VIDA Fitness

Aesha is an avid long-distance cyclist and racer and spends her time coaching others on proper techniques to improve performance. She is also actively involved in the fight against HIV/AIDS, cycling her way around the world and the US to raise awareness and help those living with this disease. . Originally from Paris, France, Aesha has a masters in International affairs and Economics and speaks 5 languages. Join her in the cycling studio ...or in the fitness studio for VIDA BODY..."

As a Certified Personal Trainer and Conditioning Specialist by the National Strength Professional Association since 1998, Alex specializes in weight loss programs, nutrition counseling and custom training routines. He enjoys challenging and encouraging his clients/members to surpass their physical and mental boundaries threw his certifed instruction in cardio kickboxing, Zumba and spinning.

"A strong and gorgeous outside strengthens the inside"

Alfredo is a certified Yoga instructor and also teaches Group Power. He has been teaching at VIDA since 2007. He strongly believes that through yoga one can explore the boundaries of the mind and body and experience strength, tranquility, balance, and joy.

Anita has been a certified group fitness instructor since 2003 and holds certifications through multiple organizations including AFAA, ACE (personal training), YogaFit, Spinning, Zumba, TurboKick, and more. She loves teaching all group exercise formats and is always looking for new and exciting ways to help her members stay fit. Anita is also a lawyer, but in her spare time, she likes to relax, cook, work out, and come up with new ideas for classes!

Ann
It's all about balance. Ann brings peace, energy and strength to others by teaching a variety of classes: Yoga, Real Ryder & Group Power!

Annette
Annette teaches Pilates Mat and is also a Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher. She has an additional background in dance. Her classes combine a relaxed teaching style with focus on alignment. She firmly believes in the power of movement as healing. She is currently finishing a Master's in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.

April Black is certified through Body Training Systems (BTS) to teach Group Kick, Group Groove & Group Step. She also teaches VIDA Glide. April has a background in dance and loves high-energy classes!

Carrie
Carrie is a certified Pilates Reformer Instructor from Balance Body University. She enjoys working with clients who want to improve their flexibility, tone their body, increase core strength and improve postural problems. She has experience in the field of fitness and competitive atheletics and is currently pursuing a degree in Physical Therapy.

Catherine
Catherine has been teaching at Vida since 2007 and is certified in AFAA (Aerobics and Fitness Association of America), Body Training Systems Group Step, and Zumba. During the day, she works in public health, and in her spare time, she enjoys exploring the city, reading, and spending time with friends. An avid traveler, she has been to 108 cities in 18 countries.

Cristina is an AFAA-certified group fitness instructor and has been teaching Zumba since 2006. She has also taught cardio belly dance and strength training classes, and is an avid runner, cyclist, and an occasional triathlete. Cristina will soon be mother and is optimistic that she will find the perfect balance between motherhood, her career as an attorney, and her love of teaching and fitness.

Dax joined the Vida instructor team in May 2009. Dax is a certifed cycle and group kick instructor. He teaches indoor cycle, group kick, abs, and Vida Body/ Vida Glide. In addition to his work in fitness for Vida, Dax has been a licensed attorney and business executive for over 9 years and currently works for a large health care company.

Elena
Elena is a certified Zumba instructor and AFAA-certified Group Exercise Instructor since 2006. She teaches Zumba - a dynamic and exciting fitness program based on fun International music and dance steps creating a challenging workout for all fitness levels.

Elisa, a certified yoga instructor and practitioner for over a decade, joined the Vida team at the beginning in 2008. She has trained in and taught on 4 continents, focusing on a powerful and transformative yoga based on a challenging vinyasa-flow-practice. Elisa is committed to an inspiring and invigorating journey that weaves together dedication to alignment, awareness of the importance of breath, and exploration of both basic and challenging postures. Aspiring yogis and yoginis will build strength, flexibility, focus, and endurance--all with some healthy sweat and fun along the way.

Jocelyne is a Group Exercise Instructor certifed by the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA). As a Tae Kwon Do black belt, she has over a decade of experience as both a student and teacher in martial arts. During this time, she developed an interest in cross-training through weightlifiting and aerobics classes. She decided to combine her passions, and has taught high-energy kickboing, Zumba, and other classes in the D.C. area for several years. She brings her skill, enthusiasm, and exciting training methods to Vida and looks forward to assisting clients with reaching their cardio and weight-loss goals.

Heather has been in the fitness industry for over ten years and has been working at Vida since it opened! She teaches all group exercise classes, but is perhaps most well-known for her HOUSE BEATS Spin. Her energy and passion has made her a favorite among members. Heather's personal training roster includes professional athletes and Miss DC, Jen Corey. Heather is certified though: The American Fitness Association of America, National Academy of Sports Sciences, Balanced Body University, Madd Dogg Athletics and the American Red Cross. She is also certified as a Specialist in Performance Nutrition through the International Sports and Sciences Association

Jess
Jess is from Marietta, GA and is certified to teach Group Kick through Body Training Systems (BTS). Her experience as a Division I Coxswain has carried over into a love for instructing. When she's not working you can find her reading or watching a good game of football.

Jessica joined the Vida team at the opening of Metropole, September 2008. She is a certified cycle instructor through Mad Dogg Athletics as well as CPR/AED certifed. Jessica started teaching in early 2007 as a student at Cornell University. Aside from Vida, Jessica works full time as a construction engineer at Clark Construction. When not at Vida, she can be found running or cycling on DC trails.

Joceylyn is a Group Exercise Instructor certified by the Aerobics and Fitness Association fo America (AFAA). As a Tae Kwon Do Black Belt, she has over a decade of experience as both a student and teacher in martial arts. During this time, she developed an interest in cross-training through weightlifting and aerobics classes. She decided to combine her passions, and has taught high-energy kickboxing, Zumba, and other classes in the DC area for several years. She brings her skill, enthusiasm, and exciting training methods to Vida and looks forward to assisting clients with reachign theri carido and weight-losss goals.

Juliet has been an instructor for 6 years. She started with her first certification in Body Pump in 2004 and has since gone on to add ACE Personal Trainer, RYT in Yoga, Pilates Mat Level II, and 2 certifications in the Body Training Systems program - Group Power, and Group Centergy. She believes that our bodies are temples and they should be worshipped.

Laura S
Laura is a Yoga Alliance RYT and a mat pilates instructor. She teaches with a strong focus on alignment to open up and optimize the flow of energy in the body and the mind.

Laura T
Laura T is a Yoga Alliance registered vinyasa yoga teacher with 200 training hours and a member of the International Association of Yoga Therapists. Laura also holds a Yoga of the Heart certificate with 85 additional training hours to teach yoga to people living with heart disease, cancer and other life-challenging diseases. She is also CPR/AED certified and is a black belt in tae kwon do

Lizzie graduated from GW in 2006 and has been teaching various group fitness classes in DC since becoming AFAA certified in 2004. Her favorite ways to stay fit are taking aerobics classes, teaching kickboxing, and running around the DC monuments. She completed her first marathon in October of 2008.

Lorenita, who is Schwinn Indoor Cycling and AFAA certified, teaches Real Ryder and VIDA 4 Life classes at the Metropole location. She also holds certifications for yoga and resistance classes. She believes that exercise, as with everything else in life, should be full of positive energy and fun, and that it is every person’s responsibility to incorporate some form exercise in our daily lives.

Margaret has been wokring in the fitness industry for over 6 years. She currently holds a spinning certificate(Mad Dog Athletics), a personal training certificate (NASM) and a pilates reformer certificate (Balanced Body). Margaret teaches 4 early morning cycle classes at Vida as well as an evening pilates reformer class. Margaret also works as a school counselor at a DC public charter school. Margaret has been competing in triathlons for 11 years. She has competed in 6 Ironman triathlons as well as a number of shorter races.

Michael became hooked on cycling after doing several local AIDS rides about 10 years while serving on the board of directors for the Whitman Walker Clinic. Not one for cycling outdoors during the summer, indoor cycling classses soon followed. He became a certifed instructor in 2008 and has been teaching classes at Vida. Michael is a full-time health policy researcher with Academy Health, the professional society for health services researchers and practitioners

Mimi is a certified teacher with Yoga Alliance and the Regional Director of Budokon International for DC, VA and MD. Mimi received her yoga certification in 2003 from the Ashtanga Yoga Center and teaches and practices in this style and was the first Budokon instructor in the DC metro area. Mimi believes in pushing past existing fitness barriers and exploring new physical paths, she encourages her yoga and Budokon (a blend of the yogic and martial arts) students to reach their fullest potential as seekers on their physical journeys for an authentic mind-body existence.

Miriam is an ACE certified personal trainer and group fitness instructor who has been teaching since 2005, when she was in graduate school at the University of Maryland at College Park. Miriam teaches step and Vida Body. Come ready to sweat and have fun!

Patrick became a group power instructor after taking the class for years and appreciating the impact it had on his muscle strength, and overall fitness. He encourages students to enjoy the music, comradery, and motivation the class offers.

Rachel first discovered the Pilates method as support to her dancing; after pursuing her interest further, she completed her nine month intensive teaching certification in the classic Pilates method with an emphasis on the Ron Fletcher work from Studio du Corps in Costa Mesa, California under the direction of Master Teacher and former professional ballet dancer, Diane Diefenderfer. Rachel holds a BFA in Dance Performance and minors in English and Biology from the University of California, Irvine. Her strong dance background paired with her classical training allows her to focus on muscle lengthening, flexibility and core strength.

Reva is an AFAA certified instructor and loves complicated step choreography that challenges your mind and your feet. Her philosophy is that classes should make you work hard, because if you go to the trouble of getting to the gym, it should be be worth your while! She's originally from San Diego and when she's not coming up with step choreography she works as a lawyer.

Sasha joined VIDA Fitness as an employee in 2009 serving as a front desk member, sales consultant and manager on duty. While she currently works full time for the Department of Justice, she loves to continue to connect with VIDA members as part of the group fitness team. She is certified to teach Group Kick and Group Power.

Sean approaches yoga with a balance of strong discipline and lighthearted fun. Be prepared to work, sweat, and laugh

Sharon S. has been an active Group X member for 5 years, when she first started taking fitness classes in college. When Sharon isn't teaching Group Step, Group Centergy, and Vida Glide, you can usually spot her in the gym taking other classes! Although exercise is a huge part of her life, Sharon also has a full-time job working in HR at a law firm. It may sound like she's a workaholic, but Sharon definitely enjoys her down time, whether watching TV at home or going out with friends.

An avid spinner, Vanessa has been teaching indoor cycling at VIDA for over three years. In an effort to add balance to her love for spin, she recently became certified as one of VIDA's Centergy instructors.Her athletic background is rooted in Track & Field, where she competed as a Division 1 athlete at Villanova University.

Misook has over 12 years experience as an instructor and personal trainer. She began teaching group exercise while attending the University of Maryland and received a BS in Kinesiology. She is NASM Certifed and hold many other certifications in group exercise and Pilates. When she is not at the gym she loves to snowboard, outdoor cycling, hanging out with the husband and dog park with her 3 dogs.