Click on the names below to meet the members of our Fitness team!
All of our instructors hold national certifications in their area of expertise.
Interested in teaching a fitness class for Campus Recreation? Email fitness@scu.edu for more information or students, see our employment page.
Elena is a senior at Santa Clara from San Diego, CA. She is certified through ACE in Barre Intensity, a method that combines Pilates, dance, and functional fitness training. With a lifelong passion for dance and her experience on the SCU Dance Team, she enjoys bringing her dance background into fitness. Elena took her first barre class at Malley during her freshman year and was immediately drawn to the group atmosphere and the way it blended dance technique into low-impact, high-intensity exercises. These classes weren’t just a workout but a way to clear the mind and leave feeling energized.
She strives to create a welcoming class environment where people of all fitness levels and backgrounds can come to feel encouraged, challenged, and motivated.
Giovanna is a senior studying Bioengineering from Connecticut. She grew up training in ballet for 15 years and later transitioned her passion for movement into yoga when she came to Santa Clara. She has also taught ballet, modern, and acrobatics to children ages 2-12, which sparked her love for teaching. Giovanna completed her 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training (YTT) and strives to create classes that build strength, flexibility, and mindfulness both on and off the mat.
Jerrica's martial arts journey began at teenage years in Tae Kwon Do, then by Choi Kwan Do in her thirties. Her passion for martial arts was reignited during pandemic, restarting her training in various cardio martial arts workouts in the Bay Area. She became a certified instructor in 2022 and has been a YMCA combat instructor a year after. She wants to give back to the community, help members to learn basic martial arts technique, to utilize full body movements to improve energy, power & agility. She welcomes all ages in her class, coaching individual to learn their body capability, improve their cardiovascular health by unleashing their inner warrior to maximize exercise enjoyment.
Maggie is a senior cycling instructor from downtown Chicago. She is an Economics major at the Leavey School of Business. Having grown up involved in musical theater and various athletic activities, Maggie has found a passion for cycling classes, as they combine music, movement, and motivation to elevate a workout that is both fun and beneficial. As a certified Spinning Instructor, Maggie hopes to use her classes as a tool to bring the SCU community together, offering a variety of classes adhered to the interests of attendees. She looks forward to an exciting new season and to seeing you on the bike!
Mx. Monique Moon (they/them) is a YTT500 alum of the Ignite Institute for Yogic Leadership and Social Change and a first-generation college graduate of LMU. They have been practicing yoga since 2009 and teach with reverence in the Shankaracharya tradition, drawing from a deep personal commitment to both study and spiritual practice. Their yoga lineage flows through the teachings of Susanna Barkataki and has been further shaped by their mentors in training: Sunaina Madhav Dasi, Linda Lopes, and M. Camellia. Monique’s approach to yoga is rooted in cultural awareness, ancestral wisdom, and social change. Their spiritual practices are a divine inheritance from their Muisca, Latin American, and healed European ancestors. Their grandparents immigrated to the United States (California and New York) from Colombia, Guatemala, and Italy in the 1940s and 1960s, shaping the path they walk today.
Nadia is an ACE Certified Personal Trainer and an experienced 500-hour registered yoga teacher (e-RYT 500). She enjoys combining her knowledge of strength training with yoga to design programs that help students transform their energy levels, boost their confidence and strength, and live happier, healthier lives. Her main goals with her yoga practice and strength routine are to increase her vertical leap and swing power to defeat her opponents in volleyball, to feel like a ninja when she practices handstands and other arm balances, and to feel balanced and at peace with herself and the world around her.
Sheyda is a dedicated and passionate yoga instructor with over 6 years of experience. She completed her RYT 200-hour training in Mysore, India, in 2019 and specializes in Vinyasa Flow, Power Yoga, and Hatha Yoga. Sheyda’s classes emphasize body awareness, muscle control, and mind-body alignment, focusing on strength, flexibility, and balance. Her inclusive teaching style incorporates props and modifications, making yoga accessible to all levels. Sheyda is committed to creating a supportive environment where students can explore their practice, strengthen their bodies, and discover inner peace.