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!

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.

Anna Grossman
Anna is from Lumberton, NJ and currently resides in Cambridge, MA. Anna is a Certified Pilates Mat Instructor beginner through advanced. She completed her Yoga Alliance 200 hr certification Anna has been studying yoga for 13 years, Pilates for 8  and teaching both for 5 years. Anna has BA in Neuroscience & Math Magna Cum Laude from Franklin & Marshall College. Anna's future fitness goals are to become pro belly dancer and to go for an extended hike such as the Appalachian trail. Anna's fitness interests are hiking, yoga, Pilates, ballet, belly dancing, mountain climbing and walking. Anna teaches  Pilates - Monday & Wednesday mornings.

Kristen Naegle
Kristen Naegle is from Boise, Idaho. Kristen teaches indoor cycling and is certified through the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America. She has raced competitively for MIT cycling for the last three years and focuses on adapting road-specific training philosophies to her indoor cycling classes. Specifically those philosophies are: 1) Focusing on positions that most mimic road riding conditions and muscle formation and 2) Maximizing variability in a short workout form to focus on various aspects of fitness (e.g.slow-twitch/fast-twitch muscle development, extending VO2max and lactate threshold). Kristen's future fitness goals are to recover from having her first child!
(Expected March 2009).  She also hopes to race in the Cranberry Country Triathlon by September. Kristen's Fitness interests include:
Cycling (road, mountain, track and cyclocross), triathlons (occasionally), snow-shoeing, cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, hiking (pretty much anything that involves the outdoors). 

Checka Antifonario
Checka is from Dracut, MA . She attended Georgetown University. Checka has completed her 200-hour Yoga Alliance Certification (200-RYT) through Frog Lotus Yoga as well as Levels I and II  of the Radiant Child Yoga Program training (RCYP-I and II).
Checka's future fitness goals are to do a perfect handstand and learn how to snowboard!
"I believe that exercise and fitness are crucial to each and every individual's physical, psychological and emotional health.  Focusing on the mind-body connection, I strive to offer my students a positive yoga experience that will be challenging but accessible and leave them feeling energized and focused.  I feel that it is important to develop good fitness habits early in life and love to work with all age levels ? from toddlers on up!" - Checka
Checka instructs: Sunrise Yoga, Power Yoga, and P.E. Yoga. I teach an upbeat, energetic Vinyasa Flow class with a dynamic balance between strengthening and stretching.  Uplifting music accompanies the flow, and all levels are welcome!

Jim Costa
Jim Costa's hometown is West Newton. He attended Boston College where he received his BS and MBA. Jim has 12 years experience teaching. He is certified by C.S.C.S. /ACSM/AFPA/AEA. Jim specializes in water aerobics/hydrorider, strength and  conditioning and is in the process of getting his ATRI certification (Aqua Therapy). Jim's hobbies and interests are; water sports and competing in triathlons.
His  training philosophy  is having a positive attitude and reaching out to those who need him. A sensible and moderate approach to exercise continues to be my watchwords in fitness, especially when you are working with individuals new to exercise. Breathing and movement continue to be my mantra. My focus is  to encourage smarter, kinder, more diverse workouts. It is my hope that this type of approach will motivate a larger segment of the nonexercising population. The one size fits all approach is out. Jim also says, "As the fitness revolution continues the no pain, no gain approach can beboth  injurious and intimidating. It is my belief  that a more moderate, more enjoyable brand of exercise that brings fitness within everyone's grasp can create an experience that can be enjoyed for a lifetime.
Education combined with hands on experience dominates my training regiment.
Kick up  a notch!

Katrina Thompson
Katrina is a Yogafit trained instructor for level?s 1, 2, kids, seniors and anatomy alignment. Her future fitness goal is to complete 200/500 hours of yoga hours for a further certification and to become a yoga therapist. She is also interested in kayaking, hiking and mountain biking.

Bruce R. Mendelsohn
Bruce Mendelsohn is a life-long fitness devotee whose accomplishments include:

 

* Completing 17 marathons (PR 2:58) and countless road races at various distances

* Award-winning triathlete (1st Place, Seoul, Korea International Olympic Distance and 3rd Place, Vermont Sun Half-Ironman)

* Former Professional Ski Instructor Association Member and Instructor

* Certified Madd Dogg Spinning Instructor

 

Originally from Washington, D.C., and now living in Auburn, MA, Bruce earned a B.A. from Vassa r College and was a Distinguished Military Graduate from the Fordham University ROTC Program. Bruce is a Parachutist who served as a Second Lieutenant in South Korea and Germany. He earned a Master's in Systems Management from the University of Southern California's Marshall School of Business.

Bruce's future fitness goals are to complete an Ironman, Ultramarathon and Multi-day Adventure Race. Bruce teaches cycling classes for MIT Rec Sports.