Fitness Classes - NMU Rec Sports

I've participated in group fitness most of my life – athletics, military training, and most recently, drop-in classes. When I maintain my physical health, my wellness in other dimensions (social, intellectual, emotional, spiritual, and so on) also improves. Group fitness provides the accountability, the variety of routines, the social connection, the encouragement, and the fun that I need to keep showing up, to push myself further, and to reach new goals. I love helping others experience these things by teaching Zumba classes and am having more fun all the time! I’m licensed to teach Zumba and STRONG by Zumba and have a group exercise certification through the American Council on Exercise.

Lynne has been teaching group fitness classes for over 30 years. She teaches a variety of classes including step, yoga, strength & resistance training, and full body workouts that encompass your mind and body. Her favorite thing about fitness is learning new techniques to not only enhance her personal teaching experience, but yours as well.

In her free time, Lynne loves to paddleboard, go on hikes with her dog Poppy, and spend time at camp with family & friends. She also loves meeting new people, so she’s looking forward to seeing you in her class! Join her early on Mondays & Thursdays at the PEIF and Wednesday evenings at the Fit Zone. Come prepared for a fun time with great music, good humor, and plenty of laughter!
 

Charise has been on a fitness journey for, well let's say more than a decade or two. She enjoys family, travel, adventures, fishing and the outdoors. She is certified in Pilates, Core and Strength Training. She has group fitness training and a special interest in HIIT programs.  Her instructional philosophy is CCC: choices, chances, changes: you make a CHOICE to take a CHANCE and your life WILL CHANGE.

Skylar is an NMU alumni and joins us with 8+ years of experience guiding yoga. She found her own yoga practice as a student at NMU and felt called to learn more about how this practice helped her to overcome challenging moments in her college career and beyond. She has experience teaching a variety of styles and is excited to share her teachings with this community. 

If you've got a heartbeat, you have rhythm and you can dance! I teach dance so I can share the joy of rhythm, movement and connection with others. I've been dancing individually all of my life and was fortunate to be introduced to social dancing early on. Partnered dancing challenges individual coordination and musicality as well as teamwork and social skills. As a dancer, I aim to practice gratitude and generosity in every dance, with every person I meet. As a teacher, I aim to offer an entry point to partner dancing to everyone, no matter their skill level, using a range of progressive exercises. 

Fiona first began attending spin classes at Colorado State University in 2020 where she later coached before taking time to solo backpacking through more than 5 countries across Europe. She is passionate about fitness and it’s benefits for the mind, body and soul. She loves to travel, her most recent journey to Spain to hike a 200-mile trail through Portugal and Spain! She is currently a junior at NMU finishing her degree in graphic design. Off campus you’ll find her biking, hiking, or skiing, especially mountain biking in the North trail of Marquette. 

Fiona’s goal for her spin classes is to create an inclusive environment where riders of all fitness level feel welcome and empowered. Her positive energy and love for music and movement will push you to crush your class goals.

I am a librarian and a passionate fitness enthusiast, with over five years of barre practice under my belt. My love for this form of exercise only deepens with each class I participate in. Upon moving to Marquette, I was disheartened to discover that there were no studios in town offering barre classes, a situation exacerbated by the challenges posed by Covid. This fueled my determination to become certified and bring this invigorating practice to our community. Now, armed with my certification, I am eager to embark on this journey of leading group fitness sessions. I warmly invite you to join a class and share in my enthusiasm!

Mary's yoga and fitness instruction journey began in 1995 when she returned to NMU for the MS in Exercise Science program. She began teaching step aerobics and senior exercise/swim while enrolled. Around that time she also began her Yoga Teacher 200hr and 500hr training and graduating in 2012 from Yoga Fit. Over the years she taught locally and opened the first yoga studio in Marquette. She has also learned Ayurveda (the science of longevity) with intensive training completed in India which enhanced her knowledge of "yoga". 

Dance can be as easy or as challenging as you want it to be. For me, some of the best parts of instructing are providing tools, creating learning experiences, and introducing challenges that help dancers develop new skills. Whether your goal is to wow a crowd, survive a party, or pick up just enough moves to make a night out more entertaining, learning ballroom dance offers countless benefits. There’s something wonderful about adding grace and power to your movement.
I’ve always considered myself a bit of a goofy dancer (and person!), and I took my first real dance class while attending Muskegon Community College. My journey went on to include over two years of professional teaching with Arthur Murray Dance Studios in Grand Rapids, random lessons for friends, and weekly lessons in Marquette at Unity Yoga while I was attending NMU. During my time at Arthur Murray, my own dancing grew by leaps and bounds—and my passion for teaching others truly blossomed.
I can’t wait to share my enthusiasm and experience with anyone who’s curious to learn!

Johnny began practicing karate with Shotokan Karate of America in 1979 as a college freshman. After finishing doctoral studies and working in Singapore for a few years, Johnny moved to Silicon Valley and joined the Saratoga Dojo. Johnny was promoted by Ohshima Sensei to black belt in 2004. Subsequently, seniors asked Johnny to start and lead the San Jose Dojo. When not practicing karate, Johnny works as a computer science entrepreneur and occasionally as a part-time university instructor. 

Following his seniors' examples, Johnny teaches Shotokan Karate as a traditional martial art. Practice emphasizes the development of mental strength and natural, realistic techniques in a non-commercial setting. Students at all levels practice together, helping each other improve and become more confident.