INSTRUCTORS

Kirstin is the owner and founder of The Balance Culture, as well as an instructor. She majored in psychology and counseling and received her Master’s in Counseling. She fell in love with fitness in college when she realized how much it helped to manage her anxiety. After working as a therapist for a year, she discovered she wanted to help women in a more holistic way, sparking her interest in starting The Balance Culture. Kirstin teaches a variety of fitness classes and offers health coaching to her clients. She is certified through Power Pilates and the Athletics Fitness Association of America (AFAA), and she is also a Health Coach through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. Kirstin teaches pilates, barre, and barrelates.

When working with Kirstin in a class, you can expect to be challenged but also given a lot of modification options, as well as breathing techniques throughout the workout. She also works hard to make her class feel comfortable but challenged!

Some of her favorite things include her husband Tomas, writing, and interior design.

Ruthie is a co-owner and instructor for The Balance Culture. She majored in Social Work at Southeastern University where she played 4 years of collegiate volleyball. She was a gymnast for 12 years before starting her volleyball career. Ruthie has been passionate about fitness and nutrition her whole life. Her dream has been to create a place where women are encouraged and empowered to be their best selves through fitness, nutrition, and community. She sees The Balance Culture as the kind of positive place where women can work to achieve their goals together! Ruthie is certified through the Athletics Fitness Association of America (AFAA) as a Group Fitness instructor and Mat Pilates instructor, she is also a 200 hour RYT.

During a class with Ruthie you can expect to be challenged to push yourself while having fun! Ruthie’s classes are intermediate to advanced with options for modification throughout.

Three of her favorite things include her husband Justin, traveling and parties!

Carolina is an instructor at The Balance Culture. She doubled majored in political science and philosophy at Florida State University. She found her true passion in fitness during her college years but it wasn’t until she was pregnant with her first child that she realized it was time to pursue her dreams. She took a leap of faith and reached out to Kirstin Czernek, knowing that The Balance Culture embodied the ideals of not only external but internal health that she learned were so important to the empowerment of any woman. Carolina is certified through the Athletics Fitness Association of America (AFAA) as a Group Fitness instructor, she teaches a variety of fitness classes and offers private lessons to her clients.

Carolina’s classes bring emphasis on breathing techniques, proper form, injury prevention, endurance and most importantly learning to smile through the pain!

Some of her favorite things include her husband Alex, son Eli (1 year old), her two labs, photography and traveling.

Sabrina is an instructor at The Balance Culture. She has a Bachelor’s degree in marketing and a Master’s in business administration. It was during the early part of high school that she was introduced to fitness and ballroom dancing, in which she fell in love. The journey of learning how to steward the inner and outer body eventually became more of a mission of passion that she wanted to share with others.

Group fitness has become an outlet for her to help women enjoy working out while learning how to care for themselves and build their confidence. Sabrina designs her various classes to be energetic, challenging and effective; emphasizing proper form while targeting both the larger and smaller muscle groups. She is certified through the Athletics Fitness Association of America (AFAA) as a Group Fitness instructor.

Some of Sabrina’s favorite things include outdoor activities with her husband, spending quality time with family, and eating all the breakfast food possible.

Tara is an instructor at the Balance Culture. Her love for fitness began at an early age when her mom enrolled her in yoga classed to help with her ADHD at 7 years old. It worked, and she’s been hooked ever since. When not instructing classes Tara works in Social Media Advertising, and is a self-proclaimed hot mess super mom! She knows juggling life as a career woman, instructor, and mom can be tricky, but with a little bit of balance it can be wonderful too! She is certified through the Athletics Fitness Association of America (AFAA) as a Group Fitness instructor.

While participating in a class with Tara you can expect to sweat a lot! Her workouts are cardio intensive, fun, and challenging, but modifications for all levels are always given, as well as a few water breaks!

Tara’s favorite things include her 3 year old daughter Hallie, her boyfriend Troy, her Great Dane Winston, and her cat Sheldon.

Faith is an instructor at The Balance Culture. She has a Bachelors in Exercise Science and Masters in Kinesiology from Southeastern University, and currently works as a personal trainer and health coach. She has always wanted to be a group fitness instructor and have the opportunity to encourage ladies through their workouts. Being an instructor at BC allows her to do just that.  She is certified through Barre Intensity.
As a former competitive gymnast, health and fitness has always been a huge aspect of Faith’s life. She values the discipline of working out and living a healthy lifestyle. Like many women, working out became an outlet for Faith. She enjoys pushing her body in her workouts and fueling her body with clean nutrition. She loves helping other women challenge their fitness journey and reminding them that working out should be fun and exciting!

While in one of Faith’s classes, you’ll experience cues for technique, proper form, and modifications for all levels. You’ll be challenged, encouraged, and motivated throughout the entire class.

This Lakeland girl was also an SEU Cheerleader and loves her city. When she’s not at the studio, she’s likely sipping iced coffee, shopping with her family or at the beach.

Annalee is an instructor at The Balance Culture. She is a half-Filipina who grew up in Japan, proudly claiming the title of a “military brat.”  She graduated with an undergrad in journalism and public relations and a masters in business administration. She currently serves at Southeastern University as the Campus Communications Coordinator. Annalee primarily teaches yoga classes at The Balance Culture, and began practicing yoga as a teenager as a way to deal with stress and anxiety. Throughout the years she has integrated these practices into her daily routine. She is certified through the Athletics Fitness Association of America (AFAA) as a Group Fitness instructor.

While practicing yoga with Annalee, you can expect to feel good. She intends for you to be challenged through a simple and fluid approach to yoga.

Annalee loves getting lost in books, aimlessly exploring art museums, writing, and traveling the world with her husband.

Alyssa is an instructor at The Balance Culture.  She graduated from Southeastern University with a degree in Psychology and is currently completing her Master’s in Business Administration. She is certified through AFAA (the Athletic Fitness Association of America) and has always loved being active and involved in group sports (especially volleyball) and fitness classes.

Alyssa has been a part of The Balance Culture since day one. It’s her favorite place to workout because The Balance Culture is more than just a gym or another fitness studio – it is a place for women to come together in a healthy and fun environment to be encouraged and challenged together in our fitness journeys.

In Alyssa’s classes, you can expect an atmosphere of encouragement, energy, and fun while completing a challenging workout that will push you to reach your personal goals and fitness growth.  Barre provides a well-rounded and full body workout that will move at a steady pace throughout the class but also allows for modifications so you can catch your breath or push yourself further.  Alyssa loves seeing people meet their goals and feel healthy through fitness; exercise plays such an important part in our mental, emotional, and physical health, and Alyssa loves being able to help people make space for their health by exercising together.

A few of Alyssa’s favorite things are the beach, matcha, and traveling!

Britney Powell is an instructor for The Balance Culture. She majored in Geomatics (Surveying and Mapping) at the University of Florida. Before transferring to UF, she played collegiate softball and volleyball. Her love for fitness started at an early age when she started playing softball at the age of 5. Her true passion for helping others with their fitness and nutrition really took off after she graduated college. She is passionate about empowering others on their unique fitness journey, unleashing their inner strength, building confidence, and helping you be the best you. Britney is certified through Mad Dogg Athletics and Barre Intensity. She is also currently getting her certification in personal training.

In Britney’s classes, you can expect an upbeat, encouraging, high-energy class where you can get lost in the beat. She encourages you to push past what you think is possible and leave feeling accomplished and empowered to conquer your goals in the studio and in life. 

Three of her favorite things include spending time with her family, being on or near the water, and football season!

Erika is an instructor at the Balance Culture. She has her M.S. in speech-language pathology from the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill. She works as a speech-language pathologist with children, teens, and young adults with disabilities. Erika completed a 200-hr yoga teacher training at Heart of Yoga studio in North Carolina in 2013. She teaches yoga at the Balance Culture. She also has a background playing soccer and basketball.

Erika loves sharing the practice of yoga with everyone who takes her class. You can expect to be encouraged to listen to your own body, to be offered several variations of poses, and to be reminded to follow your breath in a class with Erika. Her goal is for you to find that balance between effort and ease, and to help you develop your own practice.

Three of her favorite things include: yoga (of course), watching soccer, and traveling.

Serena is an Instructor for The Balance Culture. She was raised in Palm Harbor, Florida and moved to Lakeland in 2012 to attend Florida Southern College. She majored in Communications and earned her bachelor’s degree from FSC in 2016. She now works full-time as an underwriter for Auto-Owners Insurance Company. She played soccer growing up but didn’t find her true love for fitness until after graduating from college when she got a membership at The Balance Culture.

Joining The Balance Culture was one of the best decisions Serena has made. She found her passion for group fitness after attending classes for over two years. Through support from fellow instructors, took the leap to became an instructor herself! Serena is Spin certified through Mad Dogg Athletics. As an instructor, Serena’s favorite part is seeing each woman’s satisfaction and happiness after finishing a workout. She enjoys seeing women interacting with one another before and after a workout and loves becoming friends with the women in her classes as well. Serena has fun finding new motivating songs to ride through class. Any fitness level is welcome!

Besides working out, Serena loves traveling (specifically to Greece where her family is from), her rescue dog Keia and Black & Brew lattes.

Meghan is an Instructor for The Balance Culture. She majored in Rehabilitation Science with a concentration in Athletic Training from the University of Pittsburgh, and earned her Masters of Science in Human Performance from the University of Florida. A nationally certified and state licensed Athletic Trainer, Meghan’s background is in helping people return to being physically active after an injury or setback. She has worked with athletes from the University of Pittsburgh, University of Florida, Florida Southern College, the US Navy SEALs, and All Saints Academy. Meghan is certified through Barre Intensity to teach barre.

Meghan’s favorite part about being an instructor is getting the chance to interact with an amazing group of women, while helping them to challenge themselves to achieve their fitness goals. During Meghan’s classes, you can expect to sweat! Her classes will strengthen your total body, all while having fun! While you can expect to be challenged to push yourself, Meghan also offers injury modifications, as well as various levels of modifications so you can get the best out of your workout!

Three of her favorite things include her sons, Remington and Crew (shoutout to her hubby Ryan too!), traveling, and anything Harry Potter.

Karen has been involved in health and wellness since a young age. Participating in high school sports helped develop her love for staying active. She has a degree in Business Administration which she utilized during a multi-year sales career. Yoga has become an integral part of her over-all health regimen and a vital outlet in maintaining a balanced lifestyle.

Beginning her personal yoga practice over five years ago, opened her mind to the physical, spiritual, emotional, and mental benefits of yoga. Teaching yoga was not something she envisioned herself doing. However, life events altered her journey. Karen has completed 500+ hours of yoga training and is a RYT-500. Her passion is to help her community learn the importance of “slowing down” and “being still”. Karen’s teaching style includes taking the time to settle the mind and body, focusing on a key element and pose(s) and ending with Restorative options, preparing students for surrendered rest. She offers variations including a challenging option for those who desire to expand their practice.

In her spare time, Karen trains alongside her husband for endurance races. They also enjoy traveling, paddle boarding, hiking, college basketball and spending time with their adult children. She enjoys a cup of Caribou or Lucky Goat coffee, all things nutty and chocolate and a spontaneous moment playing the piano.