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

Kristy Appleton

Classes taught at Oakwood: Triple Kick, HIIT Cycle, Zumba, Cardio Funk & Functional Fitness
Education: B.A. from the University of Michigan
Certification: Health Coach & Group Exercise instructor
Experience: 5 years

Marian Bernstein

Classes taught at Oakwood: Aqua-Fit
Education: B.A. American & English Literature, Graduate Studies in Expressive Arts Therapy
Certification: AEA, Water Art (Special Populations and Aquatic Exercise), Health Education
Training: CMT Certification in Massage Therapy
Experience: 23 years

Stephanie Chan

Classes taught at Oakwood: Pilates, Barre, Dance
Education: UCB, UCLA
Training: Barreworks Los Angeles, Pilates V
Experience: 4 years

Heidi Chew

Classes taught at Oakwood: Yoga
Education: BA, Business Economics, UC Santa Barbara
Training: Shadow Yoga, Forrest Yoga
Experience: 10 years

Rod Ciocho

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

Desi Dikova

Classes taught at Oakwood: Zumba, Step
Education: M.S. Civil Engineering
Training: Zumba Basic
Experience: 3 years

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.
Certifications: AFAA Group Exercise, Schwinn Cycling, Urbankick, Zumba. IDEA Conference attendee. Zumba Convention attendee.
Training: 15+ years of classical ballet; modern dance, jazz dance, West African dance. Stability Ball, Mat Pilates, BOSU, Gliding Discs
Experience: 15+ years

Cheryl Kasovsky

Classes taught at Oakwood: Body Conditioning, Stretch, Zumba. Bodysherd.
Certification: ACE, BOSU, Core, Resist-a ball, Kick boxing,
Stretch, Zumba, Zumba Tone
Experience: 34 years

Janet Kaufman

Classes taught at Oakwood: NIA
Education: B.S Psychology
Training: NIA Black Belt 2014
Experience: 10 years

Laurie Koneski

Classes taught at Oakwood: Cycling, Core and Stretch, Sculpt, Foam Rolling
Education: B.A. Film/Video
Certification: A.C.E. Group Fitness Instructor, A.C.E. Personal Trainer, Spinning, Polestar Pilates Reformer, Gravity, TRX, Nutritional Counseling
Training: BOSU, Stability Ball, Medicine Ball, Pilates Mat, Ballet Barre
Experience: 30+ years

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

Lori Lindgren

Classes taught at Oakwood: Yoga Meditation, Chair Yoga, Mindfulness Workshops
Education: B.S. Communications and Art University of Minnesota, CPT, Bikram Yoga, Anusara Yoga, Trauma Informed Yoga, Yoga Therapeutics, Yoga for Healthy Aging
Training: Mindfulness Based Stressed Reduction, Optimum Healthy Institute, Youth Yoga Dharma
Experience: 16 years

Michael Mayer

Classes taught at Oakwood: Tai Chi & Qigong
Education: PhD in Psychology
Certification: Master Instructor certified by American Tai Chi and Qigong Association
Training: Pioneered Integration of Qigong by Western Psychotherapy
Experience: 30+ years

Claudia Florian-McCaffrey

Classes taught at Oakwood: Yoga
Education: Julliard B.A. of Fine Arts (Dance)
Certification: Anusara Yoga Certification, Prenatal/Postnatal Yoga, Reiki Master, Infant Massage, Childbirth Educator in HypnoBirthing, Mindfulness
Training: Extensive professional training in modern dance, Alexander Technique, Anusara Yoga, Meditation, Laban Movement, Reiki Therapeutics and Childbirth education, Mindfulness
Experience: 20 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

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

Chris Petit

Classes taught at Oakwood: AquaFit, Gentle Fitness
Certification: AFAA, Aqua Fitness, Water in Motion, Lifeguard, CPR and First Aid
Experience: 30 years

Maureen Richards

Classes taught at Oakwood: Cycle
Education: B.S. Nursing
Certification: A.C.E., Spinning
Experience: 25 years

Dori Sanchez

Classes taught at Oakwood: Aqua Aerobics
Education: Associate in Arts Degree
Certification: AEA Certified, Personal Trainer, Zumba, Aqua Yoga
Experience: 22 years

Veera Sanjana

Classes taught at Oakwood: Yoga Stretch, Yoga
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: 30 years

Grace Seth

Classes taught at Oakwood: Yoga
Education: B.S. in Agricultural Business
Certification: Advanced Studies and Teacher Training
Experience: 8 years

Heather Schrag

Classes taught at Oakwood: Spin, Body Conditioning
Education: University of Oregon BA Journalism, Palo Alto University MA Counseling, Pending 2019
Certifications: AFAA, Insanity, Group Fight, Group Power, Group Groove, Schwinn Cycling
Experience: 7 years

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

Jessica Sinnarajah

Classes taught at Oakwood: Cycling
Education: BA, Economics, Tufts University, MBA, UVA Darden School of Business
Certification: Maddog/Johnny G/Spinning Certified, Reebok Cycling Certified, Indoor Cycling Association Member.
Experience: 17 years

Ellen Stevens

Classes taught at Oakwood: Step Interval, Cycling
Education: A.A. Business
Certification: ACE Group Exercise, Cycle Reebok, Spinning®, Piyo, Bodyshed, Peak 10 TRX, Insanity, Group Power
Training: Resist-A-Ball, Reebok Core Board, Gliding®, Kickboxing, Absolute Barre, Barre Above, Bogafit
Experience: 33 years

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: 35 years

Melinda Teutschel

Classes taught at Oakwood: Pilates, Mat, Barrefit, Roll Stretch and Release
Education: B.A. Dance
Certification: Registered Somatic Movement Therapist (ISMETA), Alive and Well Institute of Conscious Bodywork Certified Massage Therapist, Franklin Method Educator Level 1,Certified Pilates Instructor, Pilates Method Alliance (PMA) Certified Personal Trainer (NASM), Holistic Life Coach (Chek Level I), Certified Moving for Life Teacher.
Training: Yoga works, yoga teacher training
Experience: 19 years.

Shelly Valerio

Classes taught at Oakwood: Cycling, Step, Body Conditioning, TRX
Certification: A.C.E. Group Exercise Instructor, A.C.E. Personal Trainer, Cycle Reebok, Spinning Certification
Training: Kickboxing, BOSU, AI Stretch, Stability Ball, Spinning, TRX
Experience: Over 40 years

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), Yog Alliance Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher (E-RYT 500), Teen Yoga Training Integral Yoga Institute (SF)
Experience: 28 years teaching high school

Robin Weiss

Classes taught at Oakwood:Body Conditioning, Stretch & Ball
Education: B.A. & M.A. Psychology
Certifications: AFAA Group Fitness Instructor, AFAA Personal Trainer, 3rd Degree Black Belt Tae Kwon Do
Training: Stability Ball, Reebok Core, Mat Pilates, Fitness Yoga, BOSU, Gliding, Schwinn Cycling, Kickboxing, TRX
Experience: 30 years