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 aerobics and group fitness classes for over 30 years. She is able to teach a variety of classes including step, strength and 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 my personal teaching experience, but yours as well. I also love meeting new people, so I’m looking forward to seeing you in my class! It’s good to have fun while you’re getting fit!

I began yoga out of a hopeful pathway to find meaning within my life.. I was struggling with excessive stress and anxiety until I found yoga. Yoga changed my life and became a clearly important part of my own journey, so much that I wanted to share it with others. So, I then traveled to Costa Rica to deepen my understanding of the practice and received my 200 hour registered yoga teacher certification! I truly believe that yoga can be life changing and bring immense healing within ourselves and to the world. To me yoga is liberation, liberation of yourself and others. As a practitioner and teacher, it is my duty to honor the cultural roots of yoga and you can always expect to see this in my classes. No matter who you are, may my yoga classes be a safe, sparkly, creative and intuitive place for you to deepen your yoga practice. I can't wait to meet you!

In the fall of 2023, I received my 220-hour yoga teacher certification from Minnesota Power Yoga. I began my yoga journey when I was 15.  I was recovering from a running injury and my mom introduced me to a vinyasa yoga class. I quickly discovered my love for yoga and began practicing routinely. My passion for yoga is deeply rooted in the importance of pairing breath with movement and moving my body with intention. When I began practicing yoga, I learned to love my body and mind and the ways they work together. The days I can practice yoga, and am mentally and spiritually active, are when I feel the most balanced and refreshed. I lead my classes with the intention of love and grace and I hope to inspire my students to fall in love with movement as well.

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.

I am studying Exercise Science here at NMU and have been instructing group cycling for the past three years at a gym called "Get Some Fitness" near Detroit as well as at the PEIF for the past two years. I am so excited to be apart of the team and motivate people into amazing shape. 

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. 

Cara is a 200-hour Registered Yoga Teacher through the Awakening Yoga Academy. She will teach Vinyasa Yoga at the PEIF and looks forward to meeting you all.

A little about Cara's Yoga Journey: Yoga came into my life when I needed an outlet and self-love. Then two years ago I got my teaching certificate! This practice reminds me to love myself as I am in the present moment and to separate myself from judgment. Yoga helps establish confidence, humility, and dedication in my life. I aim to teach people about yoga asanas and their relationship with yogic philosophy. More importantly, I aim to help you build confidence and find what you want within Yoga. Outside of yoga, I spend a lot of time outdoors. You can find me at Marquette Mountain in the winter:) I can't wait to learn more about yoga with you all. 

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!

I am Rhonda Jones, SHiNE Dance Fitness Instructor from Tampa Florida. I am grateful to call Marquette my home since 2019. I love the endless hiking, biking and life on the lake here in the UP. For as long as I can remember, I have been a student in group fitness classes. Such a great way to uplift mood and feel fabulous. 8 years ago, I became a certified dance fitness instructor. SHiNE is a great way to push yourself, connect with others and have a great time because Fitness should be Fun! I am passionate about self care, learning, and discovering empowerment. Teaching SHiNE Dance Fitness is a vehicle to share this with people of all ages and fitness levels.  It is my priority to encourage students to love the skin they are in, feel like the powerhouse that they truly are and have fun! The focus is to be playful and not take yourself too seriously. The choreography is easy to learn and the routines help build confidence and stamina. Students will level up and be a Boss on the Dancefloor. Come along! It's your time to SHiNE!

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".