Mayeisha Parker
Artistic Director & Instructor
Elba Rivera
Instructor
I have been working as an instructor since 2006. I am an AFAA certified personal trainer, and I am certified to teach Zumba, Sh’Bam, Body Pump, Insanity, CXWORX, and Silver Sneakers.
I love to help people feel better about themselves both mentally and physically. I especially enjoy working with people struggling with health problems and physical limitations. The sense of accomplishment I receive is truly fulfilling, and gives me the energy and strength I need in order to perform at the level my clients deserve.
Carolynn Williams
Instructor
Julie Heintz
Instructor
Julie was trained in dance at Michelle Buschner School of Dance in Rochester, New York where she studied Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical and Modern Dance. Julie was selected to join a Senior Ensemble dance group at the age of thirteen and enjoyed competing both locally and regionally. During her high school years, Julie began teaching dance and her first fitness class, “Ballet Barre Fitness.” She moved to Virginia in 1982 and continued to teach dance and fitness classes for many years. Julie has been certified by AFAA and NDEITA (currently NETA), Kettlebell AMPD, Barre Above, Zumba and has taught a wide range of classes including Step, Body Sculpting, Strength & Tone, Interval Training, and Adult Tap. She was hired by Nike to perform demo fitness routines in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington D.C. to help promote Nike fitness attire. After taking an absence from instructing to raise her family and start a business career, Julie is excited to be teaching again and to be a part of the MFA Team!!
Elena Sutphin
Yoga Instructor
Yoga has been a part of Elena’s life for over 20 years, helping her grow stronger, more flexible and fearless, both on and off the mat. She started practicing Kundalini Yoga at the University of Alaska from which she graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Public Communications. With passion in human movement and health, Elena became a Certified Personal Trainer by American Council on Exercise (ACE) and a Certified Nutritionist by Australasian College of Natural Therapies in Sydney, Australia. Elena continued to practice Yoga, work as a Personal Trainer and writer with over 2000 health and fitness-related articles published in various magazines and web-sites in Australia.
Being a lifelong learner, Elena has an extensive background in physical therapy, anatomy, movement science, nutrition education and holistic practices. She received Yoga Teacher Training certification at Yoga International in Bali, Indonesia in 2014 and Physical Therapist Assistant license in 2019.
Elena will always be a student of the practice and is deeply grateful for the loving wisdom her teachers have shared. Her classes offer creative sequences with intentional themes, emphasizing the importance of proper alignment, pranayama breathing techniques, and mindfulness. Modification and advanced options are made available for new students and experienced yogis so that all can reach their potential. She is honored to teach yoga, helping to bring balance, awareness, health, and happiness into other's lives. Yoga inspires her to live each moment more mindfully. Elena is a world traveler. She enjoys cooking, hiking, swimming, biking, lifting weights, and listening to audio books and podcasts.
Merrill Simpson
Instructor
Merrill has been a certified Group Fitness and Personal Trainer for over 20 years. Her passion is creating a community of motivated and inspiring individuals pushing each other towards their best selves. And all of that while grooving to a great soundtrack!!! Merrill Simpson has a PhD from Columbia University in Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics. She also holds a Masters in Human Nutrition from Columbia and taught Advanced Biochemistry at Columbia Teachers College following her post-grad work. Merrill’s hobbies include triathlons, reading, hiking, piano, knitting, baking, cards and time with her family.
Suzanne Amoruso
Registered Dietitian/Wellness Coordinator
Suzanne is a Board Certified Dietitian and Wellness Coach. She has been practicing as a dietitian for over 20 years. She is a resident of Locust Grove for 24 years and resides here with her husband. She has 3 grown children and one new precious grandson.
Suzanne has a BS degree in nutrition from the State University of New York at Plattsburgh, and she received her certification as a diabetes educator in Virginia in 2003. She specializes in diabetes education, weight loss, GI issues. More recently Suzanne has a special interest in integrative nutrition and functional foods/medicine. “Helping people heal from the inside out; getting to the root cause of your issue”.
After researching more about the gut microbiome, she began to incorporate and recommend more whole food nutrition to her patients.
In 2020 Suzanne started a private practice, Nutrition For You. She serves patients in Fredericksburg, Culpeper, and Locust Grove. She is also a wellness coach for the Juice Plus company; helping people understand the importance of getting more whole food nutrition and fruits and vegetables into their diet. This is a great way to “bridge that gap” of what we should be eating everyday.
Suzanne enjoys staying active playing pickleball, hiking, working out on a daily basis. She also enjoys making new healthy recipes following a plant based diet
Don’t forget the acronym below:
M.I.S.S. Move, Increase water, Sleep, Stress management
Taylor Elhourch
Instructor