RecFitness Instructors
Shannon Bates Shannon has always enjoyed being outside on her bike and after she took her first cycle class she was hooked. Shannon has been teaching cycle classes for almost 4 years. She loves when new participants come into class apprehensive and unsure, but by the end of the ride they are beaming with pride and confidence in themselves. Cycle is an endurance, strength building and mood elevating workout that leaves you feeling unstoppable.
Jennifer Garrard I’m a lifelong resident of Columbus, MS. In 2016, I attended a rec fit kick-off, and that’s where I discovered Pound! I fell in love with it immediately! Pound was more than just a fitness class to me, it was more like the most amazing therapy! I hold degrees in psychology, counseling, and public health education, and I truly believe that Pound is an amazing therapeutic release that everyone should be blessed to experience! I became a certified Pound Pro and Generation Pound Pro in 2018. I always tell my classes, “the hardest part is walking through the door, now it’s time for the fun!”
Ashley Heyman Ashley Heyman is a NASM Certified Personal Trainer and an AFAA Certified Group Fitness Instructor. She is also a certified Les Mills BodyPump Instructor and Schwinn Power Certified Cycle Instructor. She has been in the fitness industry since January of 2020. She started working at the Stark Recreation Center in October of 2022 and is also working with the YMCA in Columbus and Caledonia. She is presently working on a specialization in corrective exercise and a certification with Rock Steady Boxing.
She and her husband Alex, a pilot in the Air Force, have been married 18 years. They have three kids (plus one silly bulldog and a sweet kitty) and have been stationed across the southern United States from Arizona to South Carolina with one quick stop in the Washington D.C. area. Ashley enjoys spending time with her family & friends, reading, good food, and volunteering in her local community.
Katherine Marsh Katherine Marsh is a W student pursuing a degree in Speech-Language Pathology and hails from Madison, MS. She began her personal pracitice in yoga in 2020 as a way to reduce stress and anxiety, and found the many benefits yoga provides in a physical and mental sense. She loves that yoga is a time to quiet her brain. It helps her focus on her body and mind, what it needs, and not everything that needs to get done. She leaves all the normal stress on the mat. She completed her 200hr RYT in Hatha and Vinyasa style yoga, and is working on a certification in Restorative Yoga!
Cynthia Mutch Cynthia attended her first yoga class in 2013 when invited by a friend. It didn’t take her long to experience the positive effects of daily practice. Having been a fitness teacher for many years, Cynthia naturally wanted to inspire others to bring strength, balance and flexibility to their bodies and minds through yoga. She earned her 200-hour certification in 2015, then completed her 300 hour certification in 2020. She has taught a variety of yoga classes, from Light&Easy and Restorative to Power Vinyasa and Hot Yoga. Cynthia believes yoga should be non-competitive, rooted in mindfulness, andinclusive of all bodies, ages, and abilities.
Bonnie Partridge has been in the dance world for over half a century. With a degree in Music Ed. from “Ole Miss” Bonnie’s passion has always been DANCE. Bonnie has participated in musicals and studied under instructors from Little Rock, Memphis and Texas. Bonnie has led dance programs in Lowndes County for many years. After retirement, Bonnie fell in love with Zumba and enjoys teaching Campus Rec. Join Bonnie for a great workout and the time of your life.
Allie Potamitis Allie found yoga in 2018 and instantly fell in love with the practice. The practice of yoga taught her how to work through life struggles from a place of self-love and compassion. She quickly joined a yoga teacher training and has made it her mission to positively influence those around her through yoga, mindfulness, and self-compassion. Allie is a wife, mom of two, and is currently attending The W for her Bachelors in Exercise Science.
Bootcamp & Functional Fitness Trainers
Lily Burns Lily is a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach, an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, an ACE Certified Personal Trainer as well as a CrossFit Level 1 Trainer from Washington, DC. Lily grew up playing soccer, riding horses and lifting, so her passion for fitness goes way back. Fitness, especially functional fitness, serves as an outlet for her, and she loves helping others discover their motivation in the gym. She coaches people all around the country and is so excited to be able to continue helping people in the local community reach their health and fitness goals! “Fitness to me is all about bettering yourself while having fun. The gym is a community, a place to test yourself and an outlet to help you through everyday life.”
Corey Haynes Corey Haynes is a native of Aberdeen, MS but has been in Columbus, MS since 2003. He is a 2006 graduate from Columbus High School. In 2017, he became a part of Columbus, MS Fire and Rescue Department where he serves as an engineer. Corey has always had an interest in fitness, but his passion really grew when he decided that he wanted to become a part of the fire department. He has a passion for helping others to feel good about themselves and to achieve their goals. During his down time, Corey enjoys spending time with his wife and their daughter and son.
Hunt Holdiness Hunt is a MUW Alumni with a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science. After his departure from sports, he fell in love with the gym and wants to help guide others into a healthy lifestyle. He has be an active trainer for a year and has a certification in personal training and group fitness. He believes everyone can make a change into a happy and healthy life with the right motivations and programs.
Courtney Jethroe Courtney Jethroe is a native of Starkville, MS with an A.A. in Accounting from Itawamba Community College, where she helped lead the Women’s Varsity Basketball team to a state championship title. She continued her undergraduate studies at Campbell University, completing a B.B.A. in accounting, where she also was a part of the Women’s Varsity Basketball Team. Her athletic background has led to her currently pursuing a B.S. in Kinesiology with a concentration in Performance Fitness. Courtney is certified as a Personal Trainer through NASM, and has been coaching individuals for several years, helping them become a better version of themselves through exercise. She specializes in body recomposition and strength training. She believes that our bodies are machines and movement is medicine.
Thomas Parsons Thomas was born in Ventura, Califiornia, but raised in the Columbus, MS area. He is an MUW alum graduating in 2014 with a degree in theatre. He worked a three-year stint as a W Admissions Counselor, but left to focus on his calling to be a first responder. He is currently a firefighter at Columbus Fire & Rescue and trains functional fitness at Campus Rec in his spare time. He has been active in CrossFit since 2015, and is a certified Level 1 CrossFit Coach.
CJ Studstill - PICTURE PENDING - I am a native of Georgia, but have lived in 5 different states throughout my career as a railroader. I have been married to my beautiful wife Leesa for 15 years and we have a 10 year old daughter named Randi. I have a passion for hunting and fitness. I started CrossFit 5 yrs ago and coaching CrossFit 2 yrs ago. My daily goal as a coach is to make everyone smile by giving them the most positive experience possible, while still getting better.
Grozie Thomas I’ve been in the fitness industry for 10 years now, and it all began when I started CrossFit back in 2013 to try and lose weight. I was about 320 pounds and out of shape. I couldn’t run a 100 meters without stopping and getting out of breathe and couldn’t lift anything over 100 pounds. I decided to make a life change and lost over 130 pounds and gained about 35 pounds of muscle. I decided I wanted to change others lives and help them feel the same joy I felt in my fitness journey. After graduating from MUW in 2020, I decided to start my own small personal training business as well as working at Campus Recreation training clients and assisting in athletic training. I have aspirations of owning my own gym one day.