LEADERSHIP TEAM

COACHES & INSTRUCTORS

Chris Dwyer

Heather Poast

Heather is an ACE certified Personal Trainer, Yoga, Health Coach and Chef. Her journey to health and wellness during her Freshman year of college. Heather’s dad passed away and that experience drove Heather to live more fully. She began running and eventually joined the cross-country team. Heather ran her first marathon one week before her college graduation from Lake Forest College. She graduated with a double major in Spanish and Environmental Studies.

In 2004, Heather’s love of the environment led her to The Midwest Culinary Institute where she could make an impact by cooking with only local and seasonal ingredients. She has a certification in Culinary Arts and an Associates degree in Pastry Arts. Heather enjoys cooking healthy, delicious and environmentally conscious meals.

To learn more about nutrition, Heather studied dietetics at the University of Cincinnati. While studying dietetics Heather decided a Yoga certification would be a great compliment to her already well rounded background. She is a 500-hour certified Yoga Instructor from Yoga Home and teaches group as well as private classes. Heather is also a certified Spin Instructor through PowerRyde.

Heather knows the importance of all aspects of a healthy lifestyle and looks forward to sharing tips on cooking and nutrition, strength building, endurance training, flexibility, meditation for stress relief and goal setting.

Katie Lehman

Katie first tried Pilates over 15 years ago after being introduced to it in high school. She used it at the time to complement her love for competitive cheerleading, as well as support in rehabilitation after an ACL injury. She continued to learn about Pilates by practicing at her mom’s Pilates studio in Kentucky on visits home from college. She immersed herself further into the practice once moving to Chicago by reconnecting to a consistent practice. Her love for the method of movement and the way she felt while doing it, paired with the ability for all bodies to access this type of physical work eventually inspired her to work toward her certification. She completed The Lab Teacher Training Program in Chicago in 2018 and began her official instructor career. 

Katie recently moved back to the area, also known as home to her, from Chicago and is excited to be welcomed into the Studio S community. When Katie is not teaching Pilates, you can find her working full time with lululemon. 

Gayle Lehman

Gayle started taking Pilates in the spring of 2004 and has never looked back. She is an enthusiastic spokesperson for the methodology--how it can mold the body and help keep individuals moving throughout the different phases of life.   

After a year as a Pilates client, in 2005 she completed the teacher training program--Mat and Reformer--at Pendleton Pilates. In 2007, Gayle opened her own studio, Pilates Connexion, in Northern Kentucky.

She continued her education through Balanced Body by completing their training modules of Mat 1, Reformer 1, 2, and 3 as well as Anatomy in 3D and later EXO Chair. Gayle has also completed Burn at the Barre and Booty Barre™ training. She has attended Balanced Body “Pilates on Tour” many times, taking classes with some of the most well-known Pilates master instructors in the country. Whenever time permits, Gayle loves taking continuing education courses to enhance the experience for her clients. She has education in many specialty areas including pre-natal, low back dysfunction and osteoporosis.

Gayle and her business partner decided to close their Pilates studio in June of 2020 but she has enjoyed taking online courses to stay current in the wonderful world of Pilates.

Rachel Fisher

Rachel has a knack for meeting people where they are as she takes them beyond their familiar edge and into a zone of self-discovery.

She started her career as a psychological scientist at the University of Chicago. There, she performed research on self-control, goal pursuit, and well-being. Her work has been published in peer-reviewed journals and featured in magazines like TIME and Fitness.

While in graduate school, Rachel picked up a part-time job coaching CrossFit. She had been a collegiate triathlete at OSU, and she was hoping that introducing strength and high intensity interval training would improve her race performance. And DID it! She went on to qualify for the Boston Marathon and has since completed over a dozen marathons and triathlons - including Ironman New Zealand.

Since breaking her training comfort zone, Rachel also decided to leave behind her familiar identity as an academic. The removed ivory towers of research institutions just couldn’t hold a candle to the fulfillment that applied coaching brought her. She walked away from the University of Chicago with an MBA from their Booth School of Business.

Since that pivot, Rachel’s been dedicated to cross-pollinating all things physical and mental health and applying what she learns to her life and her coaching.

She’s earned her Yoga Teaching certification (RYT-200) in India and her Holistic Lifestyle Coaching certification from the CHEK Institute. She’s been a founding staff member at health-centered start-ups, a speaker, and a movement coach within Fortune 500 companies, addiction recovery centers, and studios throughout the Midwest. Most recently, Rachel has started her own coaching company, The Ritual Movement. There, she supports people as they transform their habits and reclaim their health, power, and self-worth.

When she’s not coaching or picking up heavy things, you can find Rachel rock climbing, running, cooking, and singing too loudly in her car. Rachel’s thrilled and grateful to be part of the growing Studio S community!

Analaura Ponte

Analaura (AP) is a Texas native bringing her spice to Cincinnati. Her love for fitness and wellness started at a young age playing on competitive soccer teams. 

In 2016 she found her new passion: indoor cycling. That opened the door to a new world where she started to dive into the fitness community, empowering anyone she crossed paths with. 

She has coached for eight years and is an ACE Certified Personal trainer, TRX certified trainer, NASM Golf Fitness trained, and has taught boxing classes. Her personal training style focuses on resistance training with functional movements. 

Fun facts: She’s fluent in Spanish & can converse in Portuguese. When she’s not training she’s on a golf course somewhere cheering on her wife, UC Women’s Golf HC and everything Bearcats. 

Becky Katterjohn

Pilates changed Becky's life. After a L5 stress fracture Becky was forced to scale back her workouts and let her body heal. It wasn't until she stopped doing all high intensity exercise that she truly realized the benefits of Pilates.

Pilates had been a once a week, sometimes twice a week part of her fitness routine for years. Once she started doing Pilates more than twice a week she noticed an immediate change in her strength and body awareness.

She loves that Pilates not only makes us physically strong, but mentally strong as well.  The studio is one of the few places she can turn her mind off and focus completely on her breath and her movement. She wants to share that passion with others. 

Becky is comprehensively trained through BASI Pilates and has been teaching for seven years. Fun fact, Becky's love of pilates began at studio s as a client with small group training! 

When Becky is not teaching or practicing she loves spending time with her husband and children, drinking coffee, and walking her dog Smuckers. 

Tim Newcomb

Growing up playing competitive sports in Cincinnati,  Tim’s movement history has always been defined by personal hustle.

Tim started his relationship with studio s in 2015 as a private client and group class attendee. He later joined the running team (SSRT) and participated in many Flying Pig Marathon seasons. In May of 2021, with over 1200 studio classes under his belt, and an appreciation for athletic feats, he felt compelled to join the studio s family in a new capacity as group fitness instructor and ACE certified personal trainer.

He currently teaches S60 and TREADStrength classes in addition to one-on-one personal training. His sense of humor, social personality and love of challenge can be felt in every class.

Tim graduated with a business degree from the University of Cincinnati and currently co-owns an EMS billing company with his family.  While not at his business or the studio, Tim rarely turns down an opportunity to golf, run outdoors or conquer the “Art Climb” at the Cincinnati Art Museum.

Sarah Nichols

Sarah grew up with fitness as a way of life. Being raised with her mom working as a Personal Trainer, she fell in love with how the body works and all things group fitness. Building on her background she sought out her own certification through National Federation of Professional Trainers (NFPT) and also currently teaches indoor cycling. Whether you're a beginner taking your first fitness strides or a seasoned pro pushing boundaries, Sarah tailors each session to fit your unique fitness level. Sarah prides herself on helping individuals unleash their full fitness potential. 

Amy Townsend

Pilates became a passion for Amy when she felt the strength, flexibility and endurance she gained from her own practice. After six years as a student of Pilates, she completed her Mat and Reformer instructor training through Prism Pilates in Cincinnati. She has been practicing yoga for over 15 years and in 2020 received her 200-hour teaching certificate through Sage Yoga. She enjoys teaching all types of clients--meeting them in their current capacities while helping them progress their practice. 

Cherie Teh

Cherie found her love of Pilates in its mind to body connection and immediately began feeling the mental and physical impact. She practiced Pilates for five years before seeking her certification. She was trained through Prism Pilates in Cincinnati. 

Originally from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Cherie is a proud dog mom and very passionate about wellness. Her goal is that clients leave her class feeling restored, empowered and coming back for more. 

Claire McKeone

Claire has always been fascinated with the intricate power of motion. She loves to test the limits of what the body can do. This passion drove her to become a Physical Therapist, helping people recover from injury and realize their full potential. Claire is FMS Level 1 Certified, and has a passion for injury prevention and freedom through movement. She is a Board Certified Specialist in Orthopedic Physical Therapy and her clinical practice is focused in youth athletes at Cincinnati Children's Hospital.

Claire, also a Pilates instructor, holds certifications from Pilates BASI Pilates and Stott Pilates across the full line of Pilates apparatus. She has known the power of Pilates through her own regular practice since middle school! Claire's unique background allows her to challenge her clients and empowers them realize their own strength. 

When Claire isn't enhancing the lives of her patients & clients, you can find her running for her own enjoyment or coaching the studio s Running Team!

Emily Morgan

Emily is an ACE certified personal trainer and has been in the business for 10 years. She is owner of Live In The Movement (www.liveinthemovement.com), a Fitness event experience designed to help you find your fitness groove and experience all the thriving Cincinnati fitness scene has to offer. She is also a newly certified Cancer Exercise Specialist. She lives in a Madeira with her husband and two young children. She is thrilled to be a part of the Studio S family.

Joni Raizk

Joni's philosophy in her own life as well as in training is that good fitness is not just a goal but a lifestyle choice. Seeing a client realize their strength and power is her greatest reward. It is to this end that Joni is persistent in understanding clients abilities to find a path to maximize their own inner power.

For 37 years, Joni has practiced and performed physical fitness. She has achieved many certifications including ACSM Certified Personal Trainer, TRX Qualified Trainer, Reformer 1 Certification, Biomechanics Specialist, ACE Group Fitness Instructor, and ACE Senior Fitness Specialist. An athlete herself, Joni pushes her own fitness limits through competitive cycling, hiking and kayaking. She knows firsthand what improving endurance and power require and looks forward to passing this knowledge on.

Ian Forsgren

Ian Timothy Forsgren is a mindful movement practitioner and performance artist. He has performed and premiered work in numerous regional productions as well as internationally. He is also an award winning filmmaker recently featured in USA Today; an award winning published photographer; instructor of nationally acclaimed DANCEFIX by HBDC; and is passionate about teaching yoga and pilates, in which he was named “Best New Fitness Instructor” by Cincinnati Magazine in 2010.

Francie Ruppert

Francie started doing Pilates Reformer as a grade schooler — tagging along with her mom. After 15 years as a client, Francie took her love for Pilates to the next level by becoming an instructor. 

She completed a Comprehensive Pilates Certification from Pilates Sports Center—which means she is certified in many different apparatuses (Reformer, Chair, Cadillac, etc.) 

Francie believes Pilates is for everyone and enjoys helping others feel its many benefits. She currently resides in Chicago but loves the studio s community so much that she plans on subbing when she’s home—frequently!

Katie Coleman

Katie found Pilates after struggling with lower back / synovial joint pain and using the practice as part of her physical therapy. Later, she also began taking yoga at Washington Park. She would go on to complete her 200-hour Yoga Alliance certification through Sage Yoga Hot as well as Pilates Reformer training through Prism in Cincinnati.

She graduated from Miami University with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and Health Promotion.

Katie loves combining the flexibility of yoga and the strength of Pilates. She takes many different movement class formats around the city and when traveling. Combining the elements of power, balance and elegance for her classes and clients is one of her specialties.

She likes early dinners, sunrise workouts, hanging out with family and her dog Aspen. She has a goal to visit a new country every year.

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