I am on a mission to encourage and inspire as many people as possible to find joy in moving their bodies! I believe fitness can be a path toward appreciation for your body, by cultivating healthy decisions and a healthy mindset. Much of my personal life has been transformed through fitness. As I worked on building my strength up, I found that I had even more inner strength to overcome obstacles, self-doubt, and insecurity. Every client I work with comes from a different background and relationship with their body and with exercise, so I am driven to make it an experience that feels right for them and where they are at in their journey.

I am full of positivity, passion, and enthusiasm. I think that the key to health and wellness lies first in connecting yourself on your truest deepest level. The better you know yourself, the better you can make decisions that align with your true self. There is a lot of interesting and sometimes conflicting or confusing information about health and wellness out there today. I like to help clients sort through the confusion and find a path that works for them.

Born and raised in Germany, I bring a unique blend of European discipline and holistic wellness to my Practice. My foundation in Physical Therapy, earned in Germany, provides a deep understanding of human anatomy and movement, which I integrate into every training session. My lifelong passion for athletics, healthy lifestyle and nutrition cultivated during my school years fuels my commitment to helping clients achieve their peak physical potential, health and longevity.

With over 25 years of experience in the Health, Wellness and Fitness industry, I’ve amassed a comprehensive skill set which extends far beyond traditional fitness. I hold multiple certifications including Personal Training, Performance Enhancement Specialist, Corrective Exercise Specialist, FMS (Functional Movement Screen), Health & Wellness Coach, and Holistic Nutrition Coach. My expertise extends to Hormonal Health, with a specialized focus on Perimenopause, Menopause, and Post-Menopause, empowering women to navigate these transitions with strength and vitality. Furthermore, I have extensive experience In chronic conditions and diseases, pain management and experience in training military personnel and injured veterans.

I started working out at age 15 to improve my performance on the field hockey field. It quickly progressed into a passion, so I decided to pursue Exercise Science. When my collegiate field hockey career ended, I never stopped training to maintain my strength and athleticism. My coaching practices are evidence-based and goal-driven. Before we begin training, I will conduct a thorough needs analysis and performance assessments utilizing our cutting-edge technology from VALD. Based on that information, I will build a periodized program that is 100% tailored to your performance goals. I firmly believe movement is key to unlocking optimal performance, health, and happiness. My training philosophies include keeping it simple and striving for consistency over perfection.

I have been working with Nicki for over a year and I’m so grateful to have such an amazing trainer to teach me how to properly train and discover my strength. Nicki is incredible in all aspects. She always pushes me to meet my goals for the day whether it’s to max out on a set or simply get through the whole workout. Nicki has helped improve my endurance through various muscular and speed training exercises while also improving my confidence. She always makes sure to check in with how I am doing and never fails to put a smile on my face or make me laugh even through the hardest workouts. I’m beyond happy to have Nicki as my personal trainer. -Kaitlyn M.

I have been training with Nicki at Ignite Fitness since the end of April. My experience has been nothing short of great. Nicki is very patient, detailed, and encouraging. My knowledge is very limited when it comes to exercise, so I trust her 100% in helping develop a fitness plan to reach my goals. I highly recommend her if you’re looking for a trainer.  -Jamie L

I needed personal attention due to my learning style, and also the fact that every other group method just failed. Group classes no matter how good they are focused on individuals who could always do a lot more than I could, and were a waste of time and money. Shout out to Nicki, she knows a lot about musculoskeletal system, and with my injuries able to guide me via a personalized plan in the right direction. I feel a difference already!    -Sumit S.

My road to fitness was paved out of necessity.  I was about 25lbs overweight in my adolescent years and was subject to teasing because of it. My dad guided my weight loss by helping me practice self-control and make better foods choices, instead of eating everything in sight. His guidance combined with regular HIIT workouts, to include sprinting and jumping rope, helped me lose the weight.  My motivation to look like the athletes I admired on TV was strong and It also lead to the appeal of weight training. After experiencing the benefits of weight training, finally being able to play the sports that I love and just feeling better about myself in general, I realized that fitness was what I wanted to do with my life.

I work with all ability levels, from beginner to athlete. I’d love the opportunity work with you and establish the appropriate routines to motivate your fitness. I realize that everyone’s story and situation is different. Together we can figure out what works for you.

I have been working with Denzel for about 8 months and he is a fantastic trainer. He pushes you to achieve your goals and creates a comfortable environment at the same time. He also stays on top of new techniques and applies them with his clients which is amazing. Ignite fitness is also a top notch facility with the best equipment out there. It is a first class gym!  -Austin M

Denzel has been our trainer for about over 5 months. My husband and I love working with him. He listens to our requests and modifies if necessary. Sometimes we may come in not wanting to start, we always leave feeling accomplished. We both notice our bodies getting stronger which was our main goal. Thanks to Denzel for making working out enjoyable. – Cassie M

I was about to turn 57 and wanted to finally get in good shape.  Denzel listened to my concerns and what my goals were and put together a program to fit my needs.  He’s so positive and encouraging and always keeps the workouts fresh, challenging and fun.  I could feel and see my progress within a few weeks.  He’s very knowledgeable about how the body works.  I always look forward to each session and it never felt like work!  I highly recommend Denzel if you’re serious about  getting stronger and feeling better.  -Kim E

Fitness and wellness have been a part of my life since I was a child. I loved the confidence and strength I felt training as an athlete and the ability of my body to perform easily when needed. I swam, played softball, threw shot put/discus and played a lot of volleyball!

Unfortunately, all that changed when I was diagnosed with idiopathic AVN in 2013. Avascular Necrosis is bone tissue death due to a lack of blood supply. As an experienced personal trainer and athlete who had just had my second child, I was now faced with a debilitating condition that I had never heard of before. For months, I was unable to walk due to a bone graft in one knee and core decompression in the other. I also needed a hip replacement. Rebuilding strength and learning to walk without a limp took time, patience, and a lot of physical therapy.

We often take our health for granted until we are faced with a challenge, and I can truly relate and understand what it feels like to have a body that does not function the way you want it to.

Personal training at its best! Amazing place with trainers that are not only experienced but genuinely care about your results. Rebecca is amazing, I had barely liked working out until working with her! She makes workouts both challenging and encouraging – and as a new mom, I definitely needed both! So enjoy my time here, definitely recommend 100%. -Jennifer W.

I can’t say enough wonderful things about my trainer Rebecca. I started training again recently after years of being complacent, and I couldn’t ask for a better coach and partner in my journey back to strength and fitness. Rebecca is encouraging and tailors workouts to my goals and abilities. She keeps workouts fun, fast-paced, and challenging.  I feel stronger and more confident than I have in a long time, and it gets better every week. -Jennifer B.

Heinrich J. Thomas is a seasoned Human Performance Coach and Personal Trainer with a Master’s degree in Recreation & Sport Science from Ohio University and multiple elite certifications. He has experience working with diverse populations, including professional athletes and military personnel. He previously held multiple positions as a Performance Coach at Future Research Inc., Head of Strength & Conditioning for the Edmonton Elks Football Club, and served as the Base/BDE Lead Strength & Conditioning Coach at Fort Riley, where he developed programming tailored for the U.S. Army.

Heinrich focuses on individualized training programs designed to help you get stronger, whether you are a high-performance athlete or just trying to move well and get fit. He focuses on helping clients improve their fitness, strength, and overall well-being and is passionate about maximizing your potential.

I grew up in a small town on the coast of North Carolina. Health and fitness was not always my main focus and I was overweight for most of my life. While I was in college, I decided to make changes and take my health and fitness seriously. With that,  I jumped in with both feet and have never looked back. I enjoy many different forms of exercise but strength training was the first form to really capture my heart. I want to take that passion and share it with others!

I have a strong belief that training and exercise should enhance your life. It should make things better and more enjoyable. With me, you can expect to be challenged, encouraged, and empowered. Beyond the physical benefits of training, the confidence that it brings is an additional bonus that speaks volumes!

I have been working with Diane Hunter at Ignite Fitness. Diane is positive, encouraging and flexible. She creates workouts that are challenging and fun. I have seen great results in just 3 months. I highly recommend Diane & Ignite Fitness! -Katie C.

I have been an athlete my whole life and have been resistance training consistently since I was fifteen. I started by teaching my mom how to workout and immediately knew that’s what I wanted to do for the rest of my life! After graduating from The University of Akron with a degree in Exercise Science, I began working with individuals of various sports, ages, and experience levels as a Sports Performance Coach and Personal Trainer. I recently moved to North Carolina from Ohio and am very excited to help more people become the best version of themselves! 

“I love coaching and inspiring others to become the strongest, healthiest, most confident version of themselves. I’m a firm believer to focus on your internal health, mindset, and the functionality of your joints first and foremost, and everything else will follow! Life is all about balance and becoming 1% better each and every day! Whether you’re new to exercising, need to be pushed to your full potential, or you’re an athlete wanting to be faster & stronger for your sport, I would love working with you and helping you reach your goals!”

 

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Leah – Fitness Coach (@leahthetrainer) • Instagram photos and videos

Hi, I’m Ashley. I’m originally from Northwestern Pennsylvania. While I was pursuing my Bachelor’s degree in Accounting I quickly realized that was not going to be my lifelong career. It wasn’t until my junior year of college however that I finally started to do something about it. I had found myself at an uncomfortable weight and unsure of what I wanted to do in life. I turned to fitness in order to get back on track and successfully lost 100 pounds and found a new career in personal training.

I spent the last seven years training in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. I have worked in corporate gyms and private studios as well as in home training. I’ve been lucky to have trained clients of all ages all with very different and specific goals in mind and am looking forward to bringing my experience here to Ignite Fitness. My ultimate aim as a trainer is to create a lifestyle for my clients that can be utilized for years to come.

If you are thinking of getting into or getting back into fitness as an adult – you are a force to be reckoned with. I am a mom to four kids. After having #3 & #4 (twins), I was overwhelmed, didn’t feel like myself, and just felt – stuck. Growing up I was an avid soccer player all the way through college, but life had caught up with me. Thinking about fitness felt like a different lifetime. I remember starting again and trying different workout avenues, but I knew I wanted something more tailored to me, and I needed the support. I ended up searching out my own personal trainer and haven’t looked back since. I fell hard for the training process, the challenges, and seeing the wins along the way. Along with coaching others towards their own goals, I continue to compete in powerlifting.

I am passionate about helping people through their own fitness. Fitness should be personal, achievable, and enjoyable. Maybe you want that energy back, maybe its weight loss or muscle gain, maybe you dream of competing again in some way, maybe you feel stuck and aren’t sure where to begin. No matter your story, I am here to support you through it all.