Group Fitness Instructors
Interested In Becoming an Instructor?
- Ai Kuwayama
- Alexandria Moler
- Alyssa Bilotti
- Amanda Resch
- Andrea Ruvalcaba
- Ashley Yu
- Belle Wichman
- Caroline Gillies
- Claire Debranch
- Daniel Dominguez
- Diana Flores
- Gabriel Hill
- Heidi Wilson
- Jennifer Melford
- Kelly Sawyer
- Lisa Lamont
- Mari Tsirelas
- Mckenna Pacey
- Megan Hollyfield
- Melissa Valdez
- Naomi Welsh
- Natalie Quinn
- Nikki Winters
- Rachel Brouzes
- Ricky Paniagua
- Shayne Fernandez
- Sofia Carmenate
- Sugar Ray Holden
- Ti Cason-Davis
- Udoka Nwanna
- Whitley Thompson
Ai Kuwayama
Ai is originally from Japan and she graduated with a Masters in Kinesiology in Integrative Wellness from Point Loma Nazarene University. She is a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC), NASM Certified Personal Trainer, AFAA Certified Group Exercise Instructor, AEA certified aqua instructor and 500 Registered Yoga Teacher. In addition to teaching group fitness classes, Ai is the Fitness & Wellness Supervisor for Aztec Recreation. She has been teaching Group Exercise classes for 14 years and is very passionate about both teaching and taking Group Exercise classes. Ai believes in the powerful ability of group exercises to improve and promote individuals’ physical and mental well-being.
Alexandria Moler
Alex Moler graduated from SDSU with a Bachelors of Science in Kinesiology, Fitness Specialist. This Fall (2025), she will start her masters program at SDSU studying exercise physiology and nutritional sciences! In the future, she plans on working in the exercise and nutrition field running her own consultant business and helping clients achieve their health, fitness and nutrition goals. As an instructor she hopes to inspire others to stay active, healthy and reach their fitness goals while participating in a safe and welcoming environment. Along with leading group fitness classes, Alex teaches ENS credit classes, and is now a Fitness and Wellness Program Assistant at the ARC. Come join her on this new journey, SDSU community!
Alyssa Bilotti
Alyssa is from the San Francisco Bay Area and is a current undergraduate student at SDSU. She became an ACE Certified Group Fitness Instructor after completing the ENS 138 Group Fitness Instructor training course at the ARC. She has a 15 year background as a competitive dancer and strives to continue her fitness journey and her love of movement through teahcing classes. She loves helping others and wants to help them to achieve their fitness goals!
Amanda Resch
Amanda discovered her passion for yoga during her undergraduate years at UC Santa Barbara. She continued to explore the vast yoga community in the Bay Area while completing her MA degree from San Francisco State University. She became a certified yoga teacher in 2004.
Schooled within the vinyasa-based yoga tradition, Amanda’s focused attention is placed on building foundational flows with functional strength, while at the same time improving student’s range of motion and flexibility. She creates a welcoming and inclusive environment in which students can use curiosity and self-compassion to further their mind-body connection. Amanda approaches yoga as a holistic experience, incorporating yoga philosophy into each class to facilitate her students’ trajectory on their own personal journeys.
Her passions, in addition to yoga, include spending time with her family, resistance training, Pilates, dancing, art, and brewing kombucha.
Andrea Ruvalcaba
Andrea is currently a 4th year undergraduate student at SDSU studying Computer Science. After practicing yoga for a couple of years, Andrea grew a passion for the practice of yoga, and it became more than just an exercise. She completed her 200RYT certificate through CorePower Yoga. Andrea’s Sankalpa, or teaching mission, is to hold space with good energy, love, and compassion. Through her classes, she strives to help individuals discover the joy of self-discovery and movement through yoga while holding a safe space for exploration.
Ashley Yu
Ashley is a Kinesiology Pre-Physical Therapy student at SDSU. She is an ACE Certified Group Fitness Instructor, and began her journey by completing the ENS 138 Group Fitness Instructor Training course with Aztec Recreation. She also completed a Yoga Sculpt Teacher Training after developing a love for Yoga Sculpt because of the formats ability to ground your mind while uplifting your energy. Ashley grew up playing basketball and running track, so her genuine love for teamwork, community, and bringing like-minded individuals together to work towards their goals drives her passion as an instructor. Ashley looks forward to creating a space for you to embrace who you are now and show up for who you strive to be!
Belle Wichman
Belle is a current Undergrad at SDSU studying Kinesiology Pre - Physical Therapy. She is an ACE Certified Group Fitness Instructor and began teaching Barre classes at her home studio in April 2023. Belle has always had a passion for sports and athletics which motivated her to continue her fitness journey as an instructor and share her love for fitness with everyone she teaches. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading, and going on little adventures.
Caroline Gillies
Caroline Gillies is an undergraduate student at San Diego State University pursuing a degree from the College of Arts and Letters majoring in Political Science. Caroline has a previous background in dance, and found a love for cycling and all things group fitness after attending both dance and group fitness classes throughout her life. After recently taking the ENS 138 Group Fitness Instructor Training Course through the university, Caroline has the privilege to now work alongside and grow her connections further with the Aztec Recreation team and previous teachers. As such, she is now an ACE Certified Group Fitness Instructor and is grateful for this opportunity and can’t wait to see what comes next!
Claire Debranch
Claire is a current undergraduate student at SDSU majoring in Biology. She grew up in dance and cheer, which sparked her love of fitness. After completing the ENS 138 Group Fitness Instructor training class, she earned her ACE Group Fitness Instructor and Burn at the Barre certifications. Claire believes movement is the best medicine and loves reflecting that energy onto everyone around her. Exploring different ways to move keeps her motivated, but sculpt-style workouts are her absolute favorite—which is why she loves teaching Barre Sculpt! Her goal is to create an uplifting space where her enthusiasm motivates others to move, feel empowered, and leave class smiling. Outside the studio, Claire loves snowboarding, cooking, and recharging by the ocean. She’s always chasing the perfect sunrise or sunset, enjoying the peaceful moments each day brings.
Daniel Dominguez
Born and raised in Argentina, Daniel came to San Diego in 1997 to work as a Ph.D. doing research in the SDSU Psychology Department. He became an ARC member as soon as the gym opened and started practicing yoga regularly in 1999. Along the years, Daniel participated in yoga classes and yoga retreats with many wonderful instructors at the ARC, learning different styles of yoga. He obtained his yoga teacher certification in CorePower Yoga, in 2008. Around the same time he graduated from IPSB as a Holistic Health Practitioner and Massage Therapist. Since then, Daniel has been teaching yoga and doing bodywork in different institutions around San Diego and South America. In 2011, Daniel completed a SUPcore certification as a Stand Up Paddle (SUP) and SUP Yoga instructor through Surftech SUP Academy (SSUPA) and has been teaching SUP and SUP Yoga at Mission Bay Aquatic Center ever since. Daniel’s passion for Nature and traveling has brought him to teach yoga (volunteer work) and practice SUP in the Amazon (Peru), experience he plans to repeat annually before visiting family and friends in Argentina.
Diana Flores
Diana graduated from Southwestern College with an Associates in Kinesiology, and is attending SDSU pursuing her B.S. in Kinesiology! She is an AFAA certified group fitness instructor specializing in HIIT, indoor cycling, and strength training. Diana is also a 500-Hour certified Pilates instructor, holding a certification through the Pilates Method Alliance.
Along with leading group fitness classes, Diana is a competitive strongman athlete competing all over the country! With the combination of strongman, a background in intercollegiate cross country running, and Pilates, Diana loves to incorporate strength, endurance, and flexibility into her classes to help individuals find their true potential by pushing to the limit!
Gabriel Hill
Gabriel Hill is a certified GROVEYEFFECT and Zumba fitness instructor, known for his energetic and engaging classes that blend dance and high-intensity workouts. In addition to his dance fitness expertise, Gabriel is Active-Duty Navy, and a Command Fitness Leader, bringing a disciplined and structured approach to his training. His diverse background allows him to offer a unique and effective fitness experience designed to challenge all fitness levels!
Heidi Wilson
Heidi has been a fitness professional for over 27 years and she holds 2 Masters Degrees from SDSU; one in Public Health (MPH) and one in Exercise and Nutritional Sciences (MS). She is a Grandmaster UWSEF - United World Serrada Escrima Federation, Master in Taekwondo (4th Dan), Black Belt in Aikijujitsu, Black Belt in Escrima (under Master Bayani Abueg/BCA Arnis). She is certified USA Boxing Coach and a Masters Division Boxing Champion. She is also the Founder of the Women's Boxing Network in Southern California. Heidi was inducted into the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame 2024 and received the Female Multi-discipline Black Belt of the Year Award.
Heidi teaches academic classes in health, sports nutrition, kinesiology, and various fitness classes and martial arts classes. Her true passion is teaching women how to defend themselves. She teaches multiple sections of ENS 138-Women's Self Defense and Credit Boxing Classes in both the Fall and Spring Semesters at SDSU.
Jennifer Melford
Jenny has been an athlete her whole life and her love for movement and sport go back as far as she can remember. Jenny graduated from the University of San Francisco with a degree in Exercise and Sport Science, where she also earned a scholarship to play Division 1 soccer. It was during this time that Jenny discovered Yoga. Though she was drawn to Yoga initially for the physical challenge it offered, she ended up falling in love with the holistic nature of the practice, and the deeper sense of ease and well-being that were a result of her regular practice. She now holds five different Yoga certifications as a teacher, although she will always consider herself a student of the practice.
Jenny is also a certified Personal Trainer through the American College of Sports Medicine, a Health and Wellness Coach, a Nutritionist, and a Grief Counselor. In her free time Jenny loves hiking, camping, snowboarding, hanging with her family and puppy, and seeing live music!
Kelly Sawyer
Kelly is a lifelong athlete with a passion for empowering others through movement. She played competitive soccer throughout community college and later joined the UC San Diego Women’s Club Water Polo team, where she earned her B.S. in Management Science. After college, her athletic journey led her to competitive boxing. She is a certified USA Boxing Coach and an active athlete with numerous sanctioned fights. In 2024, Kelly was admitted to the Fowler College of Business M.S. in Finance program at San Diego State University and is expected to graduate in Spring 2026.
In her classes, Kelly combines endurance, technique, and strength training to create an inclusive and motivating environment. She aims to help participants build confidence, sharpen their skills, and achieve their fitness goals both inside and outside the ring.
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.
Mari Tsirelas
Marianthe (Mari) Tsirelas is a current SDSU student earning her undergrad in Economics with a specialization in Quantitative Analysis. Mari’s love and appreciation for fitness stemmed from her passion for competitive sports consisting of cheerleading, basketball, running, and golf. Mari found her love of cycling when she started riding the Peloton during COVID. Ever since her first ride, she knew she wanted to become a cycling instructor. After taking multiple cycling classes at the ARC, Mari completed the ENS 138 Group Fitness Instructor Training course & obtained her ACE Group Fitness Certification. By combining her love of the gym and cycling, Mari teaches classes that promote accountability, grit, and health!
Mckenna Pacey
Mckenna is majoring in Business Administration with an emphasis in sales. She is also president of the Aztec Sales Society which she says is so much fun! Mckenna is going into her junior year. She has taught HIIT 30 in the past and is looking forward to trying new formats this semester! Her favorite thing about teaching is pushing her participants to new limits they didn’t even know they had! She states it’s always fun to see their surprise at their own strength!
Megan Hollyfield
Megan began practicing yoga in 2012 as a form of physical therapy. Yet the more she practiced the physical postures; the more yoga became a refuge to work on her mental strength. Apparent that the mind-body connection is invaluable, she dove into a teacher training to deepen her own practice. Now a certified 200 Hour Registered Yoga Teacher, she hopes to share the benefits of focus, determination, and positivity to all her students.
After realizing she enjoyed teaching power, sculpt, and hot yoga classes, she started to branch out to teach other formats at the SDSU Aztec Recreation Center. Megan now teaches many additional formats such as Total Strength, Barre Blast, and Cardio Dance. Whenever you step into one of her classes whether to relax with yoga or workout, you will find a positive atmosphere and a class geared to challenging both the mind and the body.
Melissa Valdez
Melissa holds a Bachelor’s in Exercise and Sports Science and a Master’s in Sports Management from the University of San Francisco. As a lifelong athlete with experience in rugby, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and Strongman, Melissa's passion for movement and strength training emerged from her journey to recover from injuries and enhance her performance. Now, as a dedicated personal trainer and strength and conditioning coach, her primary goal is to help students elevate their quality of life through strength and fitness. In her weightlifting classes, Melissa creates a supportive and inclusive environment where students feel confident exploring new forms of healthy movement. She believes that strength training is crucial for building resilience, surpassing limits, and achieving personal goals. With a background in coaching diverse athletic programs and coaching individuals from all fitness levels, Melissa brings her energetic approach, deep knowledge, and positive attitude to every session, aiming to help students redefine and achieve their fitness aspirations.
Naomi Welsh
Naomi has a BA in Kinesiology and Physical Education with a Health Fitness concentration. Ever since her youth Naomi has loved being active. She got her start as a child in gymnastics, attending all her mom’s classes and coaching sessions and eventually went on to participate in competitions. Naomi also played Division 1 soccer on scholarship in college and competed as a semi-pro for two seasons. Later in life, Naomi became a professional ballroom dancer competing in all genres; dance has always been Naomi’s #1 passion. She has certifications from Core Rhythms and Zumba fitness along with a Gold Level Teacher Certification from Arthur Murray. She also has certifications for Maddog Athletics Spinning, Stages Beats Cycle, PiYo, and is currently studying for her 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training. Naomi believes movement is an essential part of being holistically healthy and likes to fuse elements of dance with Yoga, barre, and Pilates in her classes. As an advocate for movement, Naomi says “finding what motivates and inspires you to bring the highest benefit is key to maintaining an active lifestyle you can enjoy!”
Natalie Quinn
Natalie is an SDSU alumnus with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology, pre-Physical Therapy. She has been an instructor here at the ARC since 2020, teaching a variety of classes like Barre Blast, Cycle Core, Yoga Sculpt, and much more! Natalie has a true love and passion for health and well-being. That is why she is continuing her education at Point Loma Nazarene University with a master's in Kinesiology, Integrative Wellness. She believes in the harmony of well-being across physical, emotional, and mental health. Physical exercise and nutrition should come from a place of self-love and respect rather than a punishment towards yourself and your body. Feel free to join Natalie in a group fitness class to celebrate what your body can do and achieve!
Nikki Winters
Nikki has been dancing since she can remember and trained mostly in ballet. After she turned 18 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 in Portland, Oregon 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 since 1992 and has been teaching at Aztec Recreation since 2001. She currently is a Commercial Real Estate Broker, a wife to an amazing husband, and a mom to two awesome boys.
Rachel Brouzes
Rachel Brouzes is a seasoned Yoga teacher with over 7 years of teaching experience and nearly 20 years as a practitioner. She holds over 600 hours of teaching education, specializing in Vinyasa, Hatha, and Yin Yoga. Additionally, Rachel is a reiki initiated practitioner and soundhealer who integrates holistic approaches into her teaching. Rachel’s classes are characterized by precise cueing and verbal adjustments and include meticulously crafted body-part specific flows with yogic philosophy teachings seamlessly woven in. Rachel wants to ensure her students feel both supported and empowered in their practice. Beyond yoga, Rachel has expertise in nutrition and resistance training enabling her to offer a comprehensive approach to health and wellness.
Ricky Paniagua
Ricky holds degrees in Organizational Leadership and Behavioral Sciences and has been a certified Yoga Instructor since 2015. Ricky offers thought-provoking meditations, philosophy, and insights interwoven into playful and challenging postures that are accessible to Yoga practitioners of all levels. He believes in holding inclusive space while providing mindful and nurturing support, allowing practitioners to explore both their physical and mental bodies on their mats. Through verbal and physical adjustments, Ricky serves as an active observer, serving to empower practitioners to develop a deeper connection with their Yoga practice.
Shayne Fernandez
Shayne is originally from Sacramento, CA and graduated from SDSU with a Bachelors in Economics. In 2022, they fell in love with hot yoga and found immense physical and psychological benefits from the practice. After a few years of deepening their own personal practice, Shayne completed a 200 hour YTT program through Reach Yoga in Pacific Beach, where they were introduced to a wide range of healing modalities such as acro-yoga, thai massage, and breathwork. Today, they are working toward building an intentional community that centers around non-judgement and embracing authenticity, and their classes aim to acknowledge both the student and the teacher inside every individual. In their free time, Shayne loves to play board games, make music, and exchange ideas and experiences with friends.
Sofia Carmenate
Sofia Carmenate is a current Senior majoring in Psychology, with minors in Counseling/Social Change & Child Family Development. Sofia has a background teaching dance and is ACE Group Fitness-Certified. Her favorite formats to teach are barre sculpt and pilates sculpt. She hopes to get her yoga certification soon to teach here at the ARC. She is passionate about health and wellness as well as the mind-body connection associated with physical activity. In her classes, Sofia emphasizes the importance of working out to feel good, relieve stress, and obtain confidence! Her goal as an instructor is to uplift her participants to build confidence and strength in a safe, fun, and inclusive environment! In her spare time, she hangs out with friends, fulfills duties for different leadership positions, goes to the beach, reads, and loves to get outside!
Sugar Ray Holden
With over 28 years of experience as a USA certified Boxing Coach, Ray has trained a wide variety of students including UFC fighters, pro/amateur boxers, actors, children of all ages and seniors. He teaches progressive boxing techniques and strategies and also works as a boxing official and referee.
At the age of eight, "Sugar" Ray became interested in boxing. Along his journey in the sport, Ray had many great coaches and mentors including Martial Artist Wayne St. Hill, Master "Chicken" Gabriel, and former Team USA Olympic Boxing Coach Robert Coon (also Head Coach of the United Institute of Amateur Athletics Boxing Team where Ray became a member in his early teens).
As an instructor and avid boxing historian, Ray's main goal is to give back to the SDSU community through the experience in his boxing class using positive energy, and sharing his passion for the sport.
Ti Cason-Davis
Ti was born and raised in San Diego, California. He grew up being active in the arts via his participation in San Diego Junior Theatre, San Diego Civic Youth Ballet, and his attendance at the San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts. Ti attend Point Park University in Pittsburgh, PA where he studied Dance at the Private Arts University and has continued his education via various classes and workshops related to anatomy and bodywork. He has been a certified Yoga instructor since 2009. Before graduating from Point Park University, he taught the Adult Yoga classes on campus and has also taught Yoga at a variety of studios on both the east and west coast. Ti has been a Yoga Instructor at Southwestern College since 2013 and is excited to be part of the Aztec Recreation team as an ENS Yoga and Group Fitness Instructor.
Udoka Nwanna
Udoka is an ERYT-500 yoga teacher, a certified Reiki Master, ThetaHealer and Meditation & Mindfulness teacher. When she is not in the yoga studio teaching vinyasa, restorative or yin classes, she runs a Spiritual Life Coaching practice seeing a wide range of clients (including professionals seeking to transition from the grind of practice or simply find the happiness within their practice) to help them build the life that they truly desire from a spiritual, emotional and physical standpoint. She is regularly booked for speaking engagements and also teaches monthly workshops and classes to aid people in standing more in their spiritual power and stepping fully into their spiritual gifts.
Prior to launching her full-time spiritual coaching practice, she had a lengthy career in law school academia and was a seasoned litigator with experience in criminal prosecution, employment law and securities class action litigation. In 2022, she officially retired from practicing law but now still works as a law professor. In her free time, she enjoys international travel and golfing.
Whitley Thompson
Whitley became an ACE certified Group Fitness Instructor after completing the ENS 138 Group Fitness Instructor Training course with Aztec Recreation. As an undergraduate kinesiology student with a passion for fitness, Whitley is excited by the opportunity to create and share group fitness classes with her peers. Informed by her background as a track and field athlete, Whitley loves teaching Cardio/Strength focused classes, especially HIIT. Whitley’s main goal is to create a fun and inclusive environment where everyone can learn something new, work hard, and have fun!
