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PEOPLE

Meet Our Team of

professıonals

Sergio

Sergio

Muñoz

Fitness Director
“I started my journey to fitness at the age of 12 practicing Martial Arts and gymnastics and competing in my first national Karate tournament at the age of 13 and becoming a Karate instructor at the age of 15.”
Born in Chile, Sergio immigrated to the USA to attend college. Sergio has worked as a personal trainer for 13 years. His National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) Certifications include: Master Elite Certified Personal Trainer, Fitness Nutrition Specialist, Neuromuscular Stretching, and Optimal Performance Training for Seniors, Youth and Prenatal Clients. His other certifications include: FMS Functional Movement Screen, DeFranco “CPPS” Certified Physical Preparation Specialist, Activated Isolated Stretching: The Mattes Method, Erick Dalton Myoskeletal Alignment Techniques, and TRX Suspension Training. While living in California Sergio was an avid athlete, he passionately practiced martial arts and enjoyed outdoor activities such as mountain biking, rock climbing and rollerblading. He has devoted his life to fitness. He is also bi-lingual English and Spanish.
National Karate Champion, Chile Trained with the Head Coach of the USA Olympic Tae Kwon Do Team B.A. University of California, Davis: Psychology & Communications
Catherine

Catherine

Walsh

Personal Trainer
“Eat healthy, stay active, & enjoy life.”
Catherine’s passion for sports and exercise inspired her to pursue an education in the health and fitness field. As a Certified Personal Trainer her motivational skill and enthusiasm allows her clients to achieve their fitness goals with speed and ease. She helps them focus on creating and maintaining a healthy lifestyle with the perfect balance of diet and exercise.
NASM Certified Certified Personal Trainer Corrective Exercise Specialist Specializations: Fitness Nutrition, Weight Loss, Senior Fitness Instructor/Trainer of TRX Suspension, Sandbag Functional Training, Silversneaker, and Synergy 360′
Lindsay

Lindsay

Hiebert

Personal Trainer
“I love the name of this gym; Mindful Activity. Knowing WHY you’re doing a certain movement and creating goals that are specific to you is essential when starting a fitness routine.”
Lindsay went to school for Kinesiology with a focus in exercise science. During her time in school, she was the first girl to join the URI Powerlifting Team where she competed in a USAPL meet. She was a board member of a body positivity/eating disorder awareness group, and started a Ladies Lift class at URI where she taught barbell basics, which she now teaches at Yale SOM. Throughout her career, Lindsay has developed her own style of coaching by blending foundational strength training with yoga and pilates. As a former ice hockey player, she believes that strength and agility are imperative to improving quality of life. It’s one thing to be strong, but it’s another thing to be FLEXIBLE and STRONG. Lindsay teaches balance for increased body awareness and core work for better posture and stability, all with the purpose of injury prevention and improved activities of daily living. Whether you’re a runner who needs cross training, someone who wants to learn how to correctly use free weights, or an experienced lifter who wants to work on mobility, Lindsay is always enthusiastic to help. She recently received her Yoga Teacher Training certification in order to bring the authenticity of the yoga tradition to her clients. To better your physical body, you must also find connection with your breath and your state of mind.
B.S. Kinesiology- University of Rhode Island NASM - Certified Personal Trainer/ NASM- Corrective Exercise Specialist Active Isolated Stretching- Aaron Mattes Certification Pre/PostNatal Performance Training Specialist
Andrew

Andrew

Fisher

Personal Trainer
My motto is “Show up, listen and work hard” or “do crunches, not munches.” I also believe training should be fun and functional.
Andrew Fisher has been in the Health and Fitness Industry for over 30 years. He brings with him a wealth of knowledge based on his experience, which helps in providing a multidisciplinary approach to his training beliefs. Andrew has taught High and Elementary School Physical Education and has also coached varied major sports in Jamaica. When he migrated he joined the U.S. Army where he got certified as an E.M.T and a Licensed Practical Nurse. Andrew has also worked in a physical therapy rehabilitation setting where he gained a wealth of experience helping clients get back to their daily activities. Andrew currently holds certifications as an A.C.E. Personal Trainer, Medical Exercise, Health Coach, Performance Coach by the I.M.G. Academy, and N.A.S.M Corrective exercise Certified.
ACE Personal Trainer Certified, NASM Corrective exercise certified.
Kevin

Kevin

Kim

Personal Trainer
Live life strong and pain-free.
Kevin has a B.S. in Kinesiology, Exercise Science. He has over 6 years of training experience with a wide range of clients and training styles, from athletes and seniors to strength training (Olympic weightlifting & powerlifting), injury rehabilitation & prevention, and cardiac rehabilitation. Though he remains versatile, Kevin does maintain specialization in strength training—it doesn’t matter if you’re 10 or 80 years old, he can guide you to use free weights and barbells to increase physical strength and improve health. In his experience, an improvement in strength is an improvement in daily life, especially in the senior population. He approaches training methodically & scientifically with your goals in mind. In his free time, you’ll find him Olympic weightlifting or hanging out with his 13-year-old Yorkie.
B.S. in Kinesiology, Exercise Science
Kevin

Kevin

Mangini

Personal Trainer
“Strength doesn’t come from what you can do, it comes from overcoming the things you once thought you couldn’t do.”
Kevin has been a National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) Certified Personal Trainer for the last nine years. He has an extensive background in designing programs for clients in pre- and post-rehabilitation programs, general strength/cardio conditioning, body fat reduction, and hypertrophy training exercise programs. Kevin has worked with a wide range of clients from the youth to the elderly, from adaptive sports disabled athletes to individuals with chronic diseases and injuries. He also has experience in teaching exercise boot camps for individuals of all fitness levels. Kevin is a big believer that exercise should be fun, and not just a daily requirement in one’s life. He believes there is no “one size fits all exercise program,” but there is an exercise program that can be customized for any individual to achieve his/her exercise goals regardless of his/her current fitness level.
NASM Certified Personal Trainer NASM Corrective Exercise Specialist NASM Golf Fitness Specialist NASM Youth Fitness Specialist B.S. Southern Connecticut State University
Nina

Nina

Kischkum

Personal Trainer
"You have to think about it before you can do it".
Nina’s love for an active lifestyle started at age 2 when she was enrolled in dance classes. She spent 16 years competitively dancing and when she went off to college she needed a new hobby. She quickly fell in love and developed a passion for weight lifting and becoming her best self inside and out. Before she knew it, her love for fitness bloomed into a desire to help others feel the same way. She is currently continuing her education for her degree Occupation Therapy which goes hand-in-hand with her holistic approach to fitness. Nina focuses on the body AND the mind, knowing that mental health is just as important as physical health. Along with working one-on-one with clients, Nina loves teaching turf classes as another way to make exercise enjoyable!
NASM Certified Personal Trainer NASM Balance Training Certified B.S. in Health Science Studies, Psychology Quinnipiac University
Erica

Erica

Personal Trainer
It’s never too late to reinvent yourself!!! Let’s go!!
Erica is new to the fitness trainer world. Erica has a Masters in Social Work and has been a Social Worker for the past 25 years. Erica stumbled into fitness training while striving to learn more about her own individual goals after sending her kids off to college. Erica received her Certificate in Personal Training from International Fitness Professionals Association (IFPA) and is currently working on a second CPT certification and Nutrition Counseling via NASM. She is also spin certified via Mad Dogg. Erica has a background in high school and collegiate sports and was captain in both arenas. Therefore, she loves motivating others. Given Erica’s personal journey to reach her goals, she firmly believes that each person’s fitness journey is unique, and her goal is to empower individuals to reach their full potential even if they think it’s too late.
Personal Training (IFPA), currently pursuing CPT certification and Nutrition Counseling via NASM.
Colby

Colby

Group Fitness Instructor
Colby found yoga through her own search for peace and personal healing. After completing her 200 hour RYT in 2021, she feels it is her duty and privilege to guide others through their own journey of exploration between mind and body. Her style is intuitive, creative, and not without challenge. She encourages curiosity in her students both on and off the mat, and invites them to always leave space for a deep breath, a gentle stretch, or a moment of silence. She believes that if everyone were able to find a little more joy through movement, the world just might be a better place.
 Sarah

Sarah

Group Fitness Instructor
Guiding people to a healthy and active lifestyle has been my passion for over 20 years. I mostly enjoy seeing my attendees get stronger, longer and leaner. My methods are simple, classical and easy to follow. With me, you will improve your flexibility, balance, toning, strength & conditioning. All levels and abilities are welcome in my classes. Join me as we get stronger together. AFAA Group Fitness Certified. Les Mills BodyPump Certified, Keiser & Schwinn Cycle Certified, Barre Above and Mat Pilates Certified. Aside from teaching group fitness, I enjoy cycling, running, paddleboarding and relaxing with a good book. I have a Master of Science in Urban Studies from SCSU and I am a CT Notary Public.
Alyssa

Alyssa

Group Fitness Instructor
Alyssa is a 500hr Registered Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance. She completed her 200hr Living Yoga Teacher Training with Breathing Room Yoga Center of New Haven in 2017. She then went on to continue her studies with Inner Peace Yoga Therapy School, based in Colorado and completed her 300hr Foundations in Yoga Therapy training in 2019. She is on the path to being a certified Yoga Therapist. She teaches a wide age range and is mindful of making these practices accessible to all beings. Her style is invitational and supportive as she guide you in exploring multiple layers of being, also known as the koshas. Through yogic practices that cultivate embodiment, connection, & expansion, Alyssa strives to empower you on your wellness journey.”
 Vanessa

Vanessa

Group Fitness Instructor
Vanessa is a New Haven native and started practicing yoga over 20 years ago as a teenager in Connecticut. After 10 years of regular practice, she took her first Vinyasa teacher training with Sonic Yoga NYC under the lineage of Shiva Rea. Since then she has completed over 800 hours of training with Modo Yoga International and teaches multiple styles including Hatha and Yin. In the yoga room, she strives to create an environment for self discovery and challenges students to find the edges of their practice and turn inward to find their own truth. Vanessa has a history as a singer: sometimes she'll bring her singing experience into class by incorporating mantra chanting as well as breath work.
Shravani

Shravani

Group Fitness Instructor
Shravani is a PhD candidate at Yale University, studying biophysics and biochemistry. She is an avid bollywood dancer with roots in classical Indian dance, and has been teaching dance classes for eight years. She loves all things fitness and spending time with her pet parrot.
 Erin

Erin

Group Fitness Instructor
Erin started her group fitness journey back in 2004 after taking her first Body Pump class. She unexpectedly fell in love with the powerful music and the effectiveness of the workout and a few years later became a certified LesMills Body Pump and Body Attack instructor. Being a former dancer, she also enjoys her creative side by teaching free style step aerobics. She continues to enjoy sharing her passion for fitness with her family and members throughout the community. When Erin isn't teaching or working, she enjoys spending all of her free time with her husband, children, and dogs soaking up all the time she can with them. Erin encourages everyone to try every class at least once because you never know what class you will unexpectedly fall in love with:-)
Heather

Heather

Group Fitness Instructor
Heather is a Yoga Alliance certified yoga teacher, Barre Above instructor, breathwork and meditation facilitator, and vegan beauty advocate. She received her training in 2005 at Atmananda in New York City and New Paltz, NY and is schooled in Iyengar, Hatha, Vinyasa and Ayurvedic lifestyle. She studied anatomy and yoga philosophy at Penn State University. With over fifteen years of yoga experience, she continues to study and is deeply honored to guide and facilitate others through their own unique yoga and meditation journey. The yoga practice she teaches combines the athleticism and physicality of a strong, breath-focused vinyasa flow, along with the powerful mental benefits of mindfulness and introspection. Expect rhythmic flows to challenge your balance, strength, and flexibility while encouraging you to feel at ease in your mind and ignited in your soul. Heather encourages you to find your edge on the mat, discover your true intention, and practice with gratitude and an open loving heart. Pennsylvania University, B.A. Speech Communications Yoga Alliance RYS 200-hour Certification Barre Above Prime Instructor Certification
Rob

Rob

Group Fitness Instructor
I have been a Kickboxing Instructor for 16 years. I also teach Les Mills BodyCombat, Indoor Cycling and Total Body Conditioning In my spare time, I like to make Diaramas for action figures and love spending time with my Rottweiler. The best thing about teaching Group Fitness, is that you get to torture people and get paid for it (in the best way, of course!)
Pauli

Pauli

Group Fitness Instructor
For over 20 years I have been working with individuals privately, coaching teams, teaching soon to be instructors, or guiding group fitness classes. My fitness and wellness experiences provide a blend of unique and engaging classes, but more importantly these offerings allow you to challenge yourself and succeed! Either in a group setting or one on one, I offer yoga beyond the physical movements. Together we sprinkle the seeds of kindness, acceptance, compassion and love during your asana, breath and meditative practice. I am honored to share our path of wellness and discovery together. So how did I arrive here? It began locally at Yale, then to the west coast, over into India and back here in the states. Earning my 200 HR RYT from the Breathing Room and my 500 HR RYT from the Himalayan Institute. BUT enough about me and my teaching style. More importantly, when shall we meetup at mActivity?
Liz

Liz

Group Fitness Instructor
Liz started Spinning almost 20 years ago and began teaching in 2005. She expanded her knowledge of group fitness and added AFAA certifications in BOSU, Pilates, Senior fitness, and indoor cycling; Reebok indoor cycling; and an AFTA personal training certification. She became very interested in nutrition’s role in her own health, and returned to school to complete a degree in Nutrition (in addition to a B.S. and M.S. in Communications). Liz also achieved her goal of competing in a fitness competition before her 30th birthday — and then a couple more times in her thirties. When Liz isn’t Spinning, she’s lifting. When Liz isn’t at the gym, she enjoys spending time with her dog, volunteering for Bully Breed Rescue and Ruff n’ Scratchy, traveling anywhere warm, and adding to her collection of (way too many) shoes.
Latoya

Latoya

Group Fitness Instructor
Latoya has been teaching Group Fitness for 21 years and has loved every moment of it! She is certified in the following formats: Affa Group X, ACSM PT, Zumba, Silver Sneakers, Power Pilates, and Madd Dogg Spinning. Latoya loves to teach Circuit Classes, Bootcamp, Power Fusion, Barre, Pilates, and Zumba and brings her energy and enthusiasm into each and every workout.
Andrea

Andrea

Group Fitness Instructor
Andrea believes strongly in a practice that is healthy for the body, with an emphasis on correct alignment. Her goal is to have students get to know themselves better through their yoga practice, and to find joy in movement and building strength. Andrea believes that when we feel strong in our bodies, we can find strength in other areas of our lives. Andrea is certified through Fresh Yoga and is certified to teach yoga to children. She volunteers at Yale-New Haven Hospital where she teaches yoga to children and their caregivers in the Pediatric Oncology Department. Andrea also holds a B.F.A. in studio art, and her background in the fine arts and love of creativity comes across in her use of sequencing.
Matt

Matt

Group Fitness Instructor
Matt has been a Certified Personal & Group Fitness Trainer since 2013, specializing in HIIT, Total-Body Strength & Conditioning and Weight Loss. Matt has been able to showcase his unique talents, personality and passion for empowering others to the most discerning of fitness clientele. Matt takes pride in creating and programming the ultimate workout experience. From developing the exercises, customizing the music, to making sure his classes are safe and challenging, with modifications for everyone, he thrives on creating the best possible workouts for all fitness levels.
Mario

Mario

Group Fitness Instructor
Mario strives to ensure that no one ever feels out of place and can easily achieve his or her dreams with determination, hard work, and a little sweat. He is not just a Spinning Instructor and a Trainer; he is a mentor and motivator. Nothing gives him more satisfaction than knowing his class participants have succeeded and striving to deliver the best service in this industry. Mario is CPR/Medic First Certified and holds certifications in multiple areas of fitness including AAAI/ISMA Master Personal Trainer, Wellness Coach, Kids & Teens Instructor, Reactive and Keiser Indoor Cycling. He is happily married to his wife Angelica, with whom he is blessed to share his love of life, health, and fitness. He is a Father of 9 kids and a Grandfather of 24 and a Great Grandfather of 3.
Richard

Richard

Group Fitness Instructor
Rich is a Tai chi Ch'uan National Gold Medal winner and has been practicing Tai Chi for more than 40 years. "I hope my students take home the tools necessary for life well lived. To notice our interconnectedness, and what is going on on the inside. The only rules in my class are to not bring politics or competition because Tai Chi is accessible for all bodies and levels, it's a whole other realm of meditation."
Jessica

Jessica

Group Fitness Instructor
Group fitness instructor for over three years. Specializing in kickboxing, HIIT Bootcamp classes and weight training. In addition, Jessica is in the process of receiving her personal training certification from NASM. Jessica has a joy seeing others feel great about themselves after a tough workout. Is a strong believer in keeping variation in your workouts to keep it fun and get the results you want and need. Here to motivate, inspire and truly help individuals become their best selves. Outside of teaching fitness Jessica is going back to school for her masters in Therapeutic Recreation and has a passion for helping others.
Stephanie

Stephanie

Group Fitness Instructor
In 2014, a new format called High Fitness was born back west by two amazing women who brought back aerobics and made it modern. While attending Brigham Young University in Utah, Stephanie realized she loves group fitness and took various classes. After attending a High Fitness class, she was hooked! It combined all her favorite parts of other fitness classes into one amazing workout. This highly popular class back west is not yet widely known here and thus, after moving to New Haven for her husband to attend Yale, she certified in High Fitness Fall 2020 and is sharing her fitness passion with the mActivity community. High Fitness is a fun, high-energy workout with great physical results, but it is also so much more! It’s a group where everyone belongs, everyone is welcome, you come as you are right now. The focus is on how you feel, you leave the class feeling HIGH, feeling empowered, feeling an emotional weight lifted. That self-empowerment influences all aspects of life. Stephanie is here to spread this message and help others rise up to be their best selves. So come get HIGH with Stephanie and see what this new fitness craze is all about!
Andy

Andy

Group Fitness Instructor
Andrew has been a certified SPIN/ Studio Cycle instructor. He is an avid road and mountain cyclist and incorporates many of these techniques and experiences into his class formats. He has been leading classes since 1996. He currently leads 15 classes per week. Andrew is an avid Road and Mountain cyclist. He also co-leads and marshals numerous outdoor group rides throughout the year.
Amanda

Amanda

Group Fitness Instructor
Born in South Africa, Amanda arrived in CT in 1998, where thanks to the encouragement the Group Fitness Director at Bally Total Fitness, she became certified to teach Group Fitness. Amanda eventually took on the Director position herself along with the challenge of running the program for Bally Total Fitness in Hamden and Stratford. In 2007, she and Sally opened their own Studio in New Haven where they taught Group Fitness and Pilates Reformer Classes. At present, Amanda owns her own Pilates Reformer Studio and is thrilled to be teaching Group Fitness at mActivity. She loves being part of the Fitness Journey of mActivity Members!
Alexzander

Alexzander

Group Fitness Instructor
Alex is a National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) Certified Personal Trainer (CPT), in addition to holding specializations in women’s fitness (WFS) and fitness nutrition (FNS). Alex is an accomplished marathon runner and member of both the Marathon Maniacs, Half Fanatics and Shoreline Sharks running clubs. Alex’s fitness journey has led him to work as a personal trainer and group exercise instructor at New Haven Fitness from 2012-2014 and at the Elm City YMCA from 2015-2018. Alex’s favorite exercises include sprint intervals, p-90x, TRX training and the bench press. Alex has run everything from 5k’s up to the 200 Mile Yale to Harvard Ragnar Relay, and looks forward to bringing his knowledge of marathon training and exercise science to the facility.
Laura

Laura

Group Fitness Instructor
Laura is a trained classical pianist and an ACE certified group fitness instructor. She works both as faculty at Neighborhood Music School (NMS) in New Haven and as a freelance artist. At NMS she is administrator and an instructor of the Dancing with Parkinson’s program. Laura is avidly interested in the connection between music and movement as it relates to health of mind and body. With a background in dance and extensive experience in the fitness industry, she has trained and taught in numerous formats. In her musical pursuits, she strives to develop a healthy, tension-free approach to allow successful, enjoyable music-making for a lifetime. In her fitness/dance pursuits, she is dedicated to helping people discover the thrill of good health through movement that is safe, effective, creative, and fun.
Lisa

Lisa

Group Fitness Instructor
In 1996 Lisa started her fitness journey at a local gym and was hooked right away. While taking group fitness for three years, she was approached by one of the instructors telling her that she has what it takes to become an instructor. Four years later, she decided to start the journey to become a group fitness instructor. Over the years, Lisa has received multiple certifications and worked at local gyms. She has taught Step, Kickboxing, Boot camp, Strength, Indoor cycling, Body Pump, Zumba, Zumba Gold, Seniors & Silver Sneakers. She enjoys motivating, encouraging large groups, small groups, and individuals and helping them make fitness a part of their lives.

Our Founders

Burch Valldejuli
Co-Founder

Burch Valldejuli

“Imagine an inviting space to steward and enrich your physical health…That’s mActivity”

Born and raised in greater New Haven, Burch comes to mActivity from a 30+ year career in research and research administration, most recently as the Director of Program Development at the Yale School of Public Health. She is committed to improving both individual and community health. She is an avid cyclist and loves hiking and paddling with her family in the woods of Upper Peninsula Michigan.

Hopkins School, New Haven CT
B.A. Psychology and Women’s Studies, Goucher College
Ed.M. Counseling and Consulting Psychology, Harvard Graduate School of Education

Pablo Perez
Co-Founder

Pablo Perez

“My passion is to deliver an exceptional experience for our members.”

Pablo lives in New Haven with his wife and daughter. He comes to mActivity with 10 years’ experience in the fitness industry as the owner of Core Fitness. His background also includes working in sales for Aetna, IKON office solutions, and as a paraprofessional for Urban Youth Elementary in New Haven. He earned a Business Degree at the University of Connecticut where he was an All-American rugby player. He spent years playing for teams in San Diego, New York, New Zealand and New Haven.

Notre Dame HS, West Haven
University of Connecticut, Business