Group Exercise Staff

Celine Dastous - Group Exercise Manager

Classes taught at Oakwood: Cycling, Body Conditioning, Stretch & Release, TRX, Yoga, H.I.I.T
Education: M.A. English
Certification: A.C.S.M. Group Exercise Leader, Spinning, Piedmont Yoga Certification, Smart Flow Yoga
Training: Resist-a-Ball, Mat Pilates, Polestar Allegro, Turning Point Studios Pilates Training, Bosu, TRX, Yoga Tune-up, Therapy Ball Practitioner, ELDOA and Myofascial Stretching
Experience: 30+ years
Hobbies: Trail running, road cycling, cooking, medicinal plants
Philosophy of Fitness: My favorite quote from Lao Tzu: "Health is the greatest possession. Contentment is the greatest treasure. Confidence is the greatest friend."

Taylor Beebee

Classes taught at Oakwood: Body Pump, Body Combat, Certified Body Attack
Education: BS International Business Management
Certifications: NASM- Personal Trainer, Dynamic Sports Performance Certified Coach
Trainings: Russian Kettle-bell Certification, Advanced Training for Body Pump, Body Combat, and Body Attack
Experience: 7+ years
Hobbies: Cooking, travel
Philosophy of Fitness: Training should be enjoyable- do what you enjoy doing not what you feel you need to do.

Lisa Andrews

Classes taught at Oakwood: BOSU Conditioning, Core and Sculpt, Muscle Conditioning, TRX, Stretch
Education: AA Child Development
Certifications/Trainings: Group Ex, Personal Trainer, Spin, TRX, Heart Zones
Experience: 25+ years
Hobbies: Running, cooking, gardening, traveling
Philosophy of Fitness: Must be user friendly, accessible and fun! Important to get out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself. Very important to worship your body- nothing is more important! You are your competition! Be you, embrace your strengths and thrive to improve your weaknesses.

Rod Ciocho

Classes taught at Oakwood: Yoga
Certification: Mark Horner Moksha Yoga Shala
Training: Universal, Shadow, Iyengar, Ashtanga and Yin Yoga
Experience: 18 years

Virginia Dare

Classes taught at Oakwood: Spin, Barre, Personal Training
Education: Marketing
Certification: AFAA, NASM- Personal Training, Aqua Fitness, Spin
Trainings: Spin
Experience: 8+ years
Hobbies: Cooking, family time, travel
Philosophy of Fitness: Use it or lose it!

Desi Dikova

Classes taught at Oakwood: Zumba, Step
Education: M.S. Civil Engineering
Training: Zumba Basic, Zumba Step, LeBlast Fitness, Silver Sneakers, AAFA
Experience: 12 years
Hobbies: Social Dancing
Philosophy of Fitness: Change your life one beat at a time!

Pam Hall

Classes taught at Oakwood: Barrefit, Gentle Fitness
Education: BS Business Administration
Certification: NCCPT, USWFA, 200-hour Yoga Certification
Trainings: Parkinson's Specialist, Neuro-Sensory Specialist, Water Rescue
Experience:40 years
Hobbies: Hiking, biking, indoor rock climbing, yoga
Philosophy of Fitness: We all deserve to feel our very best. pain free range of motion and balance are key to feeling good about yourself. My focus will be on teaching you the simple movement practices that will become the foundation of a powerful fitness lifestyle.

David Henry

Classes taught at Oakwood: Yoga
Training and Certification: RYT - Chair Yoga, Yoga Alliance, Immersion and teacher training at Yoga Kula.
Experience: Ballet and Ballroom dancing for 30 years, Yoga 6 years

Carah Herring

Classes taught at Oakwood: Cardio Dance, Line Dancing, Cardio Cut
Education: B.S. Mass Communications, Bennett College for Women. Master of Journalism, UC Berkeley.
Certification: AFAA Group Exercise, Schwinn Cycling, Urbankick, Zumba. IDEA Conference attendee. Zumba Convention attendee, Aqua Zumba, AFAA Mat Pilates
Training: 15+ years of classical ballet; modern dance, jazz dance, West African dance. Stability Ball, Mat Pilates, BOSU, Gliding Discs
Experience: 15+ years
Hobbies: Traveling, hiking, exploring museums
Philosophy of Fitness: Challenge yourself, be consistent. Stay positive and have fun.

Tiffany Hoover

Classes taught at Oakwood: Bosu Burn, C, Core and Balance, Cycling
Education: BA in Theater, MA in Theater, MA in Theology
Certification: ACE Group Ex and ACE Personal Trainer
Training: BOSU, Keiser Cycling, Stages Cycling, Group Power, Yin Yoga, Mixxed Fit
Hobbies: Dancing, reading, walking my dog, wine tasting
Philosophy of Fitness: I approach teaching and training with playfulness, kindness, and direction. I am a life-long learner and hope to always be a resource for education. I want my clients and students to find enjoyment in moving and I want them to feel seen and heard.

Karen Johnson

Classes taught at Oakwood: Aqua Aerobics, Body Conditioning, Dance Fitness
Education: BA from Hayward State
Certification: AFAA Group Fitness, Zumba, Mixxedfit, USWFA
Training: USWFA, SCW Mania Conference, AFAA Sunrise Yoga and Group Fitness, Mixxedfit, Zumba
Experience: 21 years
Hobbies: Horseback riding, reading, dancing
Philosophy of Fitness: Find workouts that you enjoy, then it never feels like a chore.

Cheryl Kasovsky

Classes taught at Oakwood: Body Conditioning, Stretch, Zumba. Bodyshred
Education: Hairstylist, Real Estate Investing
Certification: ACE, BOSU, Core, Resist-a ball, Kick boxing
Training: Stretch, Zumba, Zumba Tone
Experience: 37 years
Hobbies: Scuba diving, travel
Philosophy of Fitness: To enhance the quality of life through health and fitness. While having fun!

Janet Kaufman

Classes taught at Oakwood: Nia Dance Fusion and Yoga Dance
Education: BA Psychology
Certification/Training: Nia first degree Black Belt, Nia MoveIT, 200 hour Yoga certification.
Experience: 16 years
Hobbies: Jeweler Silver Smith, metaphysical
Philosophy of Fitness: Through movement we find health.

Laurie Koneski

Classes taught at Oakwood:Core and Sculpt Fusion, Core/Restore, Cycle Body Conditioning
Education: B.A. Film/Video
Certification: A.C.E. Group Fitness Instructor, A.C.E. Personal Trainer, Spinning, Polestar Pilates Reformer/Mat, TRX, Nutritional Counseling
Training:Functional Fitness, Myofascial Release/Restoration, Corrective Exercise, HIIT, Boot Camp
Experience: 30+ years
Hobbies: Music, film, crossword puzzles, pickleball, reading
Philosophy of Fitness: Laurie believes in providing services that prevent injury and imbalance and promote health and healing.

Andrea Legault

Classes taught at Oakwood: Aqua-Fit
Education: BS Business CSUEB, AA Retail Management FIDM, AFAA Group Ex Certified 2010- Current. AEA Water Certification.
Land Training: Bosu, Interval, Step, Zumba Gold, Piyo Live! Strong by Zumba
Aquatic Training: Aquabata, aqua kick, intervals, HIIT, Sport conditioning, deep water
Experience: Land Classes 2002, Aqua Classes 2003, 14 years

Tina Ory

Classes taught at Oakwood: Mat Pilates
Education: B.S. Physical Education, Teaching Credential
Certification: Certificate in Pilates by Physical Mind, U.S. Water Fitness Assoc. A.F.F.A. instructor, Yoga for Kids and New Generation Yoga
Training: Resist-a-Ball, Balance Body Reformer , Yoga Kids
Experience: 35 years
Hobbies: playing with my two grandsons, going to the beach, hiking, swimming, opening my door for friends
Philosophy of Fitness: I teach young kids, so I have always felt fitness needs to be lifelong learning, things you will do as a child, then as a teen, going into adulthood, parenthood and grandparenting! Keep it fun, uplifting, motivating and good for you, what makes you feel good and you can share it with others is a true blessing of fitness.

Kathleen Ostler

Classes taught at Oakwood: Zumba, Body and Sole
Education: Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theater and Dance
Certification: NIA Black Belt, Zumba B1/B2, MELT Method Certified hand and foot, AFAA Certified
Training: 3 Mastery of Teaching intensives
Experience: 13 years

Noel Panganiban

Classes taught at Oakwood: Cycling, Ball, Zumba, Body Conditioning, Gentle Pilates & Stretch.
Education: B.S. San Francisco State University
Certification: AFAA Group Exercise Leader, Zumba, Lifetime Spinning, U-Jam, Urban Kick, Strong by Zumba
Experience: 40 years, Wellness Director for Berkeley YMCA for 12 years

Monica Phillips

Classes taught at Oakwood: Yoga
Education: MA International Education, BS Journalism
Certification: YogaWorks 200 and 300 hour Teach Training Graduate, Yoga Alliance Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT 500), Professional Certified Coach with the International Coaching Federation, Certified Positive Intelligence Coach
Training: Vinyasa Flow Gentle Flow, Strength, Stretch and Balance, Reading Bodies, Yoga Nidra, Pranayama, Yoga Philosophy, Meditation and Mindfulness
Experience: 28+ years
Hobbies: Spending time outdoors and near the ocean, hiking, paddle boarding, traveling, reading, listening to music
Philosophy of Fitness: Invite movement into your body so you gain strength in your body, peace in your heart, and calm in your mind. Being present is the biggest gift we can give to ourselves and those around us. In this busy, always-on world, that can be the hardest thing to do.

Veera Sanjana

Classes taught at Oakwood: Hatha Yoga, Gentle Yoga, Energy Yoga, Chair Yoga, Restorative Yoga, Yin Yoga, Yoga for Stress and Meditation
Education: M.A. Economics, M.S.W (Social Work & Community Services)
Certification: Munger School of Yoga Teachers Training Certification (India), Certificate of Teaching Yoga Center, Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner, Certified Compassionate Touch Instructor
Training: Yoga Pravesh, Yoga Parichay in India, Dance and Movement Therapy, Herbology (Ayurvedic and Chinese), Vipaasana Meditation, Kripalu Yoga
Experience: 35+ years
Hobbies: Research and study in fields of Eastern Philosophy, Yoga, wellness, brain and the power of the mind, mantras, mudras, meditation, mindfulness, tapping. Growing herbs and medicinal plants, ayurvedic cooking, doing workshops on healthy healing foods, Yoga/Meditation retreats, herbal cooking classes
Philosophy of Fitness: "Yoga does not just change the way we see things. It transforms the person who sees." - BKS Iyenger

Heather Schrag

Classes taught at Oakwood: Spin, Body Conditioning, Kickboxing
Education: BA Journalism, MA Counseling
Certifications: AFAA, Insanity, Group Fight, Group Power, Group Groove, Schwinn Cycling
Experience: 12 years
Hobbies: Gardening, playing with my dog, kids, traveling, music
Philosophy of Fitness: It's better in groups!

Balvinder Singh (Ballu)

Classes taught at Oakwood: Yoga for all, Cardio Cut, Spin & Athletic Conditioning, Bollywood Dancing, Conditioning on the Ball.
Education: Masters in Physical Education with Yoga Specialization, Post Graduate Diploma in Physical Education with Yoga Specialization, Bachelor of Science (Electronics)
Certification: Performance Enhancement Specialist - NASM, Certified Spin Instructor - Maddogg, Certified Group Ex Instructor - AFAA, Certified Fitness Trainer - ISSA, Certified Group Exercise Instructor - NESTA, Certified HRV Bio-force
Experience: Changing lives since 1992
Philosophy of Fitness: Believe is small steps to achieve goals; listening to your body and mind to make a synchronized move to enhance performance at any level of fitness.

Tori Sovocool

Classes taught at Oakwood: Cycling
Education: UCLA
Certification: Schwinn, TRX, ACE Group Fitness
Experience: 13 years
Hobbies: biking, sewing quilts, baking dairy free
Philosophy of Fitness: Progression! You will have ups and downs but keep going and you'll feel better!

Sue Thomas

Classes taught at Oakwood: Step, Cycling, Muscle Conditioning, Interval Training, Circuit Training, Boot Camp, TRX, Tabata, Step with Muscle
Certification: A.C.E Group Exercise, A.C.E. Personal Trainer, Spinning
Training: Bosu, Gliding, AI Stretch, Stability Ball, TRX
Experience: 38 years
Hobbies: Hiking, biking
Philosophy of Fitness: Make it fun and you'll keep doing it!

Chris "Coach" Walsh

Classes taught at Oakwood: Yoga Vinyasa Flow (Level 2)
Education: M.S. Anatomy and Physiology, B.S. Physical Education, Started Yoga Program at Campolindo High School 2013
Certification: YogaWorks 200 and 300 hour Teacher Training Graduate, Yoga Alliance Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT 500), Teen Yoga Training Integral Yoga Institute (SF)
Experience: 29 years teaching high school
Hobbies: Hiking, reading Yoga philosophy books
Philosophy of Fitness: My purpose is to share the beauty, wonder and magnificence of this sacred tradition to awaken my students fullest potential. The body you have when you are 25, you can have when you're 65 if you take care of it.