Meet Our Fitness Instructors!
We have a variety of group classes that take place every day of the week, from early morning to evening, both indoor and outdoor. Classes are led by motivating, upbeat, expert instructors who hold certifications including ACE, NASM, Les Mills, and more! Classes take place at a variety of centers and parks including the CRC, RCRC, Dole, and Taylor Park.
Frances Akwuole
Classes: Strength Conditioning, HIIT, Cardio
Frances has always had a passion for physical activity, from playing sports like volleyball and boxing to dancing and taking fitness classes. She began teaching while in college and quickly developed a love for inspiring others to not only stay consistent with their workouts but to truly enjoy the process. Frances particularly enjoys teaching HIIT because it allows participants to work at their own pace while fostering a strong sense of camaraderie and community. She creates an energetic and inclusive atmosphere with a diverse music playlist that appeals to all tastes. Frances’ classes are fun, challenging, and designed to leave you feeling empowered and unstoppable every time.
Lorrie Brooks
Classes: WERQ
Lorrie West, a native of Nashville, TN, has always had a passion for dance and fitness. She was introduced to WERQ™ in 2010 and fell in love with the workout program immediately. The class infused her two passions – dance and fitness – into a unique workout experience. She became a certified WERQ Instructor in 2011 and now teaches and is part of the choreography QREW. By day, she’s a marketing professional and by night and on the weekends, she’s a WERQAHOLIC.
Andrea Edwards
Classes: NIA
Andrea Edwards has been teaching Nia since 2009. Both invigorating and calming, Andrea’s classes are an invitation to dance, relax, and plug in to the joy of movement.
Jing Grimm
Classes: Dance Fitness, yoga, Pilates, Step, Body Conditioning, HIIT, Strength Training
Jing is a fitness enthusiast, athlete, dancer, and choreographer. She taught her first group fitness class at young age of 18 and loved it. Her motivation is seeing family and friends suffer and die young because of metabolic diseases which could have been prevented with exercise and the right foods. She wanted to impart her knowledge to help people live a healthy life. Jing is American Council on Exercise group certified and she teaches Dance, Yoga, Strength, Step, and Pilates. She truly believes in doing what you love. Everything that she does aligns with her values and beliefs as a person, but above all, bring her joy.
Teresa Heit-Murray
Classes: Yoga
Teresa is a Registered Yoga Teacher having completed her 200-hour Pure Yoga training in 2010. Teresa is completing her work to become a RYT-500 through the Prairie teacher training. Teresa teaches in a way that helps individuals of all ages find what works for their unique anatomy and condition. Teresa also brings humor and yoga philosophy into her teaching to round out the practice. Teresa herself enjoys the many benefits of yoga including help with posture, skeletal alignment, muscular strength, pain reduction, joint mobility, and even a more positive outlook on life.
Maria Lagunas
Classes: Kickboxing, Strength & Conditioning, Bootcamp
Maria was born and raised in Chicago, but her journey in health and wellness started over 12 years ago in Los Angeles when her brother Diego got her a gym membership to cheer her up. It changed her life forever. She quickly realized how necessary exercising is for a person’s physical and mental health. Ever since, she has made it her mission to motivate and inspire as many people as she can to lead a healthy lifestyle and make their fitness goals a priority and a reality. She has instructed at various gyms throughout Chicagoland, and specializes in strength and conditioning. Maria dedicates her fitness career to her late brother, Luis, who was so motivated to start his health journey.
Sarah Sharon
Classes: Bodypump
Sarah has been a fitness instructor since 1998, and has a variety of specialties including LES MILLS BODYPUMP, LES MILLS GRIT, indoor cycling, water workout, and kickboxing. She is also a certified personal trainer. Sarah enjoys teaching participants how to take charge of their health and believes education is key, stressing the why and how of each exercise during her classes. She believes that learning what your limits are and how to push past them not only gets results, but helps you to discover what you are truly capable of. Sarah discovered her passion for fitness in college and has now completed numerous marathons and triathlons.
Noele Sutherland
Classes: Yoga, Barre
Noele has been leading Power and Strength yoga and barre classes for close to a decade at the Park District. Her classes are challenging, but the modifications make them great for all levels. With her background in music, her playlists always add an element of excitement. She is currently a behavioral neuroscience student and loves to incorporate vibrational nervous system reset sound baths at the end of her yoga classes.
Pam Berk
Classes: NIA
Five years ago, Pamela Berk retired from the Chicago Public School System after teaching for 26 years. Wondering what to do with the rest of her life, she decided to share the joy of Nia. Nia is a grounded, barefoot dance movement technique, incorporating the martial arts, while listening to heart-stirring music. The best part is the “free dance” portion, where you can lose yourself in the music. This is where participants are likely to find their spirit, their “authentic” self, and perhaps allow self-healing to occur. Pamela is currently a Brown Belt Instructor in the western suburbs and feels privileged to have the opportunity to help students to find this unique relationship with their bodies. Sensory awareness is sharpened, as well as accessing and directing the flow of energy. Nia’s 52 movements will increase your strength, stability, and mobility, while providing participants with a safe cardio workout.
Ashley Christensen
Classes: Yoga
Ashley Christensen took her first yoga class during her freshman year of college, over 20 years ago. Since then, she’s taken thousands of classes as a student and attended four yoga retreats around the world. Ashley received her 200-hour yoga teaching certificate from YogaWorks in Costa Mesa, California in 2012 and has been teaching at the Park District since 2019. Both her teaching and personal practice focus on gentle, mindful movements. Her classes incorporate restorative elements, as well as grounding and meditation.
Toccarra Daniel
Classes: Zumba
Grace Doi
Classes: Cycle, Bodypump
Grace Doi began her journey into fitness almost 10 years ago, when she moved to the Northern California area from Chicago. Although the weather was nicer, nothing in her area compared to running along the lakefront. In order to keep her adrenaline going and heart rate up, she became addicted to group cycle classes. After a few months of attending every class she possibly could, an instructor approached her to see if she wanted to become a group fitness instructor and the rest is history. Knowing that there is more to a workout than cardio, her pursuit for a more balanced fitness program led her to Les Mills BODYPUMP in 2010. She loves Les Mills’ focus on proper technique, motivation through music, and a workout experience that is truly addictive! She recently moved back to the Midwest and is excited to continue her group fitness journey in this new setting.
Brenda Guido
Classes: Cycle, Low impact, Strength & Conditioning
Brenda Guido is a dedicated fitness instructor who discovered her passion for indoor cycling and group fitness during the pandemic. Embracing the challenges of personal growth, she pushed through her own fitness journey and eventually became an instructor. Brenda believes fitness should be inclusive and enjoyable, and she now leads upbeat spin classes and low-impact, full-body strength sessions. With dynamic workouts and motivational coaching, Brenda invites you to join her on the ride toward your fitness goals in a supportive, energetic environment.
Helen Lee
Classes: Pilates, yoga, Zumba, Barre, Bootcamp
Helen is an all-rounder, teaching various formats. As we have different muscles and bones, each exercise is designed to drill a certain purpose such as power, resilience, flexibility or strength. Helen is a long time realtor and group fitness instructor serving the Oak Park community. Try her Pilates, Yoga, Zumba, Body Work and Abs, Silver Sneakers, or Barre classes!
Brighid O’Shaughnessy
Classes: NIA
Brighid discovered Nia 20 years ago, fell in love with the practice immediately, and has been dancing ever since. She is a Blue Belt Certified Instructor, with additional certifications in Nia Moving to Heal and the 5 Stages of Healing. Students describe her classes as “joyful, fun, affirming, soulful, and inspiring” and they appreciate the uplifting way Brighid builds confidence, connection, and community among participants. When not teaching Nia, Brighid enjoys spending her time as a Social Worker and Restorative Practices Coach in schools throughout the Chicagoland area. She is currently writing a book with Lived Places Press featuring the true stories of adoptive families accompanied by live theatrical pieces on the same topic.
Nathalie Witt-Deutsch
Classes: Bodypump
Nathalie has enjoyed being active by playing sports, such as softball, at an early age. She frequently runs in races and fun runs in the Chicagoland area as well as running around her Oak Park neighborhood. Nathalie found herself in a Les Mills BODYPUMP™ class in July 2014 at the Park District and overcame her fears, deciding to make the jump to become certified. She has been a certified Les Mills BODYPUMP™ Instructor since May 2016 and continues to learn and grow while sharing her love and passion for this workout format. When she is not teaching classes, Nathalie works full-time as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst developing ABA programs for children and young adults with autism. She loves to spend time with her family, especially traveling and being outdoors.
