Jennifer Siddall, Founder Certified Spinning® Instructor, CPR/AED
The concept behind ENERGIA evolved from my own experiences as an athlete and fitness enthusiast. Years of running and tennis resulted in musculoskeletal imbalances that left me susceptible to back and knee injuries. I found myself caught in a continuous cycle of injury and recovery.
Around 2002 it became clear to me that I needed to maintain my fitness with less running and more of a variety of activities. I began taking yoga and Spin® classes. I also cycled outdoors, used weights, and trained with intervals. These more balanced and varied routines not only alleviated my injuries, they dramatically increased my strength, flexibility and endurance.
In the months and years that followed, as I refined my regimen, I realized that I wanted to share this concept with others. A vision took hold in my imagination of an exercise studio dedicated to balanced exercise. With focus and effort, I eventually brought together the resources I needed to make it happen. ENERGIATM opened its doors in April of 2010, the first exercise studio of its kind in the Pioneer Valley.
Our Instructors:
Tamra Geryk Certified Spinning Instructor, AFAA-Group Fitness, TRX, CHHC, AADP, CPR/AED
Tamra has her M.S. in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention from Springfield College, and is a certified Holistic Health and Nutrition Counselor. She was a division 1 college athlete in Field Hockey, and continues to stay active by hiking, trail running, mountain biking, snow shoeing, skiing, and yoga. She has been coaching high school sports and teaching Spinning for four years. She has recently enhanced her repertoire with boot-camp instruction and functional fitness, a practical approach to fitness for the real world. In addition to fitness, Tamra shares her passion for food and nutrition with her clients, helping them adopt healthy, sustainable eating habits. Tamra excels in meeting individual needs and creating a positive, supportive environment. We absolutely love her. So will you!
Scott Johnston Spinning® Instructor
Scott Johnston has been road cycling for many years and brings his passion for the sport to our Spinning classes as a Spinning Instructor. Growing up, Scott was active in many sports including baseball, soccer, football, track, and then as an all-star college volleyball player in California. Scott has completed several century bike races and ran a fundraising marathon for his midlife crisis! He has continued his love for volleyball as a coach for the Amherst High School girls team for the past several years, and he is a regular at the Adult Sandlot league for "old men". His Spinning classe are known for their fun music and high intensity.
For his day job, Scott manages the migratory bird program for
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Hadley, and has a BS in Wildlife Management from Humboldt State University, and an MA in Biology from UCLA. Scott's children are multi-sport athletes and dancers, and his wife, Jennifer, is an active trail runner and a much better skier than Scott!
Justin Killeen ASCM Certified Personal Trainer, TRX Suspension Training
Justin recently finished his B.S. in Kinesiology from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. He is certified as a personal trainer through the American College of Sports Medicine and is working towards his CSCS certificatein December of 2011. In addition to training at ENERGIA, he works as a health fitness specialist with MediFit at a corporate site in South Deerfield, MA (Yankee Candle!). In 2012, he will begin his pursuit of a M.S. in Kinesiology with a concentration in sports training. He recently moved full-time to the Amherst area from Cape Cod where he worked in the fitness environment every summer for as long as he can remember. At first it was just for the free membership but he has since developed a strong passion for motivating and guiding others to achieve their goals! Some of his hobbies include playing basketball, going to the beach, traveling, and just being outdoors. He is very much into nutrition and loves cooking healthy meals. Don’t be intimidated by huge machines in a crowded gym…sign up today for a free session and you’ll be amazed at what YOU can accomplish!
Lora Ksieniewicz Certified Yoga Instructor
Lora has been working with different branches of yoga and meditation for over 10 years. She is a certified yoga instructor and has completed teacher trainings and yoga-assisting trainings with Shiva Rea and Baron Baptiste. She studied the Sivananda tradition for several years, both in the United States, and in Kerala, India. She has also worked with the Ashtanga tradition of yoga while in Mysore, India, at the Institute of Pattabhi Jois.
She has spent a period of four months in Buddhist studies at the Burmese Monastery in Bodh Gaya, India, as well as participating in several retreats within the United States. She also studied thai massage, through the Institute of Thai Massage in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Bob Lindner Taoist Standing Meditation
Bob Lindner brings a new energy to Energia through the study of taoist standing meditation (Wu Chi) which he has practiced since 1994. As a young man, Bob first began meditation and taoist practices in 1977 while studying Macrobiotics in Boston and then Fernie, British Columbia. After moving to the Pioneer Valley in the late '80s, his personal studies expanded into moving practices like, Tai Chi, Bagua, Yoga and Zero Balancing. In his classes at Energia, Bob's primary focus is to cultivate inner awareness and enhance the mind-body connection as participants learn fundamentals of mediation in motion. He believes that the lessons of Taoist arts provide invaluable tools to enhance the physical, mental, and spiritual health in those who practice, and he is very excited to help others access these tools.
As a founder and co-owner of Hillside Pizza, Bob can usually be found cooking up pies and troubleshooting at the South Deerfield pizza shop. In his spare time, he is on the teaching staff at J.R. Roy Martial Arts Studio in Greenfield, a regular yoga student, a loving father to four adult children, an organic farmer, and an avid Buffalo Bills fan.
Jenny Mendoza PhysicalMind Institute, Stott pilates, Pilates Academy International, Power Pilates, YogaFit
Jenny is a certified Pilates Mat instructor and trained Yoga instructor from Lisbon, Maryland. She graduated from Hollins University with a BA in Dance (2004), before moving to New York City to pursue her love of modern dance and teaching Yoga and Pilates. In late August she moved from New York City to Belchertown, MA, and has invited the change of scenery and pace of life with open arms! Prior to her moving to the Pioneer Valley, she had led Pilates and Yoga classes throughout New York City at several locations and worked with private clients to build their own mind/body practice.
Jenny incorporates her many years of dancing (ballet, modern, jazz - to name a few) with her years of experience as a Pilates/Yoga teacher to form well-balanced classes for students of all ages. She focuses on breath and body awareness in all of her classes and encourages self-exploration. In her Yoga practice, she employs basic Hatha Yoga principles with various other forms of Yoga, such as Vinyasa and Ashtanga. In her Pilates classes, her main focus is on gaining core strength while maintaining proper alignment, to build long and lean muscles. Jenny's classes are always different, fun and non-competitive, and she always has a “trick” up her sleeve (even when wearing tank tops!).
Tracy Remelius Certified Yoga Instructor, CYT200
Tracy is a graduate of Mama Nirvana's Teacher Training and Core Strength Vinyasa YTT with Sadie Nardini. Her classes assist students in developing physical strength, vitality and a focused mind. She believes that a healthy lifestyle supports self esteem and an empowered life. Her down-to-earth and adventurous approach to yoga, both in classes and outdoors, appeals to those who seek playful and active life experiences. Tracy holds a certification in Outdoor Leadership from Greenfield Community College and leads Outdoor yoga workshops combining yoga and hiking, kayaking, skiing, and snowshoeing. When she's not teaching yoga she can be found playing in the woods, hiking, skiing, cycling, and climbing . Yoga keeps her body ready for all the adventures she seeks. Tracy is an advocate for practicing yoga alongside athletic pursuits in order to keep the body healthy and injury free, which is why she is very excited to be part of the Energia team.
Kate Robert Certified Spinning® Instructor, CPR/AED
Kate is a long time student, turned certified instructor of Spinning®. With a passion for all things fitness related, she regularly participates, and has taken 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in her age category at many New England road races and triathlons. Having participated in many years of dance and cheerleading since childhood, Kate places a strong focus on bringing rhythm of her music to the bike and incorporating a challenging but fun ride to all.
Ahna Sadowski Certified AFAA Group Fitness Instructor, Certified Zumba Fitness Instructor, CPR/AED
Ahna has been teaching group fitness classes in the Pioneer Valley for nearly a decade. Her fitness interests are diverse and include everything from intense interval training to exploring the art of Argentine Tango and other dances. Ahna loves to move and loves to motivate others to do the same. Ahna holds a dual Masters' Degree from Syracuse University in Communications and Education. Ahna's goal for each participant is to facilitate self-improvement, energy and lasting satisfaction through movement.
Vanessa Serotta 200-Hour Yoga Certification
Vanessa has been studying yoga at Karuna Center of Yoga and Healing Arts with Eileen Muir since 2000, but truly began deepening her yoga studies and practice when she enrolled in Eileen's 200 Hour Teacher Training program in 2009. She will be completing her 500 Hour Advanced program in May of 2012. She values the way asana practice brings us to know ourselves more deeply, and looks to the teachings of yoga philosophy to go deeper still. In each of her classes, Vanessa offers her students an opportunity to make and savor this connection for themselves. Vanessa has also been training Afro-Brazilian Martial Arts with Grupo Omulu Guanabara Capoeira since 2004.
Nadine Shank Certified Spinning® Instructor, Certified AFAA Group Fitness Instructor, Certified Zumba Instructor, Certified AAAI/ASMA Instructor
Nadine has taught Group Fitness in the pioneer valley since 1983. Her specialties include Spinning and Body Sculpt. She holds certifications from AFAA, AAAI/ISMA (Aerobics, Step, Aqua), Les Mills Body Pump, Spinning®, and Zumba. She brings her extensive knowledge of and passion for all types of music to every class, and puts lots of thought into creating a high energy workout set to great tunes.
Nadine was appointed Professor of Piano at the University of Massachusetts at the age of 25 and is Principal Orchestral Pianist with the Springfield Symphony Orchestra.
Doris Szeto RYT, CYT
Doris has been practicing yoga since 1998, when it found her at the end of a busy NYC day. She immediately fell in love with it and has continued breathing yoga into her life everyday since.
Doris is a certified yoga instructor from OM in NYC, completing her vinyasa teacher training in 2005. She also finished her Yoga Therapy certification (2007), and her Yoga for Women Cancer Survivors teacher training (2009), both at OM. Doris is registered with the Yoga Alliance, and is a member of the International Association of Yoga Therapists. She graduated from NYU, worked in the photography/advertising industry for 12 years, then moved to PA in 2004, and just relocated to western MA in October 2011.
Her classes infuse a juicy flow of asanas, informed by precise attention to alignment and breath, supported by Buddhist mindfulness in the OM tradition. She encourages her students to be curious on and off the mat, exploring the practice with a sense of humor, playfulness and compassion. Doris teaches from her heart and enjoys sharing her love of yoga with all beings!
Robert Wilson Certified Spinning® Instructor
Robert has enjoyed cycling from an early age and loves to teach Spinning® classes. Robert began racing in sprint triathlon’s in the 1990’s and toured seven countries in Europe via bicycle and train, 1996. He began teaching Indoor Cycling classes in 2006 and received his Spinning Instructor Certification in January, 2008. Also in 2008, Robert began training at an elite indoor facility dedicated to serious cyclists. Robert sat on the board of directors of the Northampton Cycling Club (NCC) from 2007-2009 where he also raced in road, mountain and cyclocross races for the NCC, 2007-2009.
Some values that Robert brings to his classes are proper bike fit and safety along with variety and freshness in each class. Robert utilizes a number of different instruction techniques; from direct form and exercise cues to visualization. Different types of motivational cues are frequently employed and often draw upon outdoor cycling experiences. Good music! While dance music is a favorite to get cycling classes moving, a variety of musical genres and times periods are employed. Robert also brings a balance between letting participants get into their own workout and giving participants individual attention and instruction. Robert realizes these needs are different for everyone and does his best to read his participant’s desires correctly. Come check out one of Robert's classes!
Kate Barvainis MSEd, LMT, Holistic Health Counselor
Kate is a bodywork practitioner and holistic health counselor currently practicing in Northampton, MA. Kate works with clients on an individual basis, providing support and recommendations to improve lifestyle, nutrition, and to facilitate healing. Kate holds professional licenses in MA and NY as a massage therapist and also offers additional modalities including CranioSacral Therapy and Reiki. Kate is also a graduate of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in NYC. In June 2011, Kate completed a rigorous ten-month Ayurveda and Yoga Teacher Training gaining her certification as a Hatha Yoga Teacher.
Kate received a Bachelors degree in Health Science and a Masters degree in Community Health Education from SUNY Cortland. As a college athlete, Kate had her fair share of injuries and was determined to pursue preventative and holistic methods of healing. Through this work Kate has overcome struggles with her own health and has been inspired to guide others on their own path to wellness. Kate strongly believes in the spirit, mind, and body's ability to heal through nutritious food, positive lifestyle changes, and complementary medicine.