OUR INSTRUCTORS

Meet the Professionals Dedicated to Improving Your Overall Fitness

Amanda

Amanda, our Lead Instructor and Master Trainer, began her love of movement at the age of 3, when she stepped into her first ballet class. 15 years of dance training earned her a 4-year spot on the nationally ranked Towson University Dance Team. After graduating, Amanda danced professionally, most notably for the former New Jersey Devils Dancers. In 2016, she completed her 200-hour RYT and began her journey as a yoga instructor. She left her tenured teaching position to pursue this new career path. Amanda stepped into her first class at the studio in 2019, 20 weeks pregnant, and never left! She is grateful to be able to be able to do what she loves each and every day.

Annie

Annie is a certified Zumba instructor and is excited to be a part of the FORWARD Fitness family. She loves being able to share her joy of movement with her students and how this platform creates an environment of fun that is supportive of both physical and mental well-being. When not teaching, she works in the non-profit space. In her spare time, she can be found watching movies, decorating for the next seasonal holiday, and spending time with her fiancé, two dogs and cat.

Catherine

Every morning you have two choices: continue to sleep with your dreams. Or wake up and chase them.” Three years ago Catherine set the alarm of life and started a journey of transformation rooted in health and wellness. Fitness is her passion and she brings it with her to every session. A mom of three boys, best friend to an old Golden Retriever, and now a certified Barre/Body and Cycle instructor, she has found her calling in helping others in their journey here at Forward.

Ellen

Ellen is a fitness enthusiast, with a 200 HR RYT certification. Fitness has always been a part of her life. Life follows her passion. From her early years at school with art to fashion to children, and now health and wellness. Her motto, find what you love to do and go there.

Jen

Jen has been teaching for over 10 years and has extensive experience in Thai massages, Yin Yoga, mat pilates, and overall wellness. She combines all of these modalities into a truly unique experience.

Josiah

Josiah's strengths are functional movement, and corrective exercise training. Josiah' prides himself on being an excellent motivator and truly practices what he preaches. He is NASM Certified Personal Trainer and CPR/BLS certified. He has a blue belt in Brazilian Jujitsu and enjoys competing in 'Tough Mudder' and Spartan races in his spare time.

Marieliz

Marieliz started her career in fitness back in 2009 when she fell in love with transforming her body for Bodybuilding Figure Competitions. She was featured in fitness magazines such as Muscle Mag, and Muscular Development. She became so passionate about the lifestyle and training she decided to become a personal trainer to help others reach their fitness goals. She is a Certified personal trainer, and has certifications in Spin, Barre, and TRX. When she isn’t on a bike or teaching a fitness class, she is doing real estate!

Sarah

Sarah stepped into her first Forward Fitness Studio class in September 2022 and by December 2022 began her journey as a barre and cycle instructor. Sarah loved how immediately Forward Fitness took her in and it felt like one big family. Fitness has always been a factor in Sarah’s life, growing up playing a variety of sports and tap dancing. Sarah is professionally trained in Musical Theatre through the Academy for Visual and Performing Arts at the Bergen County Academies. In addition to her awareness of the importance of physical health, she views mental health with equal importance. She is currently pursuing a Masters of Education in Clinical Mental Health and School Counseling.

Stephanie

Stephanie DeNicola is thrilled to be teaching at Forward Fitness after becoming a member in 2020. A dancer since childhood and a former fitness competitor, Stephanie fell in love with the fitness world in college where she discovered the art of transforming the physique. Today, she loves empowering her clients to reach their health goals through exercise, lifestyle, and nutrition, with a focus also on inner wellbeing. In addition to her full time corporate career in the beauty industry, Stephanie adds makeup artistry to her credit for over 25 years. “What makes you unique, makes you beautiful.”

Summer

Summer first was introduced to movement when she began dancing at the young age of 3. She instantly fell in love with all things dance-related and pursued a dance career up until she attended college at Fordham University. From there, she continued to dance whenever possible, however as opportunities became more limited, she turned to fitness to fill the void left by dance, taking hundreds of group fitness classes all across the city. When Summer returned home to Allendale, she walked into our doors to take a bounce class and immediately fell in love with the way the body connects to the beat and you move to the music. From then on, Summer frequented our classes daily as a client. She now teaches trampoline, barre, cycle and dance cardio. Summer is currently pursuing a further degree to be a licensed School Psychologist.

Amanda

Studio Manager / Master Instructor

Barre, Cycle, Dance Cardio, Trampoline, Yoga

Catherine

Studio Director / Senior Instructor

Barre,Cycle,Trampoline,Strength Training,Personal Training

Ellen

Senior Instructor

Barre, Cycle, Trampoline

Summer

Senior Instructor

Barre, Cycle , Dance Cardio, Trampoline

Marieliz

Instructor / Personal Trainer

Full Body Strength, TRX

Stephanie

Instructor / Personal Trainer

Joselyn

Pilates Instructor

Pilates Reformer Fusion

Sarah

Instructor

Devon

Pilates Instructor

Pilates Reformer Fusion

Josiah

Personal Trainer

Personal Training, Strength Training

Stephanie

Summer

Amanda

Amanda, our Lead Instructor and Master Trainer, began her love of movement at the age of 3, when she stepped into her first ballet class. 15 years of dance training earned her a 4-year spot on the nationally ranked Towson University Dance Team. After graduating, Amanda danced professionally, most notably for the former New Jersey Devils Dancers. In 2016, she completed her 200-hour RYT and began her journey as a yoga instructor. She left her tenured teaching position to pursue this new career path. Amanda stepped into her first class at the studio in 2019, 20 weeks pregnant, and never left! She is grateful to be able to be able to do what she loves each and every day.

Cathy

Every morning you have two choices: continue to sleep with your dreams. Or wake up and chase them.” Three years ago Catherine set the alarm of life and started a journey of transformation rooted in health and wellness. Fitness is her passion and she brings it with her to every session. A mom of three boys, best friend to an old Golden Retriever, and now a certified Barre/Body and Rev instructor, she has found her calling in helping others in their journey here at Forward.

Devon

Devon is a certified yoga and Pilates instructor. Her yoga teaching focuses mainly on Vinyasa and Yin Yoga. In her spare time, she competes in half & full marathons, spends time with her husband and cat, loves to read, and is always learning more about Pilates and yoga.

Ellen

Ellen is a fitness enthusiast, with a 200 HR RYT certification. Fitness has always been a part of her life. Life follows her passion. From her early years at school with art to fashion to children, and now health and wellness. Her motto, find what you love to do and go there.

Josiah

Josiah's strengths are functional movement, and corrective exercise training. Amanda' prides herself on being an excellent motivator and truly practices what she preaches. He is NASM Certified Personal Trainer and CPR/BLS certified. He has a blue belt in Brazilian Jujitsu and enjoys competing in 'Tough Mudder' and Spartan races in his spare time.

Marieliz

Marieliz started her career in fitness back in 2009 when she fell in love with transforming her body for Bodybuilding Figure Competitions. She was featured in fitness magazines such as Muscle Mag, and Muscular Development. She became so passionate about the lifestyle and training she decided to become a personal trainer to help others reach their fitness goals. She is a Certified personal trainer, and has certifications in Spin, Barre, and TRX. When she isn’t on a bike or teaching a fitness class, she is doing real estate!

Sarah

Sarah stepped into her first Forward Fitness Studio class in September 2022 and by December 2022 began her journey as a barre and cycle instructor. Sarah loved how immediately Forward Fitness took her in and it felt like one big family. Fitness has always been a factor in Sarah’s life, growing up playing a variety of sports and tap dancing. Sarah is professionally trained in Musical Theatre through the Academy for Visual and Performing Arts at the Bergen County Academies. In addition to her awareness of the importance of physical health, she views mental health with equal importance. She is currently pursuing a Masters of Education in Clinical Mental Health and School Counseling.

Summer

Summer first was introduced to movement when she began dancing at the young age of 3. She instantly fell in love with all things dance-related and pursued a dance career up until she attended college at Fordham University. From there, she continued to dance whenever possible, however as opportunities became more limited, she turned to fitness to fill the void left by dance, taking hundreds of group fitness classes all across the city. When Summer returned home to Allendale, she walked into our doors to take a bounce class and immediately fell in love with the way the body connects to the beat and you move to the music. From then on, Summer frequented our classes daily as a client. She now teaches trampoline, barre, cycle and dance cardio. Summer is currently pursuing a further degree to be a licensed School Psychologist.

At FORWARD, we pride ourselves on our diverse range of classes, which is made possible because of our exceptional group of instructors. FORWARD instructors have diverse disciplines ranging from former dancers to bodybuilders who use their unique backgrounds to put their own spins on classes.

The process to teach a signature class at FORWARD is rigorous. First, each instructor must undergo extensive training in vital areas such as anatomy, class sequencing, and musicality. This intensive training allows the instructors to modify each class with new music and movements while adhering to the fundamentals.

Once the instructor has completed their training, they must pass a comprehensive exam, and then demonstrate what they have leaned by successfully teaching a mock class for current instructors.

Our instructors are what make FORWARD special. We love them, and after your first class, we know you’ll love them too.

Unlimited Membership

Guest Allowance
3 per year

Workshop Discount
20%

Rate Lock
12 months

Pilates class price
$30.00

Cancellation
$25 or 30 days notice

Personal Training Discount
0%

Late Fee
$15.00

Membership Freeze
Once per year for one month
$15 fee