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Group Fitness Instructors
Please refer to the Group Fitness Schedule for currently available classes.
Amy Schiller
Amy has been practicing yoga since 1991. Her first class was in Ashtanga Yoga and, even though it was very challenging, she found that the energetic, total body style of vinyasa Ashtanga yoga connected with her. Amy received her Ashtanga teacher training from Tim Miller of Encinitas, California. Amy believes that Ashtanga is an excellent choice for young people who are strong, active and seeking a good workout. She currently practices at the ARC and takes Iyengar Yoga classes with Mary Obendorfer at the BKS Iyengar Yoga Center in Ocean Beach. Amy has been the Marketing Coordinator at the ARC since July 1998 and is also a many time Freestyle Frisbee world champion.
Amanda Wulczynski
Amanda Wulczynski, graduated from SDSU in 2007 with a Bachelors in Kinesiology, with an emphasis in Fitness, Nutrition and Health. She has been teaching Cycle since summer of 2008, and loves every minute of it. She enjoys creating new and challenging workouts with good music to keep riders going and eager to come back. She has always lived a very active lifestyle, so it felt natural to her to have a career in fitness. She wanted to make it easy and convenient for people to live a healthy life, so in 2007 she started an in-home personal training business, A Better Workout. Amanda holds certifications from NASM: CPT, CES, ACE group fitness instructor and 24hourfitness-cycle.
Bellischa Mendelsohn
Bellischa has been passionate about fitness since she was a child. She continually seeks ways to learn more about fitness and to share her love of fitness with others. She holds a bachelors in psychology from UCSD and a masters in developmental psychology from SDSU. Along with her work in the social sciences she has worked in the fitness industry for the past 5 years. She is an AFAA certified group fitness instructor, a certified pilates instructor as well as a certified Boogie Box instructor. She has taught various different forms of group classes in both cardio and conditioning and has worked with a broad age range from young children to the senior population. Her latest craze in fitness is the hot new workout called Boogie Box. She just moved back to San Diego after living in Michigan for 7 years and is excited to join the ARC team.
Bellischa believes that everyone can reap the benefits of exercising - it’s just a matter of finding the right form of exercise that inspires you!
Bev Hosford
I have a BS in Exercise Science and an MA in Sport & Exercise Psychology. I have been teaching classes for 6 years (2 at the ARC) and personal training for 2 years. I love rollerblading, hiking, and playing sports outdoors for exercise and fun. In the future I want to continue working towards helping others meet their fitness goals through involvement with exercise, sport and recreation. It is important to find a method of physical activity to fit your needs and lifestyle and then commit to it, as you would any other daily task. Get the mind on board and then the body will follow!
Bob Mueller
Hello, my name is Bob Mueller. I'm a retired Naval Officer who has been an avid road cyclist for over 30 years. I don't race, but enjoy long day rides in our local mountains. I'm a Sierra Club, Chapter Outings Leader for the Bicycle Section and lead regular rides of 40 to 100 miles for the Club. I have also lead organized bicycle tours in Colorado, Washington State's San Juan Islands and Olympic Penninsula, Vermont and New York. If you want to develop muscles and form to cycle long and strong, check out my class and take a spin.
Christian Custodio
I've been dancing since I was in middle school. In 2003-2004 I was a part of the hip hop dance team Infinit Dynamix. I've been teaching hip hop since 2006 and I also teach kids how to break dance at Danzaye dance studio in Chula Vista. I enjoy teaching because it motivates me to become a better dancer. When students take my class and come out learning the routine it makes me feel good that they had fun and they have something to bust out on the dance floor. Since break dancing is a physically demanding activity I also enjoy exercising at the ARC. I have a BS in Kinesiology w/ emphasis in Fitness, Nutrition and Health.
Courtney Yezzi
Courtney’s love for teaching started in the 6th grade when she had the privilege of becoming an instructor at her small town dance studio. Her love for teaching movement and helping others grew as she observed that when our attention is in the present moment with our physical bodies, our state of mind is more focused and relaxed.
On a search to find the world and get out of the cold, Courtney moved from Ohio in 2005. Shortly after arriving she discovered San Diego’s awesome yoga community. As her practice developed, she knew she wanted to share yoga with others and help them seek out the wondrous benefits that it brings to all aspects of life.
Courtney completed her teacher training in 2007 and has loved every moment of her journey. To her, yoga is finding enjoyment as we connect mentally and physically through our breath. We are funny humans and knowing that we can delight in that is an amazing thing.
Eliza Arenas
Eliza is originally from the Bay Area and transferred to SDSU in 2007. She is currently in her last year at SDSU majoring in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Pre-Physical Therapy. She has been teaching Turbo Kick Boxing at the ARC since the spring of 2008. In addition to Kick Boxing, Eliza has been a competitive dancer since the age of 3, she’s trained in all sorts of dance from ballet to tap and modern to hip-hop. If you ever have the chance to take her class don’t expect a regular kick boxing class, get ready to have fun and DANCE!!!!
Erica Tollefson
Erica has been teaching group fitness classes for 13 years and still loves teaching as much as she did when she first started. She is a graduate of Springfield College in Massachusetts, class of 1999, with a B.S. in Exercise Science. Erica became interested in fitness in high school when she was very overweight. She began to workout, lost 30 pounds, and fell in love with being healthy. "I teach fitness classes because I want to share my knowledge with others who are trying to get in shape or stay in shape. I know it’s a struggle, so if you come to my classes, they are hard and I’ll really work you, but ultimately my classes are what you make of them. So even if you are a beginner or a returning exerciser, you can come in and feel like you can do the class.” Currently, Erica is taking a break from her full-time fitness career and is a stay-at-home mom with her daughter.
Flo Pierce
Flo Pierce, M.Ed., M.A., Exercise Physiology
Flo Pierce has been a teacher all her life from middle school students to seniors, and from law enforcement officers to university students. She teaches Pilates, cycling, yoga, and occasionally aerobics or aquatics for SDSU, USD, and the YMCA. At the ARC, Flo teaches Pilates with an emphasis on focus and precision of movement, and loves when new comers "get it". In addition to two Masters Degrees, Flo holds certifications from ACSM, ACE, and cycling, Pilates, and Aquatics.
Ghada Osman (Ph.D., PYT)
Ghada has training in various styles of yoga, and holds her professional yoga certification from the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in Lenox, MA, the largest yoga center in North America. An SDSU professor, she has been practicing yoga for over 10 years, and has been teaching Kripalu yoga since 2000. Ghada also enjoys aerobics, and is a certified AFAA group exercise instructor.
Jennifer Tipton
Jennifer has been leading group fitness classes since 1998 and she has found the experience to be extremely rewarding. She works full time in the industry and oversees corporate and residential fitness programs all over San Diego. Jennifer has taught at the ARC for several years and enjoys the energy of the students and the camaraderie of the other fitness professionals. She believes that fitness brings positive and lasting benefits that last a lifetime.
Jennifer is an ACE certified personal trainer, AFAA certified group fitness instructor, and a Star 2 Spinning instructor. She has completed two 200-hour yoga teacher training programs. She continues to study with many well-known instructors. Jennifer loves to travel and study languages. She received her MA in Latin American Studies from SDSU in 2004.
Jenny Shelby
With a lifetime of experience being physically active and now working professionally, Jenny has a gift for sharing her passion. Jenny loves to be outdoors with family and friends, enjoying the San Diego beaches which also provide a stomping ground for creative workouts. She currently teaches at a hotel fitness club and conducts outdoor boot camp training sessions on an individual and group basis-usually on the beach:). Jenny could not imagine a life without working with people to achieve both body and mind stamina while spreading her love for the field! Health and wellness have become a huge part of her life and she can’t wait to share her knowledge and devotion to the fitness industry with you! Good music + custom workouts + willing participants ready to push their limits= recipe for RESULTS and a fun workout session with Jenny! Get ready to get down and sweaty...
Jo-Ann Humphus
Jo-Ann is an SDSU alum, and earned her BA in Psychology. Jo-Ann has been a regular at the ARC since its opening and got serious about her physical activity. After taking almost all of the classes the ARC had to offer, cycling is the one exercise she can't get enough of. Jo-Ann is a Mad Dogg Athletics Spin Certified Instructor and also holds an AFAA certification. She has been teaching cycling at the ARC since 2006. When she isn't teaching you can usually see her taking another cycling class. Jo-Ann really enjoys the physical and emotional benefits from teaching. "Having newcomers return, and become regulars is one of the greatest rewards I can receive. It's a great cardio workout, and a wonderful way to start the day."
John Nagel
John Nagel enjoys participating in Olympic distance triathlons with the goal of consistently finishing under three hours. He is currently teaching spin at the ARC and water aerobics at the Auqaplex. He graduated with a BA in Social Science from UCI and an AS in accounting from Mesa College. He currently works as an Enrolled Agent preparing taxes. John’s approach to fitness is to set a realistic goal and then methodically work toward it. Plan your work; work your plan.
Kaeylyn DeVries
Kaelyn is a UCLA alum with a B.A. in Spanish and Latin American Studies. She became interested in health and fitness while studying at UCLA and developed a strong passion for staying active and teaching others about the benefits of exercise and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. She is an ACE certified group fitness instructor, specializing in resistance training and cycling. She strongly believes that through physical activity, one will experience benefits in all aspects of life.
Katherine Sasseen
As a professional massage therapist and dancer, Katherine found yoga a fairly natural path of continuing education. She took her first class in 1995 and loved how it made her feel. The fact that yoga is good for people is a bonus. Katherine has been learning and practicing various styles of yoga ever since and began teaching in 1998, having apprenticed in the Vinyasa Style of White Lotus Foundation in Santa Barbara, CA. Katherine enjoys helping people find their own way in Yoga, helping bodies and minds to expand and heal and feels blessed to guide her students o discover the fruits of a regular practice. Katherine says she never stops marveling at the gifts Yoga brings. Namaste.
Katie Hunter
Katie started teaching kickboxing in the summer of 08, and is certified by AFAA for group fitness. She loves the enthusiasm and energy her participants bring to class and anyone who shows up to her class is guaranteed a great workout in a fun atmosphere. She has been active all her life and was a gymnast for 9 years and soccer player for 13 years until knee injuries sidelined her. She is currently a student as SDSU working towards her BA in Marketing and hopes to find a position marketing fitness products or working in sports marketing. When she isn't kickboxing, Katie loves to spin, wakeboard, snowboard and has a passion for baking sugary delights! She has a younger brother who is the Goalie for UCLA's soccer team and an older sister who just completed her MA for Occupational Therapy.
Kelsey Millison
Kelsey began teaching group fitness in 2006. She currently teaches Pilates, yoga, TKB, Spinning®, and strength based classes at SDSU, as well as the Kroc Center. Kelsey is currently the Fitness Graduate Assistant at the ARC and working toward her Master's Degree in Exercise Physiology. She completed her Bachelor's degree in Exercise and Sport Science at the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse and enjoys running short-distance races (5K runs), practicing yoga outdoors, and assisting with research.
Kristen Scanlon
Kristen Scanlon is a Kinesiology grad student at SDSU. She is certified through AFAA Primary Group Fitness and Spinning. She currently teaches Body Challenge, Cycle, Total Toning, & Core Conditioning at the ARC. She has been teaching at the ARC since January 2008, but has worked in the Facilities department there for over 3 years. Outside of group fitness, she is also an accomplished marathon and half marathon runner. She enjoys teaching classes and loves seeing members enjoy them, too!
Kristie Majer Cottonaro
Kristie received her B.S. in Biology and a B.A. in Human Development from UC San Diego in 2000 and worked as a scientist for a biotech company for three years before returning to school for her M.S. in Exercise Physiology and M.S. in Nutritional Science from SDSU. She is currently the Fitness Education Coordinator for UC San Diego, responsible for training new instructors.
Kristie has been participating in group exercise aerobic classes since she was 12 years old. She began teaching aerobics in 1998 and today teaches a variety of aerobic and strength-based group exercise classes. Her favorite format is a toss-up between indoor cycling and step aerobics. She is certified by AFAA and Precision Cycling and currently teaches for 24 Hour Fitness and UC San Diego, in addition to the ARC. Outside of teaching and work, Kristie enjoys spending time with her husband and her cat, walking, hiking, biking, reading, and crafts.
Lisa Lamont
Lisa is a Stott Pilates certified Pilates instructor and a Mad Dogg Athletics Certified Spinning® instructor. She has worked in the fitness industry for over twenty years.
Mary Creason
I first discovered yoga about 7 years ago and have been practicing ever since! I have recently started teaching yoga, and found that teaching has deepened my awareness as well as my practice. Yoga is so beneficial and enjoyable, and finds ways to make itself applicable to each part of my day. I really enjoy teaching at the ARC - students are so respectful and eager to learn! I encourage everyone to try yoga at least once in their life, although, many practicing yoga students can agree when I say that the real benefits come with time. So, if you've been practicing for years, or are brand new, I hope you'll find a place in my class that is challenging and rewarding to YOU!
Namaste!
Michele Staggenborg
Michele has been a Personal Trainer since 2006 and a Group Fitness instructor since 2004. Some of her favorite formats to teach are high energy classes such as cycle and total toning. She enjoys teaching individuals about what it means to live a healthier life, while emphasizing the importance of enjoying the process. Michele has her Bachelors degree from SDSU in Kinesiology- Fitness, Nutrition and Health, as well as her EMT certificate, with some medical experience.
Michelle Miller
Michelle Miller is currently finishing her M.S. in Applied Math at SDSU. She graduated from UC Santa Barbara in 2006 with a B.S. in Math and a dual minor in Group Fitness Instruction and Personal Training. She has great enthusiasm for being active both indoors, through group exercise and strength training, and outdoors, pursuing hobbies such as hiking, wakeboarding, surfing, and snowboarding. Teaching Cardio Craze at the ARC allows her to spread her love of movement through her favorite cardio formats of hi/low aerobics, stability ball aerobics, and step. Her goal for every class she teaches is to give participants an opportunity to: HAVE FUN, sweat, and make progress in meeting their personal fitness goals.
Nancy Herman
Nancy has been strength training and attending group fitness classes for over 20 years. In 2008 she fulfilled a longtime goal and made a career change by completing her personal training certification through AFAA. In the summer of 2008, Nancy began teaching an adult fitness rec class at the ARC called Fit for Fun Rec Class, including aerobics and conditioning components. During her early years of working out, Nancy was inspired by a female personal trainer, bodybuilder, and fitness instructor; working with her allowed Nancy to learn from a great resource. She hopes to inspire, challenge, and bring fun to the workouts of all individuals she encounters.
Nikki Winters
Nikki started dancing since she can remember and trained mostly in ballet. After she turned eighteen she danced with various professional ballet companies. It wasn't until she joined up with a company called Physical Rhythm Project that was ballet/hip-hop fusion that she found her love for street dancing. Sponsored by NIKE, she then taught hip-hop classes at the NIKE campus in Portland, OR and discovered her love for group fitness. She since has been teaching various fitness classes on both the West and East Coast, with various certifications, for about 17 years (roughly 7 at the ARC).
She currently is a Commercial Real Estate Broker, a wife to an amazing husband and a mom to an awesome 8 year old boy.
Paulette Young
Paulette Young is a certified Yoga and Pilates instructor. She has been teaching various formats of group exercise classes for over 20 years, and now specializes in Pilates, Yoga, and Core strengthening formats. She began teaching aerobics classes while attending college, enjoyed it so much, that she became very committed to staying active and healthy, as well as promoting fitness. She is certified by the Aerobics & Fitness Association of America, and is also a Registered Yoga Teacher, through Yoga Alliance. She received her 200 hour certificate at Yoga Studio Carlsbad, and her Pilates certification from John Garey, who now owns and operates a premier Pilates studio in Long Beach.
Paulette graduated from SDSU with a Bachelor’s Degree in Art, and worked for many years as an artist, painting murals and large inflatable balloons for a company in El Cajon. She still likes to oil paint and airbrush in her spare time. Her true passion is in teaching, and helping others to achieve their fitness goals, a truly rewarding profession. She places great emphasis on the Kripalu Style of Yoga, which honors the wisdom of the body.
Rachel Krajewski
Rachel graduated from SDSU in 2007 with a degree in mathematics. She currently teaches high school math in Lakeside. Rachel has always been interested in fitness and regularly attended group fitness classes at the ARC while she was an undergrad. Rachel decided to pursue her passion for fitness and became certified through AFAA to teach Primary Group Fitness in 2008. Rachel truly loves teaching and sharing the gift of exercise with others!
Radha Shivagiri
Radha has been practicing yoga since she was 17 years old. She started by practicing Hatha yoga and has since immersed herself in the Vinyasa style. She completed her teacher training in 2007 and is currently holds a 200-hour certification from Yoga Alliance. In addition to teaching at the ARC she teaches at 24-Hour Fitness and Corepower Yoga.
Outside of teaching and practicing yoga, she is a graduate student in the SDSU Political Science department. In her spare time she enjoys reading, riding her bike, and walking her dog.
Shari Gordon
Shari is certified in TurboKickboxing, PiYo, and Mad Dogg Athletics Spinning. With more than 15 years dance experience, Shari is currently an officer of the SDSU Dance Team, and an instructor and a judge for the Universal Dance Association. She was introduced to TurboKick by her high school dance coach in 2005 and loves both teaching and taking class. She has also practiced kick boxing at Ernie Reyes Martial Arts Center in San Jose, CA. Sharon is a Kinesiology major at San Diego State University and she feels very lucky to be able to share her passion for fitness and health with others through Group Fitness.
Shelby Meddock
Shelby started dancing at the age of two and has been trained in jazz, tap, hip-hop, modern, ballet, and contemporary at various studios. She is a three-time National Dance Team Champion from Carlsbad High School where she was a member of the dance team for 4 years. Following her high school career, Shelby joined a professional dance company, Unity Dance Ensemble, for three years. She had the privilege of traveling to Costa Rica and Chicago to compete at the Jazz Dance World Congress. She has taught at numerous studios to kids of all ages in a range of styles of dance and has her Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology: Fitness, Nutrition, and Health from SDSU. Shelby teaches an assortment of formats at the ARC, including Spin, ZUMBA, and Cardio Kickboxing. She is certified with AFAA (Kickboxing), Zumba, and Spin. In addition, she currently works as a wellness coach with Solar Turbines SD, a fitness instructor with FIT X SD, and a fitness instructor at 24 Hour Fitness. When she is not teaching, Shelby enjoys hanging out with her friends and relaxing on the beach.
Stanley Williams
I discovered and began practicing Hatha Yoga in 1976 while a student at LaSalle College in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I successfully completed the standard three-year Iyengar teacher-training program in San Diego and plan to continue my studies with senior Iyengar teachers Mr. Manouso Manous and Ms. Carolyn Belko as well as other established Iyengar instructors. My goal is to teach Yoga joyfully in the tradition of B.K.S. Iyengar with compassion knowing that true joy comes when a student recognizes her or his own true nature and embraces it fully which is the very essence of Yoga.
Theresa Jones
Theresa (Tess) Jones has been teaching for over ten years, making a recent transition from dance to fitness in 2005. After graduating with her B.A. in Dance from SDSU, she left her day job in arts administration and began teaching yoga and Pilates for 24 Hour Fitness. Today she also teaches core based strength and aquacize classes for many gyms in the San Diego area. In addition to her YogaFit and ACE group fitness certifications, Theresa has a personal training certification from AFAA and specializes in corrective and core based exercise.
Trisha Kinsman
Trisha has been teaching cycling since 2005 and has loved every second of it. She currently teaches at SDSU and is also a physical fitness teacher at USD, where she instructs a class of 20 enrolled students. Trisha's classes are full of enthusiasm, motivation, challenge, and fun! She provides a wide variety of music, ranging from dance mixes, classic rock, and some popular hip/hop and top chart hits. Trisha includes a range of hills and sprints in her workouts in order to keep your heart rate high and muscles constantly working. If you want a challenging workout, but need some motivated help, come check out her class!!!
Last update: 9/14/09
Phone:
619-594-0204
FREE Fitness Orientation
