We are currently updating our instructor’s profiles, but here are a few.
CINDY COOK:
Cindy has been in fitness all her life. As an athlete,
track, softball, soccer and basketball were the main sports she played but, was
always on the go looking for activities to do. She has a BSBA with a
specialization in Exercise Science from UNO. After a car accident in which she
hit the windshield (didn’t have my seat belt on then, silly Cindy), she was
introduced to the Mind-Body and Healing worlds to try to reduce chronic pain
and other issues. Respecting the body, focusing the mind and enhancing one’s
well being as opposed to beating the body up and feeling the burn has been an
integral part of recovery. Yoga, Reiki (energy work), Tai Chi, Pilates and
Belly Dance, along with other healing modalities, have all been helpful in
finding “Center”, reducing pain and improving quality of life.
Credentials include American College of Sports Medicine HFI (Health/Fitness Instructor), ACE Personal Trainer, ACE Group Fitness Instructor, Pilates Coach Mat and Reformer, Pilates Unlimited LLC Mat and Full Equipment, David Dorian’s Flow Motion (Tai Chi; 24 movement style), Hatha Yoga, YogaFit, Kickboxing, STOTT PILATES ® Workshops and other Group Fitness Specialty Trainings and are amongst the many trainings through the years that Cindy has studied. Many years and hours of training have lead to an eclectic style of teaching.
Owner and Director of Vital Lifestyles, Inc. Cindy has been involved with Corporate Fitness, area Fitness Center Fitness and Personal Training and health programs since 1988. Legacy Pilates, Yoga & More is one more step in the direction of helping people take care of themselves and being responsible for your own health. Teaching more than just fitness and exercise, it is important to teach clients about other wellness and natural health care options that can enhance your lifestyle! I love to incorporate east and west philosophies and help one understand how they compliment each other and can help one understand the Self better! Cindy has three kids and 2 grandkids. Watch and learn from your children. They can teach us a lot about freedom, pure love and being true to oneself. Teach your children young to follow their hearts, listen to the body and respect themselves and this world will be such a better place!
JAMIE
DUCKERT:
Jamie Duckert took her first yoga class 18 years ago in Fargo, ND and knew yoga would always be a part of her life. The classes she took with Larissa Treskunova, after moving to Omaha, inspired her to deepen her practice both physically and spiritually.
Jamie became certified with Yoga Fit to teach yoga in 2009 and will complete a 300-hour Teacher Training program with Theresa Murphy. She recently trained with Tias Little and Margaret Hahn and will complete her Teacher Training in October. Jamie teaches Kids and Teen Yoga along with Yoga Flow classes.
Jamie has been taking Pilates reformer and mat classes with Cindy Cook for 5 years and will also become certified to teach Pilates mat classes this year. When she's not doing yoga she is spending time with her husband and 4 kids. You can also find her working in her vegetable garden and orchard.
LINDA GAETA:
Linda is a fully certified STOTT
PILATES ® Instructor (Essential, Intermediate & Advanced
levels) in Matwork, Reformer, Cadillac, Chair & Barrels, and Injuries &
Special Populations. She began her STOTT career in 2007 after Pilates
helped her rehabilitate from a car injury. She works with rehabilitation
clients as well as instructs groups and private clients. She has been
teaching for Legacy Pilates Yoga & More for 3 years. She graduated from
College of St. Mary’s in Omaha summa cum laude with degrees in Business
Leadership and Global Technology. Linda is a N.A.D.A.A. (National
Association of Dance & Affiliated Artist) certified dance instructor in
Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Gymnastics, and instructed and choreographed for 20
years. She is also certified and taught step aerobics and Hatha Yoga.
She retired from UP’s Marketing & Information systems group after 34 years
of service in 2008 and decided to devote herself to a fitness career.
When Linda is not working, she is spending time in the garden, with her
husband, and family of 5 kids and 13 grandchildren.
LIAH
FRAZIER:
Liah graduated from Elkhorn High School in 2000. She
received her Bachelor’s Degree at Ohio State University in Spanish and has a
law degree from Creighton University School of Law.
Liah loves to be active and participates in Ice Hockey, Wakeboarding, Snowboarding & Surfing. She started Pilates a few years ago and fell in love with the work and became certified through Pilates Unlimited LLC to teach mat and equipment classes. Liah received a Level One Reiki certificate in 2009. She loves her chocolate Lab named Brutus and traveling.
ZAIA HADIYYAH:
Zaia Hadiyyah, a native South African, is now living
in the USA. Zaia of Dance Orientale and Belly Fitness promotes education in
Middle Eastern dance, culture, music, and costuming. Zaia also focuses on the
enhancement of physical, emotional, and social well-being to the public through
Oriental Dance classes, seminars, tours and performance, attendance and
participation.
Zaia has been dancing since she was 3 years old; has experienced almost all dancing principles and has been involved in the art of Oriental Dance for 15 plus years. She has done intense training in the Middle East, South Africa and the USA with highly acclaimed and respected teachers. In South Africa, Zaia has been an instructor of 5 different studios. She is a professional performer and runs workshops regularly. She directs performance troupe with some of her more advanced students and has been invited to and participated in International Belly Dance Festivals.
Zaia has settled near her family in the City of Omaha. She teaches folkloric and classical dance from Egypt, Arabia, Morocco and various Gypsy/Bedouin style dancing. Students will have the opportunity to work towards joining her multi-style dance troupe in Omaha in collaboration with other dance forms and theatre. She will also make available to her students the opportunity to enroll and study the Belly Dancing Association of South Africa’s (BDASA) 7 grade exam syllabus to measure their own progress and development.
DONNA MIESBACH:
Donna has studied with Dr. Deepak Chopra for the past 15 years and is one of his certified yoga and meditation instructors. In addition to her work with Dr. Chopra, Donna has studied extensively with Dr. David Simon (Co-founder of the Chopra Center), Dr. David Morehouse, and Jonathan Goldman. Donna is a published inspirational poet and author. Her program, Tools for Teens(TM) was endorsed by the Chopra Center, and has found wide acceptance both here and abroad. Please go to www.donnamiesbach.com for a complete description of her books and teaching schedule."
AILEEN MOORE:
Aileen has
been involved with Group Exercise for over 25 years. She started her
career on her college campus and progressed to corporate health
promotion. She graduated Magna Cum Laude in Business from College of
Saint Mary in 1997 and holds a Worksite Health Promotion Specialist Certificate
from Methodist College. Aileen left her corporate job in 2006 and
has dedicated her full time career and passion to Pilates
while balancing her energetic family life. She is certified
for American College of Sports Medicine-Health Fitness Instructor, AFAA
Group Fitness Instructor, and Pilates Mat with Pilates Unlimited
LLC and Reformer with Pilates Coach.
Aileen has extensive training on Reformer and Tower with Karen Sanzo, Tom McCook and Elizabeth Larkham. She has participated in many specialty STOTT PILATES ® including Pilates for Golf and Pilates Circuit. She has completed BBU (Balanced Body University) Reformer I and II Training and Chair Training and Pilates with Props training. Aileen has also completed YogaFit Levels I, II & III and specialties including senior population and Pregnancy. She has been teaching Pilates since 2003 in both group and private levels.
Aileen has overcome a back herniation injury with Pilates
principles and loves to help people of all levels discover the benefits of
Pilates and Yoga. She thrives on motivating clients to
understand the balance of strength, grace, and flexibility to
feel better, overcome and
prevent injury, while ultimately reaching their
mind-body goals.
CAROLE WESTERMAN:
Carole began her
yoga journey in 1998 while living in Northern California, exploring many styles
of yoga including Iyengar, Kundalini, Vinyasa, Bikram, Sivananda, and Viniyoga.
She immediately fell in love and practiced yoga through her pregnancies,
helping her to bring 3 lovely daughters into the world. Balancing motherhood
and the demands of life is the ultimate yoga for her. Carole's strength is
providing yoga to varying populations in a fun, creative, light-hearted, and
spontaneous environment that is accepting and nurturing: tailoring the practice
to the specific needs of the student.
Carole has a Masters Degree in Psychology, and has combined this knowledge with
her yoga experience to create her own eclectic style as a yoga instructor.
Carole has trained locally with Susi Amendola, and is registered with Yoga
Alliance as an E-RYT200. Carole is a Childbirth Educator, and is certified to
teach prenatal yoga through Gurmukh's Khalsa Way training program in Los
Angeles. Carole loves to expand her horizons, and is a lifelong learner. Her
recent trainings include studying with Shiva Rea, Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa, Tias
Little, Twee Merrigan, Georg Feuerstein, Deane Juhan, Lama Tsultrim Allione,
Mary Pafford, Rolf Solvik, Nischala Devi, Andrew Harvery, Alex Theory, and Rolf
Gates.
Carole has found inspiration and passion in her studies with Shiva Rea and
Prana Flow Yoga and is currently riding that wave and working on her 500-hour
level training with Shiva Rea, and expects to complete this advanced training
by summer 2010.
JENNIFER WILLIAMS:
Jennifer started teaching aerobics at the age of 15 to
a ladies group at church. She has worked at many facilities including
Gold's Gym, Bally's Fitness, Prairie Life Center, YMCA, Life Time Fitness,
and Elkhorn Common Ground. Jennifer is certified by ACE (American Council
on Exercise) in Personal Training, AFAA (Aerobics and Fitness Association of America)
in Group Fitness, STEP, Mat Science, & TeleFitness, IFTA (Interactive
Fitness Trainers of America) in Kickboxing and BBU (Balanced Body University)
Reformer I and II Training. She has a BS in Elementary Education and
Early Childhood and a Minor in Art.
“ I am married to my best friend who teaches 5th grade and we have a son who has born with Spina Bifida. In my free time I like to spend time with my family, scrapbook, bake, and read inspirational books.” I love the quote: “Love what you do and do what you love and you will never work a day in your life.”