Fitness Instructors

DELANA

What classes do you teach at Trout Creek Rec Center?
Spinning, SkiFIT & Conditioning

How long have you been teaching?
I entered the fitness industry in 1997.

Any special certifications?
I have taught and held many certifications. Schwinn indoor cycling, yoga, personal training and group fitness are still current. In the past, I also held an aqua certification and Pilates certification, but maintaining all of them is a lot, especially when they are not your primary classes.

Why did you decide to start teaching fitness classes?
I had danced my whole life and have a BFA in Music/Theatre. While working as a stage actor and traveling, having to earn a living between theatre jobs, working in fitness was a good fit. I have a lot of energy and love teaching, so it is a perfect way to channel my outgoing nature.

When did you move to the Truckee/Tahoe Area?
We moved here in the summer of 2019 from New Jersey. As a family, we wanted a more outdoorsy lifestyle, and my two boys were young enough to still “up and move” across the country. We have not looked back and absolutely love our life.

What is your favorite activity in the Truckee/Tahoe Area?
Wow, that is a tough one. We came to have the opportunity to ski as much as we wanted. I love to hike, spend time in the lakes, camp, watch my kids play sports, ride my e-bike, socialize and continue my yoga practice. I feel blessed every day to live in paradise.

EMILY S.

What classes do you teach at Trout Creek Rec Center?
Zumba®, Zumba® with Strength and Cardio Kick.

How long have you been teaching?
I have been teaching fitness and dance classes in Truckee/Tahoe and Reno since 2006.

Any special certifications?
Zumba Instructor ZIN License since 2014. American Sports and Fitness Association (ASFA) Dance Fitness and Aerobics Certification Jazzercise Instructor/Franchise 2006-2015.

Why did you decide to start teaching fitness classes?
It was a natural progression after a lifetime of dance and performing throughout college and then professionally for many years. Teaching group classes with fun people never feels like “work.” It’s great to look forward to working out!

When did you move to the Truckee/Tahoe Area?
My husband and I moved here from flat Florida in 1994.

What is your favorite activity in the Truckee/Tahoe Area?
It’s hard to pick one activity with so many options here. I’d have to say my happy place is backpacking in the Sierra in the summer and backcountry skiing in the winter. We are so lucky to live in such an outdoor playground.

EMILY W.

What classes do you teach at Trout Creek Rec Center?
Healing Flow Yoga.

How long have you been teaching & any special certifications?
Emily has been teaching yoga since 2003 and loves to share both the mental and physical benefits of this practice with all of you. With her gentle and loving spirit, you wouldn’t know that she was a world class athlete for many years of her life. Emily has had a healing space in the area for 20 years and offers bodywork, massage, sound healing, yoga, and Tantra. More info on: www.summitlotus@gmail.com

Why did you decide to start teaching fitness classes?
Her strong passion for supporting her students in the same shines in her classes.

When did you move to the Truckee/Tahoe Area & what are your favorite activity in the Truckee/Tahoe Area?
Emily enjoys the outdoors of Tahoe fully and appreciates how yoga compliments our recovery time and overall well being.

IVAZINA

What classes do you teach at Trout Creek Rec Center?
Power Core, TRX, Strength & Core and Water Aerobics.

How long have you been teaching?
I have been teaching fitness classes for 30 years. I started at Northwoods Clubhouse before the Trout Creek Rec Center was open.

Any special certifications?
I have Aqua classes, TRX, Group Fitness and XC skiing certifications. Also, I have a master’s degree in Physical Education.

Why did you decide to start teaching fitness classes?
I started teaching classes to help others have at much fun as me in staying fit.

When did you move to the Truckee/Tahoe Area?
I moved to the area in 1991.

What is your favorite activity in the Truckee/Tahoe Area?
My favorite activities are many! Hiking, Nordic skiing – almost anything outside!

JENNIE

What classes do you teach at Trout Creek Rec Center?
Gentla Yoga for Mobility, Yin Yoga & Vinyasa Yoga.

How long have you been teaching & any special certifications?
A dedicated educator, Jennie Pitts Knipe has taught creative movement, dance and yoga classes throughout the western states and abroad for over two decades. She earned her MFA in Dance from the University of Colorado and completed her yoga instructor training at the Shambhava Yoga Konalani Ashram in 2004. She has been teaching at the Trout Creek Recreation Center since 2013.

Why did you decide to start teaching fitness classes?
Her classes are rhythmic and heart-opening with attention to alignment and healthy body use. Along with teaching weekly yoga and dance classes, she also facilitates wellness & creativity retreats and choreographs for organizations such as Trails & Vistas and the Downtown Dance Collective. Equal parts dancer and yogi, Jennie is inspired by how humans relate to one another through movement and is constantly looking to cultivate joy, humor and healing in both her art and in her classroom.

When did you move to the Truckee/Tahoe Area & what are your favorite activity in the Truckee/Tahoe Area?
Jennie has lived in Tahoe Donner since 2007 and loves to throw dance parties, bake, hike, swim and paddleboard with her husband, her son and their dog, Nui.

KAREN

What classes do you teach at Trout Creek Rec Center?
Spin.

A little about me.
Fitness is Karen’s way of life!  Karen has been teaching group fitness for 25 years and has been a Trout Creek staff instructor since 2005.  She is passionate that group fitness is for EVERYONE regardless or ability or fitness level.  Her teaching focuses on celebrating our abilities not our limitations. The mind, body, and heart connection in fitness inspires Karen to encourage participants to safely challenge themselves physically to become their best selves.  Karen is also an ISSA Certified Fitness Trainer and Specialist in Exercise Therapy and a Health Coach Institute Certified Life and Wellness Coach.  

ISSA Certified Fitness Trainer , ISSA Specialist in Exercise Therapy , ASFA Certified Group Cycling Instructor , ASFA Group Fitness Instructor, BOSU Certified Instructor  and TRX Qualified Instructor.

Karen is a mountain biker, cyclist, runner, hiker, nordic and alpine skier, backpacker and mom and stepmom to three daughters, Zoë, Jorja and Reese.

KIM

What classes do you teach at Trout Creek Rec Center?
Spin.

How long have you been teaching?
With 20 years of experience in the fitness industry, Kim has instructed cycling, indoor/outdoor boot camp and various Group X classes as well as road and off-road triathlon and mountain bike coaching.

Why did you decide to start teaching fitness classes?
Kim got her start in fitness instruction after being heavily involved with four Team-In-Training fundraising endurance programs for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of America. Leveraging her Team-In-Training mentoring experience, she used her love of athletics and coaching talents to continue making a positive impact on her community by providing consistency and a mutual commitment to help others achieve their fitness goals.

When did you move to the Truckee/Tahoe Area?
Kim is a native of Wisconsin, moving to San Francisco after college in 1992. She eventually gravitated north to Mill Valley to start her family and moved to Truckee six years ago to find better balance and get closer access to the outdoors they love.

What is your favorite activity in the Truckee/Tahoe Area?
In her spare time, you can find Kim enjoying the outdoors mountain biking and trail running with some of her best buddies and her most loyal companion: her dog, Flannel. Kim is a huge baseball fan, following the San Francisco Giants. Kim appreciates art and well-done photography. She has a true love for music, baking, cooking and the adventure of travel. She believes that “exploring new places opens up the mind and soul!” Kim enjoys instructing, and her active lifestyle helps her keep up with her three sons –Jacob (8), Sammy (10) and Joseph (12).

SUZANNE

What classes do you teach at Trout Creek Rec Center?
Currently Vinyasa but hoping to add “yoga for runners” and possibly an “apres ski yoga” class.

Any special certifications?
Yes, RYT 200 hour

Why did you decide to start teaching fitness classes?
While training for my first 100 miler I fell in love with yoga. I thought it would be a great counter balance to running all those miles. I love working with people to help them achieve their goals wether its on the mat or on the trails.

What is your favorite activity in the Truckee/Tahoe Area?
So hard to pick one! Trail running and hiking with my puppies have to be top on the list.

Little about me.
I am a California native but recently moved to TD from a 3 year stint in Breckenridge Colorado. I’ve always been athletic but fell in love with trail running at the young age of 49. Since then I’ve completed 2 100 milers, 2 100k’s 4 50 milers and over 28 other utras. While trail running is my jam I love skiing, back country skiing and just simply being outdoors.

WENDY

How long have you been teaching & why did you decide to start teaching fitness classes?
Wendy has been teaching group fitness for more than 15 years. Her love of fitness began as a high school and collegiate track and field athlete and continued with her to include skiing and snowboarding when she moved to the Lake Tahoe-Truckee area in 2001.

Any special certifications?
She is a certified personal trainer and group fitness instructor through the American Council on Exercise and in 2015 she completed her 200-hour yoga teacher training with Yoga Alliance. She also holds a fitness specialist certificate from American River College and is a certified massage therapist. Wendy’s well-rounded knowledge of the body and physical fitness allows her to design super fun and butt-kicking workouts that maximize results. Her favorite discipline to teach is High-Intensity Interval Training – H.I.I.T. – but you may also find her yelling encouragement from the spin bike or guiding sequences in the yoga room.

What is your favorite activity in the Truckee/Tahoe Area?
When she is not exercising or teaching exercise, she is most likely hanging out with her family, chasing after her two active children (Archer, 8, and Poppy, 3) and helping her husband run their little brew pub, Donner Creek Brewing, on Deerfield Drive in Truckee.

KARI

Before becoming a local Tahoe/Truckee Realtor, Kari was a Personal Trainer for 15 years and has been teaching group fitness classes for 25 years. She has taught a variety of styles of classes over the years from indoor cycling to SUP yoga. She was Master Trainer for BOSU and the Physio ball. These days, her primary focus is strengthening and stretching the whole body using the TRX, body weight, core awareness and yoga. Kari’s extensive knowledge of injury prevention and recovery is a key attribute she brings to her classes.

MARISSA

Vinyasa & Yin Yoga

Christy

For many years, yoga has been an integral part of my life. Back issues have been relieved due to yoga and really was the main reason to incorporate it into my regular exercise routine. So in 2022, I became certified through the Alaya Yoga School at the Palisades Tahoe Yoga Studio. One of my favorite things in life is teaching and sharing my knowledge with others and I could not be more excited to be part of the Trout Creek team of awesome instructors. My class – Power Yoga – is a Vinyasa-style class that incorporates many powerful strength yoga moves. The intent is to increase both strength and flexibility. Please join me on Tuesday evenings at 5:30 or Friday mornings at 7:30AM!