Group Fitness Instructors
Interested In Becoming an Instructor?
- Alberto Luiz Reyes
- Alexandria Moler
- Alexis Guzman
- Alyssa Bilotti
- Amanda Resch
- Ashley Yu
- Belle Wichman
- Claire Debranch
- Daniel Dominguez
- Heidi Wilson
- Lisa Lamont
- Liza Charles
- Mari Tsirelas
- Megan Hollyfield
- Naomi Welsh
- Natalie Quinn
- Nikki Winters
- Rachel Brouzes
- Ricky Paniagua
- Shayne Fernandez
- Sofia Carmenate
- Sugar Ray Holden
- Ti Cason-Davis
Alberto Luiz Reyes
Alberto grew up in San Diego training and competing in Taekwondo from a very young age. He earned his first black belt in 2010 under Grandmaster Bo Hwa Jeong and Master James Tanagras. He later earned his B.S. in statistics from UCLA in 2016 and went on to work in academic research for a number of years. During this time he continued to practice martial arts, and branched out into other systems. Currently his own training focuses on Muay Thai, Taekwondo and Kali. Alberto teaches a multitude of kids and adult martial arts classes within the community and enjoys watching his students overcome challenges, improve their techniques, and build camaraderie. As an instructor, practitioner, and fan of martial arts, he aims to make his classes safe and inclusive spaces for people of all backgrounds to improve their physical and mental health. He leads his students through passion, focus, and a desire to learn and continually make each other better
When he’s not on the mat, you can find Alberto at the beach, on a hike, or cooking for his loved ones. He believes that the values instilled through martial arts translate to all other areas of life as a way to excel at and enjoy them.
Alexandria Moler
Alex Moler graduated from SDSU with a Bachelors of Science in Kinesiology, Fitness Specialist. She is currently in the masters program at SDSU studying exercise physiology and nutritional sciences! In the future, she plans on working as a dietitian. And as a fitness instructor, she hopes to inspire others to stay active, healthy and reach their fitness goals while participating in a safe and welcoming environment. Come take her group fitness classes and join our SDSU community!
Alexis Guzman
Alexis is currently working towards her PhD in Cell and Molecular Biology at SDSU. She started practicing Yoga consistently in 2022 as an undergrad taking various formats of Yoga as a way to diversify her movement and make it more fun. Practicing yoga has not only helped her become more in tune with her body, it has also helped her relieve stress as a busy student. Alexis completed her 200hr YTT and 50hr Advanced Training through CorePower. As an instructor, her mission is to allow everyone to feel comfortable in their own unique bodies by offering layers and options for support throughout their yoga practice. Alexis aims to provide a safe and positive space for those of all levels, while adding spice to her classes by incorporating balancing poses, using props, and full-body movements to help build muscle strength and mental resilience.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Liza Charles
Liza is currently an undergraduate student at SDSU majoring in Kinesiology. After completing the ENS 138 Group Fitness Instructor training class she obtained her ACE Group Fitness Instructor certification. Liza grew up in cheerleading and when she came to SDSU she took classes at the ARC which sparked her love for group fitness. Liza believes that fitness is something that people should and enjoy and look forward to and hopes to create that environment within her classes. Liza loves sculpt style classes and continues to hope learning more within the world of group fitness.
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!
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.
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 2021, 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 continued her education at Point Loma Nazarene University to obtain 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 recently graduated from San Diego State University with a B.A. in Psychology with an emphasis in Neuroscience, along with minors in Counseling & Social Change and Child & Family Development. She is an ACE Group Fitness–Certified Instructor with a background in dance instruction and a passion for promoting holistic wellness through movement and community.
Sofia teaches Pilates Sculpt, Yoga Sculpt, Barre Sculpt, and Cycling here at the ARC. Her classes focus on the mind-body connection, empowering participants to build strength, confidence, and resilience while creating space for stress relief and self-care. She is passionate about fostering an inclusive, welcoming environment where every participant feels supported, challenged, and connected; regardless of experience level or fitness background. Through intentional programming and uplifting energy, Sofia strives to cultivate a strong sense of community in every class.
Outside of the studio, Sofia enjoys volunteering in a research lab, spending time with friends, going to concerts, and finding opportunities to be outdoors!
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.
