Chicago
Halsted

Alex Blair

Equinox

Alex began teaching Group Fitness in 2006 for the University of Wisconsin Whitewater after finishing a very successful swimming career. After graduating two years early, he moved to Chicago where he became the youngest Tier 3 Equinox Personal Trainer, with the most clients in Equinox company history and where he developed a rigorous group fitness class schedule. Alex is focused on creating an ultra-fun environment for all levels. His energy and enthusiasm are sure to rub off in his challenging and motivational classes. Read the profile >>

Alie McManus

Yogaview, Moksha, DePaul University

Alie McManus has studied Yoga and meditation for over 12 years and has been teaching for over 6 years. Alie’s passion for Yoga has led her to Bali, Thailand, Hong Kong, Jamaica, and across the United States studying with the world’s foremost teachers and eccentrics. Her primary teachers have been Erich Schiffmann, Barbara Benagh and Angela Farmer. Alie completed Erich’s teacher training in 2001 and has just returned from California where she assisted Erich in his teacher trainings and workshops. Alie has taught yoga across the United States, beginning in Boston and continuing in Wisconsin and Santa Cruz, and throughout the Los Angeles area at Sacred Movement, UCLA, and Yoga House in Pasadena. Alie has also given workshops in Southern California. Read the profile >>

Ashley Kohler

Corepower Yoga

Ashley discovered the benefits of yoga eight years ago. Yoga awakened her body and connected her on a deeper level to her mind, spirit, and heart. Ashley is certified in Power Yoga, Hot Power Fusion, and Yoga Sculpt. Ashley holds a M.A. in Journalism with a certificate in Women's Studies from DePaul University. She is dedicated to sharing the love of yoga and creating a welcoming atmosphere for students to grow and delve into their own practice. Read the profile >>

Beth and Terry Kiely

Om on the Range

Beth Range Kiely A college friend introduced Beth to yoga 10 years ago and the amazing sense of being centered and aware kept her coming back. After practicing Ashtanga and Kundalini yoga, she re-experienced Bikram yoga and found this method of hatha yoga resonated with her mind, body and soul. The studio's name is in honor of Beth's Dad -- Charlie Range -- who would have gotten a big kick knowing that Om on the Range is simply a welcoming "home on the range" created for those who practice yoga here in Chicago. Terry Kiely Terry has been practicing Bikram yoga for more than 10 years. It keeps him sane and helps him cope with injuries to his back and knees -- the result of too many years of high school and playlot basketball combined with too many hours spent on... Read the profile >>

Bonnie Micheli

Shred 415

Fitness and health has always been a huge part of Bonnie's life. She began interval training in college, and as her trainer explained it, alternating cardiovascular work with strength training burns the most fat while gaining the most muscle. After working out on her own for years, Bonnie began taking group exercise classes in 2008. She enjoyed it so much that she wanted to start teaching, and became an instructor at The Dailey Method in Bucktown in August 2009, where she taught for more than one year. She is an A.C.E. certified personal trainer and loves teaching at Shred415. She enjoys pushing clients to their fullest extent and watching them accomplish goals they never thought they could. Read the profile >>

Brent Holten

i.d. Gym

Brent Holten has been teaching yoga in Chicago for 8 years. He has studied various styles of yoga in Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago, and is currently involved in the opening of I.D. Gym at 2727 North Lincoln Ave. www.id-gym.com Read the profile >>

Gina Saka

Yogaview-division, Namaskar, & Equinox- 900 N Michigan & Lincoln Park

Gina took her first yoga class 11 years ago in a gym thanks to a persistent friend. It was the best thing I’d ever experienced in my life and what I will never forget is the spiritual awakening that I had in savasana. It was not only magical but it was the beginning of my yoga path and a life long transformation. Gina completed the Yogaview Teacher Training, 2009 under the loving guidance of her teachers, Tom Quinn, Quinn Kearney, Claire Mark and Geri Blier and she is also a graduate of the Temple of Kriya Yoga’s Teacher Training, 2007 under the loving guidance of ordained Swami Mary Samano. Gina has also studied with Paul Weitz , Seane Corn, Natasha Rizopoulos, Ana Forrest, and Kino MacGregor. Her lifelong ever evolving practice continues to grow and flourish under the guidance of... Read the profile >>

Heather Hughes

Power Sculpt Fitness and Ray Meyer Fitness & Recreation Center-DePaul University

Heather Hughes is originally from Naperville, Illinois and has been a certified personal trainer, group fitness instructor and exercise physiologist since 1997. She has worked at some of Chicago’s premier fitness facilities but most notably has been with DePaul's Ray Meyer Fitness & Recreation Center since the doors opened in 1999. She has served as the Group Fitness Program Coordinator and has taught and trained thousands of participants over the years. Heather currently instructs 12+ classes a week at DePaul and every class is jam-packed with participants who crave results! Recently, Heather has started her own fitness company, Power Sculpt Fitness™, where she has taken her vast experience and knowledge and created the ultimate body sculpting class. Being a busy mom of three... Read the profile >>

Jenn Hogg

HERO fitness

Jennifer Hogg - owner of H.E.R.O Fitness - 5 time Aerobic Gymnastics Champion - 2001 Bronze Medalist - Mixed Pair - 2005 Silver Medalist - Women's Individual - 2007 Silver Medalist - Women's Individual - 1008 - Bronze - Women's Individual - 2010 Silver Medalist - Womens Individual - Group Fitness Manager and Instructor - Personal Trainer - Aerobic Gymnsatic Coach - International Presenter - M.A in Marketing, Northwestrn, 92 - B.S in Advertising,University of Illinois, 91 Read the profile >>

Jessica Goldman

All About Dance

Jessica (Swiggum) Goldman is the founder and artistic director of All About Dance. Jessica brings a solid sense of positive energy to her classes. She studied for 15 years at Accent on Dance studio in Brookfield, Wisconsin. During her time there, she competed nationally in jazz, tap, ballet, lyrical, modern and hip hop. Jessica continued her dance education at the University of Minnesota where she graduated with a minor in Dance and Speech Communication and a bachelor’s degree in Advertising. While in college, Jessica danced on the University of Minnesota's nationally ranked varsity dance team and competed nationally at the Universal Dance Association. She then went on to pursue a professional career as a Minnesota Vikings Cheerleader and later as a Chicago Luvabull. With over 20... Read the profile >>

Jim Karas

Jim Karas

Jim Karas is a Lifestyle Expert who combines a degree from the Wharton School of Business with over twenty-six years of unparalleled success in helping people look and feel their very best. Jim has been the Fitness Contributor on ABC's Good Morning America (he helped former co-host Diane Sawyer lose over 25 pounds), is frequently seen on The Dr. Oz Show, The View and for three years, hosted Couch Potatoes on ABC News Now. Jim has served as a Contributing Editor for Good Housekeeping magazine and has written feature articles for countless other national publications, including "O" The Oprah Magazine. He also continues to personally work with "People magazine's Sexiest Man Alive," Hugh Jackman, when called into service. Read the profile >>

Julie Valenti

Equinox - Lincoln Park

ulie Valenti was introduced to group fitness her first week of college, and she's been hooked ever since. Front and center for every class, she found a sense of confidence and comraderie in the group fitness setting that she had never experienced before. The consumate "gym rat", Julie's passion for exercise led her to pursue her group fitness certification, and the rest is history. She is now the Group Fitness Manager for Equinox Lincoln Park, where she creates and implements new class formats, helps to develop new instructors, and continues to teach a variety of classes - from Powerstrike to Studio Cycling, and Step to Body Conditioning - to hundreds of members each week. Julie is also an avid runner - she completed the Chicago Marathon in 2008 and now races half marathons... Read the profile >>

Lisa Scurlock

Lisa Scurlock is from Chicago, IL and graduated from Western Michigan University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance and a Communications Minor. In 2005 she performed at The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. with Philadanco. Lisa has had the privilege to perform works of many world-renowned choreographers, including Lou Conte, George Faison, Gus Giordano, and Diane McIntyre. Professional dance experiences include: Royal Caribbean Productions, Thodos Dance Chicago and Inaside Chicago Dance. Lisa choreographed for an Inaside Chicago Dance performance in 2009. Most recently, Lisa was honored to be named an Ambassador for Lululemon Athletica. In addition to teaching at the Lou Conte Dance Studio, Lisa teaches for All About Dance and i.d. gym. Lisa was certified in Zumba in 2010 and... Read the profile >>

Lois Miller

Fitness Formula Clubs

Lois Miller has been in the fitness industry for 23 years, teaching group classes and privately training clients. During her ten year career as Regional Fitness Director for Crunch Chicago Lois created two nationally recognized programs, her Steel Pilates workout was featured in the December 2007 issue of Glamour Magazine and she appeared on both local and national TV and radio spots including, NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX and WGN. Recognized for her innovative classes, Lois was selected to the 2009/2010 international team and presented her BOSU Bootcamp, Steel Pilates and Barre classes at The Italian Fitness Festival, Rome Italy in June 2009. Lois was recently named Chicago's Fitness Guru of 2011. Read the profile >>

Nick Pupillo

Visceral

After an extensive career as a dancer, teacher and choreographer, Nick Pupillo decided that his main priority would be to nurture young talent by establishing Visceral Studio Company. In 2007, Nick founded Visceral Dance Center to provide the Chicago community with a new venue for artistic and technical growth. In the fall of 2011, Visceral Dance Chicago will begin as a new professional contemporary company here in Chicago. Nick has devoted himself wholeheartedly to each of these projects, because he has the determination to make his vision a reality. Nick attended Indiana University on full scholarship, where he studied with Jacques and Virginia Cesbron, as well as Leslie Peck and Violette Verdy. He graduated with a B.S. in ballet, concentrating in teaching and choreography. A former... Read the profile >>

Rudy Tapalla

Crossfit Chicago

Soon after completing his duty as a Sergeant in the Marine Corps, Rudy began personal training in 2002. Taking in as much expertise as he could to develop a more comprehensive program for his clients, he acquired certifications with Charles Poliquin (PICP 1), OPT-CCP (All Level I), Z-Health (R-Phase), FMS Movement Screen and both RKC and AKC Kettlebell training along with national qualifications through the American Council on Exercise, National Academy of Sports Medicine and USA Weightlifting (Sports Performance Coach). While training on his own as a Powerlifter, Rudy found CrossFit and discovered its ability to make up for deficiencies and create a genuine balance in his fitness capacity. With the same goal in mind for his clients, he completed CrossFit Specialty Certifications in... Read the profile >>

Stacy Levy

Equniox, TruHarmony, Chicago School of Yoga, FFC,

Stacy Levy has been an avid yoga practitioner for over 10 years, and her approach to yoga is continually evolving through dedicated study and self-reflection. Her passion for teaching yoga is rooted in her strong spiritual foundation, love of movement and holistic lifestyle. Stacy brings her positive energy to her teaching as she nurtures and respects the individuality of each student. Stacy's teaching philosophy embodies a focus on healthy and safe alignment, and balancing strength, endurance and flexibility while using the breath to connect the mind, body and spirit. Stacy's soulful Vinyasa yoga classes blend mindful poses into eclectic sequences that are set to uplifting and contemporary music, ranging from Classic Rock to Regage to Pop and Hip Hop. Music is a strong component of her... Read the profile >>

Tracy Roemer

Shred 415

Tracy is a nationally recognized fitness instructor and leader, who has presented master classes and Kwando workshops to fitness professionals. She created and developed Gorilla Sports' Kwando Program, a total body conditioning class incorporating elements of boxing, kickboxing and tae kwan do. Tracy's fitness career spans more than 15 years on the West Coast and in Chicago. She's worked as managing director of a club with five fitness centers in San Francisco, Chicago and Los Angeles, as director of weight loss and nutrition for a large national gym, and as general manager of a boutique gym in Chicago known for its personal training. Read the profile >>