RPFitness Fitness Instructors

	Sue Kunce MuscleFlex Sue is a graduate of The University of Akron. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Technical Education along with an Associate Degree in Business Management. Sue brings 20 years of experience in the fitness industry. She started as a group fitness instructor over 19 years ago and during that time developed and managed group fitness programs. She has a national certification from American Council on Exercise (ACE). She has specialized training and certifications for Strength Training from BTF-PowerFlex and a Kickboxing certification from Gorilla Sports. In addition to instructing a variety of class formats, she has developed and managed Corporate Fitness programs for local corporations.
	JJ Fyffe Spinning Jennifer Judy-Fyffe (aka JJ) has long been an outspoken advocate for group exercise since the 80's (when headbands and leg warmers were actually in fashion). She was always active exercising in a group setting whether it was cheerleading, aerobics classes, or the intercollegiate fencing team at Miami University of Ohio. After graduating with a B.S. of Science in Business Administration in 1992, she started teaching group exercise professionally at several clubs around Akron, Ohio. Hi/Lo & weight bearing classes were Jennifer's primary focus. She expanded her certifications to include Kwando, step, Yoga, Bootcamp, Urban Rebounding, and hip hop. She currently holds a certification with A.C.E Group Exercise, YogaFit, and Spinning®. In 2003, Jennifer achieved her M.B.A from the University of Akron. She continues to expand her fitness knowledge with continuing education classes in exercise physiology and class technique training. Jennifer's experience includes two years as a Group Exercise Manager for Bally's Total Fitness. While there, she participated as a member of the Bally's Total Fitness Team for four years. This team was a group of instructors that took physical fitness out into the community to educate as well as promote a healthy lifestyle. RPFitness welcomed J.J. in 2007. Her focus is primarily spinning and muscle classes. She is passionate about the benefits of cross training and staying active. It would not be surprising to see her running a few quick miles, sneaking into a yoga class or participating in CrossFit boot camp trainings. As a full time career professional, Jennifer had been with Today's Bride Magazine & Shows for the past 16 years. Today's Bride helps engaged couples plan their dream wedding by connecting them with local wedding professionals. Jennifer was promoted to Bridal Show Manager in 1998 in which she heads up the largest bridal show in Ohio. It seemed like fate when her wedding knowledge as well as love of fitness all came together as she married her husband Matt Fyffe in 2004. Ironically she met him at the gym. JJ has a way of instilling her three main philosophies to her students: Practice the power of living in the present. Do not try to control the uncontrollable; control your reaction to it. Make a habit of creating change. If you don't change something, nothing will change. The one thing that will never change is JJ's true passion for what she does. She will forever be a group exercise trainer. JJ is proud to see her students push themselves to reach new levels and create positive changes for their life. JJ is a well respected advocate of the fitness community. Her expertise and love for what she does is truly evident.
	Tara Schweitzer MuscleFlex Tara Schweitzer obtained her group exercise certification in 2005. After enjoying her own workouts from great instructors for over nine years, she decided she wanted to share her love of fitness with others. Tara has also been a legal secretary for over 12 years and is employed at the law firm of Hill Hardman Oldfield, LLC in Akron. She enjoys starting each morning with spinning or running before she heads off to work. Tara has recently found a new passion for trail running and enjoys the obstacles of the outdoors. She occasionally appears with a few scrapes and bruises to prove it! Tara is willing to try just about anything and diversifies her workouts with many of the other classes offered at RP to build strength, endurance and prevent injury. In her spare time, she enjoys family gatherings, dancing and sipping a martini or two with friends (and sleep!). Her favorite quote: Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.
	Kerri Conti
	Shelly Kelnhofer
	Nikki Joy Cardio Fusion, Step, Cardio Kickboxing, MuscleFlex Nikki attended the University of Akron where she studied accounting and currently works for REM Ohio which is the State of Ohio housing assistance program for people with special needs. Nikki began teaching fitness classes in 1994 and is certified through BFIT. Nikki has developed one of the largest followings at RPFitness, specializing in HI/LO, Step Aerobics, and Cardio Fusion. She is currently working toward her High Intensity Personal Training Certification and provides weight loss coaching and meal planning.
	Amanda Jesko Spinning, Zumba Amanda graduated from Mount Union College in May 2007 with a Bachelors degree in Early Childhood Education and a minor in Sociology. Currently, she is working at Summit Academy Elementary in Akron, Ohio. Amanda began her fitness instructing with Spinning, becoming Mad Dog certified. Amanda is AFAA certified in Group Exercise and Kickboxing as well as Zumba certified. Amanda teaches Spinning and Zumba at RPFitness. Along with Spinning and Zumba, Amanda is teaching step aerobics, kickboxing and various weight training classes throughout the area.
	Jeanne Berry Zumba, Pilates Jeanne doesn't exactly appear like what you're accustomed to seeing when you look at photos of fitness instructors. But don't let the gray hair and less-than-perfect skin fool you because, this old gal's got game! She is a nationally certified group fitness instructor, specializing in Pilates Mat & Reformer and Aerobic Dance. Jeanne's Pilates certification is through Balanced Body University, recognized worldwide for excellence in Pilates education. For the mat certification alone, extensive study in anatomy, plus over 100 hours of course work, and written and practical testing is required before BBU certification is granted. Jeanne combines Latin dance steps with fitness moves. We call it Zumba; she calls it "exercise in disguise" because you're having so much fun you may forget that you're working out.
	Jairo Cuestra Yoga Is a Colombian Yoga teacher, actor, Theatre director and actor training teacher. He successfully completed the Brahmrishi Yoga Teacher Training. In the training of Brahmrishi Yoga, there is a steady emphasis on therapeutic Hatha Yoga, a practice of meeting the needs of the students for health and healing. Whether the class is gentle, moderate, or challenging, the approach is one of holistic and gradual development. Mr. Cuesta has conducted Yoga sessions in Colombia, Italy, Poland and France. As an actor training teacher he introduces his students to different techniques of body and movement awareness in witch he aims to integrate the mental and physical aspects of being into a cohesive and spontaneously functioning whole: Body-Mind Centering, Alexander Technique and Feldenkrais. In his career as an actor, he collaborated with Jerzy Grotowski in the Theatre of Sources and the Objective Drama Program from 1976 to 1986, working in Poland, France, Italy, Mexico, Haiti, and the USA. He participated in preliminary workshops for The Mahabarata in Paris, under the direction of Peter Brook. Mr. Cuesta has been a guest artist at The University of Paris; the University of California-Irvine; The Colorado College; Eckerd College; Case Western Reserve University; Ashland University; and The University of Akron where he directed Samuel Beckett's Endgame. Mr. Cuesta has conducted numerous workshops in Performance Ecology and actor training techniques around the world. He has performed with Teatro Libre in Bogota, Colombia, and co-directed (with James Slowiak) Moliere's The Misanthrope. For NWPL, Mr. Cuesta has directed The Dybbuk and has performed in Mothers Work, The Recital of the Bird, Epiphany I, The Phantoms of King Lear, The Book of Saints and Martyrs, Woyzeck, Electra, HamletMachine, Love in the Time of Lunatics, Deathwatch, Angry Gods and Lost Marbles, Frankenstein, Alice...Down the Rabbit Hole, and Action. He is co-author (with James Slowiak) of Jerzy Grotowski (Routledge, 2007).
	Kristy Kenna Step, Boot Camp & MuscleFlex Kristy graduated from The Ohio State University with a Bachelors degree in History. Prior to attending OSU, she received a partial basketball scholarship to Millersville University, but a knee injury ended her basketball career. She started as a group fitness instructor over 13 years ago and is AFAA certified. She also has certifications for Strength Training from BTF-PowerFlex and a Kickboxing certification from Gorilla Sports. Kristy teaches step aerobics, Boot camp and Muscleflex. When she is not busy teaching classes, she enjoys marathon running, golf and her four children. She ran the 2008 Akron Marathon in 3 hours and 39 minutes which qualified her to compete in the Boston Marathon. In 2009, Kristy ran and completed the Boston Marathon while she was 14 weeks pregnant.
	Michele Hardman Step Aerobics For many years Michele was such a fixture at the gym, the manager of the group fitness program suggested that she turn her drive into something more. Michele thrives on helping others to achieve their fitness goals, too. Michele Hardman has been a group exercise instructor for 10 years specializing in Step aerobics. Michele has a national certification through the American Council on Exercise, a Powerball certification and BOSU certification through BTF/Crunch, and has completed a Level One Kettlebell Certification through Kettlebell Concepts. Michele lives in West Akron with her husband, Kevin, and has 2 children.
	Andrea Keller Zumba, Hi/Lo, Step Aerobics "The first time I took an aerobic class I was hooked!" Andrea started teaching group exercise in 1993 and is nationally certified by the Aerobic and Fitness Association of America (AFAA). Andrea specializes in Zumba (certified), Step Aerobics (certified) and High Low. Andrea has participated in various fitness workshops through AFAA including: resistance training, yoga, step, mat science #1 and #2 and indoor cycling. Andrea has also received CPR/AED certification from the American Red Cross. Andrea enjoys listening to music and incorporating it into building her workout routines. Away from the gym, Andrea loves the outdoors, gardening, walking and hiking the beautiful metro parks, even ice skating at Big Ben in the winter. This summer Andrea is going to challenge herself by bike riding the towpath trail.
	Garrett Pavlovicz Garrett graduated from the Ohio State University with a degree in Chemical Engineering, specializing in environmental studies. After graduating college, Garrett started to become more in tune with his physical fitness - working out 5 times a week and mapping out a daily eating regimen. While reading the online health articles everyday during lunch, he started seeing more and more articles about yoga. After reading a particular article about how yoga was being used as conditioning by soldiers in the military, he finally thought to give it a try. Being tentative at first, he started with a "gentle yoga" class. He left feeling completely energized, yet relaxed. Once hooked on yoga, he slowly started to increase the frequency and the level of his practice. Intrigued by the different styles of yoga, he has taken classes in Anusara, Ashtanga, Iyengar, Kripalu, Restorative, Power Vinyasa, and any other style he could find. During a workshop he took, the instructor said to the class (many of whom were fellow yoga instructors) "Many new people will come to your yoga classes looking for some sort of physical fitness, but they will only stay and keep coming back if they find something more." Living proof of that statement is Garrett. At first he used yoga as a means to supplement his weight training, but now the strength, flexibility and balance he gains from practice (not to mention the improvement in his posture and the disappearance of his lower back pain) is just the icing on the cake. The true benefits gained from yoga are the mental clarity and the spiritual awakening that arises during practice. The way he feels about yoga is the opposite way he feels about smoking - he knows too much about smoking to ever start doing it, and he knows too much about yoga to ever stop doing it. Garrett is honored to share his knowledge and the benefits he has received from yoga with his students.
	David Murray Yoga Eight years ago, I came to a shocking realization: either someone had stretched my legs or my flexibility had greatly diminished. As I sat straining, trying to reacquaint myself with my toes, the collective consciousness inspired me to begin my yogic journey. Having a gorgeous wife and two beautiful and talented daughters, I needed to find a class that fit into my very busy schedule. It was there that I was first introduced to Hatha yoga. As I went through the various contortions, I discovered that in fact many areas of my body had lost their flexibility. Years passed and the aches and pains that had been my constant companions had been utterly vanquished and my journey was leading me in a new direction. I began studying the teachings of the Dalai Lama and various yogis. With a heightened sense of awareness of the magnanimous benefits of yoga, I embarked on a certification curriculum that would provide me with the opportunity to share my vast knowledge and experience with others. After receiving my certification in January of 2009, I began teaching my very own restorative yoga class the following April. My class level ranges from beginner to intermediate, as I would not want the class level to exceed my own abilities. And so, with passionate determination and smoldering good looks, I promise to help those who attend my class achieve increased flexibility, improved balance, and strengthened concentration.

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