Group Exercise Instructors

Barbara Nicholas

• 16+ years experience teaching zumba
• Zumba toning instructor
• Zumba sentao instructor
• BS in biology, rutgers

Barbara has spent her whole life dancing. she was the proud owner of barbara’s dancing tonight ballroom studio for 20 years and has been teaching dance for over 37 years!

Gabriela Cortez

• B1-level Zumba Instructor
• 10+ yrs Zumba experience.

Gaby has been dancing since childhood and loves to share her passion for dance with our dsf family. When she isn’t dancing, Gaby works as a preschool director and volunteers with the American Cancer Society and relay for life.

Julie Burgal

• Crossfit bootcamp trainer
• BS in Biotechnology (UC Davis)
• MSc Genetics & Cell Bio (UC Davis)

Julie has been with DSF for over 15 years, first as a member and eventually as an instructor! outside of the gym, julie works as an academic advisor at uc davis and loves spending time with her dogs and family!

Kaz Sakura

• Teaching yoga for 5+ years

Kaz is a proud mama of three, with her oldest attending college. She has lived in 9 countries and now lives in davis full time. Her humble & open heart keeps her learning from the students in her classes. Her passion is to share her knowledge from different cultures and her experiences with yoga practice to people of all levels, ages, and backgrounds.

Sheri Pieper

• American Barre Technique certified
• NASM certified stretch and flexibility coach
• AFAA certified personal trainer and group fitness instructor

Sheri has over 5 years teaching essentrics classes at dsf! When not teaching, Sheri works as a licensed clinical social worker. In her free time, Sheri enjoys spending time in the kitchen baking bread and making treats!

Sheryl Bernauer

• AFAA personal trainer
• AFAA nutritional wellness consultant
• Yogafit certified
• Pilates reformer certified
• mat training certified

Outside of teaching yoga and pilates at dsf, sheryl loves to spend time with her family and friends. Sheryl also works at uc davis managing a dna sequencing core lab

Valerie Hetrick

• Group fitness instructor
• Ace Certified Since 1999

Valerie has over 20 years of experience teaching a variety of group fitness classes. She is a retired air force officer. In addition to teaching fitness, she volunteers at a hospice in Sacramento and at the Davis police department. Valerie loves hiking, traveling, and spending time with her family.

Tammy Thomas

Owner, Director & Instructor

• AFAA Group Exercise Certified, Red Cross CPR Certified
• AFAA Personal Training, Pilates Certified, Yoga Certified, Kickboxing and Spin Certified
• CrossFit Level Trainer 1, 2
• CrossFit Kids Certified
• B.S. in Business Management, University of Phoenix, 2000

Tammy has proudly owned and operated Davis Swim & Fitness since 2005, creating a space where individuals and families can pursue health, wellness, and connection for all ages.

Donna Lemongello

• 40+ years of teaching group exercise
• Experience teaching many formats, including Step, hiit, & yoga

Donna has been teaching group fitness classes since 1983, the time when group exercise was called aerobics! she is excited by the new knowledge and variety we now have. Donna is a retired microbiologist, avid potter, and loves to sing!