Meet Our Instructors
All of our McGaw YMCA fitness instructors have extensive experience creating fitness programs that work in a group setting. Learn more about our instructors below and join them for your next group fitness class!
Shauna Babcock, E-RYT
Shauna has been teaching yoga for over eleven years. She is passionate about sharing the many benefits of yoga with her students, including increased energy, confidence and joy. She encourages her students to listen deeply to what matters most to them. Shauna’s professional background is in Human Resources and Leadership Development. Her practice of yoga is informed by her work coaching individuals and teams to open to possibilities, foster engagement and cultivate authenticity. Shauna received her 200-hour certification from the Shambhava School of Yoga in 2008, and has taken over 700 hours of continuing and specialty education including hips/lower body, shoulders, arm balances, pre/postnatal, sequencing, teaching skills, adjustments and yoga for cancer survivors. She most recently completed a 300 hour, 6-month Teacher Training with Mitchel Bleier. She is certified by Yoga Alliance as an Experienced, Registered Yoga Teacher (E-RYT).
Pat Bernard
Once Pat discovered that line dancing goes far beyond country music, she embraced urban line dance with toe-tapping enthusiasm. Several thousand miles of line dancing later, Pat brings that energy to the YMCA, blending Soul, Pop, Latin, and a lil’ bit Country into fun classes that invite everyone to move and groove. Designed for dancers of all ages, her low-impact approach challenges the mind, gets the body moving, and stays gentle on the joints. Pat’s classes encourage confidence, connection, and the joy of discovering you can learn—and move—more than you ever expected. 5, 6, 7, 8...
Pamela Bruno
Yoga
Pamela Bruno (she/her) loves to help people discover and feel connected to their own bodies and voices through breathwork and movement. Pamela’s desire to teach yoga comes from the empowerment and self-expression she finds in her own practice. Yoga has helped Pamela find mindfulness, and as a teacher she strives to provide an environment that promotes relaxation and fosters self-confidence where the stakes are low and exploration is encouraged. Pamela also uses these tools off the mat in her work as a doula and children's yoga instructor.
Gina Carpenter
Yoga
Miss Gina Maria is an experienced therapeutic instructor teaching in the Classical style. A versatile yogini with an extensive training background, she enjoys working with individuals at all fitness levels to improve strength, flexibility, and range of motion to enhance quality of life. She has an specialty interest in breathing techniques, practices neuromuscular bodywork, and incorporates these elements into lessons. Miss Gina's classes are structured to give participants a comprehensive yoga experience that promotes a state of alert relaxation.
Mila Cohen
Mila Cohen is an ACE Certified Personal Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor as well as certified in Les Mills BODYPUMP, Les Mills CXWORX, and Zumba. She is so passionate about proper form that she is working on certification in The Body Mechanics Method of Corrective Exercise. Coming from a dance background, Mila believes in music as motivation, the power of camaraderie in group exercise, and that fitness is as important for emotional and mental health as physical health. This is the bike that started a lifetime of cycling.
Melanie Davis
Melanie serves on the McGaw Y leadership team as Fitness Coordinator. She is a graduate of Northeastern Illinois University with her Master's Degree in Exercise Science. She also holds a NASM personal training certification, AFAA group fitness certification and a variety of specialty certifications including several Zumba formats, aqua fitness formats, and credentials and expertise spanning women’s to senior fitness and corrective exercise to nutrition specialties. Melanie is thrilled to lead at the McGaw Y, where it feels like home!
Laima Day
Indoor Cycling
Laima has been a cycle instructor at the McGaw YMCA since 2011. Her passion for teaching and sharing her love of cycling runs deep. She is an avid outdoor road cyclist who brings this expertise to every class. Grounded in science, music, grit and grace, Laima believes that together we can achieve incredible things on the bike no matter your experience level. She has a profound appreciation for helping others achieve their goals of well-being and good health. This is the bike that started a lifetime of cycling.
Maria Giacchino
Maria believes yoga should be accessible to everyone. It has been part of her daily practice for years and continues to be a grounding force in her life both on and off the mat. Maria’s teaching is rooted in Hatha yoga, focusing on mindful movement, breath, and alignment to help students connect with their bodies in a way that feels good and sustainable. Her favorite poses are Triangle Pose and Headstands—both remind her of the balance between strength and ease that yoga brings into everyday life. Outside of yoga, Maria a long-distance runner and endurance athlete and loves working with other athletes to help them stay strong, mobile, and injury-free for their sports. Her goal is to create a supportive space where everyone—no matter their background or fitness level—can explore movement and feel their best.
Keralee Froebel
Yoga
Keralee is a fitness instructor and yoga teacher, teaching group fitness at the YMCA since 2007 and Hatha and Vinyasa yoga throughout Chicago (including the beach!) since 2010. With a background in theater, dance and music, Keralee believes that fitness should be a fun and specializes in yoga, dance, breathe-work and meditation.
Cristi Hladish
Cristi is a seasoned LES MILLS enthusiast, having participated in CORE, BODYJAM and BODYBALANCE for decades. She fell in love with BODYPUMP’s powerful mix of strength and cardio-and the amazing endorphin rush it delivers. Having rebuilt her strength after a major arm injury, Cristi knows firsthand how movement can transform both body and mind. She brings an upbeat energy and enthusiasm to every class for the most motivating, empowering and fun community environment – helping every participant leave feeling stronger and more confident.
Nancy Matthews
While Nancy never considered herself athletic, she was searching for something fun to keep her moving. Discovering NIA at the Y 25 years ago was transformative—she had found her sweet spot! After years of practicing NIA, Nancy was certified to teach and enjoys introducing this joyful body-mind-spirit movement practice to others! Nancy has decades of teaching experience. She is Professor Emerita (retired) from Northeastern Illinois University, where she taught Justice Studies and led the faculty union. Nancy continues her community activism on behalf of democracy, justice, and especially higher education as a retiree. NIA is the perfect practice to develop the mindfulness that allows her to direct her energy toward improving the spaces we live in. She also likes to read fiction, garden, and cook.
Susan Mendelson, Ph.D.
Susan is a dynamic and creative movement instructor with a professional modern dance background and is a Certified Black Belt Nia Instructor. Susan’s Ph.D. is in Human Development/Life Span Developmental Psychology and she teaches throughout the Evanston community as well as being a guest teacher and lecturer in numerous health clubs and facilities throughout Chicago. She was a professional dancer in New York City and had her own company. With over 30 years of experience, Susan is also a certified Ageless Grace Educator, a Stronger Senior Instructor and trained in the body work, Ideokinesis. Susan loves working with people of all ages, building community, theater and gourmet cooking. She stays active by hiking, sailing and exploring the city.
Jen Miller
Known as “the Flyin’ Hawaiian,” Coach Jen began training in karate at the age of six and now holds three black belts across distinct styles: Okinawan, Tang Soo Do, and Shotokan. Over the years, she has trained, competed, and coached in Karate, Boxing, and Muay Thai, while also building a long and successful career in soccer. Holding a Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling and Behavioral Medicine and currently working in public health, Jen brings a holistic approach to training that integrates physical performance with mental wellness. A certified USA Boxing Coach, she believes wholeheartedly that movement is a vital component of overall well-being—for spirit, body, and mind.
Margie Newman, MA, RYT®️ 500
Margie is a Kripalu-certified yoga and meditation teacher who emphasizes breath connection and student agency in all of her teachings. She leads hatha yoga, gentle yoga, and yoga/meditation practices with an inclusive, adaptable, and accessible approach. Margie has completed more than 600 hours of teacher training at Kripalu and plans to remain a lifelong student of yoga, meditation, and the mind-body connection.
Peter Norman
Peter has been practicing Tai Chi Chuan and Qigong for 30 years. Tai Chi has been called a moving meditation and Peter was attracted to the slow, relaxing movements of the Tai Chi form as a way to counteract stress, keep his body flexible, and develop internal energy. As his practice of the ancient healing arts as deepened, his body has become more relaxed, more integrated and more grounded, his mind more calm, and his spirit more lively and compassionate. Peter has taught Tai Chi and Qigong classes in Chicago and Evanston for over 15 years. He is a member of IMAAHE (Internal Martial Arts Association for Health and Enlightenment) and continues to study Tai Chi and Qigong with Grandmaster Sam Tam and Daoist Qigong with Eva Wong.
Pamiya Opoku
For Pamiya, fitness is all about freedom. When we feel well on the inside, it shows up in how we move, how we connect, and how we live. Pamiya is certified in Cycle, MixxedFit®️, and Group Personal Training, and brings energy, encouragement, and community to every class she teaches. She has lost 100 pounds naturally, but what she is most proud of isn’t the number—it’s the motivation and mindset it takes to keep going, day by day. Whether it’s walking around the block on a rest day, or clocking 6 miles with a friend and 3 more with my mom, Pamiya makes movement joyful and sustainable. Her daughter (a high school junior!) keeps her inspired, and her West African roots keep her dance moves spicy. Let’s work together to move with purpose, connect with joy, and celebrate every win—big or small. Oh, and if we’re outdoors or sharing tacos after a workout? Even better.
Ruth Soskin
Ruth had been a McGaw Y member several years before she joined the Group Exercise team. She began as a yoga sub and then became an ongoing instructor. Recently, Ruth added Pilates-yoga fusion to her Y offerings, classes for older adults, as well as subbing for other fitness classes. Fitness has always been an essential part of her life. Ruth looks at fitness as one of her ADLs (activities of daily living). Because she wants as many people as possible to include fitness as part of their ADLs, Ruth tries to modify poses and activities to meet the needs of the participants. When she’s not working, Ruth enjoys hiking, the arts, spending time with friends and family and seeing the world!
Rhonda Stein
Rhonda is a physician and has been physically active all of her adult life. She discovered Zumba almost 11 years ago and has been teaching for 8 years. Rhonda loves that Zumba doesn’t feel like exercise- it feels like fun but still makes you fit! Works every part of your body, including your brain. Rhonda loves the people and the spirit at the Y.
Nina Tatarowicz
RYT-200, GYROTONIC®️ certified, LES MILLS BODYPUMP certified Nina's yoga journey began during college in Iyengar classes and provided balance during her Argentine Tango career. Nina's passion for dance, Yoga, and biomechanics has driven her 20 years in movement education, helping others find bodily freedom. She has taught the GYROTONIC®️ Method since 2008, a mind-body method rooted in Yoga. Its mat version, GYROKINESIS®️, enhances her chair Yoga classes. A 2018 Yoga Medicine certified teacher, Nina's practice is influenced by Iyengar, Integral Yoga (Stella Dettoni), and teachers like Ivorie Jenkins and Doug Keller. She recently became a certified LES MILLS BODYPUMP instructor, and it’s always a thrill to share her love of weight training to great beats! In whichever system she is teaching, Nina is grateful for her students and aims to harmonize their minds and bodies through breath and movement, fostering alignment, focus, and a sense of wholeness.
Kristy Vandekerckhove
Kristy is a certified fitness professional with over 20 years of experience teaching for various facilities in the greater Chicagoland area both in-person and online. She holds AFAA certifications for both group exercise and personal training and has the experience and/or licensing to instruct: ZUMBA, WERQ Dance Fitness, ZUMBA GOLD, Aquatic Fitness, Aqua ZUMBA, HIIT/fusion style classes, CXWORX, Strength, Step, Cardio Kickboxing, Strength, Matwork, and TRX. Though she has taught many formats, ZUMBA holds a special place in her heart. The reasons are simple: 1) It’s an effective, engaging workout. 2) she shuns the idea that working out has to be grueling or competitive. No one needs another stressor in life. Kristy’s classes are a no-judgment zone; just come be your awesome self. 3) Every class feels like a party! If you are looking for a calorie-torching, mood-boosting workout where time flies…Kristy’s Zumba class is where it’s at.
Neticia Waldron
Neticia is an esteemed healthcare administrator with over 16 years of dedicated service in the industry. Her passion for holistic wellness extends beyond the confines of her professional endeavors, evident in her multifaceted pursuits and successes as a published author of "Worship and Warfare," founder of Whole Woman Fitness and Recovery Spa and minister at First Church of God CLC in Evanston. Neticia's life is a testament to the boundless possibilities that arise when passion, purpose and faith converge. Through her various roles and endeavors, she continues to inspire and empower individuals to live life abundantly and fulfill their God-given potential.
Courtney Winkler
Yoga
While living and traveling in India and Nepal in 1990, Courtney was fascinated to experience yoga in its birthplace. She has been a lifelong student and teacher of many different styles of yoga since that time.Courtney has taught students from all walks of life and of all different ages and abilities throughout the years. From preschoolers to teenagers to mid-lifers to ninety-year-old students, Courtney believes that yoga is for everybody and every-type-of-body. It is a functional toolbox of practices that can bring strength, balance, and respite to the mind, body, and spirit.As a practicing astrologer and educator, Courtney looks to the daily planetary alignments to inspire her classes. As students arrive to class, she checks in with them to see what requests they may have. She then personalizes the class focus to fit both the day’s energy and students’ needs. Asana (Shapes), Pranayama (Breathwork), Mantra (Chants/Focus), Mudra (Hand gestures), and Meditation are all included in Courtney’s classes.When Courtney is not teaching yoga, she enjoys travelling the world, live music, studying astrology, and spending time with her hubby and 4 (adult) children. Her personal life mission is to “spread love and self-acceptance one person at a time.”