May’s Featured Fitness Instructors – Fox Valley Family YMCA

Faces of Fitness is a monthly feature highlighting our incredible Group Exercise instructors. This is a platform to discover their classes, teaching style, and their passion for inspiring others through fitness. We’re thrilled to introduce our outstanding instructors and the Y’s diverse group exercise offerings.

Left to right: Jenny, Natalie, Elizabeth and Erin

Meet Jenny, Natalie, Elizabeth and Erin!

“Yoga takes root in us while we practice and brings us all together.”

From Elizabeth’s 15+ years of leading everything from Zumba to Yoga, to Erin’s powerful blend of calm instruction and strength training, Jenny’s connection-driven approach, and Natalie’s focus on mindfulness and presence—this group brings a diverse and inspiring range of experience to our Yoga program!

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Get to Know our Yoga Instructors!

What was your initial motivation for becoming a fitness instructor?

Elizabeth: I was inspired by a former FVFY step instructor named Stacey. She had a contagious enthusiasm and made exercise so fun. She said I had a natural talent and that I should become an instructor and so I did! Doing so was one of the best decisions I have ever made, and I have never regretted it.

Jenny: I wanted to share my love of yoga with others.

Erin: To help people move better.

What's your favorite aspect of teaching fitness classes?

Elizabeth: Inspiring others on their fitness journeys is such a worthy endeavor and it makes my heart happy in so many ways. I love to see their progress and the relationships that they build in our YMCA community. I know it has been said before but it is so much more than a gym: we truly do lift each other up.

Jenny: Making connections with members. Yoga roots into us while we practice and brings us all together.

Erin: I love helping people move better, feel stronger, and be more capable.

Describe your teaching style in one sentence.

Elizabeth: I would describe it as eclectic with lots of musical variety.

Jenny: Everything I say is OPTIONAL! I encourage everyone to listen to their bodies and needs on any given day.

Erin: In Yoga, I’m very calm and intentional. In Pilates and Barre, Im calm and challenging.

How do you measure the success of your fitness classes?

Elizabeth: I measure the success by the progress of participants, smiles I see on their faces at the end of class, their personal feedback to me, and the camaraderie that I see them develop with other class participants.

Jenny: The mood in the room before, during, and after class. Sometimes, it’s a light and carefree. Others, it’s quiet and contemplative. Did my instructions bring us to the right space and mood?

Erin: The applause and the grunts… haha!

How does teaching group-ex classes impact your own fitness journey?

Elizabeth: My personal fitness journey is focused on attending group exercise classes because I know the group dynamic creates a positive energy that may not be available in other formats. We hype each other up and it feels wonderful to know that no one is in it alone.

Jenny: Teaching brings me to the Y at least 3 days a week. Which makes it easier for me to stick around and workout or take another class.

Erin: The Y isn’t just Fitness, it’s Family. I teach all these classes for the wonderful people who take them. And I challenge myself to get stronger physically and learn more to be able to help everyone who comes into my classes.

What's some advice you would give to a new class participant?

Elizabeth: I would suggest trying as many different classes as they can because they might surprise themselves at how capable they are. I would be sure to introduce myself to each instructor and ask if they have any advice for beginners. I would be patient with myself and let them know that we are all on our own fitness journey, and there is no judgment or competition. Focus on what your capable body CAN do!

Jenny: Just try it and try different instructors! In yoga especially, you need to mesh with the instructor to trust them and get to where you want to be. If my class isn’t your jam, try Erin’s or Eliazabeth’s or Natalie’s! You’ll find the right fit.

Erin: Give yourself time. It’s OK to try something and be bad at it, it probably means you need it.

Tell us about a highlight moment in your fitness instructor journey.

Elizabeth: Very recently, a former Y member that was a participant in my Zumba classes reached out to see if I was still teaching. She had some health problems in the past, but was hoping to come back to my classes because she had always felt so welcomed and enjoyed the fun. Since I work full time and no longer teach Zumba, I offered to attend a WERQ fitness class with her and was right by her side in that class and then we also participated in a yoga class together! She is currently a member of a local gym, and now has plans to renew her membership at the FVFY. It is the relationships that we build that are the most important.

Jenny: Teaching chair yoga was daunting at the beginning for me. I worried that I wasn’t giving my students what they needed. Then, a student let me know that he was able to put his shoes and socks on again. His wife no longer has to help him. Which is a huge win for him, his wife, and me!

Erin: Sophie is the reason I’m a Yoga Instructor. She saw me in one of my 1st yoga classes at the Y and pursued me for months to be a yoga instructor.

What's a fun fact about you?

Elizabeth: I am an avid recycler and “repurposer” of many things 🙂

Jenny: When I started practicing yoga in 2017, I hated Savasana (final relaxation at the end of practice). Who wants to lay there in the dark doing nothing for 5 minutes??? And now, it’s me!

Erin: I’m a Powerlifter. Also, I’ve been involved in Yoga for 25 years.

Yoga Schedule

MONDAY

Yoga
7-7:50 pm
Central Branch

Tuesday

Chair Yoga
8:30-9:15 am
West Branch

Yoga
10-10:50 am
Central Branch

Wednesday

Rock Out Yoga
7-7:50 pm
Central Branch

Thursday