Meet the Team

Studio Coaches

Melissa Ruiz

Head Coach

Growing up, Melissa could usually be found on stage in dance competitions, summer theatre and school shows. Dancing even took her to the Miss New Jersey stage where she was first runner up. Melissa has her Masters in Social Work and worked in higher education for 10 years in residence life, orientation and advising. While working at a university, she found a Crossfit gym to get strong and meet new people, which inspired her to help others get strong, too. Certified by the National Academy of Sports Medicine, Melissa has been working as a personal trainer and group fitness instructor in NYC since 2014. She has added a Corrective Exercise Specialist certification, a Bell Mechanics kettlebell certification, Pre and Post Natal Group Fitness certification from ProNatal Fitness and is in-progress for her 200 hour Yoga training. She’s run half marathons and obstacle course races, competed in pageants and figure competitions and was NY’s Strongest Woman in 2021. Melissa always looks for ways to challenge her mind and body. Her newest role, Mom, is keeping her on her toes too. Melissa and her husband Dave can be seen walking the neighborhood with their son Emiliano. She is thrilled to have the chance to help you get strong at Studio in the Heights!

Andrea "Drea" Smith

Studio Coach

Coach Drea is a NASM Certified Personal Trainer who also holds a Level 1 Nutrition Coaching Certification from Precision Nutrition. She believes exercise is a lifestyle and encourages everyone to stay active, no matter their starting point. She works with individuals who are looking to overcome fears, shift their mindset about diet and exercise and improve their overall health and wellness. Her approach is guided by functional strength training and holistic health principles that help you to improve how you feel, look and move on a daily basis. Coach Drea is also a mom and new grandma as well as an avid runner and Spartan obstacle course racer. Follow her on Instagram @fitwithmissdrea.

Brandon Olivero

Studio Coach

Brandon has over a decade of experience in the fitness industry and has honed his expertise in injury prevention, boxing and athletic performance. As a passionate advocate for holistic health and wellness, he believes that a strong foundation in injury prevention is crucial for achieving long-term fitness goals. Drawing on his previous experience as a physical therapist aide and stretch specialist, Coach Brandon brings a unique perspective to the Studio. His understanding of rehabilitation techniques allows him to provide tailored training programs that address specific needs and help prevent injuries. By incorporating athletic drills into his training sessions, Coach Brandon helps clients improve their strength, speed, power, agility and coordination. Whether you're a competitive athlete or simply looking to enhance your overall fitness, his approach can help you reach your goals. Through personalized training programs, expert guidance and a supportive atmosphere, Coach Brandon is committed to helping you achieve your full potential.

Clare O’Malley

Studio Coach

Clare is a National Academy of Sports Medicine Certified Personal Trainer with specialities in Corrective Exercise Training and Sports Performance. She is also a singer/actor from Dublin, Ireland, currently working Off-Broadway. Combining her theatrical training with PT, Clare believes in a systematic, periodic, safe and—most importantly—enjoyable approach to working out. Fun fact—she recently trained in circus skills including Lyra, Silks and Rope for a new musical production!

David Tepattaporn

Studio Coach

David is a NASM (National Academy of Sports Medicine) certified personal trainer who also holds an Associate of Science degree in Therapeutic Recreation. He began his fitness journey as a teenager when he began bodybuilding, and since then has experience exploring different training modalities including powerlifting, cycling, running and swimming. David has completed a number of NASM programs and is certified as a Corrective Exercise Specialist (CES), Performance Enhancement Specialist (PES) and Weight Loss Specialist (WLS). David works with clients who are interested in weight loss, bodybuilding, functional movement, strength and conditioning and corrective exercise. Whether you're a beginner looking to establish a health and fitness routine or an advanced athlete looking to maintain and develop your fitness, David designs training programs for all ages and fitness levels.

Julia Lisi

Studio Coach

Julia is a NASM Certified Personal Trainer and Corrective Exercise Specialist as well as a PN1 Certified Nutrition Coach. She is passionate about empowering her clients, through strength training, to develop a sense of agency over their health that improves their overall confidence and quality of life. Julia cares deeply about helping clients manage and mitigate pain through movement and specializes in working with older adults as well as clients with physical disability and/or cognitive impairment. With her own history of overcoming chronic pain to return to her love of heavy weightlifting, Julia’s mission is to make fitness accessible to all populations.

Marcus T. Tavarez

Studio Coach

With over 14 years of experience in the fitness industry, Marcus is passionate about helping clients transform their lives with a functional, results-driven approach to training. As a certified personal trainer, he specializes in weight loss, strength training and conditioning, helping clients achieve lasting progress while improving overall movement and function.Marcus holds several certifications, including Gym Jones Level 1, Kettlebell Athletics Levels 1 and 2, Trigger Point Therapy Level 1, and USAW1, which provide a broad and deep understanding of training methods. His approach focuses on keeping the body moving and building functional strength that can be applied to everyday activities and athletic performance. Throughout my career, he has had the privilege of working with celebrities and athletes, helping them achieve their goals and push past their limits. He prides himself on creating customized training plans that are as challenging as they are sustainable. In addition to being a personal trainer, Marcus has a unique passion for Olympic weightlifting and professional wrestling. As a trained professional wrestler for over 10 years, he’s had the honor of performing in front of live audiences, which has given him a deeper understanding of discipline, performance and mental toughness — qualities he instills in his clients to help them overcome obstacles and achieve success. When not coaching or in the ring, Marcus is constantly improving his own fitness, learning new techniques and staying up to date with the latest in health and fitness. His goal is to help you not only reach your fitness goals but also empower you to move better, feel better and live better.

Roderic Rosado

Studio Coach

Roderic Rosado brings over 20 years of personal training experience with a strong background in Muay Thai, boxing, and strength and conditioning. His coaching style blends martial arts discipline with a deep focus on movement quality, mobility, and pain-free performance. Roderic has worked with everyone from beginners and weekend warriors to competitive athletes and fighters—meeting people where they are and helping them progress to their next level. Whether you’re looking to train like a fighter, build real-world strength, improve your athleticism, or just move and feel better, Roderic brings the tools and experience to help you get there. His certifications include NASM CPT, Pain free performance specialist (PPSC), HKC kettlebell coach, Bulgarian bag level 1 coach, and Landmine university level 1 coach.

Wendy Chu

Studio Coach

Wendy’s passion for movement comes from her extensive career as an artistic athlete. Her performance credits include stage, television, film, and she has appeared in front of the camera for national and global brands and campaigns. Her fitness career began when she booked a print shoot for Reebok followed by a fitness book cover, and she has performed on camera for Beachbody and Pvolve. A sought-after coach, she is a NASM CPT, Stretch and Flexibility Coach, and has additional education in USB DVRT and the Die Mighty Kettlebell Training Method. She has taught at Lululemon, Athleta and the NYRR Run Club, and currently works with clients at Body Space Fitness and Studio in the Heights and teaches sold-out workshops throughout the year. She is a guest strength and conditioning coach at the American Ballet Theater Studio Company. Wendy takes pride in working with a diverse clientele dedicated to quality and excellence. Follow her @dancerwendy

Yoga Teachers

Alison Whitehead

Yoga Teacher

Alison has always been inspired to help people take charge of their health and well-being and believes in approaching health from a holistic perspective. She is a Certified Yoga Therapist (C-IAYT), Certified Personal Trainer (NASM CPT), qualified Mindfulness Facilitator and has a Master’s Degree in Public Health. Part of Alison’s work outside the Studio includes developing national programs and policy for implementation of integrative health and medicine, including yoga and meditation, in large healthcare systems. Alison grew up as a competitive athlete and was inspired to become a yoga instructor after witnessing the incredible impact yoga has had on the lives of the Veterans she works with. Alison enjoys sharing tools and practices in therapeutic yoga, personal training and health coaching and loves designing combinations for custom sessions. When not working, Alison, her husband Alex and their son Roman, can be found seeking adventure on the soccer field, the trails or NYC’s streets.

June Li Lo

Yoga Teacher

June Li is a 200 Hour E-RYT certified yoga instructor with an emphasis on Hatha/ Vinyasa Yoga. With an extensive background in martial arts, especially Capoeira, she has found yoga to be a great way to bring balance and focus to the body and mind while continuing to build strength and flexibility. June Li strives to bring a welcoming environment to each of her classes while creating a sense of empowerment and ease.

Lori Palm

Yoga Teacher

Lori is a former professional ballet dancer and a lifelong yoga practitioner, and she’s always felt the most herself when moving with others. Lori believes that Yoga is for every body and that if you breathe, you're doing it right. Her students range from beginners who need modifications, to yogis who need a challenge. She works with a range of yoga practitioners including middle-aged moms and lifelong teachers. Lori has a 200-hour Yoga Alliance Certification. She loves to walk, read, cook and chill on the playground with her kiddo.

Maria Phegan

Yoga Teacher

Maria Phegan completed her 200-hr YTT at the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in 2007. She has been a member of the uptown teaching community since 2009 teaching Gentle Hatha, Restorative, Prenatal, and Postnatal Yoga at MindBodySoul Yoga and Bread & Yoga until the pandemic. Over the last decade, Maria has subbed adult and family yoga at UWS Yoga & Wellness and Pure Yoga, and worked with the clients of physical therapists and doctors at Manhattan Physio Group and Mount Sinai respectively. For the past 5 years, Maria has been a Wellness Instructor for the nonprofit Exhale to Inhale, where she leads trauma-informed yoga classes for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, as well as classes for the staff of ETI’s partner organizations. Maria has had a 30-year professional ballet career and was drawn to yoga as a complementary practice over twenty years ago. She is happy to be teaching yoga the neighborhood again, and excited to join the Studio in the Heights team and community!

Shawna Emerick

Yoga Teacher

Shawna is a trauma-informed yoga instructor with well over 800 hours of certifications. She’s been a yoga teacher for almost 20 years and is also a Thai massage therapist, Life Coach for Transformation and an integrative somatic healer with a BS in Dance. Shawna is passionate about supporting others' healing and drawing out their inner wisdom so they can live authentically. She comes from a lineage of heart-centered healers, givers and hard workers and is grateful, humbled and honored to be carrying on the traditions in her own unique way. Shawna could not do any of this without the support of her partner, two children and dog!