OUR INSTRUCTORS
Audrey Bonafé (Owner)
Audrey is the Studio Owner and is certified in AFAA Group Exercise Fitness, Zumba, Resistance Training, Yoga, Pi-Yo, AntiGravity Fundamentals 1 & 2, AntiGravity Aerial Yoga, AntiGravity AIRbarre and AntiGravity Restorative, and AntiGravity D-Kink. She says “Years ago I found myself interested in fitness and the beauty of a sculpted body. Since then I have realized there is more to fitness than having a sculpted body. It is a lifestyle that allows you to live a happier and healthier life and more than anything is the best medicine to relieve stress”.
Audrey received her certification for teaching Zumba in 2009. She has been teaching ZUMBA for about 7 years and still loves it!
ZUMBA was just a jumping off point for Audrey. She has continued to immerse herself into learning more about fitness techniques and nutrition by reading all she could on anything related to fitness or nutrition.
Since then she received her AFAA Group X certificate in Sept. 2012, Resistance Training certificate in Feb. 2012, and Yoga training in Jan. 2013 and Feb 2013. Her latest certificates include AntiGravity Fundamentals Fitness in April 2014 and AntiGravity Aerial Fitness in August 2014, AntiGravity AIRbarre fitness in May 2015 AntiGravity Restorative in April 2016, Barre training in 2015, Pi-Yo and Volee, AntiGravity D-Kink in 2017, and Bungee Fitness in 2018. She now offers many class styles in Aerial Fitness that she has developed and expanded from on her own, Yoga, Resistance Training, Barre, Guns, Buns & 6 Packs (her own signature fitness design), and BUNGEE fitness. She is also a Personal Trainer who can design a customized workout around your specific needs and goals.
Audrey is eager to expand her knowledge and skills with the many different modalities she has studied over the past years especially with AntiGravity Fitness. She plans to continue to grow and bring new and fresh material to her studio.
As a wife, mother and Grandmother, she knows that life can get busy and often times seem stressful. One of the things she loves the most about Aerial Fitness is that you get an all-over body workout with increased flexibility and joint mobility, a decompressed spine to release pressure between the vertebrae and lengthened muscles but also get the best relaxation session that you have ever experienced. “I have never felt more relaxed then when hanging in a Hammock”. “It never gets old!” There is just something about it that closes you off from the hustle of the world and you feel safe and relaxed”. She wants everyone to be able to experience that same feeling.
My goal is to serve the people of the Richmond area and offer something that is new, different, exciting, and most of all, fun.”
Looking to have a fun job, and meet some amazing friends all while getting paid to do it? This could be YOU!
We are hiring amazing experienced Lyra or Aerial Instructors or call about our apprentice program!
Hiring talented, exciting and enthusiastic Lyra or Aerial instructors that can teach fun, strength-building exercises that compliment Aerial fitness or Aerial yoga in the hammock or Lyra techniques! If you have experience in either Aerials or Lyra and would like to become an instructor at Fighting Gravity Fitness, then we want to talk to you! Our Lyra is taught as a fitness class for the average person, not for performing. We want to make it fun, and challenging and very exciting without the competitive pressures in most circus performing arenas. So give us a call!
Requirements: Must be able to learn new moves or make up your own choreography for Lyra and Aerial routines, must carry your own liability insurance that covers aerial teaching. Must be able to continue to learn and add new and exciting material for your clients.
Must have either a certification in Aerial or Lyra or at a minimum of 1-year experience. We can train you for both Aerial and Lyra for a fee and you will need to sign a non-compete waiver if we train you or you use our training software.
Looking for instructors with enthusiasm, great people skills and the ability to plan routines, learn new material that is challenging, safe, and creative.
If you think this might be you, give us a call 804-355-3700 or email fgf@fightinggravityfit.com
For the Apprentice program, you must be willing to take and master a certain amount of classes and levels in several styles of Aerials and Lyra to meet our apprentice requirements. You will then go through our training program (a minimal fee is required for training). Once trained, you will teach your first audition class.
If interested, contact Audrey at 804-355-3700. There will be an interview process first,. Call to set up an interview. During the interview, we will go over the class requirements.
Olivia Yohai
Olivia is a Massage Therapist and Yoga Teacher who grew up dancing here in Richmond, Virginia. Her passion for movement, anatomy, and helping others led her to her calling within the healing arts. She completed her 600hr Licensed Massage Therapist training at Lotus School of Integrated Professions in 2015 and soon after completed her 200hr Yoga Teacher Training. In 2017, in search for more depth, Olivia ventured off to South East Asia where she studied Thai Yoga Massage in Thailand with Pichest Boonthumme.
Within the year 2018, Olivia completed a 50hr Rocket Training with Steve Pyka, a 10hr Hand Balance Intensive with Nicolas Montes De Oca at the Yoga Dojo, and her 85hr Prenatal Yoga Teacher Training at Humble Haven with Suzanne Burns. She believes a good teacher is forever a student.
Olivia teaches many forms of yoga believing in the benefits of both yin and yang styles. Some of her favorites include Hatha-Ananda, Ayurveda, Yin, Restorative, Rocket and hopes to lead Prenatal Yoga classes here in Richmond in the near future! Olivia is passionate about life and loves exploring inward and outward, enjoying all this world has to offer. She is thrilled to become a part of Fighting Gravity Fit and share her passion for yoga with its community.
Take a look on Instagram @Oliviayohai
Erin Housholder
Erin has been studying Sattva Yoga with Anand Mehrotra since 2015 at the Sattva Yoga Academy in Rishikesh, India, completing 500hrs YTT, Prenatal and Master Level certification and most recently, level 1 Jyotish (Vedic Astrology). Sattva Yoga is an integrated yogic system that weaves together the technologies of Asana, Pranayama, Himalayan Kundalini kriyas, Meditation, Mantra, and Wisdom. Tapping into your inner strength, Sattva harnesses, refines and uplifts the scattered energies that can deplete our daily lives, resulting in a rejuvenated body, releasing of anxiety/stress, and reducing chatter of the mind. With a consistent Sattva practice, personal empowerment is inevitable, resulting in mental clarity, lightness of body and overall energetic alignment… resulting in union, in Yoga.
Erin has worn many hats in her 20 years in Richmond, including earning her BFA in Painting and Printmaking at VCU, playing loud music in the local music scene, and working at many beloved RVA ventures such as Video Fan, Ellwood Thompson’s and VMFA. But it was finding Sattva that combined her creativity and love of people! She is over the moon to share this unique practice with you, sharing tools and ancient yogic wisdoms you can use on and off the mat to discover and amplify your own personal empowerment!
Jodi Bock
Jodi eagerly joins the fun and friendly atmosphere at Fighting Gravity Fitness! Jodi has been teaching Hatha yoga since becoming certified in 1999. She understands the mental and physical benefits of yoga personally and has found great joy in sharing them with practitioners at all levels of experience.
In June 2015 Jodi discovered aerial fitness and found how much it complimented her Hatha yoga practice in that both target the mind/body connection.In September 2015, excited to learn more and develop her aerial practice further, she became a Fundamentals Level 1 & 2 certified instructor. She feels the key to staying consistent with any fitness program is to enjoy what you’re doing.
Jodi is an artist, owns a stained glass studio and sells her crafts all over the U.S.. She lives with her dog, cat, and photographer husband, Dan Lott, in the museum district. She enjoys traveling, wine tasting, festivals, walking, reading inspiring memoirs and meeting new people.
Donna Bolan
Donna is so excited to join the Fighting Gravity Fitness team. Donna comes from a background in music and performance. She plays multiple instruments and is a classically trained vocalist who has performed in churches, theaters and Opera houses all over Europe. In 2010 she moved from RVA to Georgia to be closer to family and left the grind of corporate life. She began focusing on a healthier lifestyle and finding her passion again. In 2011, she became a licensed Zumba Fitness instructor and in January of 2012 she opened the doors to her own studio, specializing in Zumba and Yoga. In 2013, her family faced a health crisis and moved back to VA to receive better medical care. Since then she has continued to teach classes and pursue fitness and other group fitness formats including Piyo, Spin, Piloxing and more.
Donna can’t wait to bring Piyo Live to Fighting Gravity Fitness. Piyo Live is a Beachbody live format that is a music driven, Pilates and Yoga inspired cardio workout. It incorporates everything she loves. Awesome music! Strength Building! Increased Flexibility! And a fantastic cardio cleansing sweat session!
In her spare time, Donna enjoys spending time with her two beautiful grand babies, singing, dancing, and being the best wife and woman she can be.
Jade McGill
Jade McGill is thrilled to join the team at Fighting Gravity Fitness! Originally from upstate NY, Jade previously lived in RVA after graduating college, and is happy to be back. She is certified in INSANITY and Turbo Kick Live, and is a big fan of high-intensity formats. She loves helping her students unlock their full potential and can’t wait to see you in class!
Kamryn Mercer
Kamryn is excited to join the Fighting Gravity Fitness team as an Aerial instructor. Coming from a dance, gymnastics, and performance background, she has 15 years of ballet training along with other styles such as jazz, tap, contemporary, and musical theater. She has also been a dance teacher and choreographer.
Kamryn loves strength building through flexibility, body awareness, and fluid motion. Aerial fitness has been the perfect fit! Kamryn has always loved being upside down, challenging herself mentally and physically, and staying active in fun ways that don’t feel like a traditional workout. She loves the feeling of flying and is excited about all the benefits aerial fitness offers. It’s fun, adventurous, and there are always new things to learn and discover.
When not in the hammock, Kamryn enjoys photography, hand lettering, reading, traveling, hiking, drinking coffee, and spending time with her husband Davis.
Susheela Varky
I am a domestic and sexual violence attorney who works for the statewide legal aid office, Virginia Poverty Law Center. Throughout my life, I have participated in dance and fitness activities, including ballet, jazz, tap, bharata natyam, high- and low-impact, 80s-/90s-style aerobics, spin, lifting…you name it; I’ve done it! Now, I am excited to continue my career as a “dancing lawyer” by teaching BOLLYX!!
Kim Fuhrmeister
Kim is new to teaching and is absolutely thrilled to embark on this journey at Fighting Gravity Fitness. She strongly believes that you become your best self when you are challenged to get outside of your comfort zone. It’s no surprise then that Kim has sought out activities that don’t feel like exercise. She has a background in snowboarding, dance, cheerleading, ice-skating, and rock climbing. If it involves an adventure, Kim is going to be the first one on board.
Since beginning her journey with Fighting Gravity Fitness, Kim has earned her AFAA Group Exercise Certification, as well as a certification in Volee. Kim is excited to share Volee with the clients at Fighting Gravity. She credits the Volee exercise technique with strengthening her back muscles and therefore relieving the tension created by long hours sitting in the car or at a desk. Kim is also working on a certification in Buti Yoga. Buti Yoga is rapidly becoming the new “it” workout. With its unique combination of Eastern Religious Philosophy and Yoga technique, combined with tribal and hip hop dance moves this class will propel you into fun as you increase your strength and flexibility.
Sigrid Lampe
Sigrid Lampe has been a dancer for most of her life and found that AntiGravity® was the perfect fit for her. She studied dance at the Kirov Ballet, Atlanta Ballet, South Carolina Governors School, and Covington Regional Ballet. She then went on to dance with the Richmond Ballet, which brought her to live in RVA and to becoming a dance teacher. Sigrid is transferring to VCU this coming fall, to major in environmental science and to pursue a career in oceanography. She has always loved the ocean and believes that it is very important to keep our biosphere safe.
She is thrilled to be a level one certified AntiGravity® instructor at Fighting Gravity Fitness and wants to soon pursue becoming certified in Aerial Yoga. She fell in love with AntiGravity® after her first class and believes that it helps heal and to understand our strengths within ourselves. She also believes that it is a great way to have fun and let go of stress within our everyday lives. She also discovered that it has been beneficial to minor joint problems that she obtained from many years of dancing. Sigrid can’t wait to share her experience with others and to help them find the benefits that come with AntiGravity®!
Lauren Hagy
Lauren is an RVA native who left her career in medical sales 3 years ago to pursue her lifelong dream of being an artist. Around that time, she discovered aerial yoga and was immediately hooked. Lauren is extremely excited to join the Fighting Gravity Fitness family and pursue her newest dream: to help others experience the exhilaration and inspiration of aerial fitness. She loves creating a fun, comfortable atmosphere for newcomers and seeing them surprise themselves by their own strength and abilities in the swing!
When not “hanging” out in the hammock, Lauren is painting in her studio with her furry 4-legged assistant, Tally, building frames, attempting to play the ukulele, or sharing bad puns with tolerant friends.
Anna Meadows
Anna has loved the circus and the aerial arts since childhood, however it was not until the release of the film, The Greatest Showman, that this spark was reignited. Anna and her siblings discussed taking an aerial class together, and while that is still a possibility, Anna decided to jump right in. Taking her first class in 2018 at Fighting Gravity, she has not looked back since. She immediately fell in love with Lyra, which has been her primary focus. Anna is also an avid trail runner, and has done several Spartan/obstacle course races. She loves choreography, and enjoys dance, acro yoga, and other aerial arts whenever she is able. Anna is always up for an adventure, and has pursued a wide variety of activities over the years, including amateur kickboxing, cheerleading, and various forms of dance.
We Are Hiring more fitness instructors! Give us a call! 804-355-3700 We are always looking for great talent.
Interested in Barre instructors, 200RYT or more Yoga instructors, TRX instructors, Pilates instructors, HIIT, or Tabata Instructors or Dance and Cardio based instructors