Group Fitness Instructor Bios

Want to get to know your group fitness instructors? Read about 'em here!
In alphabetical order.

Turkan Aydogmus

Turkan has been a group fitness instructor since 1998 and since 2003 a personal trainer at the Rec Center at Texas A&M University, College Station. Currently she teaches at A&M, Rice University and Weekly YMCA on West University. She's also coordinating Group X at The University of Houston. She's certified and has taught a variety of classes including: Yoga, kickboxing, step, resistance training, Hi-Lo, dance, water exercise, and spinning. Turkan enjoys working with individuals as well as groups. And believes that personal fitness and health influence us throughout our lifetime. Therefore, she's dedicated to helping people set and achieve realistic goals by providing motivation, knowledge, and skills.

Rimo Berg

From Rimo: "I received my group fitness instructor certification through AFAA in 2001 and have since taught a variety of classes—such as step, kickboxing, hard 'n' heavy, BOSU, and bootcamp—in Montana, Georgia, and now Texas. I work at Rice also in another capacity, yet with health promotion as an overarching goal, and am thrilled to be part of such a life-affirming and supportive environment."

Michelle Bost

From Michelle: "I have been teaching fitness classes since Jun 2003 and dance classes since high school. I received my group fitness certification in April of 2004 and graduated from Rice in that May with a BA in Kinesiology-Sports Medicine. While at Rice, I spent most of my free hours with Rice Dance Theatre. I will be attending medical school this August and hope to continue leading fitness classes as long as my body will let me. My favorite exercise is a partner hamstring strengthener; you’ll have to come to my class to see it!"

Meg DePriest

Meg has spent the last decade practicing and studying yoga. Yoga helps her quiet her mind and enhances her physical and mental strength. Meg trained with Lex Gillan of The Yoga Institute and is a Yoga Alliance registered instructor. Meg's classes incorporate meditation, flowing sequences, and attention to alignment. Her teaching philosophy is continually shaped by her daily practice and the wonderful experience of raising her son.

Cynthia Edmiston

Cynthia has been teaching Pilates since 2004, first as a substitute and then as a certified instructor. She came to Pilates in 2001 when she developed bilateral plantar fasciitis and could no longer take her daily ballet classes. She had performed with Austin Ballet Theatre, Texas Ballet, and Boston Chamber Ballet in a 15-year career, and taught ballet in dance studios and as an academic subject. Cynthia also holds 3 degrees in Linguistics—the Masters and Ph.D. from Rice--and another Masters in Teaching English as a Foreign Language. She taught Linguistics and English grammar, English as a Foreign Language, and trained language teachers at universities in Boston and Houston for 25 years. Cynthia is certified through the PhysicalMind Institute in NYC, and she also teaches at the Houston City Club. She enjoys reading, studying new subjects, and traveling.

Ian Jones

Group Fitness Instructor Ian is an explosion on the scene here at Rice as a freshman at Martel. He comes with a lot of experience in group fitness and spearheads our Fit to Move classes at lunch time MWF. Be sure to stop in and check out this energetic and talented instructor!

Jessica Koontz

Jessica Koontz has been a Fitness Instructor for almost 5 years. She loves teaching kickboxing and step aerobics. Her goal in each fitness class is to provide a safe, challenging, fun workout in a comfortable environment for all who attend.

Larry Martinez

Group Fitness Instructor Larry has stepped up to teach our second evening Cardio Kickboxing classes here at Rice. Larry brings to Fitness programs a new perspective to this fun and calorie-burning format and is eager to give you a great workout. We are happy to have him on our team. Check out his class sometime TTh 5:30 p.m. in the Wiess Dance Room.

Sarah Niewola

Originally from Pittsburgh, PA, Sarah earned her BFA in dance from Belhaven College in Jackson, MS. She moved to Texas in 2002 to dance with Ad Deum Dance Company. After traveling and performing with that group for 4 years Sarah is in her first season as a company member of Psophonia Dance Company. She teaches all levels, ages and genres of dance at the Houston Metropolitan Dance Center and is certified in Mat Pilates. Joining Rice in January of 2007, she is also on staff at the Houston City Club, and Trotter Family YMCA.

Rhia Perkins

Rhia teaches hatha yoga. Using meditation, integrated breath and movement, her teaching focuses on building strength, flexibility and grace while connecting to the internal and spiritual aspects of yoga. In Rhia's classes, you'll find a supportive environment for growth, discovery and joy.

She is certified by both 8 Limbs Yoga Centers in Seattle and Santa Barbara Yoga Center. Her greatest influences include yoga master Erich Schiffman, Anne Phyfe Palmer, Sarah Powers and Rama Jyoti Vernon.

Kelsey Rittenberry

Kelsey received her ACE certification in 2005. She enjoys teaching dance, body blast, and yoga. She has taught at Texas A&M, Sedona Fitness Spa, Rice, and the Y.M.C.A. She is originally from Dallas and recently moved to Houston for Law School. She loves her family, her cat Lady, and chocolate ice cream.

Kathy Ritz

From Kathy: "I received my Group Fitness Instructor Certification in 2003 through AFAA. I am also certified to teach Rep Reebok, a strength training format that I love. I have taught at 24 Hour Fitness, the YMCA and Rice. I graduated from Texas Tech University with a degree in Psychology. I have three great kids, a wonderful husband and I love staying fit and encouraging others in their pursuit of health."

Riva Robinson

Riva Z. Robinson is a certified group fitness instructor by the American Council on Exercise (ACE). She is also senior from Martel College and will be graduating in May 2008 with a degree in Kinesiology, focusing particularly on Sports Medicine. Growing up as a highly competitive gymnast, Riva has always seen physical fitness as an integral part of her life. When she ended her gymnastics career in high school, Riva found she had a passion for weight lifting and group exercise and knew that she would one day play an active role in helping other people achieve their fitness goals. After graduating, Riva will be attending Baylor College of Medicine, where she will further pursue her dream of becoming a Sports Medicine physician and orthopedic surgeon.

Blue Siytangco

One of only four in the US, Master Siytangco is an official 20th Generation Successor of Chen Family Taijiquan under the auspices of 19th Generation Grandmaster Cheng Jin Cai. This lineage stems directly from other famous and skilled practitioners such as 19th Generation Grandmasters Chen Zheng Lei and Wang Xi'an, 18th Generation Grandmasters Chen Zhou Pei and Chen Zhou Kui, and 17th Generation Grandmaster Chen Fa Ke.

Master Siytangco is a title holder for five consecutive years in bare hand and weapons forms, as well as competitive push hands, a contact event. Included are three forms titles earned at the prestigious 2002 2nd Biennial Jiaozuo International Taijiquan Conference in Henan Province, China, the birthplace of Taijiquan. With over 25 years experience in the martial arts, he is dedicated to spreading the art of traditional Chen Style Taijiquan and all the benefits it has to offer. He has served as a board member for the USA Chen Tai Chi Federation and continues to teach at Grandmaster Cheng's school and other satellite locations. Master Siytangco also serves as a Judge for forms, push hands, and san shou events for various tournaments throughout the year and offers seminars on the entire Chen Taiji curriculum. Recently Master Siytangco opened the Blue Dragon Kung Fu Martial Arts and Wellness Center in the Houston Heights. If you would like to experience traditional Chen Style Taijiquan, please feel free to contact us or stop by.

Sharon Stinson

Nia Movement

Ronggen Sun

Professor Ronggen Sun has practiced Tai Chi and Chi Kung for all his life. He taught and did research on spine-health at Bai Qiu’en Medical College in China for 20 years. Prior to teaching career, he worked in hospitals. He was often a radio guest speaker on health before coming to U.S.A. Professor Sun has published articles in various journals as well as held numerous spine exercise workshops and classes in China, New York and Houston. His book on spine exercise program was published in 1996 and has obtained copy right from Library of Congress.

Shannon Wairegi

While studying Bio-Engineering as an undergraduate at Rice University, Shannon took a LPAP tai chi class where she volunteered to lead the morning Tai Chi exercises. Her love for Tai Chi only continues to grow. During the 2 years she lived in NYC, she performed morning Tai Chi exercises daily. Shannon has studied Chen style Tai Chi with Master Xu Zhong Xin and mixed martial arts with Mr. Joe McDaniel and Marafa Enzor.

Shannon has a strong passion for health and physical activities. She has run the Houston Marathon two years in a row; and has competed in hunter/jumper circuits, dressage, and three-day events. While modeling in NYC and working at Claremont Riding Academy, Shannon received a scholarship to study Pilates under Michelle Fama and Kim Villanueva, the founders and directors of Core Pilates. Shannon is fascinated by the mind-body connection and combines her experience and knowledge while teaching her clients how Pilates can change their bodies and also their lives. Her teaching emphasizes intelligent exercising to attain health of body, mind, and spirit. She is certified: Pilates Instructor, Acupressure, and Kick Boxing. Shannon is currently teaching at the HoustonianLite and Rice University.