Group Exercise Instructors 08'
Colleen Harshbarger, , MS, E-RYT 500, ACSM H/FI, is the Manager of Fitness and Wellness at the WVU Student Recreation Center and also teaches yoga and spin. She has held leadership positions in the fitness industry for over 20 years, including operating her own yoga studio and managing fitness and wellness programs for Reebok, Intl. and NIOSH. She has a Master of Science degree in exercise science / biomechanics and is acknowledged by Yoga Alliance as an experienced yoga teacher at the 500 hour level (E-RYT 500). Colleen is also a Johnny G. certified spinning instructor and personal trainer. Colleen blends her knowledge of exercise, and yoga, into a mindfully energetic classes that meets the needs of individual participants.
Nancy has been a group exercise instructor for six years and teaches a veriety of classes including Step and Kickboxing aerobics, body sculpting and core conditioning. Nancy holds a B.S. in Ex. Phys. and is currently enrolled at WVU in the school of community medicine for her masters in Public Health. Her certifications include: NETA Group Fitness Instuctor and FFPA Certified Personal Trainer. Nancy loves to teach group fitness because of all the friendships that are made and to see people's bodies transform.
Also known as AJ, Amanda Jo is 26 years old and is completing her Bachelor of the Arts in Communication Studies with a minor in Personal Fitness. Once she graduates she plans to pursue a masters degree in Christian Counseling at Reformed Theological Seminary in Oviedo, FL. She currently teaches Zumba, an amazing, dynamic form of group fitness and in December will begin personal training. She is married to Brett Huffman who will receive his Doctorate in Physical Therapy here at WVU this May.
Heather Ahern is the Director of Dance in the Division of Theatre and Dance at WVU. Ahern has been teaching dance for over twenty years and has been teaching Pilates and Dance Conditioning since 2005. A former and founding member of Groundwerx Dance Theatre in Providence Rhode Island, Ahern has enjoyed a career in both performance and teaching others the joy of movement and fitness. Ahern earned her MFA in Dance from California State University where she completed a specialized study in Pilates and Dance Conditioning and received her Pilates certification from Body Arts Sciences International in Costa Mesa, CA.
Erin Larew is a cyclefit instructor at the Rec. Center.
Gemma has been a certified Group Fitness Instructor since 1998 and a Certified Personal Trainer since 1999. Her enthusiasm and passion for health and fitness are contagious. Everyone, from the beginner to the seasoned athlete, will be sure to get exactly what it is they need out of Gemma’s Group Fitness classes. Never been to a Group Fitness Class? Then Gemma’s class is the perfect one to start with. Feel comfortable, have fun, and receive that little extra attention to ensure safety and results each and every time.
Melissa is a recently certified Zumba instructor and teaches hip hop at the WVU Rec. center. She has been dancing for 20 years and was a former member of the WVU Dance team and coach. She loves teaching all types of dance, especially hip hop and her main goal is for students to have fun during her classes. Melissa is also a graduate student in the Chemistry Department (with a forensic emphasis) where she is working towards her PhD.
Brian Fellers has been a group exercise instructor for 12 years and is certified by the American Council on Exercise (ACE) and the National Exercise Trainers Association (NETA). As a DJ, he mixes his own music for classes. He loves to teach Step, Hip Hop and Cycling and his motto is "If you're not sweating, it's not worth doing!" Web Site: www.funkyfellers.com
Casie Fox became interested in fitness while still in high school, when she was mentored by Deanna McConnaughey. With Deanna's help and encouragement, Casie became versed in step aerobics and in the spring of 2004, she took her Primary Group Fitness Certification exam with AFAA. She has been a certified group fitness instructor since that time.
Nicole Gauthier-Schatz has 16 years of teaching experience and is a Certified Kripalu Yoga Teacher, Certifies Wholistic Lifestyle Teacher and a Certified Yoga Therapist with Integrative Yoga Therapy for Body/Mind/Spirit. Nicole is also a Childbirth Consultant and a Birth Doula.
Adrian’s yoga journey began in 1991 while attending college. During her years of practice, she has enjoyed various styles of yoga while living in many different cities such as Portland, OR, New York, NY, and Boulder, CO. Adrian is a certified Vinyasa Yoga Instructor through the Asheville Yoga Center in Asheville, North Carolina, under the direction of Stephanie Keach. She is also a certified Group Fitness Instructor through the American Council on Exercise (ACE), and holds both Adult CPR and First Aid certifications.
Xiao Ling has been practicing Tai Chi and Qi Gong for twenty years. Before coming to the United States a year ago, Xiao was a professor of Physical Education at Middle-South Forest University in China. She enjoys instructing Tai Chi because learning Tai Chi correctly provides a practical avenue for learning about such things as balance, alignment, fine-scale motor control, rhythm of movement, and the genesis of movement from the body’s vital center.
Nancy Naternicola is the Fitness and Wellness Director at the WVU School of Physical Education and the WVU Stansbury Fitness Center. She has a Master of Science degree in Physical Education Teacher Education and has been teaching aerobics and personal training for 30 years. She teaches the WVU Personal Trainer Minor and Group Fitness Minor summer courses as well as the PE 125 Aerobics classes. She holds an ACE Personal Training, ACE Group Fitness, and AEA certification and teaches over 15 types of aerobics including hip hop, step, hi/lo, cardio ball, sculpting, boot camp, and kickboxing.
Heather Schmidt is a University of Pittsburgh Graduate with a BS in Sports Medicine and a Minor in Speech Communication. Heather has been teaching group fitness and personal training in both public and private facilities since 1999. In 2004, she left Tucson, Arizona where she was working as fitness specialist at Canyon Ranch Resort and Health Spa to come to Morgantown, WV. Currently, she holds certifications in Bosu Integrated Training, Gliding, YogaFit Levels I-III, Pilates Mat, Spinning, ACE Personal Training, AFAA Group Fitness, Cardio Kickbox, Resist-A-Ball and Reebok Coreboard.
Jennifer Nieusma enjoys an active lifestyle with her family. Jennifer, her husband and four of her five children are involved in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts. She comes to fitness classes looking to have fun and to get a good workout. A fit body makes for a fit mind and she proclaims that she has seen this statement work in her own life! With the activity loads people have these days, a good stress relief is important. That is why she believes that fitness should be fun, and people need to enjoy their group fitness class. Jennifer has been an ACE Certified Group Fitness Instructor for 6+ years. She is certified by Powerhouse Pilates as well as Mad Dog Athletics Spinning Certified. First Aid Trained, CPR and AED Certified.
Sharon Ryan is a Johnny G. certified Spinning instructor. She has been enjoying Spinning classes since 2001, and she has been teaching her own classes at the WVU Rec Center and at Healthworks Rehab and Fitness since 2005. Fitness and athletics have always been a part of Sharon's life. These days, when she is not spinning, Sharon is running, walking her dogs, or cycling outside to stay in shape and to stay very happy. Sharon has an incredibly wonderful day job too. She teaches philosophy at WVU!
Jennifer Sivak is certified in group fitness instruction by the American Council on Exercise. She has been teaching group fitness classes for thirteen years. Her favorite classes include step aerobics and boot camp. Her passion in life is attending national aerobics conferences.
Amy Toler is currently in the Physical Education Teaching Education program and is working on her ACE certification in Personal Training. She is a certified Spin Instructor and has been teaching at the Rec Center since 2006.
Rochelle has been teaching group exercise classes since 1980 and has taught all across the United States as well as Europe and Puerto Rico. Rochelle is qualified to teach kickboxing, spinning, step, boot camp and body sculpting classes. Her certifications include AAAI/ISMA, AFAA, and Mad Dog Spinning.
Danny is Petroleum & Natural Gas Engineering major here at WVU. He has been a certified group exercise instructor since 2006. He teaches Spinning here at the SRC. He is also a USCA cycling member and races road bikes.
Lauren teaches Hoopla, a beginning hoopdance class, that she has been pursuing since the Summer of 2007. Lauren is a certified Zumba instructor and an Occupational Therapy Student working towards her Master's Degree. Her passion is holistic wellness, which is evident in her studies as well as her hoopdance. Lauren is enthusiastic about hoopla and encourages everyone to take her classes and see what the newest workout craze is all about.
Jamie is presently working on her Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Physiology, with an emphasis in Aquatic Therapy at WVU; furthermore, she hopes to pursue a Doctorate in Physical Therapy. Currently, Jamie is a lifeguard at the Student Rec. Center and is teaching Aqua Fitness. Her certifications include: Aquatic Exercise Association (AEA), Arthritis Foundation Aquatic Program (AFAP), American Red Cross Lifeguard and Community Water Safety Certified. Swimming competitively since the age of 5, Jamie loves everything about the water and its benefits on fitness.
