we can’t wait to meet you
Our Team
This team of instructors we’ve gathered is truly top notch. You are in incredible hands with their deft skills, confident leadership and heart-forward personalities.
Roxanne
Studio Owner, Zumba et al
Roxanne she/her
After over 13 years of instructing, Roxanne is thrilled to introduce you to the realization of her long-held dream of owning a studio. She has profound respect for and is humbly honored to have such a talented group of instructors agree to join as a collective bringing you quality classes that promise to foster your best self. The potential of this studio is great: we aim to be a welcoming and safe place for our community to connect and share life-affirming moments. This is needed now more than ever.
Roxanne will continue to bring you effective Zumba classes that are jam packed with energy, infused with heart and more than a little sweaty. From the start, she’s been passionate about promoting an environment that is about self-love, non-judgment, granting ourselves levity, and encouraging every single person regardless of their background and ability level. In support of your journey, she’ll continue to not push quick fix fad diets and products on you. Her personal goal: An all-around approach to help you get healthier, happier, more connected, and more active! She also is keen on supporting women through all their transitions in life, recognizing that there is strength and wisdom that comes from all that we uniquely experience.
Roxanne’s foundation is her family. She adores her husband, Ryan, her collegiate daughter, Charlotte and high schooler son, Hayden. She looks forward to welcoming you to Focus Forward Studio!
Birgit
Reps + Sets
Birgit she/her
Birgit is a certified ACE Personal Trainer, VDOT Run Coach, Stages Indoor Cycling Instructor, and TRX Instructor. She has specialty training in balance and movement for older adults, as well as performance athletic training and injury prevention. As a high school and collegiate athlete, she has always loved a physical challenge, and began teaching physical skills at 18 as a SCUBA instructor, and as teacher for ropes course facilitators. Birgit has an MA in education and pursued a more traditional career teaching and curriculum writing in the non-profit world. Personal health and fitness never took a back position, and as her passion grew in helping others achieve goals, personal training became the most rewarding fit. Birgit is a distance runner and has been a run-streaker running at least one mile every day, since December of 2013. As a result, she is deeply committed to helping others get and stay healthy, be injury free, meet personal goals, and obtain the ability to do all the things that bring them joy. Birgit is mom to two teenage boys, is an adoring wife, and dog lover. She also loves skiing & snowshoeing, paddle boarding, cooking, and travel.
Brittany
Stretch & Strength High Yo
Brittany
Brittany was born and raised in Santa Rosa, CA. Fitness and exercise became an interest early on. Growing up playing soccer as well as joining her mom on the Jazzercise dance floor in Elementary School, she learned exercise could be fun as well as social. After having her son in 2006, she realized she was missing the joy of working out with others. She hopped back into a Jazzercise class and decided right away that she wanted to teach. Holding a Jazzercise certification for 8 years and sharing her love for fitness with others was one of her most favorite memories. Helping others see that health and exercise can be a fun and positive experience has always been a driving force. She took a break from teaching in 2015, but stayed very active in the fitness world by attending Zumba classes multiple times a week as well as doing her own workouts at home. Recently she realized something very important was missing from her daily routine… stretching. Something so understated, but so important, she decided to go through High Fitness to receive a certification in a program called High Yo. She is extremely excited and eager to share this yoga inspired music driven stretch class and is thrilled to be back on the dance floor instructing.
Elena
Pilates, Rolling and Stretch
Elena she/her
Elena has spent most of her young life as a student and teacher of movement, technique and form. As a young dancer in her hometown of San Pedro, CA, she enjoyed everything from tap to lyrical to hip hop. When she wasn’t practicing, she was teaching dance fundamentals to a younger generation. In high school, she was admired for her dance talent, twice earning top honors. That experience helped her earn a spot in the national top-10 dance program at CSULB. While at Long Beach State, Elena enrolled in a course in Pilates, which, for a dancer with sometime anatomical issues, was a revelation. After college graduation, she immersed herself in the exercise discipline, earning her BASI certificate and mentoring under noted teacher Karen Clippinger. In the years that followed, she became a popular practitioner of both Reformer and Mat disciplines in the Long Beach/Orange County area. That process gave Elena a renewed sense of confidence in her ability to teach tried-and-true principles to grateful students—everyone from high school dancers, to pregnant moms, to appreciative seniors.
Emily
Zumba
Emily
Emily has always had a love of dance, as well as a passion for fitness. Originally from Santa Cruz, she has been a Santa Rosa resident for the past 14 years with her three kids and hard-working husband. In 2016 she started her journey into Kids’ Zumba and enjoyed teaching kiddos throughout Sonoma County schools, libraries, and studios. In the last few years, she ventured deeper into teaching adult Zumba which she found she loved just as much.
Emily has a passion for teaching anyone at any level; you do not have to be a professional dancer or have perfect rhythm to enjoy her class. Exercise can be fun, and dancing does not only have its physical benefits, but builds confidence and increases our mental and emotional wellness. Emily looks forward to sharing the love of dance fitness with this fabulous studio while continuing to build strength and community.
Fernanda
Gentle Pilates
Fernanda she/her
Originally from Brazil, Fernanda Subercaseaux began her Pilates journey when she developed severe neck and back issues from her job as a dental hygienist. She received her Pilates certification at Tone in Santa Rosa where she taught both mat Pilates and equipment Pilates for many years. Fernanda also worked as a certified Zumba instructor and absolutely loved shaking “what her mama gave her” at Tone and Keysight. Although she no longer teaches Zumba, she still loves participating in fitness dance classes in addition to the joy she receives in helping others strengthen and heal their bodies through Pilates movement.
Kameren
Zumba
Kameren she/her
Kameren has been a Zumba instructor for 3 years, starting during the pandemic and teaching outside in parking lots! She has been a lifelong dancer and loves all styles and types of music. In her Zumba classes you will hear contemporary reggaeton, dance/electronica, hip hop, urbano latino and pop. For Kameren, dance brings joy and is an important creative outlet. She loves to bring in new people who are looking for a way to increase fitness and may not have done Zumba yet. She also loves to snowboard, hike and paddle with her canoe club (when she can get back to visit Kona). Kameren is also a Nurse Practitioner and understands the importance of exercise to health and wellbeing. To make it sustainable, you must find exercise you love!
Lisa
Barre
Lisa she/her
Lisa has been involved in the fitness industry for the past 30 years and has always loved teaching and the energy created in the actual instruction of each class.
She has taught many different types of classes throughout the years, but by far her favorite is teaching Barre. Lisa considers core, posture and balance the foundation of a strong, healthy body and loves the concept of combining these things in a fitness format with dance elements.
She’s excited to bring you a fun and energetic class and hopes to see you at the Barre soon!
Rachel
Upbeat Barre
Rachel she/her
Rachel is a transplant to Santa Rosa who began teaching group fitness as a way to meet new friends with a common thread. This lead to a love for sharing with others her favorite ways to stay healthy, build confidence and create relationships. Rachel teaches Upbeat Barre which is music driven with a fun incorporation of popular radio hits. It will have you singing mid-class, forgetting that you’re also getting stronger at the same time. Her passion for teaching is palpable and seeing the smiles on participants faces is what keeps her going.
When not in the studio Rachel is a mother to two children, as well as a Registered Dental Hygienist. She enjoys cooking, any form of physical fitness, and being around family and friends. A native to Oregon, she appreciates a good cloudy day with a chance or rain. Rachel looks forward to seeing your smiles around the studio.
Tina
Zumba
Tina she/her
Tina’s passion is getting people moving and smiling. She has been teaching Zumba in Santa Rosa for over 15 years and is convinced everyone can and should dance . She is a lifelong lover of music and although she has tried to play many instruments, connects with it best through dance .
Previously an outdoor educator and science teacher, Tina now runs her own website design business. She is thrilled to be part of the Focus Forward team with its commitment to connection and community.
Vivian
Yoga
Vivian she/her
Vivian (RT200) started on her journey of self-awareness two decades ago when she stepped into her first meditation retreat. She has completed multiple yoga teacher trainings, attended over 2,500 hours of meditation retreats, and spent 14 years teaching meditation dances to adults and kids. She became deeply passionate about bringing the benefits of movement, yoga, and meditation to people from all walks of life. Her guidance and support encourage students to explore their potential, cultivate inner strength, and foster a profound connection between mind, body, and spirit. Vivian has guided individuals from diverse backgrounds, including those in recovery from cancer treatment, chronic illnesses, injuries, anxiety, trauma, and addiction. Her classes are not just physical experiences but transformative journeys through self-care, self-awareness, and self-empowerment. Vivian practices and teaches Vinyasa, Hatha, Yin Yoga, and mindfulness meditation, open to all levels. You can also find Vivian hiking, volunteering at Retreat Centers, or having too much fun at Zumba classes!
