VIDA Small Group Training instructors focus on form, safety, and personalized results. All VIDA instructors are AFAA or NASM certified and trained experts in their field. Each Small Group Training instructor has helped to design and develop the program so they can be tailored to your fitness goals!
Chris Parkison
The Yards
Chris has been involved with sports and fitness for over 20 years. From football, basketball, wrestling, and baseball in High School to weight lifting and triathlons more recently, Chris has a lifelong commitment to a healthy lifestyle. Two years ago he made the switch from high impact training to the more mindful practice of yoga and now teaches at all VIDA locations. Chris is passionate about helping members reach their fitness goals and helping them develop a healthy and happy mindset that will benefit not only themselves but the entire community.
Colleen Palomaa
U Street
Colleen manages the Fitness Program at VIDA U Street and loves splitting her training time between personal and small group training. She is a certified personal trainer with ACE, a Pilates Reformer (including the Lagree Method) & Yoga instructor, and is also certified in TRX Suspension Training, Zumba, Kickboxing, and Cycling. She has 10 years of experience leading groups and individuals with diverse fitness backgrounds to develop their workout regimens. Colleen believes in the benefits of variety and motivation in fitness and challenges her students and clients to discover what they can achieve when they step out of their comfort zones. She’s also a big believer in fitness as a lifestyle, so her clients can expect a gradual but effective approach that will help them change their habits and overcome their physical limitations to become the most healthy versions of themselves, whether that means limiting desk time, improving athleticism, losing weight, gaining flexibility, or building strength. Visit a class or email her to get started: cpalomaa@vidafitness.com<mailto:cpalomaa@vidafitness.com>
Daryl Alexander
Logan Circle
Daryl is ISSA and NCCPT Certified. He is also a Certified Elite Calisthenics Specialist, and has over 17 years experience in Cardio-Weight Training, plus Conditioning. He teaches TRX and Boot Camp Groups.He has a knack for what he likes to call “Body Sculpting”. It’s tapping into the bodies potential and methodically cultivating it. Through creative, yet systematic regiments created by him the body is finely tuned and chiseled. Thus bringing about a mentally tougher, physically leaner, stronger and mobile client. He loves to motivate and push his client to be the very best they can be. This in turn shows in a healthier more productive lifestyle.
Chris Parkison
City Vista
Erik Strouse brings two degrees in exercise science and over ten years of personal training and group ex experience to the table. He loves coaching small group training because the energy is shared by all. Everyone feeds and learns from one another, and motivation to do the challenge is easier to gain. When taking a class with Erik, you can expect to be pushed, but with intelligence, not just grit. He will teach you how to move well, and when to tone it back to get more from the effort you are putting in. Work smart and hard – not just hard.
Jahrod Matlock
The Yards
As a NASM certified personal trainer and former NCAA football and track athlete, Jahrod has a wealth of knowledge in exercise and fitness. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Basic Science and served in the Air Force for 14 years. An avid TRX enthusiast, Jahrod believes that a good plank leads to a strong core which is the basis for all movement. He likes to combine his experience and knowledge from being an athlete to his military training to help and progress others to become stronger and faster and to help them to work longer and harder.
Jesse Johnson
U Street
Jesse Johnson joined VIDA as a Personal Trainer in December 2011. His experience in Isolation work allows his clients to train without injury and many clients see success quickly when working with Jesse. As a personal trainer at VIDA, Jesse’s goal is to provide a comprehensive approach to training so clients understand not only what they are doing, but how they can duplicate it again on their own. Countless clients use Jesse’s approach in their continued health and fitness, far beyond initial training with him. Jesse hopes to get each client to the “Best Physical Version” of themselves at VIDA.
Katie Cosper
Gallery Place
Katie is a certified personal trainer with the American Council on Exercise. She studied Business Marketing at the University of Mississippi where she found her passion for health and fitness. After years of struggling with being overweight and eating disorders, Katie believes in the personal strength that comes with a healthy lifestyle. She is committed to helping clients reach their goals and live a happy, healthy life. With a personal philosophy that exercise has to be fun, Katie incorporates a variety of training to discover how each client can push through plateaus, exceed their goals, and have a great time doing it! If you are looking for a motivating, energetic and dedicated trainer, come start your Journey with Katie.
Kelly Moyers
The Yards
Kelly joined Vida in 2008. A vast background filled with 16years of active duty military service, Kelly lives by discipline. She believes in pushing hard, never giving up on yourself or your shipmates. She has dedicated her life to helping others. Kelly loves to share core values of respect and honor with her clients, teaching them techniques to reach their own goals. Life changed for Kelly when she became a licensed skydiver in 2001 and later a skydiving instructor, She believes in the unlimited potential of the human body. Kelly offers variety in training techniques and certified in multiple areas including general group EX, bootcamp, rebound training, Cycle, weights, TRX, and Pilates Reformer.
Matthew Coleman
The Yards
Matt is a NASM certified personal trainer specializing in group training. His holistic philosophy combines creative strength and conditioning workouts with healthy lifestyle choices. He creates personalized plans to empower clients to achieve optimum health and performance and specific fitness goals. Utilizing a positive and resiliency-based coaching method, he encourages clients to work hard for transformative results. Matt is a DC native and lifelong athlete who played collegiate basketball at Christopher Newport University. Through athletics, he developed a passion for fitness and teamwork.
Rafael Garcia
Logan Circle
Rafael is a certified personal trainer with NASM. He is also certified in TRX suspension training and teaches Mixed Martial Arts. He has 25 years of experience playing soccer, is a Tae Kwon Do black belt and, is a Relson Gracie Jiu Jitsu brown belt. Having played and competed in many sports his whole life, Rafael knows and understands the hard work and dedication a person must have to achieve a fitness goal. Having trained professional fighters, Rafael uses his experience and implements the same kind of philosophy to his clients. Whether it’s losing weight, gaining strength, building muscle or cardiovascular endurance, hard work and commitment are a must. His style of training is very challenging, but effective. His workouts are a mix of cardio, weights, plyometrics, circuit training, kickboxing and grappling. He is known to push his students and clients beyond limits they never thought they could ever achieve.
Sam Yousefi
The Yards
Sam uses his 17 years of martial arts experience and extensive fitness, coaching, strength and conditioning skills to design sports-specific, functional, realistic training programs as well as cardiovascular conditioning and weight loss. As a seasoned personal trainer, Sam brings versatility in training. Having first-hand experience in weight loss, muscle gain, toning, building strength, power and explosiveness for over a decade, Sam uses his own experience to build specific training goals for each client to achieve their highest fitness levels. Sam’s biggest accomplishment is that after winning various titles and belts in North America, He trained, vigorously for months and fought in the WKA world kickboxing tournament, winning a Bronze metal out of 300 fighters and 58 countries.
