Meet YWCA’s Certified Fitness Instructors

Every fitness instructor at Charlotte’s YWCA is certified in CPR, First Aid and AED (using an external defibrillator) as well as the specific certifications required for their specialty. (A list of organizations referred to in the credentials of each instructor are at the bottom of the page for your easy reference.)

Mary Casey
Certifications: RYT 200

Mary Casey is a longstanding, devoted member of the YWCA, where she loves to swim laps. She is also a committed yoga practitioner. Mary is excited to guide you in an engaging yoga practice where she intends to impart her learnings on yoga philosophy, postures, breathing, and mindfulness.

Emily Ciccarella
Certifications: Les Mills BODYPUMP and BODYCOMBAT

Emily moved to Charlotte from Buffalo, NY in 2019 and is a proud Bills fan these last few years. In her free time, she enjoys hiking in National Parks, playing sports, going to sporting events, and finding new things to do around Charlotte.

Brian Coffey
Certifications: Red Cross Lifeguard Instructor, Red Cross WSI Instructor

Brian has been working in the Aquatics Industry since 1992. He has been teaching swim lessons and/or coaching since 1995 and has been the Orange Crush Head Swim Coach since 2016. He also teaches CPR, First Aid, Lifeguard Training and Water Safety Instructor Training.

Sarah Cousar

Sarah is a yoga instructor at YWCA Central Carolinas. She typically leads the Monday night Vinyasa II/III class.

Bryan Crouse
Certifications: NASM Certified Personal Trainer

Bryan has been a certified personal trainer and metabolic specialist for over 5 years.

His major focuses are core strengthening, balance, flexibility and range of motion to help prevent/limit pain. He is a certified metabolic technician and incorporate specific cardiovascular zone training with heart rate monitors. As a met tech, he strives to help maximize cardiovascular health and fat burning for any fitness level. Overall, he likes to help people push themselves past their “perceived” limits and improve mentally and physically…inside out!

Rose Epps

Rose is an aquatics instructor at YWCA Central Carolinas, leading the weekly Aqua Yoga class.

Kay Fuller
Certifications: PhysicalMind Institute of New York in Pilates; Kripalu Yoga

Kay began teaching Pilates in 1999 before moving around the country. Returning to Charlotte, she now enjoys sharing her broad knowledge of exercise and movement through her ongoing teaching.

Guilia “GG” Grasso
Certifications: NASM Certified Personal Trainer, Swimming Instructor, CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers and First Aid, BLSD training, NSCA Sports Performance

Giulia, also known by many as just GG, has been a competitive swimmer for almost 2 decades; being a recent college graduate and a former collegiate athlete, she likes to share her passion for the water. When she is not teaching swim lessons and water aerobics, she is a full time rehab therapist and a functional movement trainer. She always loves getting involved in the aquatic environment! She’s especially passionate in involving children as a first approach with water, so that they are able to overcome fears and feel water as a familiar element.

Sam Gardner
Certifications: Red Cross Lifeguarding, AED/CPR/First Aid, YWCA Orange Method Swim Lesson Instructor

Sam has been working for YWCA since 2021 and teaching swim lessons since 2023. He wears many hats here at YWCA and can be found working as a Swim Instructor, Lifeguard, Childcare Representative, and Front Desk Specialist. Sam specializes in beginner Swim Lessons and loves to teach those valuable water safety skills to children.

Lina Heron
Certifications/Training: Red Cross Lifeguarding, AED/CPR/First Aid, YWCA Orange Method Swim Lesson Instructor

Lina has been teaching swim lessons/coaching since 2021 and has been swimming competitively since 2011. Lina likes to make swim lessons fun while encouraging swimmers to better themselves.

Lindsey Lesh

Certifications: Red Cross Lifeguard Instructor, Red Cross WSI Instructor

Lindsay has been teaching swim lessons and coaching since 2006. She swam competitively throughout high school and college. She has had the pleasure to learn from some of the country’s elite coaches and swimmers, thus gaining a more in-depth understanding of the sport and its mechanics. Lindsay loves the water and enjoys helping swimmers of all ages and abilities reach their goals in the pool. She has been with YWCA since January 2019.

Yael Powell

Yael leads YWCA’s HIIT, LIIT, Pure Body Strength, Cycle and Move & Groove classes and she specializes in Yoga.

Kacy Rhyne
Certifications: Spin, Les Mills CORE

Kacy fell in love with group fitness classes quickly after she moved to Chicago in 2016. She was a collegiate swimmer and had always been passionate about everything related to sports and fitness! In 2018, Kacy began her instructor journey and has loved every minute of it. She’s seen the power that community has in reaching health and fitness goals, and having fun along the way! Kacy has taught many formats including Studio Cycle, HIIT, Les Mills CORE and Les Mills BODYPUMP, in addition to coaching swim practices and lessons.

Amber Skinner

Certifications: Les Mills BODYPUMP and Group Exercise

Amber is a HIIT and Bodypump instructor at the YWCA! She loves to incorporate dancing into her classes and make fitness fun by matching movements to rhythm.

Hank Talmadge YWCA’s Fitness Coordinator

Hank has had a passion for fitness over the last 10 years and serves as the Fitness Coordinator at the YWCA. HIs background is mainly in strength training and yoga, but believes any activity that gets you engaged and active is healthy! Hank especially loves water training for all of the wonderful benefits it provides.

Hampton Thrower
Certifications: RYT 500; Kripalu Yoga

Hampton, a 500-hour Professional Kripalu Yoga Teacher, guides students with a detailed and fluid approach that has emerged from his own search for healing. He began teaching classes in 1997. Dedicated to supporting students with special needs, he became Yoga of the Heart certified.

Shelley Warren
Certifications: AEA Aquatic Fitness Professional Certification

Shelley’s number one passion is the water, and she combines that passion with her love of instructing each week at YWCA’s heated indoor pool. She has taught both shallow and deep water aerobics at YWCA since the 1990s.

Latrisha Barr
Certifications: IFTA Aqua Certification, AFFA Group Fitness Certification

Latrisha has been a part of the fitness community for 10 years. She loves group fitness and helping people reach their fitness goals while having a good time doing it. – Take care of your body. It’s the only place you have to live.

The table below lists the organization represented by the initials found in the certification citations:

ACE	American Council on Exercise Certification
ACSM	American College of Sports Medicine Certification
AEA	Aquatic Exercise Association
AFFA	Aerobic and Fitness Association of America
AFWWE	Arthritis Foundation Walk With Ease
ASFA	American Sports and Fitness Association
CPO	Certified Pool/Spa Operator by National Swimming Pool Foundation
E-RYT	Yoga Alliance Certification: Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher
IFTA	Interactive Fitness Trainers of America Certification
NASM	National Academy of Sports Medicine Certification
RYT 200	Yoga Alliance Certification: Registered Yoga Teacher with 200 hrs of training
RYT 500	Yoga Alliance Certification: Registered Yoga Teacher with 500 hrs of training
USAT	USA Triathlon Certification
WSI	Red Cross Water Safety Instruction Certification
YMCA	Partnered with American Council on Exercise to create YMCA Foundation Certification Courses