What inspires you?

People inspire me. Specifically, I’m inspired by the way we often bring out the very best in each other. This often happens through community, through service, and through shared goals. 

What’s your fitness background?

My fitness career started when I was 17 years old, living in California. I had reconstructive surgery on my jaw when I was in high school, and I was no longer allowed to take PE classes (BTW – I had always hated PE). My jaw had been wired shut and I hadn’t eaten solid food in four weeks. Needless to say, I was underweight. I thought it would be a good idea to “get fit” as I started eating again. I found a gym, and instantly loved aerobics classes – yes, THOSE kind of aerobics classes – it was 1987, after all! I got trained and certified in group exercise in 1988 and started teaching all kinds of classes in college – high/low impact aerobics, step aerobics, even classes like “guts and butts”. I went to graduate school and worked at Golds Gym, then 24-Hour Fitness, then Sports Club LA/Irvine. It was the 90’s and it was they hey-day of group exercise classes in Southern California. I earned my Ph.D. in Health Psychology from UC Irvine in 1999, right after getting married and moving to Bloomington. Even before I landed in Indiana, my husband (who already lived in Bloomington) said, “There’s someone you need meet.” It was, of course, Tatiana. The rest, as they say, is history. In some capacity, I’ve worked with Tatiana for the past 22 years. Unlike many of the people I work and play with at Ethos, I’ve never been an athlete. However, I’ve seen the power of fitness transform my own life many times over…starting at age 17 and continuing to this day.

Any fitness, academic background or certifications?

I earned my Ph.D. in Health Psychology in 1999, with an emphasis on exercise psychophysiology. My dissertation examined the cardiovascular benefits of acute exercise on responses to stress (spoiler alert – exercise is good for your heart).

I am certified by the American College of Sports Medicine, Schwinn Cycling, IndoRow, TRX, and YogaFit (200 RYT). 

What do you like about fitness teaching at Ethos?

Quite simply, Ethos is a community. When I walked into into Ethos in January 2020, I wasn’t 100% certain I should be still be teaching cycling classes (even though I had been teaching them for nearly 15 years). After 45 minutes in the studio, it was clear that I was home. I was in the studio for only a few months before we were all working out in our own homes, online, and trying to find ways to stay connected. It has been this part of my fitness journey…the part that hasn’t included a specific physical space…that has taught me what a fitness community is all about. A community doesn’t have walls…just people, who all matter…and who are stronger together.