The Owners
Heather Ehlers is the founder and co-owner of The Body Barre! She is a wife and mother of three boys. Having been an athlete for most of her life she knew the importance of staying active and moving her body. She received her Yoga 200 RYT in 2015 and soon followed her barre training and certification. She fell in love with the format and grew passionate about the benefits barre can give to our daily lives.
Heather’s teaching creatively infuses functional fitness with that beautiful barre burn that we love! She is also HEAT and Pilates certified. Once she started teaching she soon discovered that there is so much more to leading a group exercise class. People want to feel safe and like they’re a part of an environment where they are not judged- and can truly work on themselves physically and emotionally.
The Body Barre has given her the community and environment to pursue her passion and love people.
Throughout her life, Jamie Bleything has always been involved in fitness, gymnastics, soccer, and basketball. Movement was and will forever be a significant part of her lifestyle.
In 2017 she discovered yoga and it had a profound impact on her mind, body and soul. In 2020, she received her 200 hour YTT certificate through Life Power Yoga . Jamie considers her yoga practice to be a constant journey. Yoga has given her freedom; physically, by strengthening, lengthening, and changing her shape to allow for more opportunities; mentally, by teaching her to adapt quickly to stress; spiritually, by showing her that the two are forever interconnected.
As an instructor, Jamie likes to inspire her students to embrace their practice, while keeping it fun and lighthearted. During her time off of the mat, she enjoys time with her husband and two kids, playing at the beach, photography and reading.
Brandi Downham is an artist and designer who holds a bachelor’s degree in fine art. Her creative background can be felt in her curated classes. Fusing creativity with yoga allows students to experience a real richness in their practice.
Brandi began practicing yoga and studying movement in 2013, while she was in the beck of motherhood. Group fitness classes like barre and yoga became a form of therapy, a dose of serotonin, and much needed socialization. After the traumatic loss of a loved one, she sought breath and movement as a means to cope, and what she experienced was a profound sense of self-awareness and wonder. Yoga provided a gentle path to healing a grieving heart, calming a busy mind, and eventually led to playfulness, too!
In 2020, she completed her 200 hour yoga teacher training through Life Power Yoga with Tracy Checotah and Shannon White. Brandi is currently completing her 300 hour with My Vinyasa Practice, and studying the lymphatic system with the internationally renowned Yoga Medicine program. With an emphasis on healing and release, Brandi’s work guides students to become their own facilitator of self- awareness, energetic curiosity, and discovering their highest selves.
Management
Brittany Jernigan has been a member of The Body Barre and in-house photographer since 2020 and began 2023 as our Studio Manager. After the craziness of 2020, she needed an outlet to connect back to a healthy lifestyle and The Body Barre was a perfect fit. Not only did it provide a place to have fun being active, but also a new creative outlet and a social network of amazing people. She fell in love with the community and wants to help cultivate the amiable atmosphere she loves.
There is a good chance you will see her at the studio with at least 1 of her 3 kids and an even better chance of seeing her behind a camera. She loves reading, dogs, The Office, summer and, of course, photography!
Instructors
Michele Barber is a certified barre instructor with over 6 years experience. A true born Okie, she is a mom to two crazy 8 yr old twins and spends most of her spare time coaching all of their various little league sports.
Michele completed her barre training in Portland, Oregon under amazing mentors and instructors. Prior to becoming an instructor, Michele spent 10 years learning & cultivating her love of barre as a client and lover of fitness. Michele has always had a great love for sports and being part of a team. She spent the majority of her childhood completely absorbed in sports from softball, basketball and cheer. Nowadays you can find her in the studio, it’s her happy place. Being able to meet and cultivate relationships with clients is one of her favorite parts about being an instructor.
Her classes first and foremost are meant to welcome everyone! No matter where you are in your life, or fitness journey you can walk into Michele’s class and immediately feel that you belong there.
Her playlists are fire and her classes will challenge you while also meeting you exactly where you’re at. Michele prides herself on teaching her clients the beauty of modifications and learning to listen to your body.
You will never know what kind of class you’re walking into but that’s the beauty in Michele’s classes. She will always keep it fun, challenging and you will always walk out feeling happy! She’ll probably hug you a few times too!
Alissa Basse joined The Body Barre family in 2018 when she moved to Edmond. As a member she quickly found the studio to be an amazing community that fostered an unknown passion for group fitness! She became certified to teach HEAT in 2019 and began teaching soon after.
Get ready to sweat! Alissa’s classes are challenging, but always fun. Her classes are fast paced, high energy and full of booty shakin’ music! Outside of the studio you’ll find Alissa with her side kick Pomeranian, Charlie, or baking something new in the kitchen.
Mandi Briggs is a life coach, yoga instructor, and avid speaker whose work inspires women across the globe to live a bold, brave and authentic life. She lives a life of adventure, takes risks based on her intuition, and turns negative self-talk into love + gratitude on the regular.
After 13+ years in corporate America, she set off on a brave adventure to transform her own life. The adventure found her quitting her corporate job and selling every possession she owned to travel the world solo as a yoga instructor.
She completed her 200-hr teacher training through YogaWorks Europe under Anna Zorzou and David Kim before teaching her way around the globe, leading classes and private lessons in Thailand, Bali, New Zealand and Germany before returning home to Oklahoma. She also earned an additional certification in Yin Yoga through David Kim.
Mandi has taught more than 3500 classes and thousands of students.
From a powerful vinyasa flow to gentle yin yoga, Mandi challenges students to turn inward, get comfortable being uncomfortable, and grow exponentially. Connecting breath work to physical movement, she takes students out of their heads and into the present moment on their mats.
Ericka Knowles has been teaching Barre classes for ten years. She found Barre while working in a high stress medical device industry. After a few classes she felt something changing in her body and mind. She was stronger, had more clarity and had more energy. Once she started to see changes in her muscles she was sold.
Ericka’s classes are designed to help you build strength and confidence, both inside and out. You will find functional movement for everyday life and injury prevention. She’s known for her fun playlists and high energy classes!
She truly believes Barre classes are for everyone whether they are your main form of movement or you sprinkle them in with your other workouts.
When Ericka is not teaching you can find her in her kitchen (She loves to bake and cook!), attending soccer, cheer, basketball, football or golf competitions, hanging with her dogs, her husband, Brad and their 5 kids.
Can’t wait to see you in the studio!
Cindy Keathly is a long-time resident of the Edmond/OKC area. She has been a fitness instructor for 6 years with experience in Pilates & Barre as well as overall health and wellness. She has a loving family including her husband of over 20 years, two amazing children plus a twin sister who joins class occasionally.
As a barre instructor, she has a passion for helping people achieve their fitness goals and lead a healthier lifestyle. Cindy’s classes are designed to challenge and inspire, while also being accessible to all fitness levels. She strives to create a welcoming and supportive environment where her clients can feel comfortable and confident in their abilities.
With a focus on proper form and alignment, Cindy will guide you through a series of exercises that will strengthen and tone your entire body, while also improving your flexibility and balance.
Cindy believes that fitness should be fun and enjoyable, and she always try to bring a sense of humor and positivity to her classes. She is dedicated to helping her clients improve their physical and mental well-being, and looks forward to sharing her love of barre with you!
Erin La’Forge’s fitness love began in college when she worked with a trainer and learned how to properly lift weights and began training to be a long-distance runner. While her fitness loves have changed through the years, HIIT has remained a constant in her routine. She likes to challenge her body and push herself through cardiovascular work and weights.
Erin began working out at TBB while working as a Bootcamp trainer at another gym. She enjoys the atmosphere and variety of the classes here. While her heart lies with teaching H.E.A.T.; there are days when the shakes at the barre or a stretch on her mat are just what she needs. She has 2 daughters. Cady is a freshman at KU in Lawrence and Abigail is in 3rd grade in Deer Creek. Erin and her husband love to travel and go to concerts.
Kim Rosen has a passion for group fitness and has been teaching since 1995. At The Body Barre she teaches Dancewerks, which is a high energy, incredibly fun, cardio dance workout!!!
When Kim is not at The Body Barre, she owns and works at a salon in Edmond and teaches a lot of other classes because… fun and effective workouts with fun and amazing people- is what she’s most passionate about. Kim has 3 amazing kids and of course her wonderful husband to keep her in check. She would love to see some new faces in Dancewerks!
Olya Volotko McKee was born in Germany and raised in Tallinn, Estonia, Olya McKee has called Oklahoma home since she was 18 years old. She earned and Associates Degree in Journalism and a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing from the University of Central Oklahoma.
12 years ago, Olya took her first barre class and absolutely fell in love with the practice. She became an instructor 11 years ago and it’s been an incredible life changing experience. Leading people to a healthier life, helping clients to achieve their goals and just to inspire and be inspired every single day is a beautiful blessing, Olya says.
With more than 20 years working in the beauty and fashion industry, Olya has enjoyed developing lasting relationships. Her experience in the boutique fitness as a certified barre instructor has only grown Olya’s desire to connect with clients and help them look and feel their best. This drive for relationships and Olya’s strong community presence translates into her ability to connect clients with their dream home to live their best life. She is a full time realtor.
In her free time, Olya, her husband Chad and son Alekzander absolutely love to travel. Whether it’s a quick weekend getaway or a longer, planned family vacation, traveling is their decompressing downtime that they love and appreciate very much.
Rachel Rutherford
Jessica Berger is a certified HEAT instructor with a passion for helping individuals achieve their fitness goals in a supportive and inclusive environment. Jessica fell in love with The Body Barre community in 2018 and quickly found her favorite class to be HEAT. She became a certified HEAT instructor in 2021 and has been teaching ever since.
With a goal of creating an inviting space for individuals of all abilities, Jessica's approach is centered on empowering her clients to become confident in their fitness journey. She believes in the power of community and the importance of creating a supportive atmosphere.
When she is not in the studio, Jessica can be found in her home pottery studio, playing with her dogs or enjoying time outdoors with her husband. She is dedicated to leading a healthy and active lifestyle, both inside and outside of the studio.
Join Jessica for a HEAT class and experience her passion for fitness and supportiveness for yourself!
Sarah Beth Campbell
Megan Fletcher joined The Body Barre in 2018 after embarking on a journey to take better care of herself. She soon fell in love with all of the classes, people and atmosphere. Especially after her first HEAT class, she was hooked! In 2021, Megan became a certified HEAT instructor and worked to build and grow skills around teaching.
Megan aims to keep her classes challenging and fun, but still accessible for a variety of individuals. She has the goal for you to let go of the stresses from your day and to feel stronger after every work out. Megan welcomes everyone to be their authentic self in classes and to just have FUN!
Outside of the studio, you’ll find Megan hanging out with her precious dogs and engaging in a variety of creative outlets. Megan loves searching for her next rock show, playing the guitar, and practicing wood working.
Ashley Garrett is a certified barre instructor and has been teaching classes since 2020. She is a wife and mom to 2 boys and 2 dogs - living in a house full of boys which keeps her busy to say the least. She fell in love with running while in high school, and movement has been her medicine ever since. From running, to lifting heavy weights, to barre, movement is how she loves to start every day. She got her NASM personal training certification back in 2015, but it wasn’t until she found barre in 2019 that she truly found her spot in the fitness world. There is something so special about group fitness that was just different and this style of workout was just what she needed. From making playlists, to sequencing classes, to connecting with clients and helping them to feel successful in their workout, she found her true passion in barre. You are sure to get plenty of cardio, a good burn, and some really long holds (that sometimes feel like they will never end) when you take her classes. The body barre has given her the space to continue pursuing her passion, love of music, and community.
Margie Owen has been teaching fitness for 36 years. Throughout the years, she’s taught a variety of formats, including step, power pump, and kickbox. She has always enjoyed guiding people and helping them attain their strength and fitness goals. While recovering from a back injury in 2015, she realized how healing yoga was and decided she wanted to add yoga to the mix! She completed her 200-hour training at 405 in 2019.
She’s a wife (40 years), mom, Mimi (4 grandkids), and nurse. She loves her family and friends, being outside and challenging herself!