Virtual Class Instructors
Talene McCarthy
Practicing Vinyasa yoga for over 20 years has been transformational. However, finding the practice that worked best for me and my body was not obvious at first. As a child I was not physically active, I was overweight, lacked energy and had chronic back pain. I also suffered from scoliosis and hip alignment issues.
A little later in life a friend introduced me to yoga. Immediately I was drawn to the physicality of it, improving my core strength, balance, and alignment. I also discovered all the benefits of mental wellness it delivered. With these improvements to my body I began to explore other forms of exercise and eventually became an avid snowboarder. Unfortunately, I sustained several injuries in races which never self-corrected. It was all in thanks to my yoga practice that my physical ailments rectified themselves and I found more energy and strength to do all the activities I loved so much. I became calmer, clearer, and more focused on enjoying life in the moment. It was the mind body connection developed in my practice that kept me coming back for more.
For this reason, I pursued teaching and truly enjoy recreating that feeling for my students.
If you feel stressed, depressed, lethargic, overstimulated, unable to focus, tired-but-wired then yoga may be what you need to bring you back to balance. Yoga classes are modified for all levels. Come join me. Namaste.
Vielka Fuentes
Vielka is originally from Dominican Republic, she started at Waverley Oaks as a substitute Zumba Instructor in 2017, and shortly thereafter took on a regular class. She is an upbeat and positive person, and her class reflects her personality. What members enjoy most about her style of teaching is her selection of Latin music, and the contagious moves and energy in every class. She puts in a lot of time and effort preparing for each class with new music playlists and choreo’s making every Sunday morning a real Zumba party that boost our members energy for the rest of the week. Vielka also teach ME Body Conditioning every Monday, a totally different format where you can get a great shape and feel awesome. Vielka loves the interaction between teacher and members, the beautiful connection that fulfill her soul and spirit while she does what she more loves, Teaching.
Aly Bullock
Aly grew up locally in Belmont, Massachusetts and has recently returned to the area after being away for 10 years. She has been an avid athlete since starting to play soccer at age 5. After years competing on state-level track and soccer teams, Aly knew she did not want to give up athletics when she went to college. It was during her time at BYU that she took up long-distance running and completed 3 half marathons and 1 full length marathon, but she still felt that the *fun* aspect to working out was missing. In her senior year of college, she discovered High Fitness, and her life has not been the same since!
Aly loves how High Fitness combines intense athleticism with crazy fun music, and that it can be modified to accommodate people at all fitness levels. When she started instructing in 2016, she discovered that High Fitness creates a space where people feel happy and welcome while they are working out, and that is what keeps them coming back. When Aly moved to Houston, TX in 2017 she was the only High Fitness instructor within 30 miles, and thanks to her efforts there are now over 15 classes a week in that area. Since moving back to Boston this summer Aly has introduced High Fitness to two local gyms and has grown to love her participants, regulars, and newbies. She cannot wait to meet you and help you fall in love with this format!
When Aly is not teaching High Fitness, she is chasing around her active 16-month old daughter, Giorgia, and planning her latest travel adventures with her husband Sean. She is also a full-time graduate student at Antioch University studying Marriage and Family Therapy.
Nicole Derosiers
Nicole has been a dancer since she could walk! She found Zumba in 2011 and has not looked back. Since she became licensed in the Latin dance fitness format in 2012, Nicole has found a true passion for exercise and wellness. It ignited her confidence and desire to help others. She is licensed in Zumba toning, Aqua Zumba, Zumba Gold, BollyX, Barre, and Strong Nation, which she teaches at here at Waverley Oaks. Nicole is AFAA and CPR certified. While fitness is her passion and side hustle, Nicole is a public affairs producer at WCVB-TV Channel 5. When she isn’t teaching or working, she is bingeing on Netflix shows or trying out new restaurants!
Her fitness motto? “There are two rules to be successful in my class: Sweat and Smile!” Even in Strong 😉
Teri Muller
My journey in the fitness world began many years ago during my College years. I was captain of the dance team. Think Celtics dancers, but imagine cassette tapes for music, vinyl knee high boots and red-hot pants…haha!! This was the time I also joined my first health club and before I knew it, I was working there teaching classes and selling memberships.
Zoom ahead to today and while a lot has changed, my love for leading classes has never changed. I am a Fitness Professional with certifications ranging from Pilates to PiYO, Zumba to Body Pump, Personal Training to Specialization in Corrective Exercise. The industry is always growing, and I am a dedicated, lifelong student. Skiing, biking, swimming, golf, hiking, dancing, and an award-winning actress, these are some of my passions, but teaching group exercise remains at the center. I love encouraging a new member, helping them feel a part of the group and providing the guidance to help them feel successful and wanting to come back. I also love the camaraderie of teaching to a member for many years, knowing they keep coming because the class is fun, packed with variety and continual physical challenges.
Having great music, a warm smile and being just a little but silly are my trademarks. Come and join us in class and be a part of the best hour of your and my day!!
Ellen Gaies
Ellen Gaies has been a fitness instructor for 25 years, for both adults and middle school students. She has studied ballet, modern, contemporary, and jazz dance. Her passion for dance and fitness is evident in the heartfelt way she teaches her classes. Ellen emphasizes how to improve core strength, balance, and flexibility. She will help guide you to levels beyond your expectations. Her gentle encouragement and expertise provide a safe, relaxed atmosphere while keeping everyone challenged, smiling and on their toes! We welcome everyone to try this energetic and friendly class and learn how to move with grace and confidence.
Dawn Wessman
“What would you do if you weren’t afraid?”
This a motto Dawn Wessman has embraced over the last 16 years of leading group exercise. “I love people and I learning new things. Incrementally improving at each fitness discipline has shown me anything is possible, at any age, especially when you’re surrounded by great people who are trying their best.” She began by leading yoga and Pilates classes in Salt Lake City, becoming a master trainer, then adding cycling, weightlifting, barre, boot camp, personal
training, Zumba and five children into the mix.
Fun Facts:
-Working out makes me a kinder mother.
-I taught college level Russian, religion and am a professional photographer.
Angela O’Reilly
Despite yoga being physical movement, Angela believes that yoga is more of a mental practice. Your thoughts be-come your reality. Yoga is challenging yourself to become aware of your thoughts/feelings, releasing judgement of yourself & others, becoming in sync with your breath and decompressing. Often, we get so caught up in our daily lives and in our head, we forget to be present and enjoy each moment. As a mom this is something she is personally working daily on. After experiencing the benefits of forming a practice her newfound love for yoga lead her to enroll in Power Yoga Teacher Training Yoga in 2015 and later complete her Pre/Postnatal Yoga Certification. Often a person with tight or sore muscles, Angela is a strong believer that Yoga is not just for the flexible, it is for everyone of all abilities. Angela encourages you to listen to your body and honor that asana practice looks differently in every-body. Through her desire to help others she is dedicated to motivate, inspire, and challenge you to work to your capacity.
When Angela is not on her mat, she enjoys coaching MX4, working on her own fitness, reading a good book & getting outdoors with her husband and two children.
Emily Evans
Emily grew up as a ballerina and received her B.A. in Dance and Human Development, summa cum laude, from Connecticut College. She has been practicing yoga for more than 10 years and completed her 200-hour power yoga certification in early 2016. Emily danced professionally in Boston for several years. Her yoga classes intend to empower practitioners to feel grounded and joyful. When Emily is not in the studio, she can be found writing, hiking, reading, making art, and eating sushi.
Pia Lalli
I’ve been in the fitness industry for over 20 years and I won’t stop till I’m in a retirement home and by then, I will probably still be teaching chair aerobics or line dancing:) Some of my career highlights have included being an IDEA presenter at the National Fitness Conference in Las Vegas, choreographing a flash mob in Florida & performing in front of 1000 people, and I’ve even been in a few videos with Denise Austin and Tamilee Webb. My fitness career has given me the opportunity to be a sports model for Reebok, Cybex, and Rockport. I even danced for Mikhail Gorbachov with my dance company The Hip Hop Fun Shop for a special leadership conference.
I started at Waverley Oaks in late 2012 and I have never felt more excited to go to work than I do now. I recently got married and the members showed me so much love and appreciation with their kind words, well wishes and more…. It really is a community here and the members are a second family to me. I am very excited for the future at Waverley Oaks. I hope to see all of you in my classes soon!