has three dogs. Her fitness journey began with Muay Thai kickboxing, which eventually led her to teaching classes and personal training.

At 51 years old, Christina believes that continuous training and healthy eating have greatly improved her quality of life and allowed her to enjoy adventurous activities. She firmly believes that we are defined by our choices, not our age. For Christina, this means always pushing forward, challenging herself, and seeking new ways to grow and learn. Age is just a number and doesn’t have to define us.