Meet our Fitness Instructors

Stefanie

Education/Experience: BS in Sport Psychology/Exercise Science from WWU; ACE Certified Personal Trainer; 12 years of teaching experience

How Long She’s Been at the Y: Started in February 2008

Favorite Part About Teaching: I really enjoy building relationships with members and showing them that exercise can be fun!

Favorite Exercise: Burpees, Devil Presses, and Dumbbell Snatches

Natalie

Education/Experience: ACE Certified Personal Trainer; 7 years of teaching experience

How Long She’s Been at the Y: Started in October 2021

Favorite Part About Teaching: My favorite part about teaching classes is the connection you make with members. I enjoy creating workouts that are both beneficial and fun and give members a sense of accomplishment.

Favorite Exercise: Running! I am currently in a run streak (running 1+ mile every day) and enjoy running half/full marathons.

Amy C.

Education/Experience: ACE Group Fitness Instructor since 2015; Yoga Fit Level One certified since 2015; ACE Certified Personal Trainer; 7 years of teaching experience

How Long She’s Been at the Y: Started in September 2014

Favorite Part About Teaching: I love helping our members reach their health & fitness goals: whether they leave my Strength class feeling tired from working out or fully relaxed after doing Yoga.

Favorite Exercise: I really love doing inner and outer thigh exercises!

Robin

Education/Experience: 40 years of teaching experience; former fitness instructor trainer

How Long She’s Been at the Y: Has worked at the Y off and on since 1982

Favorite Part About Teaching: My favorite part about teaching classes is my participants! They are so fun and happy to work out

Favorite Exercise: I pick all my own music and do all my own choreography!

Kim

Education/Experience: NFPT Certified Personal Trainer; 7 years teaching experience; half-marathon and bodybuilding competition experience

How Long She’s Been at the Y: Started in January 2015

Favorite Part About Teaching: I enjoy helping people increase their fitness levels and helping them see that they are capable of more than they give themselves credit for.

Favorite Exercise: Pull-ups, push-ups, and deadlifts.

John

Education/Experience: Certified Yoga Trainer; Certified NETA Personal Trainer; Certified YMCA Swim Instructor

How Long He’s Been at the Y: Started in January 2018

Favorite Part About Teaching: The joy of being at the Y is amplified by leading classes. Showing up for others is tremendously rewarding; it reinforces and encourages my own needed activity schedule.

Favorite Exercise: In addition to long walks on Little Mountain, it’s rewarding to spend hours clearing blackberries and English Ivy from our property in Mount Vernon.

Elena

Education/Experience:Certified Nutrition Coach, PN level 1, Certified Health Coach PN level 2. NASM certified personal trainer, TRX certified instructor. NASM group fitness instructor. 10 years of experience in fitness.

How Long She’s Been at the Y: Started September 2023

Favorite Part About Teaching: Connecting with each member of the class and making modifications to fit their fitness level at the same time I can challenge them to push themselves to the next level. 

Favorite Exercises: Lifting weights, thrusting, dancing with the music in the lifting room.

Amy M.

Education/Experience: NETA Certified, 30+ years of road, mountain, and tandem cycling

How Long She’s Been at the Y: Started June 2023

Favorite Part About Teaching: I love the diversity of spin class (from new riders to seasoned cyclists), I love building a team atmosphere where we’re all in the ride together, and I love seeing the steady fitness growth in myself and my fellow spinners.

Favorite Exercise: Anything cycling-related, of course!

Kristen

Educational/Experience: Certified barre instructor with 15 years of experience leading group fitness, personal training, and training fellow teachers/trainers.  
 
How Long She’s Been at the Y: Started in February 2024
 
Favorite Part About Teaching: Connecting and educating our Y members and the community!
 
Favorite Exercise: A wide second on tippy toes or thigh dancing with added weight.

Kerri

Education/Experience: Zumba® Certified (Basic, Toning, Gold, Step, Sentao, Kid/Kids Jr.); STRONG Nation®, NETA Certified Personal Trainer, NETA Advanced Pilates certification

How Long She’s Been at the Y: Has worked at the Y off and on since 2014

Favorite Part About Teaching: Being able to reach that one person (or more!) who really needed a workout. Also, hearing stories about how a single class has changed someone’s life for the better and given them a new, positive outlook!

Favorite Exercise: Dancing of any kind and spending time working my muscles while gardening.

Robyn

Education/Experience: Robyn has been teaching a variety of different styles in Skagit Valley since 2008. She received certification in Bikram Yoga in 2008, and has since taken many additional trainings which include elements of BreathWork, Yin, and Vinyasa style flow.
 
How Long She’s Been at the Y: Started in August 2023
 
Favorite Part About Teaching: I find immense gratification in working with all levels and styles, including pre-and postnatal, children, older adults, and athletes. I value learning from each and every student and I’m continuously evolving in my own evolution as a yoga teacher. I believe that it is never too late to start becoming more flexible, balanced, strong, and focused through the practice of yoga.
 
Favorite Exercise: I enjoy the ability to observe the way my class feels in each class and reaching into my toolbox to give teach whatever I feel is needed! I like looking outside of the box and adding Kundalini style breathing exercises, One legged balancing sequences, and combining two exercises together just see what happens! 

Patty

Education/Experience: Certified Water Fitness Instructor since 2017

How Long She’s Been at the Y: Started in June 2017

Favorite Part About Teaching: I enjoy seeing members come to class ready to become more flexible and stronger. I also like how the stress of everyday life is relieved.

Favorite Exercise: All exercises are fun, but ball exercises are a favorite.

Araceli

Education/Experience: 8 years experience teaching Zumba basic, Zumba Toning, STRONG Nation, and MixxedFit.

How Long She’s Been at the Y: Started January 2024

Favorite Part About Teaching: My favorite part of teaching is watching everyone have fun while they get in shape. Energy and smiles are contagious!

Favorite Exercise: My favorite exercises are dance moves with latin rhythms, especially cumbia, salsa and merengue. They are so fun and make you sweat a lot!

Crystal

Education/Experience: Certified in Group Fitness, Cycle, Pilates, and holds specialty certifications for youth and senior fitness.

How Long She’s Been at the Y: Started in June 2017

Favorite Part About Teaching: My favorite part about being an instructor at the Y is celebrating with members as they accomplishments their goals, overcoming obstacles and continuing their healthy living journey.

Favorite Exercise: Running!

Elizabeth

Education/Experience: Advanced Personal Training & First Aid from Butler Community College, Exercise Science From Wichita State University, ACSM-Certified Personal Trainer, ACSM-Certified Group Exercise Instructor, ACSM/NCHPAD-Certified Inclusive Trainer, ACSM/ACS-Certified Cancer Exercise Trainer, ACSM-Autism Exercise Specialist, TRX Instructor Certified, YMCA Group Exercise Instructor, YMCA-Aquatic Exercise Instructor, ACE-Senior Fitness Specialist, ACE-Strength & Conditioning Specialist; 10 years teaching experience

How Long She’s Been at the Y: Started in June 2023

Favorite Part About Teaching: The relationships I build and the community spirit as we all come together for fitness and exercise!

Favorite Exercises: Yoga, Kick boxing, TRX, Barre, full body strength and toning work, paddle boarding, kayaking, swimming, hiking, and hula hooping