Andrea Colombu
@ In Forma: Owner/Operator, Personal Trainer, Presenter and Consultant
Andrea has been the owner and operator of In Forma since its inception in January 1995.
He moved from Italy to California in 1986, after having played numerous sports including semi-professional soccer, track and field and martial arts. Andrea’s dream to transform his long standing passion for health and fitness into a career became a reality when in 1988 he began college studies in anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, exercise science and nutrition. In 1989, Andrea started his career as fitness instructor while also becoming a Physical Therapy Assistant. In 1990, he started his Personal Training carrier (AFAA & ACE certified), earned a certification in Massage Therapy (The McKinnon Institute) and started his private practice.
With experience and interest in a wide variety of disciplines and approaches to health and fitness, for over 20 years Andrea has enjoyed integrating personal experience, ongoing education and passion for healthy and balanced living to help numerous clients achieve their health and fitness goals.
Andrea’s mindful and holistic approach to health and fitness takes in great consideration the interaction between mind and body both in scientific and philosophical terms. When appropriate, Andrea also adds a spiritual component to his work and to the understanding of wholeness hence promoting a true integrative approach to health and fitness.
Over the years Andrea has directed and participated in discussions on health, fitness, nutrition, mind-body interconnection and spirituality both as an individual presenter as well as a co-leader in workshops and panels. In June 2008, Andrea completed a Masters degree in Psychology from John F. Kennedy University. In 2005, he completed, with honors, his undergraduate studies in Philosophy and Religion also from John F. Kennedy University. More about Andrea's psychotherapy practice here.
Andrea is a regular columnist in The Orinda News where with his “Balanced Living” column he explores and discusses themes related to healthy and balanced life style through the integration of mind, body and spirit.
Chris Arcucci
@In Forma: Yoga instructor
Chris Arcucci is a healing facilitator & mind-body educator. Chris has been sharing her passion for holistic living and mind-body wellness since 1991.
She specializes in massage, yoga, therapeutic exercise which is communicated through attention to detail and exceptional knowledge of the integration of the body, mind and breath.
Chris began her journey of teaching therapeutic yoga in 1999 with Integrative Yoga Therapy. In 2001 she met John Friend, anusara yoga’s founder and he became her primary and most influential teacher. Chris has assisted and apprenticed John in the US and on his Asia-Pacific tour.
Anusara yoga blends her love for a graceful and powerful physical practice with a life enhancing & heart centered spiritual practice.
Chris’ teaching style is playful, inspiring and dynamic. She creatively weaves mindfulness with the play of the divine through the breath, heart, mind and body. Chris encourages and guides her students to expand their daily yoga practice to incorporate all their daily activities for a life that is a sacred sadhana (practice).
She is passionate about building community, human potential, energy medicine, creative expression, nature, beauty, art, touch, writing, music, movement, food, nourishing the spirit & mind-body wellness. You can learn more about Chris on her website or call her at (925) 934-9343.
Steve Berryhill
@ In Forma: Personal Trainer; Circuit Training Instructor
Steve is a San Francisco native who graduated from University of San Francisco with a Business-Finance degree. He has a simple philosophy, “I use a simple, straight forward approach based on "quality of life." Educate the client not only on what we are doing, but why we are doing it. The details of each and every movement will be demonstrated and explained as many times as necessary. With that we can establish a physical base of strength and balance. With such a base one can move into most any sport specific activity desired.”
He is has his Fitness Instructor Certification (AFAA, 1993), Personal Fitness Trainer Certification (AFAA, 1994) and is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (NSCA, 1997).
Contact Steve directly at (510) 367-7772
Lynnette Blomquist
@ In Forma: Personal Trainer; Step, Low Impact, Sculpting and Circuit Training Instructor
Lynnette holds a double certification through the American Council on Exercise for both Personal Training and Group Fitness Instruction. She is an I.D.E.A. member, an approved A.C.E. Continuing Educational Provider/Presenter for fitness industry professionals, and a Master Trainer for Gliding Discs. She has a B.A. Honors in Performing Arts from a London university.
Her 20 years of experience includes teaching, personal training and performing both locally and abroad. Lynnette is currently an established fitness professional at numerous clubs and facilities in the Bay Area.
Lynnette is known for her creativity, versatility and knowledge in areas of cardiovascular training, muscular strength, endurance training and nutrition. With her multiple training styles, she provides unlimited variables to design personal programs for her clients.
Contact Lynnette at 925-686-6686
Wendy Beckerman
@ In Forma: Yoga Instructor
Wendy Beckerman is an Anusara-inspired Yoga teacher with a passion for making Yoga accessible to everyone. In 1994, she turned to Yoga to help balance her lifestyle as a touring singer/songwriter. Wendy was originally certified as an Integral Yoga instructor in 1998 and gained experience teaching in health clubs, Yoga studios, in-home private sessions, and corporate settings.
In 2005, Wendy continued to deepen her practice by studying Anusara Yoga with teachers Abby Tucker and Sianna Sherman. In mid-2007, she earned her credentials as an Anusara-inspired instructor, and has continued on that path, teaching at In Forma and in various locations in the San Francisco Bay Area.
In late 2005, Wendy founded East Bay Yoga to bring on-site Yoga to the workplace, emphasizing stress reduction and promoting a sense of community among co-workers. Her teaching style is often described as clear, connected, calming, and centering, and includes the use of imagery to emphasize moment-to-moment awareness and inspire her students to more fully experience everyday life.
You can reach Wendy at wendy@eastbayyoga.com or (510) 710-7102.
Linda Burkard
@ In Forma: Yoga Instructor
Linda is a Registered Yoga Alliance Teacher she has studied and practiced Yoga nearly every day for the last thirteen years, receiving inspiration from a variety of teachers and resources. She’s currently registered with the Yoga Alliance, after attending two separate teacher training courses in the Iyengar style. Linda regularly attend workshops and seminars in order to always maintain the highest level of instruction. She is inspired by the knowledge, wisdom and insights of Master teachers such as Erich Schiffman, Shiva Rae, and Paul Grilley. LInda’s teaching methods are constantly changing as her personal practice evolves.
Her philosophy is simple, “Let’s flow through this thing called Life with a sense of grace and simplicity, and do our best to love ourselves.” Linda teaches a blend of different styles of Yoga and every class is different. On the energetic level, she uses the vinyasa/yang style classes to open our bodies and nourish and restore our vital energies. For the deeper connective tissue and finding inner balance she incorporates a softer practice of yin.
Linda believes that this Divine Intelligence chooses us; it found her. There is no time like the present and life is to be worshiped and enjoyed! Let her share my experience and passion for Yoga with you. You can contact Linda at yogalinda@comcast.net.
Marilyn Cooper
@ In Forma: Tai Chi Master
Master Marilyn Cooper has been training and teaching the art of Chinese kung fu and tai chi since the mid-1960s. Originally attracted to kung fu for the martial aspect, she found a comprehensive approach to mind/body wellness in which preservation of the life-force of the practitioner is the primary objective.
Trained under the top Chinese masters in the U.S. for 12 years, Master Cooper assimilated whole age-appropriate systems and forms from devoted practice. Her students range in age from three to ninety. With a step-by-step, methodical approach, students can grasp the basics within the first lesson, as well as feel the mind/body energy stream, no matter what the age or fitness level.
Transmitting the forms with joy and passion from touch, metaphor and detailed explanations, she is able to encapsulate decades of training into each lesson. From the seasoned practitioner to the complete novice, all students will feel relaxed, focused and energized after this practice.
The poetic beauty of the forms is another prime component well recognized by Marilyn, who is an accomplished painter. Competing in world tournaments, she has taken a Grand Championship in Northern Shaolin Kung Fu and a First Place Gold in T'ai Chi. You can learn more about Master Cooper at her website.
Grace Darling
@ In Forma: Yoga Instructor
Grace’s Yoga practice began in 1974. After studying with Swami Vishnudevananda for a year, she began teaching classes. By 1976, Grace and her husband were operating a residency program in an eleven-bedroom mansion in Mill Valley that included an early morning session of Hatha Yoga, meditation and chanting. This program continued for three years.
Grace and her husband moved to Contra Costa County in 1983. She continued her home Yoga practice while taking classes, and was a substitute Yoga teacher at various health clubs in the area. Grace received her Certification in the Iyengar Advanced Study of Yoga at The Yoga Movement Center in Walnut Creek in February of 2007.
Grace is currently teaching at In Forma in Orinda, Absolute Center in Lafayette, Yoga Sol in Concord, and a Corporate Yoga class at Carollo Engineering in Walnut Creek. Additionally, Grace has several private students. Grace’s teaching method is Iyengar based and teaches various levels depending on the students’ experience.
Contact Grace at 925-788-8243 or GraceDarling@comcast.net.
Mark Duval
@ In Forma: Personal Trainer, Circuit Training Instructor
Mark is a personal trainer and a very versatile instructor of step, spinning and circuit classes. Since 1984, he has been a personal trainer specializing in weight loss, exercise support and rehabilitative exercise. He attended UC Davis, achieved a degree in education, and is a California State University certified Group Fitness Instructor. He received special recognition when earning his American Council on Exercise's Personal Trainer Certification. He continues to add to his extensive knowledge of anatomy, physiology, kinesiology and psychology by attending numerous courses on the latest exercise trends and research.
Mark has had instruction and managerial roles with The Golden Door Spa and Rancho La Puerta Fitness Resort and was recently featured as one of the TOP TEN PERSONAL TRAINERS of the Bay Area in the San Francisco “Chronicle” in January 2007. Learn more about Mark at his website: http://markduval.com.
Jami Fender Cronin
@ In Forma: Low-Impact, Mat Pilates Instructor
Jami has been teaching ballet, jazz, floor barre and stretch and tone classes for the past 33 years. She added step, aerobics, strength and sculpting classes, circuit training and pilates to the mix when she joined the In Forma team in 1996. Jami’s speciality is teaching technique and body alignment. She is an avid advocate of daily exercise and proper nutrition for good health.
Skyë Livingston
@ In Forma: Yoga Instructor
Skyë (pronounced “Skya”) came to yoga in 1992 from a background in dance, martial arts and other movement modalities. As a Yoga Alliance™ Registered Teacher, Skye’s training has been most heavily influenced by internationally renowned Advanced Iyengar Instructor Kofi Busia, as well as by Dr. Baxter Bell, Aadil Palkhivala, Judith Lasater, Paula Tortolano and Doug Keller. Skyë's approach to yoga revolves around curiosity and exploration while identifying and working with each student's individual needs and bodily restrictions. By combining flowing sequences with a focus on alignment and therapeutics, Skye inspires her students to find joy in the freedom of movement while guiding them toward the ease and peace that is integral to the practice of yoga.
Skyë can be contacted at yogaskya@gmail.com.
Jennifer Smith
Jennifer has been teaching dance and movement since 1992. She has a Bachelor's Degree in physical education from The University of California, Berkeley, a Master's Degree in kinesiology, and completed her Pilates training with Larry Hall through Body Arts and Sciences, International. Jennifer danced professionally for 13 years with the California Contemporary Dancers, and currently performs with Patricia Banchik/Kinesis and Dana Lawton. In addition to teaching at In Forma, Jennifer also teaches dance and Pilates at Saint Mary's College of California.
Lolita Smith
@ In Forma: Step, Sculpting Instructor
Lolita is a certified group exercise and personal fitness trainer with 10 years of experience utilizing a wide variety of cardiovascular and weight training techniques to help individuals achieve and maintain their personal fitness goals. She is holds her Primary Group Exercise certification with AFFA and currently working on becoming an ACE certified Personal Trainer.
Ramana Vieira
@ In Forma: Low-Impact, Sculpting, Step Instructor
Ramana received her certification in Health and Fitness from Cal State Hayward in 1992. She has taught in various health clubs including the San Francisco Athletic Club, Gold's Gym, 24 hour Fitness, Harbor Bay Health Club and many more.
Her love for theatre lead her to dance training and she was a professional dancer for several years with the dance company called "SRO." She also studied martial arts for 5 years and developed a love for Karate and that lead to her doing kick boxing classes, substituting for her Karate instructor. Now she teaches Yoga, body sculpting, hi-lo and low impact as well as Kick boxing and of course latin-dance aerobics and stretch.
Her favorite club to date has been In forma, because of the intimate, warm, friendly environment and the dedication of the members.
When she is not teaching at her favorite place, In Forma, she is a mom, wife and professional world music vocalist and travels the world singing music from her parents homeland of Portugal.
Anette White Westmoreland
@ In Forma: Personal Trainer; Step, Sculpting Instructor
Anette was born and raised in Mexico City. She began teaching classes in 1990 at Instituto Tecnológico de Monterrey where she attended college and completed her Marketing degree. In 1998, she moved to the United Status and began instructing classes at In Forma, where she has been for the past 10 years. Her classes include low impact, step, and sculpting programs. In November, 2005 Anette was certified by the Aerobics & Fitness Association of America (AFAA) as a personal fitness trainer with detailed training in senior and midlife fitness for women. She also possesses certification as a Gliding Fitness Instructor and with the American Heart Association for the Basic Life Support for Health Care Providers [CPR & AED] Program.
Bilingual and passionate for sharing her knowledge with others, Anette stresses the importance of living with health abundance obtained by balancing nutrition with the correct exercise program. Her objectives are to improve the quality of life of her clients by helping them develop a leaner more sculpted body, while feeling more energetic and stronger for daily activities.
Contact Anette at (925) 209-0043 or via email at anettewm@yahoo.com.