Instructor Bios

Lea Schneider

Experience/Certifications/Education: BA UMass, Dartmouth. I have worked in the fitness industry for 15 years as a Group Exercise instructor and I am also the Group Exercise Coordinator.  I hold certifications with ACE, Spinning Star 3 level, BodyPUMP, Yogafit Level 2 & CPR/First Aid.

Classes I currently teach: Spinning & BodyPUMP

Interests: Running, traveling, music and being with family & friends

Why I love Fitness: I love fitness because of the health benefits, energy & physical results achieved.  The most rewarding part of my job is helping others realize those benefits of fitness. I feel privileged to work in this capacity.

Beth Duckless

Experience/Certifications/Education: I have been a group fitness instructor since 1999.  My first certification was specific to Cardio Kickboxing, and then I also have a general fitness certification.  I am certified in BodyCOMBAT.  I have taken courses in BOSU and Basic Training (which is free weights, bands & ball) and have education specific to posture and motivation.

Classes I currently teach: BodyCOMBAT

Interests: Walking with family and dog, hiking, snowmobiling, skiing, reading, visiting family and friends.

Why I love Fitness: I feel so much better and have more energy when I am healthy, and fitness helps to keep me healthy.  I love teaching because it allows me to help people feel great.

Sue Greaney

Experience/Certifications/Education: I have been teaching group exercise at Hampshire Hill for 10 years. I hold certifications in Primary Group Exercise with AFAA, Spinning, Kickboxing, BodyPUMP, BodySTEP and BodyCOMBAT.  I am also a Certified Personal Trainer.

I have a BA in Psychology from Williams College.

Classes I currently teach: I currently teach Spinning, BodyPUMP and BodyCOMBAT on a regular basis, and sub BodySTEP and Boot Camp classes.

Interests: I have many, but my primary interests are photography, watching my kids play sports, and, of course, all kinds of fitness.

Why I love Fitness: What's not to love?? As a participant, Fitness makes me feel healthier and stronger. As an instructor, I love to help people realize goals that they never thought possible.

Jody Secules

Experience/Certifications/Education: I have been enjoying the winning combination of the STOTT PILATES® exercise method & the Mad Dogg Athletics SPINNING® program. I have achieved the level of STOTT PILATES Certified Instructor in Matwork, completed the STOTT PILATES ISP (Injury and Special Population) Training program and the STOTT PILATES Reformer Training program. I am a certified Mad Dogg Athletics Spinning Instructor and also CPR/AED & First Aid certified. I have a B.S. in Electrical Engineering at Lafayette College where I competed & captained the Track & Cross-Country teams.

Classes I currently teach: Pilates Mat Essential I. I conduct Private Mat & Reformer classes and also substitute teach other levels of Pilates Mat classes, Specialty Pilates mat classes and Spinning classes.

Interests: Skiing, hiking, biking, running & swimming.

Why I love Fitness: I make fitness a part of my day because it gives a sense of well being and adds vibrancy to my life. Combining Pilates before or after a cardio workout has tremendous benefits of keeping a balanced body and preventing injury.

Jennifer Johnson

Experience/Certifications/Education: Yoga Fit Level I and II, teaching for 1 year here at Hampshire Hills and practicing for a few years.

Classes I currently teach: Fitness Yoga

Interests: Anything and all fitness!!  I also enjoy being crafty (scrap booking, stamping, knitting etc.) with my kids.

Why I love Fitness: Being active is a huge stress release for me…trying to keep up with 2 small children is quite stressful!! Fitness helps keep me sane and I just love to workout!!

Claire Bacher

Experience/Certifications/Education: I have been teaching group exercise for 15 years. ACE certified for Group fitness, and certified to teach Body Pump. BA from St. Lawrence University in Technical Theater.

Classes I currently teach: Retrorobics, BodyPUMP, and Forever Fit

Interests: Skiing, Tennis, reading trashy novels.

Why I love Fitness: Because it makes me feel good!

Nancy Brouillard

Experience/Certifications/Education: I have a BS in recreation. I have taken various yoga classes for the past 8+ years, and taught aerobic classes for 12+ years. I have been teaching yoga for over 2 years. I’m AFAA certified and have taken Yoga Fit level 1 and an Ashtanga Yoga teacher training with David Swenson.

Classes I currently teach: Yoga Flow

Interests: Besides teaching and taking yoga I’m a stay-at-home Mom raising 2 daughters that includes multiple soccer teams and a swim team. I run every morning with our dog, Tucker. Downhill skiing is our family sport. We have season tickets at Mad River Glen and spend most weekends in VT skiing, snowshoeing and cross country skiing.

Why I love Fitness: Fitness keeps me sane in a very busy world. Yoga is both relaxing and invigorating. Yoga combined with running every day gives me a well rounded routine to keep me in shape so I can keep up and keep ahead of my family.

Beth Black

Experience/Certifications/Education: B.S. Biochemistry, MT A.S.C.P., ACE certified in Group Fitness & Personal Training, Spinning, BodyPump, Youth Fitness, Stability Ball. I’ve been working in the Fitness industry for 15 years.

Classes I currently teach: Forever Fit Program, Spinning, BodyPUMP, Stability Ball, Hi/Low impact, Youth fitness

Interests: I love to work in my gardens.

Why I love Fitness: I love to help people be the best they can be!

Barbara Landry

Experience/Certifications/Education: I have been a student of yoga for the past ten years. I began my yoga teacher training through YogaFit in the Spring of 2006, and have received certification in training levels 1, 2, 3, & 4.

Classes I currently teach: Gentle Yoga

Interests: My interests include yoga, spin, hiking, and pursuit of personal growth and development.

Why I love Fitness: There is so much we can learn about ourselves through participation in fitness. We learn to challenge ourselves, find our strength, focus and go places perhaps we thought were not possible. The process of improving ourselves physically enhances and inspires our personal growth in other areas of our lives.

Kani Domonkos

Experience/Certifications/Education: 3+ years teaching group fitness. Certifications in BodyCOMBAT, BodyPUMP, Spinning, step, kickboxing and mat science. Education- BS in Business Administration.

Classes I currently teach: BodyCOMBAT, BodyPUMP, step, stability ball, Spinning, mat science, cardio kickboxing and whatever anyone needs me to!

Interests: Healthy cooking, the Mets, cruise vacations, sharing time with good friends and any kind of group exercise - teaching or taking classes.

Why I love Fitness: Fitness is key to a healthy lifestyle.  It helps the mind, body and soul get through the challenges of life.  Exercise has always been an important part of my life.  Having the opportunity to teach and motivate others how to find new strengths within themselves is one of the best gifts someone can give.  I am proud to be a group exercise instructor and hope to help you achieve the level of fitness you desire.

Eileen Horner

Experience/Certifications/Education: AFAA Group Fitness - 12+ yrs, Mad Dogg Spinning – 6 yrs, Kick Box – 5 yrs, BodyPUMP – 5 yrs, Personal Trainer – 10 yrs, Weight Room – 10 yrs

Classes I currently teach: Spinning, Kick Box

Interests: Hiking with my dogs, Weight lifting, Rollerblading, Skiing, Motorcycling, Camping, Tanning at the beach.

Why I love Fitness: The power I have to change my body with hard work, The feeling I get when I teach a great class and everyone is excited …it all motivates me!

Joanne Leedy

Experience/Certifications/Education: B.S., Springfield College. Certified by ACE Group Exercise & Personal Trainer. IDEA Certified Personal Trainer. Stott Certified Pilates Mat & Reformer. Physical Mind Pilates Mat. Over 25 years experience in the fitness field including Fitness Director; development and administration of fitness and pilates programs for adults and seniors; leading group classes in aerobics, step, strength training and pilates for YMCA’s private clubs, corporations and senior living facilities; personal training.

Classes I currently teach: Pilates Mat and Reformer – small group and Personal Training, Strength for Seniors, Forever Fit Group Exercise.

Interests: My family, husband and 3 sons, & Johnny (my chocolate Lab). Hiking, camping, skiing and travel.

Why I love Fitness: I firmly believe that through fitness I help people improve the quality of their lives.

Terry Clark

Experience/Certifications/Education: I have been an instructor with the H.H. team since 1994. I hold certifications with Les Mills in BodyPUMP & BodySTEP, also with Madd Dog for Spinning. I have taught a diverse range of exercise mediums over the past 12 years. From beginner to advanced you will always feel comfortable attending one of my classes.

Classes I currently teach: BodySTEP and Spinning

Interests: I am an avid road cyclist and participate in annual fund raisers and rides with my husband and friends weekly, spring through fall. I love to cook and I enjoy reading articles about nutrition and trying new recipes. I also enjoy in-line skating, x-country skiing, a good bottle of wine, and foreign films.

Why I love Fitness: Keeping active and healthy is not only fun, it improves your quality of life. I love to see the results with the members who participate on a regular basis, not only in a physical way but also the way they become more self confident. I believe that everyone should incorporate physical activity into their lifestyle. Make it routine… like eating or sleeping.

Beth Civiello

Experience/Certifications/Education: B.S. in Nutrition from the University of Vermont 1989. Master of Science degree in Communication from Boston University 1993. Spinning certified since August 1999. BodySTEP certified since April 2004. BodyCOMBAT certified since August 2006.

Classes I currently teach: Spinning, BodyCOMBAT & BodySTEP

Interests: I enjoy cooking, baking, scrap booking, spending time with my family and traveling

Why I love Fitness: I love fitness because you can share it with others, challenge yourself by staying current with it and work hard at it to become strong both mentally and physically. Exercise has a way of empowering, energizing and refocusing you, which can only come from pushing yourself to a new level.

Heather Tamposi

Experience/Certifications/Education: I am going into my third year of teaching Pilates classes.  I have completed the STOTT Pilates Intensive Mat Plus Certification course and am currently training towards completing the STOTT Pilates Intensive Reformer Certification course.  In addition, I hold certifications with AAAI/ISMA in Phase I, II & III Mat Pilates, Total Body Strength Conditioning Certification, Body Bar Certification; FiTour Pilates Instructor I & II and CPR & AED.  With 10+ years as both a ballet student and later as an assistant ballet teacher, Pilates is my passion. Heather attended college at the University of New Hampshire.

Classes I currently teach: Pilates Mat Essential II and Pilates Essential Reformer

Interests: I love outdoor activities such as skiing and I’m eager to get back to snowboarding lessons. I love spending time cooking with my husband, Peter, and can often be found at various soccer and baseball fields watching her kids, Nick & Grace.

Why I love Fitness: Like many fitness enthusiast, over the years Heather had enjoyed a variety of exercise classes including Step, Chisel, Body Bar and Kickboxing before discovering the Pilates method.  She began taking Pilates classes 5 years ago and after seeing and feeling the results Pilates had on her personally, she became a Pilates convert. Heather loves being in the business of Fitness because she strongly believes that the Pilates method can strengthen, lengthen, tone and stretch the body like no other form of exercise can. Her great eye for movement and correction allows Heather to help others find their mental and physical harmony; including integrating body & mind in an effective, efficient, and balanced workout.

Cyndi Maston

Experience/Certifications/Education: AFAA Certified since 1987. BodyPUMP Certified. AEA Certified. Bachelors Degree in Business and Recreation. Associates Degree in Travel and Tourism.

Classes I currently teach: BodyPUMP, Boot Camp, Retrorobics, DoubleStep

Interests: Skiing, camping, traveling, gardening, crafts, spending lots of time with my family.

Why I love Fitness: Because it’s energizing and fun. I enjoy developing new routines to continually challenge myself and my participants.

Michelle Luks

Experience/Certifications/Education: Instructing at Hampshire Hills for six years.   BA, Saint Anselm College.  Certifications: ACE Group Exercise, STAR 3-Mad Dogg Athletics Spinning, YogaFit Level 4.  RYT Yoga Alliance, Polar Heart Rate Specialist.

Classes I currently teach: Spinning, Fitness Yoga, Seniors Yoga

Why I love Fitness: I am grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the lives of the members here at Hampshire Hills.  I am humbled by the fact that I’m allowed to travel along the fitness journey of so many extraordinary people.  The joy for me is simply the connection that is present with the participants in each and every class.

Susan Guetling

Experience/Certifications/Education: B.S. in Health, Physical Education, and Recreation Major: Dance. Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana.

Ballroom dance instructor 1980-87 for children & adults. Previous Group Instruction includes aerobics, step, aqua, yoga, pilates, and bodyPUMP

Aerobic Fitness Association of America (AFAA) since 1989. Aquatic Exercise Association (AEA) since 1997. BodyPUMP Certification since 1998. American Council on Education (ACE) Personal Trainer since 2001. Yogafit Cerification since 2002. STOTT Pilates Certification since 2004.

Classes I currently teach: Yogilates, Fitness Yoga, Pilates Mat, BodyPUMP

Interests: Anything to do with health and fitness.

Why I love Fitness: I believe that fitness is the base for good health. If you have your health, then you have a start for happiness.

Wendy Mace

Experience/Certifications/Education: 20 year staff member at Hampshire Hills.Started teaching Group Exercise in 1988. AFAA certifications in Group Ex, Pre/Post Natal, Personal trainer. Certified in BodyPUMP, BodySTEP, BodyCOMBAT. Certified in BOSU. Certified in Mat Science I. Fitness Resource advanced specialty program in Diet & Nutrition Education.

Classes I currently teach: BodyPUMP, BodySTEP, BOSU Blast, BodyPUMP, BodyCOMBAT

Interests: Cooking, eating, music, hiking, snowshoeing

Why I love Fitness: What’s not to love?! I started weight lifting back in 1984 to enter a body building competition and I was hooked. Weight lifting made me strong both physically and mentally. It inspired me to change my career to fitness and become a group exercise instructor. Fitness keeps me young, feeling great and has kept me in a healthy environment where I can stay involved with some truly amazing members and co-workers at Hampshire Hills.

Kiersten Gregory

Experience/Certifications/Education: I have been instructing for approximately 18 years. I am a Star 3 coach and hold a lifetime certification with Mad Dogg Athletics, Spinning. I am certified through AAAI for Tai Chi instruction.  I am Les Mills certified for BodySTEP.

Classes I currently teach: Land classes: Spinning, Inspired Tai Chi

Water classes: Ai Chi, I sub for Deep Water and Shallow Water

Forever Fit: Hi Lo with Strength, Aqua Deep Water, Inspired Tai Chi for Seniors

Interests: I enjoy my family most of all. I love cycling and running. I take great pride in my cooking, baking, and sewing.

Why I love Fitness: I first started seriously working out in college. I ‘gave’ myself a membership to a local club for my nineteenth birthday. I set a goal then ‘to be in the best shape of my life when I turned forty.’ Little did I know how much I was going to love it. I find the exhilaration of physical work, awesome. Fitness provides me with an opportunity to bring all that life has to offer, into balance. In the middle of a work out I often think, "I am here and I am breathing …. How bad can it be?" Then I smile, widely. Perspective is everything.

Sherri Penkacik

Experience/Certifications/Education: ACE certified Personal Trainer & Group Fitness Instructor; AAAI-ISMA certified Personal Trainer, Level II Weight Training certification; STOTT PILATES™ Apprentice Instructor with over 200 hours of coursework, trained in essential, intermediate, advanced Mat; essential, intermediate, advanced Reformer; essential and intermediate Cadillac, Stability Chair and Barrels; and Injuries and Special Populations. MadDogg Athletics certified Spinning® Instructor; YogaFit® Instructor Levels 1 and 2; AFAA Mat Science trained; Kickboxing certified Instructor; AEA Fitness certified Instructor; Resist-a-Ball® certified Instructor Levels 1 and 2 with specialty course in Pilates on the Ball; Previous Group Instruction has been in Jazzercise®, hi-lo impact, kickboxing, BOSU®, stability ball, plyometrics, Body-bar®, resistance band and strength training classes.

Classes I currently teach: Essential I and Intermediate Mat Pilates, Essential and Intermediate Reformer, Personal Training in Pilates on the Mat and/or Reformer, Spinning®, yoga, and other group fitness on a sub basis

Interests: Cycling, oil painting, decorating, listening to music especially jazz, Bible studies, and any reading I have time for, especially fitness and nutrition related.

Why I love Fitness: As I was pursuing a career in electro-optical engineering, I discovered the exhilaration that a great cardio workout class can bring. I was hooked and started teaching fitness classes part-time and still love sharing the knowledge I’ve gained through courses and working with clients one on one as well as in group settings. I have seen such great improvement in my own postural alignment, core strength, and body awareness as a result of my STOTT PILATES™ training. I’m passionate about helping our members build their own balanced and aligned body that looks fit, feels revitalized and moves with ease.

Rebecca Cofod

Experience/Certifications/Education: BA Sociology, University of New Hampshire; MBA with a Marketing Focus, Boston University

Licensing Consultant for Les Mills, makers of the BODYPUMP, BODYCOMBAT and BODYSTEP programs available at Hampshire Hills.

BodySTEP certified, BodyCOMBAT (awaiting certification); 1 year experience as group exercise instructor

Classes I currently teach: BodySTEP

Interests: I enjoy good friends, good food, good wine, particularly when I can enjoy them all together! I love spending time with my Golden Retriever – Forrest; he has the best smile – it is contagious!  We like to walk in the woods or on the beach and of course we do it all with a ball!

Why I love Fitness: In September of 2005, I attended BodySTEP® training and " it was nothing short of life changing." Group Fitness has changed my life in so many ways!  I am stronger and healthier than I have ever been in my life.  I have always been passionate about taking classes and now being able to help coach others towards a healthier lifestyle makes me happier than I ever could have imagined.

Christine Redd

Experience/Certifications/Education: Master’s in Business Education. AFAA certified since 1998. Previous group instruction includes Hi-Lo, Kickboxing, BodyPUMP and BodySTEP.

Classes I currently teach: BodyPUMP and BodySTEP

Interests: Most fitness classes, tennis and golf and my three children.

Why I love Fitness: It keeps my energy up so I can keep up with my children, it relieves stress and it allows me to be social while keeping fit.

Tom Sapienza

Experience/Certifications/Education: Hampshire Hills Director of Operations since 1992. CPA with a BS in Accounting and MBA from UConn. Spinning Instructor since 1996 - currently licensed by Mad Dogg Athletics.

Classes I currently teach: Spinning

Interests: Family. Fitness of Mind, Body, and Spirit which includes learning, improving, helping, movement, organic/natural food, and faith in God. Also enjoy reading, snowshoeing, biking, functional exercise, the Yankees, and Springsteen.

Why I love Fitness:I have been involved in sports and fitness as a hobby my entire life. Fitness for me has always been a 24/7 lifestyle and has helped define who I am. To be employed full time in the fitness industry since 1992 has been a great blessing. Working to make a difference in peoples lives through my role at Hampshire Hills is a humbling and rewarding experience that I would not trade for anything. I am proud and thankful to be included with such an incredible contingent of Group Exercise Instructors.

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