Meet your engaging instructors.
BRINGING OUT YOUR POWER IS THEIR PASSION.
Lisa Esham, Partner, Instructor
Lisa Esham is no stranger to fitness, instructing classes since she was 16 years old. She has worked as a personal trainer, group exercise instructor and manager of fitness and wellness — and has also taught stress management classes to cardiac rehab patients.
Lisa graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Physiology from Ohio University. She is certified through YogaFit, Barre Above and Tabata, and has a straightforward fitness philosophy: she believes that exercise is the best way to achieve a healthy mind, and that each step toward a goal is worthy of celebration.
Karine Wascher, Partner, Instructor
Karine Wascher is the co-creator and co-founder of Sekoia Yoga — a multi-sensory yoga experience blending energizing Vinyasa flows, essential oil therapy, pranayama, music, meditation and reiki into a richly woven candlelit class.
Karine is also a soul journey coach, where she combines healing modalities to guide clients on their wellness journey. In her practice, she says she always seeks to ignite, inspire, laugh, move, restore, connect, awaken and balance. And she’s multi-faceted off the mat as well … a creative soul, music lover, devoted mother, wife and absolute free spirit.
Vanessa Rutherford, Instructor
Vanessa Rutherford's love of fitness instruction started with an extensive background in dance instruction — including tap, jazz, lyrical and contemporary. She's been creating award-winning choreography for 23 years, and also studied at Broadway Dance Center and Steps in NYC.
Vanessa says she's inspired by her students and always encourages them to achieve their best. She is certified in Tabata, and is well-known at Engage for her dynamic teaching style, amazing playlists and challenging classes with an athletic twist.
Shana Holderby, Instructor
Shana Holderby has a very strong affinity for fitness, and it all started when she struggled with her weight as a teen. She began taking group fitness classes, quickly found that she had a natural talent for teaching, and there was no looking back.
Instructing for 29 years, Shana is certified through the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFFA). She’s known for leading fun, interactive classes where there’s never a dull moment — and she’s also known for telling her students that change happens outside their comfort zone. More than anything else, she loves coming up with different ways to keep workouts fresh.
Shelly Breehl, Instructor
Beth Freitag, Instructor
Beth Freitag finds great joy in encouraging her students to realize that health and fitness are a journey, and not simply a destination. It's a mantra she knows very well, after being in a motorcycle accident and emerging stronger than ever, thanks to the amazing benefits of physical therapy and exercise.
Beth studied at Balletmet Academy and Dramatic Truth School of Ballet in Kansas City, MO — where she also mastered kinesiology, yoga and body conditioning. Over the years, she has taught numerous ballet fitness and Pilates classes. She is certified through YogaFit and currently teaches Yoga Sweat at Advanced Training as well.
Steve Flowers, Insructor
Steve Flowers has more than 30 years of experience in the fitness field — from previously competing as a bodybuilder to being a certified trainer for more than 15 years. He's a charismatic, energetic motivator who always has a smile for everyone.
After earning a degree in Exercise Science, Steve received his certification for personal training through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), and his certification for bootcamps and High-Intensity Interval Training through METAFIT. Encouraging his students to keep testing their limits, all of his classes feature weight work with cardio that hits all the right muscles.
Other Engage team members.
Elizabeth Brown, Partner
Elizabeth is busy behind the scenes of the studio and in front. (You'll often see her checking clients in at the front desk.) More than anything else, she says she loves the camaraderie that a boutique fitness setting offers.
Elizabeth has been part of the fitness industry for the past seven years, and is certified in Barre and Tabata. She says she appreciates working out today more than ever, because it has helped her gain so much strength and flexibility. When she's not busy taking care of Engage clients (and taking classes), she travels with her family as much as she can.
Robin York, Partner
Certified in Tabata, Robin York has been passionate about fitness for more than 30 years. It's a hobby that began with hours spent at larger gyms, and has since evolved into an appreciation of the more personal (and engaging) setting of a boutique studio.
Robin has more than 13 years of experience in operations and HR management, as well as a certification in management development and training. Today, she puts her business acumen to work. She's our get-it-done one — the one always there to answer your questions — and our studio simply couldn't run without her.