Group Exercise

Sarah Carr
Sarah joined the Group Ex team in May 2007. She has an extensive background as a dancer, dance instructor, and choreographer. She switched her focus to fitness a couple of years ago, and is now a full-time fitness professional. In addition to being a Stott Pilates instructor and teaching a variety of cardio and strength classes at MIT, Sarah is also an ACSM certified personal trainer. Starting in September, Sarah will be teaching Cardio Combo, BodySculpt, Rock Hard Abs, Pilates, and the brand new Cardio Funk Class on Tuesdays.

Fern DeOliveira
You probably see Fern teaching all different forms of yoga including Vinyasa yoga, power yoga, hatha yoga and even a new fusion class combining yoga and pilates. Her personal fitness interests and goals include rowing, dance, pilates, hiking, swimming, tennis and to Row the Head of the Charles Regatta.  Fern has had yoga training through Yoga Alliance, Core Yoga and recently earned a PiYo certification, which she will use to hold our first session of PiYo in January.

 
Liz Foote
Liz Foote is a newer addition to our group exercise staff. She is also one of our massage therapists here at MIT. Liz is both a Licensed Massage Therapist and a Certified Yoga Instructor. Spinning, yoga and swimming are a few of Liz’s favorite fitness interests.  Make sure to join Liz after the first of the year for her new Hatha Yoga class on Friday afternoons!

Fen Tung
You have probably seen Fen all over the A and Z centers. She not only teaches group ex, but also is one of our busiest personal trainers. Her personal fitness interests include running, pilates and playing some volleyball. She hopes to make exercise part of her lifestyle until she’s 100! Catch one of Fen’s many classes including bootcamp, pilates, kickboxing or any of the sculpting classes.

Liz Hamp
Liz is a Massachusetts native and absolutely loves being involved in the fitness industry! She has exercise physiology background as well as a Masters in Health Promotion. She teaches just about everything including spinning, step, bootcamp, aqua, pilates and muscle conditioning. Personally, she would love to complete another half iron triathlon and train for a marathon. Jump in to one of Liz’s classes for a full hour of positive, engaging energy!

Jennifer Woods
Jennifer comes to us from Colorado with and AFAA group exercise certification and is currently studying Dentistry at Tufts. Her future fitness goals include running her first marathon.  Jen’s personal interests include running, Bikram yoga and soccer. You can catch Jen teaching Step classes and also yoga here at MIT.

Dana Price
Dana can not only be found teaching yoga and personal training, but also playing rock and folk music at various venues throughout the area.  She has experience in biking, hiking, running, strength training, yoga and pretty much anything that will get her outside and moving around. Dana draws her inspiration from a long and intense recovery from a near- fatal car accident over 4 years ago. Since this event and subsequent recovery, she has been  dedicated to health and wellness with an emphasis on the important connection between mind and body.

Dominika Wiktor-Brown
Dominika is a North Carolina native and specializes in teaching step and indoor cycle. She has been teaching for 6 years and loves the fact that she can get other excited about fitness. Her personal interests besides group exercise include hiking, skiing, running or cozying up with a good book.  Make sure to catch one of Dominika’s dynamic Advanced Step classes or an early morning spin!

Patrycja Missiuro
Yoga, pilates and running are among Patrycja’s personal interests. When not training for a marathon or practicing yoga, she is probably studying. She is currently a graduate student in Computer Science focus in Bioformatics and communication methods to predict genetic interactions in C. elegans, working at CSAIL and Whitehead.  Her ability to balance school and an active lifestyle make her a helpful, well- rounded instructor.  Catch Patrycja rounding out the weekday schedule with a relaxing, yet challenging yoga class at Wang Friday evenings at 5pm.

Betsy Helfaer
Betsy is a native New Yorker that is one of our Yoga and Pilates experts. She has been teaching for over 8 years and loves every minute of it! Her personal interests include visiting the local museums as well as hiking and cooking. She believes that life is short so we should enjoy it. Check out one of Betsy’s PE classes to get an overall rewarding yoga or pilates experience.

Amanda Kowalski
Amanda calls Danvers, Mass. her hometown, and teaches a few of our step classes. She is ACE Group Fitness certified. She likes to do step even in her free time, and plays tennis when she can as well. Her personal fitness goal is to keep up her fitness and continue exercising even when her schedule is crowded and busy.

Donna Lubrano
Donna is an ACE certified Personal Trainer and a Certified Aquatic Exercise Instructor who has been teaching since1996. She holds a masters degree in International Business from BU. She instructs health clubs and multiple universities around Boston and had been featured in Recreational Sports and Fitness Magazine.  Donna has developed and designed Aquatic Exercise program for Boston University and Cambridge Family, YMCA, just to name a few!

Vanessa Dominguez
Vanessa started teaching pilates for us in January. She comes to us from Pismo Beach, Her “real” job is in human services. Currently, she manages a residential house in Newton for adults with developmental disabilities. She has an MA in counseling and dance/movement therapy/expressive art therapies from UC, Berkeley. Her personal fitness goals are to maintain a “beach” body all year round! For her own personal health and well-being, she tries to maintain a regular fitness routine!

Jasmina Aganovic
Jasmina is native to Florida but is in her undergraduate program here at MIT. She is currently teaching Pilates here for MIT Recreational Sports but also has personal fitness interests in yoga. She like to make fitness part of her lifestyle so she continually feel good and healthy. Make sure to say “Hello” to Jasmina or catch her Thursday evening Pilates class.