| Mama & Me |
| Mama & Me |
| Fitness for Mothers...Fun for Kids |
Kalmia grew up in Vermont and graduated from the University of Vermont
with a degree in Jazz Studies. She studied alto saxaphone and jazz vocal
performance, as well as sustainable community development. She currently
works as an alto saxaphonist and vocalist in Bands out of Boston and
Burlington, Vermont, including reggae acts John Browns Body, jazz sextet
Alex Toth and the Lazybirds, and afro-carribbean jazz group Guagua.
Kalmia believes that integrating art and music into daily community life is
essential to bringing happiness to people and strengthening communities. She
also believes that introducing the joys of art and music to kids at a young age
can help foster a life-long appreciation. She has worked for many summers as
a camp counselor in Vermont, teaching guitar and leading activities in art
projects, theater and outdoor living skills for children ages 3-15. She recently
completed an internship at VSA Arts of Vermont, where she worked with adults
with developmental disabilities to create a play about the history of special
education in Vermont, and then performed it at venues across the state.
with a degree in Jazz Studies. She studied alto saxaphone and jazz vocal
performance, as well as sustainable community development. She currently
works as an alto saxaphonist and vocalist in Bands out of Boston and
Burlington, Vermont, including reggae acts John Browns Body, jazz sextet
Alex Toth and the Lazybirds, and afro-carribbean jazz group Guagua.
Kalmia believes that integrating art and music into daily community life is
essential to bringing happiness to people and strengthening communities. She
also believes that introducing the joys of art and music to kids at a young age
can help foster a life-long appreciation. She has worked for many summers as
a camp counselor in Vermont, teaching guitar and leading activities in art
projects, theater and outdoor living skills for children ages 3-15. She recently
completed an internship at VSA Arts of Vermont, where she worked with adults
with developmental disabilities to create a play about the history of special
education in Vermont, and then performed it at venues across the state.
Kalmia's studies allowed her the opportunity to travel to Cuba, Puerto Rico
and Dominican Republic where she studied music styles such as son,
changüi, plena, and merengue, and performed with local musicians. She has
also had the opportunity to take master classes with the such celebrated
musicians as Arturo O'Farrill, Jason Moran, Maria Schneider, Ralph Alessi
and Rufus Reid. Kalmia is also a talented composer, poet, multi-linguist,
graphic artist, and aspiring web designer.
and Dominican Republic where she studied music styles such as son,
changüi, plena, and merengue, and performed with local musicians. She has
also had the opportunity to take master classes with the such celebrated
musicians as Arturo O'Farrill, Jason Moran, Maria Schneider, Ralph Alessi
and Rufus Reid. Kalmia is also a talented composer, poet, multi-linguist,
graphic artist, and aspiring web designer.
Jessica started her study of fitness with Kripalu yoga. After a few years of study in the
Kripalu tradition, Jessica studied Iyengar Yoga for a couple of years. From there,
Jessica was introduced to Baptiste Power Vinyasa. While teaching a power yoga class,
she was introduced to mat pilates and immediately loved the exercises and starting
taking regular pilates classes. She has a certification in mat pilates from The
PhysicalMind Institute based in New York. She has also completed teacher trainings
with Fitness Resource Associates in Needham and with the Baptiste Power Yoga
Institute in Boston. She also enjoys studying Astanga Yoga, Dance, and working with
weights. She believes firmly that pilates is for everyone and loves modifying exercises
to suit all levels. When she is not teaching fitness classes, Jessica works as a freelance
event planner based in Needham.
Kripalu tradition, Jessica studied Iyengar Yoga for a couple of years. From there,
Jessica was introduced to Baptiste Power Vinyasa. While teaching a power yoga class,
she was introduced to mat pilates and immediately loved the exercises and starting
taking regular pilates classes. She has a certification in mat pilates from The
PhysicalMind Institute based in New York. She has also completed teacher trainings
with Fitness Resource Associates in Needham and with the Baptiste Power Yoga
Institute in Boston. She also enjoys studying Astanga Yoga, Dance, and working with
weights. She believes firmly that pilates is for everyone and loves modifying exercises
to suit all levels. When she is not teaching fitness classes, Jessica works as a freelance
event planner based in Needham.
| Annakalmia Traver |
Annakalmia Traver, Music & Art Coordinator
| Shannon Nelson |
Shannon Nelson, Founder/Director, Certified Personal Trainer, Group Fitness Instructor
| Kristen Lyall |
Kristen Lyall, Certified Personal Trainer, Group Fitness Instructor
| Jessica Weiss |
Jessica Weiss, Yoga & Pilates Instructor
| Sandra Thorbjornsen |
Sandra Chiang Thorbjornsen, Certified ZUMBA Instructor
Sandra’s interest in Zumba was fostered when she stayed at home with her four
children after moving to Boston from Cleveland Ohio. A lot of time was spent
sitting still, but Sandra was determined to keep healthy – she was looking for
something that could help her keep fit but also something that could give her a fun
break in the day – Zumba turned out the be the answer!
Sandra was born in Mozambique, lived in Portugal as a refugee, grew up in
Zimbabwe, got married in Norway and has US born kids. She enjoyed an
upbringing surrounded by lots of good food, all types of music, dancing, modeling
and most importantly lots of family and friends. This is the same environment that
Sandra wants to create in her Zumba classes.
Sandra Teaches Zumba for Seniors, Teens, and Mothers-with-babies. Zumba
combines high energy and motivating music (Salsa, merengue, hip-hop, and
more) with unique sensual and effective moves that allow the Zumba participants
to dance away their worries. It is based on the principle that a workout should be
"FUN, MOTIVATING AND EASY TO DO"
children after moving to Boston from Cleveland Ohio. A lot of time was spent
sitting still, but Sandra was determined to keep healthy – she was looking for
something that could help her keep fit but also something that could give her a fun
break in the day – Zumba turned out the be the answer!
Sandra was born in Mozambique, lived in Portugal as a refugee, grew up in
Zimbabwe, got married in Norway and has US born kids. She enjoyed an
upbringing surrounded by lots of good food, all types of music, dancing, modeling
and most importantly lots of family and friends. This is the same environment that
Sandra wants to create in her Zumba classes.
Sandra Teaches Zumba for Seniors, Teens, and Mothers-with-babies. Zumba
combines high energy and motivating music (Salsa, merengue, hip-hop, and
more) with unique sensual and effective moves that allow the Zumba participants
to dance away their worries. It is based on the principle that a workout should be
"FUN, MOTIVATING AND EASY TO DO"
Kristen is a group fitness instructor and personal trainer who
enjoys helping people reach their fitness goals and have fun
doing it! She has been teaching group fitness for 5 years,
and currently teaches cardio kickboxing, boxing circuit, and
muscle conditioning classes at a number of gyms. As a
trainer and a teacher, her goal is to spread her enthusiasm
for a healthy, active lifestyle while ensuring individuals meet
their goals. She wants exercise to be both beneficial and
enjoyable for everyone.
Kristen loves teaching classes, interacting with clients,
running, and staying active. She did her undergraduate work
at Middlebury College in Vermont, where she majored in
biology and psychology and developed a love of the great
Vermont outdoors! In addition to her roles as a teacher and
trainer in fitness, she is also working on her doctorate in
epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health. Her
training and research in human diseases, health, and
nutrition compliments her fitness work.
enjoys helping people reach their fitness goals and have fun
doing it! She has been teaching group fitness for 5 years,
and currently teaches cardio kickboxing, boxing circuit, and
muscle conditioning classes at a number of gyms. As a
trainer and a teacher, her goal is to spread her enthusiasm
for a healthy, active lifestyle while ensuring individuals meet
their goals. She wants exercise to be both beneficial and
enjoyable for everyone.
Kristen loves teaching classes, interacting with clients,
running, and staying active. She did her undergraduate work
at Middlebury College in Vermont, where she majored in
biology and psychology and developed a love of the great
Vermont outdoors! In addition to her roles as a teacher and
trainer in fitness, she is also working on her doctorate in
epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health. Her
training and research in human diseases, health, and
nutrition compliments her fitness work.
| Kristen holds the following fitness certifications: NASM Certified Personal Trainer AFAA Group Fitness Instructor AFAA Kickboxing Instructor Adult AED & CPR |
Shannon holds a Bachelor of Arts in Human Services, with a concentration in youth work, from the University of Massachusetts, Boston. She is certified through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), as a Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) with advanced training in neuromuscular stretching. Additionally she is pre and postnatal certified through the American Aerobic Association International/ International Sports Medicine Association (AAAI/ ISMA) and holds certification as a Group Exercise Instructor from Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFFA). Click HERE to contact Shannon. |
| Shannon believes making fitness a part of everyday life is essential to obtaining physical and mental well-being. Her unique background in fitness and youth development, has given her an unusual insight on the obstacles mothers face when it comes to taking time for themselves. Shannon believes that mothers face more than the average daily challenge when it comes to making time for their own health and fitness routines. Looking at these challenges, Shannon became inspired to find a way to make fitness more accessible for mothers. Her solution was to combine fitness classes for mothers with coordinating enrichment classes for children! |
| Opening her own studio in Newton Centre, Mama & Me provides a guilt-free workout that fits into a mother's schedule. This atmosphere brings mothers together adding a unique social component, not typically found at your local gym. Mama & Me offers a variety of fitness classes from more traditional offerings such as: Total Body Conditioning, Circuit Training, Cardio Kickboxing, and a Legs, Glutes, and Abs class, to more specialized classes such as: Mama Ab Rehab, Mama Fit, Mom & Baby Pilates Mat class, and Baby & Me Zumba, where mothers can work up a sweat dancing with their little ones in tow! In order to make workouts more accessible for mothers, Mama & Me offers a variety of coordinating art, music, movement, and early language classes for children in an adjoining room to the fitness studio. Special attention is given to providing developmentally appropriate enrichment classes that are both fun and educational. Additionally pre-crawlers are welcome in all fitness classes, so there is no need for a babysitter! |
Fitness for Mothers...
| Fun for Kids! |
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| Instructor Bio |
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