Instructors
Kyle Bares | Stacia Black | Kimberly Russell Denkhaus | Katie Warner Johnson | Lyndsey Makovsky | Sophie Olson | Sarah Pfeifer | Chappell Westlake | Chloe Whiteford
Prior to creating the Physique 57® technique, Tanya Becker trained and taught at The Lotte Berk Method in New York City where she helped update, refine and perfect the legendary fitness technique.
“Physique 57® is the ultimate transformative physical fitness experience. It’s the only exercise program I’ve seen that changes the body efficiently as it targets all the major muscle groups so clients see rapid, obvious results. Plus it’s fun, invigorating, and incredibly intense. It makes people feel good,” explains Becker.
In addition to teaching and training at the Physique 57® studios, Becker is the choreographer and lead instructor in Physique 57® DVDs: Classic 57 Minute and Express 30 Minute. Becker’s national TV appearances for Physique 57® include The Martha Stewart Show, Today Show and Dr. Oz. She has also been featured in Vogue, Shape, Redbook, Harper’s Bazaar, New York Magazine and People.
As a trained student of the Luigi Jazz Technique and a musical choreographer, Becker has performed in musicals and live productions across the world as well as appearing in films and television. She is also ACE certified.
Kyle is a native Minnesotan who grew up training at the Ballet Arts Institute in Minneapolis, and performing at the Guthrie Theatre. He graduated with a BFA in performance from Mountview Conservatoire in London. His West End and European Tour Credits include "Hot Mikado," "The Tempest," "This Wonderful West End" and "Grimm Tales." He has also performed Off-Broadway and in many regional theatre productions. Kyle has been seen in numerous print campaigns and commercials, and has been featured in fitness editorials for multiple publications such as GQ, Men's Health, the New York Post, and the Wall Street Journal. After many years of dancing, hiking, and downhill skiing, he had always looked for ways to stay in shape without sacrificing fun. Kyle is grateful to have found this and more with Physique 57®.
A Southern California native, Stacia holds a Masters Degree in Literature from Cal State Northridge. With a background in musical theatre, Stacia performed professionally in productions throughout California, including a run at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood. Training in dance from early childhood through college, Stacia received her aerobics certification to teach hip hop and step aerobics, then began teaching tap, jazz, and lyrical classes over a decade ago, currently teaching jazz at Millennium Dance Complex. Stacia is very excited for the opportunity to join the West Coast Physique 57® team!
Kimberly grew up in Miami, Florida, where she studied dance at Danie Beck’s Dance Unlimited Studios and competed nationally with their Ensemble Company. She graduated from Southern Methodist University with dual degrees in Dance and Business Marketing. She has toured nationally with the Broadway musical "Crazy For You" and performed Off-Broadway in "The Awesome 80’s Prom". She has been featured in fitness editorials for Shape Magazine, Yoga Life, and Cosmopolitan, and has appeared in several national commercials, feature films, television series,and print advertisements. Kimberly was an instructor at Physique 57® in New York and is very excited to share her love of fitness with Los Angeles.
Katie was born and raised in Washington D.C. and graduated cum laude from Harvard University. She is an AFAA certified instructor and serves as spokeswoman for Women's Health Magazine. Katie has danced with the Miami City Ballet, Anne Reinking's Broadway Theatre Project and the Washington Opera Ballet Company. She is a Maryland Distinguished Scholar in the Arts, a NFAA semi-finalist, was awarded the Washington Post Music and Dance scholarship for classical ballet and well as the Maryland Governor's Award. Katie has performed at the Kennedy Center, the Goodspeed Opera House, Harvard's ART Loeb Theater, the Warner Theater, and Constitution Hall and can be seen in numerous films, television shows and commercials. Katie has been teaching at Physique 57®'s New York studio since 2007 and is thrilled to be joining the West Coast team. Katie believes there is no better way to start your day than a mean thigh dance with a cup of coffee in hand.
Born and raised in Allentown, Pennsylvania, Lyndsey began dancing at the age of 4, and knew from the start that the art form would always have a place in her life. She studied on Presidential Scholarship and graduated with honors from The University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA in 2007. Upon graduation she received her B.F.A. in Jazz Dance Performance as well as the Outstanding Performance in Jazz Dance award. Shortly after, Lyndsey set sail on board Norwegian Cruise Lines as a dancer with the Jean Ann Ryan Company, entertaining audiences around the world. She has also performed professionally in numerous music videos and shows throughout the New York City area, including the off-Broadway rock musical, "Crazy Head Space." Lyndsey has been a dance teacher for 10 years, and has received numerous choreography awards throughout the east coast for her work. Most recently, she had the rewarding opportunity to choreograph for Physique 57®'s benefit for Dancers Responding to AIDS at the Peridance Capezio Center Theater in New York City. Lyndsey also had the privilege to work at New York City's Physique 57® locations before recently relocating to Los Angeles. She is so excited and honored to join the incredible team of LA instructors and to share her passion for fitness and a healthy lifestyle with the west coast!
Sophie Olson is French Canadian from Cornwall Ontario Canada. She began dancing at the early age of 3 and left home at age 15 to study modern dance at De La Salle Performing Arts High School in Ottawa Ontario. She continued her performing arts education at Randolph Academy in Toronto and then The Canadian College of Performing Arts in Victoria BC. Upon graduation, Sophie worked for Disney Cruise Lines, Tokyo Disneyland and performed internationally in musical theater. Sophie has been a dance teacher for over 15 years, has taught various types of fitness, and holds a teaching certification for Turbo Kick Boxing and Yoga. Sophie is presently a choreographer for Hart Pulse Dance Co. and is the founder of S.O.D.E (Sophie Olson Dance Explosion), a dance company that creates short films using dance pieces. Sophie is so excited to be part of the Physique 57® team!
Originally from Yorba Linda, CA, Sarah has a BFA in Music Dance Theater from Brigham Young University. She recently finished touring the country with the First National Tour of the Broadway hit "Jersey Boys." She also toured with the 50th Anniversary production of "West Side Story", Deaf West’s "Big River," "Beauty & The Beast," and has performed in numerous regional productions across the country. She is also a certified Vinyasa Flow Yoga Teacher, and has been teaching yoga for almost 2 years. Sarah is a 2 time Marathon finisher having run the Toronto and NYC marathons, and is certified as a Holistic Health Coach by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners, the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, and Columbia University’s Teacher’s College. Sarah is thrilled to now be a part of the Physique 57 team!
Chappell's journey of health and fitness began as a teenager, when as a professional ballerina awarded with State and National honors, she began teaching the principals of the art to collegiate football and basketball players as a form of integrated training. As a wellness and fitness professional, her goal-oriented approach is to create enjoyable and creative programs for each student's needs, in order to ensure effective results for both mind and body. As a scholarship recipient, Chappell earned a Bachelor of Arts from SMU in Dallas, Texas. She is a NASM Certified Functional Trainer, RYT Yoga Certified Instructor, with concentrated study in the disciplines of Ashtanga, Iyengar, Kriya, Kundalini Tantra, Power Yoga, as well as, Vipassana meditation. Her fusion dance classes and personal training have been featured on Access Hollywood, E! Entertainment, LA Confidential and LA Daily.
Chloe grew up in East Lansing, Michigan, participating in many different kinds of sports and dance. In recent years, she has had a dedicated yoga and Pilates practice, and is grateful to have been introduced to Physique 57®. She graduated with honors from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Drama, and has appeared in numerous films, television shows, and national commercials. Chloe believes strongly in the power of physical activity for the mind and the body, and is honored to join such an amazing team of instructors.
