Our Fitness Staff
Jessica Crook
Trainer
Rusa graduated with her Masters in Exercise Science from Eastern Illinois University in 2012. She then made her way to the east coast to start a career in fitness. Rusa loves to teach classes and brings the energy! She likes to focus on little exercises that have a big impact.
Rusa Reimnitz
Trainer
Stephen Burgett has been in the fitness industry since 2004 when he had his first professional experience as an intern in the sports performance department at Arizona State University. He later graduated summa cum laude from Arizona State University with a major in Kinesiology. In addition to his degree, he is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association. Stephen has worked as a trainer in many settings, including large health clubs, training studios, and outdoor settings. He specializes in training athletes, both the young and the young at heart, and individuals with post-rehab issues. Stephen believes in making fitness simple and effective, as well as fun.
Steve Burgett
Trainer
Jen is a Certified Personal Trainer and Corrective Exercise Specialist through the National Academy of Sports Medicine. She believes that getting fit and healthy doesn’t have to be a chore and strives to create an exciting and fun atmosphere for all her clients. Jen has always been involved in sports including tennis, softball & watersports as a child and kickboxing, aerobics, and running through college. It wasn’t until she started cross training and incorporating HIIT into her routine that being fit and healthy became fun and exciting while offering consistent challenges. This not only helped Jen to excel physically and mentally, but also inspired her to share her passion with others.
Jen loves being a part of the Jade Family and is excited about helping you feel great, increase your energy, get in to the best shape of your life, and increase your mental fortitude. “Strength doesn’t come from what you can do – it comes from overcoming the things you once thought you couldn’t.” ~ Rikki Rogers
Jen Sylvester
Trainer
Paul began teaching yoga in 1993. In 2011, as an outgrowth of teaching yoga, he began offering personal training to a diverse group of clients. Today, his clientele ranges from 6 years of age to 88 and includes elite athletes, individuals embarking on a new fitness program, and those recovering from serious injury or illness. Paul bases both his teaching and his training on close attention to entrenched and sometimes subtle physical patterns, static and dynamic, functional and dysfunctional, genetic and acquired. He often works in tandem with osteopaths, chiropractors, and physical therapists in order to assess an individual’s biomechanics and to design customized programs that address issues and fulfill often-ambitious goals. An accomplished former competitive athlete and an experienced yogi, Paul enjoys helping his clients explore and expand their capabilities. Paul’s approach is unique to each client and he views the work with each client as both a goal-oriented project and an exploratory journey.
Paul Crispo
Trainer
Howard’s smile will most likely be the first thing you see when you walk into Jade Fitness. While Howard staffs the front desk, he also keeps Jade’s operations humming smoothly behind the scenes. Howard grew up and began studying dance and acting in Washington DC. Leaving Washington for training and career opportunities, Howard started performing and teaching theater and contemporary jazz, master classes, and fitness all over the world, including New York City, Japan, Germany and Spain.
Returning to Washington and reconnecting with family, Howard has since been teaching dance and fitness. His connection with dance and fitness has led to his lifestyle of living in balance with diet and exercise. Howard brings that experience and knowledge to Jade Fitness.
Fun Fact: Howard now lives in his childhood neighborhood where he attended Payne and Buchanan Elementary Schools
Jade of Wisdom: For a healthy life find the balance between fitness, nutrition, work, friends and family.
Howard Perry
Front Desk
Erica Anderson
Front Desk
Jackson Heier
Front Desk
Our Yoga Team
Beth first tried yoga 8 years ago hoping to become “long and lean,” what she discovered was a profound remembrance of her love of creative practice. Through a daily home-grown yoga practice, Beth found the tools to create space in her body, mind and heart for healing and transformation. She became a yoga teacher in order to share the sacred knowledge of her teachers and support others in their own physical, emotional and spiritual journeys. She resides in the Barracks Row neighborhood and is excited to help build a community of yogis on the Hill.
Beth Watson
Yoga Instructor
What Kathy loves about yoga is that there is a practice for everyone. Since 2000, she has been exploring yoga’s rich traditions, from vigorous to restorative, discovering that in yoga we can find what we need and uncover our best selves. Kathy shares her love of yoga with others in encouraging, playful alignment-based vinyasa classes that allow students to gain confidence and feel comfortable exploring poses, mindfulness, and linking breath with movement in a safe, inviting environment. She received her 200 hour certification in 2012, and her 500 hour certification in 2018.
Kathy Foltin
Yoga Instructor
After many years of enjoying the benefits of yoga, Tanya pursued her desire to share this practice with others and completed her teacher training in 2016. Since that time, she has taught in a variety of settings and has enjoyed combining her love for fitness with the mindful practice of yoga.
Tanya Clausen
Yoga Instructor
Deb’s stressful days working on the Hill led her to discover yoga. As her practice grew to taking a class a day, she decided to learn more because of all that she was gaining mentally, physically, and spiritually. To expand her understanding she took teacher training, and has found a home in teaching yoga. Deb particularly enjoys introducing adults and kids to yoga in a friendly, fun and safe way, helping students experience how yoga is for every body type and skill level. Deb’s yin yoga classes focus on particular sections of the body each week with modifications based on the needs of each student. Expect to use props throughout class to support your body as you hold a pose for up to five minutes. Deb also teaches meditation, plays crystal & Tibetan singing bowls, and is a Reiki Jin Kei Do Master Practitioner.
Deb Koolbeck
Yoga Instructor
A yoga practitioner since 1997, Becky was first drawn to yoga to steady her mind and energy while increasing strength, flexibility, and vitality. She was inspired to share her love of yoga with others through teaching and has since completed her 200-hour certification in 2006 and her 500-hour certification in 2013.
Be prepared to twist, bend, balance, and smile in one of Becky’s classes. Becky combines her own unique blend of classic yoga poses in a dynamic flow-style. While Becky takes the practice of yoga seriously, her teaching is infused with a lighthearted attitude and a celebration of joyful energy and openness. Centered in breath awareness, her sequences of poses are designed to heat, stretch, and strengthen the body, incorporating standing poses, twisting, and balancing, as well as poses that allow for a balance of forward and backward bending. Each class concludes with time for meditative relaxation.
Fun Fact: As much as Becky loves yoga, she also loves the classics–books, movies, music. Don’t get her started on 19th century novels, black and white movies, or romantic composers!
Becky’s Jade of Wisdom: “Let your teacher be love itself.” – Rumi
Becky Pfordresher
Yoga Instructor
Truly took her first yoga class in 1995 and became a teacher in 2005. She is continually humbled and amazed by how expansive and accessible yoga can be and loves to work with students of all levels.
Truly is a native Washingtonian and also likes to paint, draw, and travel.
Truly Herbert
Yoga Instructor
