Founders
Unique but United
Four fitness instructors, seeing each other’s unique strengths and talents, came together in a collaboration to bring their classes beyond the gym and outside their homes. Instructors can certify in 3 unique formats and utilize unique, structured, and to-the-beat choreography. Participants can workout in their own homes with truly, a one-stop shop for fitness.
Co-Founder
Maren Watkins
Maren has been Hooked on Aerobics since age three and has the home videos to prove it! By a crazy twist of fate, the original Hooked on Aerobics star (Michael himself) now cheers Maren on as one of her most loyal participants.
Maren spent her childhood keeping up with her five older siblings in everything sports and competition. She didn’t always win against their six-foot-four frames, but she did make everyone laugh, and she brings that same energy to every class. She truly makes UpBeat upbeat.
When she’s not leading and laughing with a class, she’s leading and laughing with her three littles and professor husband, Rob. In a previous life she taught high school and college English classes.
Co-Founder
Jane Johnson
Jane grew up hyperactive which lead to sugar restrictions. She eats her fair share of sugar now (swedish fish anyone?), but we still lovingly refer to her as our health nut. She lives to make people smile and loves offering her mentoring services as pay back for the gratitude she feels for the many mentors she has been blessed with.
Jane won’t tell you this, but she’s brilliant—her fingerprints touch every bit of business and coding behind UpBeat. Before UpBeat she BeatUp LA and DC’s finance and administration world and brings that skillset into UpBeat Barre.
When she’s not killing it in the role of boss babe, you can find her taking care of her four crazy kiddos with her rockstar attorney husband Seth, or playing volleyball, which she is average at.
Co-Founder
Kara Simmons
Kara grew up idolizing her group-fitness instructing mother’s every move; lucky for us, she never outgrew it. Her childhood brimmed over with dance classes, cheer, and laughter. There isn’t a get-together where Kara won’t be the last to leave.
Kara is our easy going fun lover. She is full of ambition, but definitely knows how to kick back. She’ll BeatUp any beach on earth so long as she has a soda and friends as accessories.
Kara loves health so much she got a degree in promoting it. (Which I just learned is a real thing while writing this; and now you know too.) When she’s not promoting health, she’s loving every minute of her non-stop daughters’ dancing, dresses, and discussions. She began teaching group fitness classes over 10 years ago. Her goal in teaching a group fitness class is not only give people a killer workout each time, but to show them how much fun they can have while sweating up a storm.
Co-Founder
Kimberly Pettitt
Kim loves creating—be it artistic projects, barre routines, or culinary creations. Feeling as much at home teaching in the gym as in her preschool classroom, she was born to instruct and she can’t wait to share her creations with the world.
Kim loves cooking heathy food for her four kids. Kim’s four kids hate that Kim cooks them heathy food and would rather eat Pringles—the crumbs of which litter her well-occupied car. (Where else is a gal going to Marco Polo her UpBeat besties?)
Kim loves her husband, her god, and her chocolate cinnamon bears. A depression/anxiety warrior, Kim is open and honest about real life and the struggles that come with it. She has a heart of gold which propels her forward to help others in turn; fitness being her favorite cure of choice.
The UpBeat Team
They're real sassy but super sweet, too.
UpBeat is so lucky to have these rockstars on the team
Founding Mother, CMO, Trainer
Tara Thompson
I've been teaching group fitness for 10 years and love the power of vibing together with a group of people, and moving our bodies to the beat of good music. I believe in inclusive fitness for every body. As a mother of a special needs daughter with disabilities, I know how important it is to strengthen my body for functional movement. We can't take care of those we love without taking care of ourselves first. I started working for UpBeat Barre in October of 2020 and have loved every second.
Notes Editor, Trainer
Jen Ward
I’m Jen Ward. By day I am a product manager and by night I teach UpBeat. I have been teaching group fitness and telling my famous fitness jokes for 9 years. I love traveling and seeking out adventures around the world. I am a one time winner of the Pretty Great Ward Family Bake Off. I love sharing my enthusiasm for fitness and helping others feel successful and welcome in every group fitness class.
Social Media Manager
Emily Herrerra
Hi, my name is Emily Herrera! I was born and raised in Las Vegas, NV where I still live with my husband and three children. I found group fitness in 2017 and fell in love with the community and workout. Now, I teach classes and have a dream job working with the UpBeat team. My favorite things are spending time and traveling with my family, snacking on chips and salsa, and creating graphic designs.
Homework Manager, Trainer
Melissa Cain
I am a dedicated fitness professional who enjoys helping others achieve their health and fitness goals. In another life, I would ve teaching 8th grade Earth Science, sharing my love for learning with the youths of the world. I'm married and a mother of 3 and try to balance my family life with my passion for fitness. When I'm not reading choreography notes, I enjoy reading a variety of fiction genres, finding joy in stories that spark my imagination and creativity.
Shipping Manager
Amanda Denning
Hi! I’m Amanda Denning! I’m married to my best friend, and together we have three wild and wonderful boys who keep life exciting. We love traveling and making memories as a family. I grew up dancing and have always missed it, but finding Upbeat Barre has been the perfect way to fill that void. I’ve been teaching for almost two years now, and I truly love every second of it! One of my favorite things about UpBeat Barre is that it’s designed for everybody and every body—I was even able to teach with modifications up until two weeks before delivering my last baby! In addition to teaching, I also handle shipping for the company, and I couldn’t be more grateful to be part of the UpBeat team. This incredible community has brought me so many wonderful friendships, and I love sharing this format with others!
Homework Manager, Trainer
Ashley Rasmussen
I live outside of Nashville in Hendersonville, TN (fun fact: T. Swift grew up here). I've been an Upbeat instructor and enthusiast since 2021 and taught group fitness for a few years prior to that. When I'm not wrangling my 4 kids and dog or watching football (Go Buckeyes!), I love spending my time in the group fitness setting, focusing on making class everyone’s happy hour.
College Program Director
Shelly Merritt
Hi my name is Shelly Merritt and I have been teaching group fitness for about 6 years now and teaching Upbeat Barre for the last 2 and a half and I love every second of it (seriously this format rocks).As a retired dancer I started teaching group fitness in college to find a new outlet and I have been HOOKED ever since!! The group fitness community is my favorite little corner of the world and I wouldn’t trade it for anything!
I am excited to workout with you wherever you are, and let’s get connected!!
Pilates Specialist, Trainer
Allison Steinfelt
Movement has been medicine for me ever since I was twelve years old and would do Pilates DVDs on the floor in my living room. I was lucky enough to certify in UpBeat Barre at the very first test training in 2020 and believe it was one of the best decisions I've ever made - I LOVE UpBeat! I'm also certified with AFAA, High Fitness, and trained in STOTT Pilates. My ultimate goal in teaching is for participants to leave class feeling successful and good about their own bodies. I'm also a registered dietitian and believe ALL foods can fit into a healthy lifestyle (brownies included!). I'm a mom of three and always up for a nap, a good tv series, or a Diet Dr Pepper run.
Trainer
Jami Robison-Healey
Hi! I’m Jami and I’ve been teaching group fitness for ten years. Food is my love language. Eating, making, giving. I’ve never seen E.T. but love The Goonies. During college I lived in Spanish Harlem for a summer to attend a dance workshop. My husband and I love watching tv at night and two of our favorite series include the BBC’s Sherlock Holmes and Seinfeld. I graduated with a BS in biology composite teaching with a minor in dance teaching and taught for five years in the secondary schools. Teaching all the UpBeat formats has checked all the functional movement boxes an old lady like me needs as she ages and I have loved it.
Trainer
Lauren Mortensen
Hi! I’m a nature loving Scorpio fueled by caffeine and spite. When I’m not teaching UpBeat classes, you can find me paddleboarding and hiking with my family. I’ve got the sense of humor of a preteen boy, and the attention span to match.
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Trainer
Gil Gremmert
Hi I’m Gil (It’s Jill with a G – short for Gillian) and I live in Western NY. When I’m not teaching group fitness classes, I’m usually listening to an audio book, chatting on Marco Polo, riding my motorcycle, or spending time with my little family. I have a garden that boasted a bounty of 5 ripe raspberries and almost a dozen peas last year. Luckily, I’m better with children than I am with plants because I have two amazing kids aged 7 and 1. I also taught elementary school for 8 years before becoming a fitness instructor. I absolutely love being part of the UpBeat community and my favorite part is inviting others to join it!
Trainer
Lora Knight
My name is Lora Knight from McKinney, TX and I have been teaching group fitness since 2018. It brings me so much joy to share my love of all 3 UpBeat formats with my class participants and my trainees! My favorite part of UpBeat? Every class is an amazing workout set to the best music!
Trainer
Linda Dodd
Hi, I’m Linda! I live in sunny Phoenix, Arizona, and I love teaching group fitness. I started ballet at age 3 and that early start has led me to adore UpBeat Barre. When I’m not teaching, you can find me hiking the beautiful Arizona trails, visiting our country’s National Parks, or trying out new recipes. I absolutely love spreading the UpBeat love and helping our community grow stronger together!
Trainer
Kaycie Foster
I live in Charlotte, NC with my husband and 3 kids. I have been teaching group fitness for 10 years and am passionate about making sure my classes are inclusive, effective, and fun! I love teaching UpBeat and helping it grow so as many people as possible can experience a class. I love to read, travel, be outside with my family, eat tacos, and quote “Friends.”
Trainer
Cheryl Aoys
Hi I’m Cheryl and I am married with 3 wonderful boys. I own a small gym in Southern California and have been a personal trainer/group fitness instructor for over 10 years. In my spare time I home school my youngest 6 year old, which has been a fun adventure. I love to travel, hike, zip line and love almost anything to stay active, but don’t ask me to swim in the ocean. I’m deathly afraid of what lies below. I grew up doing gymnastics and cheer, and I have always enjoyed dancing and doing sports. UpBeat Barre has been the perfect format to combine my love of exercise and moving to music!
Trainer
Carolyn Gardner
Hi! I love fitness, music and fun…all things you can find in an UpBeat class! I live in Mesa, Arizona with my husband and 4 kids, and have been teaching group fitness since 2016. My goal is to help participants feel successful and leave class with a smile on their face.
