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).
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.
Mysti Cobb
Indoor Cycling, Pilates
Mysti has been teaching Pilates for over twelve years. As a former dancer, she believes movement from the core provides graceful, aligned, and pain-free mobility. Her experience as a massage therapist provides an understanding of release and strength that is needed for balanced and holistic health. She is a certified Schwinn Cycling instructor and AFAA Group fitness instructor. Mysti believes that physical activity of any sort, on a daily basis, is essential for mental, emotional, and spiritual health.
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.
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.
Tina Dillard
Step Aerobics
Tina Dillard is a Certified Step Aerobics instructor. Her passion for step was cultivated right here at the YMCA in 2016. Tina has a passion for Aerobic exercise and believes that moving the body and getting your heart pumping, in any form, is the best thing you can do for you. Tina is currently working on her Personal Training certification, hoping to one day train people to live good and feel good.
Erica Granchalek
Aqua Fit
I became interested in Water Fitness about 15 years ago when I fell on the ice in a Walgreens parking lot and sprained an ankle and injured my shoulder. I realized that exercising in the water was the only way I could keep up with any type of fitness while recovering. The instructors at the Y were excellent and I quickly studied for my Y certification. The participants in the class spurred me on and I studied for my AEA - a nationally recognized certification. Water Aerobics offers cardio, strength training, increases endurance and balance while in the company of the nicest people you'll ever meet - all at McGaw Y. Participants are interested in "wellness" which is contagious. They often comment on how important it was during Covid, the being with others and raising their heart rate. It's exciting to see individuals become more fit, at times losing desired weight and improving coordination.
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.
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.
Kate Rice
Yoga
Kate started practicing yoga in her Washington, DC gym during grad school. She quickly fell in love with vinyasa yoga and practiced everywhere she could. After completing yoga teacher training in Chicago in 2014, Kate continued with a variety of trauma informed yoga teacher trainings and taught in gyms, studios, residential buildings, residential homeless shelters, and Cook County Jail. She's currently enrolled in a 300-hour yoga teacher training. Her mission is to empower students to make compassionate choices and build stronger body-mind connections. Kate has one cat named Flora and when she’s not teaching, Kate enjoys traveling and cooking.
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.
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.