 Amberlee Colson grew up in Orange County. Although she is a true southern california girl, she loves to travel and experience new places, people and cultures. Amberlee's passion for acting eventually brought her to Los Angeles where she attended Loyola Marymount University and majored in Communications. Recently she wrote, produced and starred in a one woman play called BIG HAIR about an actress who discovers what is important in life. She is now adapting it for the screen. Amberlee has always made it a priority to maintain a healthy lifestyle by taking care of her body inside and out. She has always loved dance and yoga and she is obsessed with Whole Foods! Amberlee first came to The Bar Method when the Brentwood studio opened and immediately found that the Method was a great way to work every muscle in your body- while being safe at the same time. She loves that the class focuses on breathing and stretching and that it requires you to be present and focused. Amberlee has really loved being a part of the warm and welcoming Bar Method community, where the staff and the students are open and eager to learn and work hard. She enjoys thinking of ways to teach a challenging class and encourage her students- and she loves when she knows she has given her students a great workout and they are so appreciative.
Ashley Brown was born and raised in Puyallup, Washington. Never heard of it?? They have the state fair there, no big deal. She received her Bachelors of Arts in acting and communication at Trinity University and went on to receive her Masters of Fine Arts in writing from Emerson College, in Boston. After two winters in Boston and writing a memoir, Ashley knew she needed to move someplace warm, someplace magical, someplace where dreams come true. She moved to Los Angeles to pursue her acting and writing career. Not having a car when she moved here, Ashley walked everywhere and that’s when she discovered the Bar Method, after wandering out of Magnolia bakery on 3rd street, eating a cupcake. She signed up for the introductory special and has been an avid “bar-ee” ever since. Having danced ballet most of her life Ashley loves the dance inspired workout. Her body has never felt or looked better. The minute she got the much hyped “bar butt” she knew this is something she would do forever. She also loves the sense of community here, and how everyone knows her name. She looks forward to learning your name when teaching and cannot wait to start making you cry (tears of joy) in thigh!
 Ashley Ragovin grew up in San Diego and completed her B.A. in International Relations at USC in December 2001. She spent the next three years working in sales, commercial real estate, and the fashion business, but continued to be pulled back to writing. After a brief stint as a trend columnist and writing copy for websites, Ashley returned to USC and earned her master’s degree in journalism in 2010. She continues to be passionate about food, wine, and the cultural and social phenomena linked to what we eat.
Because health and fitness have always been important to her, when she started taking classes at The Bar Method, she found another passion. It is the only exercise that she has stuck with, and now she craves going to class instead of dreading it. “It is the best thing for a woman’s body because it is the most comprehensive workout with the best kind of results--super-targeted--no other exercise can compare.” Ashley is grateful to be a Bar Method instructor because she can give back to an area that has been so important for her. "It’s one hour that’s not me, it’s about the students, and giving them the same positive feeling I have gotten from taking class is a gift in itself." Ashley currently manages Animal, the esteemed chef-driven restaurant in Los Angeles that supports local farming within its dynamic menu as well as an ever-changing wine list. Eventually, she hopes to participate in new restaurant projects and perhaps become an owner one day.
 Beth Griffin was born in South Carolina and raised in Irvine, California. Growing up, she swam and played softball. In 2000 she found her way to LA and fell into the jewelry business where she worked as a sales rep and manager for 9 years. While working in the jewelry industry she found the Bar Method, and realized it was the first thing in her life that she was truly passionate about. After three years of taking class, she was still in love with it and unlike other exercises she had tried, it never got boring.
Beth became an instructor in 2010 because she thought that the only thing better than the feeling she had when she finished taking a class, was being able to give that feeling to others. Going from being a student to a teacher made her realize that she could pursue careers in life that actually made her feel good. This led to her turning her “baking hobby” into a business and she created an online bakeshop called “Sweet Life Kitchen” where she sells her famous Cake Pops and other small bite-sized desserts. Beth and her husband of four years are the proud parents of two Wiener dogs and they are currently expecting their first human child! www.sweetlifekitchen.com
Bryce Rattner hails from Palo Alto, California. She studied Political Science and Statistics at Washington University in St. Louis, MO. Currently Bryce lives in West LA and works as a Headhunter for Accounting & Finance professionals. Bryce started her Bar Method training in the summer of 2008 and since then, has worked at Bar Method studios in Agoura Hills, Hermosa Beach and Los Angeles. She is a former gymnast and soccer player and she loves the Bar Method because it has given her a leaner, more streamlined body. She enjoys teaching for the outlet and loves seeing the transformations in her students bodies and lives. The Bar Method has also been a good complement to Bryce's passion for food and cooking. in her spare time, she enjoys documenting new recipes and culinary adventures electronically: www.bitesizedchef.blogspot.com
Crystal Sovay is a Southern California native and currently lives in Los Angeles with her husband of almost a year, and precious
doggy, Herbie. Herbie helps Crystal work the desk at the Brentwood Bar Method and has quickly become the location’s mascot. Growing up, Crystal’s life revolved around dance. She danced competitively for years and after high school she began teaching. Eventually, her professional dance endeavors brought her to LA to dance with the Lakers for two seasons! Currently, Crystal is a full time student studying Nutritional Science at Cal State LA and working towards an RD (Registered Dietician). She was actually introduced to The Bar Method by instructor Kelsey, who she danced with in high school. After she took her first class, she was addicted. She felt that her body was being pushed the way it used to be when she took an intense dance class and she could tell that she was getting stronger after the first week of her Introductory Special. Certain that she needed to be a part of The Bar Method family, she immediately inquired about becoming an instructor. As a teacher, Crystal is inspired every time a new student sees the changes in his/her body and continues to take class after completing the Intro Special. She says, “There’s just something really rewarding about hearing every student you meet say, they love the Method, and for all the same reasons why I love it.”
Emily Wahlund grew up in icy Minneapolis, Minnesota. She decided to defrost a bit and moved to Pittsburgh, PA where she attended Carnegie Mellon University. After receiving her BFA in acting, she headed to Los Angeles to thaw out entirely. She currently works as a head bartender at Father’s Office, a renowned LA gastropub, where she is proud to educate the world about beer. Yes, beer. Emily is also a stand-up comedian and performs regularly at The Hollywood Improv, The Comedy Store, and she recently returned from the Detroit Comedy Festival. For Emily, an avid runner since birth, (yes, birth) completing three marathons just wasn’t enough...she needed something else. She discovered The Bar Method and it was love at first tuck. She loves the way it has toned her body, made her more flexible, and that now she can do push-ups! She is thrilled to be teaching others something that has affected her life in such a positive way.
Jennifer Barnes grew up in Iowa City, Iowa and graduated with a degree in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Colorado in Boulder. In 2005, after living in Chicago and working for FOX for three years, she decided to head to warmer weather and move to Los Angeles. Jenn currently lives in Brentwood with her husband Jonas, and their new puppy Bella. Jenn danced her entire life until college. In high school she travelled and competed with a group called “Click” from the Dance of Iowa Studio and she also ran track. After college, she wanted to stay in shape and was looking for something new to do, and that’s when she found the Bar Method. She was only a student for a short period of time before she trained to be an instructor in May of 2010. Bar Method has not only made her stronger, from the inside out, but has also helped her overcome her lifelong challenges with flexibility, core strength and posture. She wants her students to find the joy and love for Bar Method that she has found and says, “ The Bar Method is not just a workout, it’s a lifestyle.”
Jennifer Keyes, a dancer since she was five, grew up in Auburn, Massachusetts. She received an Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education from Becker College. Jen came out to Los Angeles to pursue work in television and film as both a dancer and an actor and has over 35 credits to her name. Most recently, her work includes television’s “Criminal Minds” and “Private Practice” and feature films “500 Days of Summer” and the upcoming “Muppets Movie”. Jen became a Bar Method instructor in 2005 and it was a perfect transition as a professional dancer because it helped her keep her core strength and flexibility. Jen also had two knee surgeries and credits the Bar Method with helping her rehabilitate and strengthen her knees. Jennifer has found that doing something she loves and feeling like she’s a part of helping others achieve their personal health and fitness goals, has kept her inspired for the last five years.
Jennifer Korbee is originally from Madison, Wisconsin. She attended the College Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati, where she received a BFA in Musical Theater. Jenn, a singer/songwriter, is in a band called Korbee Jones, with husband Tom Korbee and Daniel Jones, formerly of Savage Garden. They are releasing an album this fall. In addition to her music, Jenn acts in film and television, most notably in TLC’s Emmy nominated Hi-5. Jenn credits the Bar Method with changing her life physically, emotionally and spiritually. She says “If I can do ‘Thigh’, I can do anything”. Taking and teaching class has given her a confidence she never knew existed and has allowed her to lead a more fulfilled life. She loves that, every day, she can help students feel this same sense of strength and confidence. www.korbeejones.com & www.jennkorbee.com
Jessie Schneiderman was born and raised in Washington, DC. Don’t ask her if she’s really from Maryland or Virginia- she’s not. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Pennsylvania where she majored in Psychology and Spanish with a minor in Creative Writing. She is an award winning and published poet. Jessie started dancing when she was three years old. She has danced, acted and sang her entire life. After college she decided that she wanted to move to Los Angeles, where she had never been, and become a comedienne. It seemed like the right thing to do. Since moving to LA, Jessie has studied improv, sketch, and writing at the Upright Citizens’ Brigade, Second City, IOWest, and the Groundlings, where she has advanced into the final level of training. In addition to comedy, Jessie works as a voiceover artist and host, recently completing a three-year stint co-hosting an award-winning internet show. Currently Jessie is focusing more on writing and is working on a webseries and a screenplay. Jessie has always been athletic- skiing, snowboarding, playing tennis and dancing her entire life, but The Bar Method has been the only form of exercise that has captured her attention and motivation on a daily basis. The similarities to dance, the variations in choreography, the new challenges in every class and the incredible results have made her a Bar Method addict. Jessie has been an instructor for a little over a year and It has been the most rewarding job she has ever had in her life. She is not only thankful for the physical changes, but for the loving family and friends it has given her as well. www.youtube.com/jessieschneiderman
 Katelin Chesna grew up in Chicago, Illinois. Originally, she planned to go into Sports Medicine and she graduated from the University of Illinois Champaign with a degree in Exercise Physiology. However, after college she had a change of heart and decided to move to New York City to pursue an acting career. After three years of studying and auditioning in NYC, Katelin moved to Los Angeles to continue acting out here. She lives in LA with her beautiful daughter and adorable grandson. In 2003, Katelin was in the second group of instructors to ever train for Bar Method LA! She was immediately drawn to the intensity of the Method. She loves that she’s constantly challenged and that each class demands focus and determination. The Bar Method community has had a very positive impact on Katelin’s life. She adores her bosses, her co-teachers and her students and she thrives on getting people as addicted to the Method as she is! It’s inspiring for her to see her students set goals for themselves and then acquire those goals, knowing that she had a part in that process. Katelin and her partner Emily Beason own a beautiful Bar Method studio in Encino, California on Ventura Blvd. http://encino.barmethod.com
Kelsey Dworkis grew up in Denver, Colorado. Her father is a ski instructor, and so Kelsey has always been an avid skier. Dancing has also always been an important part of her life. She spent 10 years studying and competing in ballet, tap and jazz (tap was always her strong-suit!), before pursuing an accounting and business degree at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas. After college, she went to work for a large public accounting firm. She moved to Los Angeles in 2005, where she currently lives with her husband and two dogs, Breck and Baxter. Kelsey, a Ph.D. candidate in business and a licensed CPA is now in the process of writing her dissertation on Managerial Accounting and Behavioral Decision-Making in Organizations. Kelsey came to The Bar Method after a stress fracture in her femur prevented her from doing her usual exercise routines of running and spinning. After a few classes, she was hooked! She was surprised to see that, unlike in her other exercise classes, everyone who was taking Bar Method consistently was very fit and toned. She realized that the great results from the Method happen because of the help and insistence of the teachers on working in correct form and therefore, working the correct muscles. Kelsey loves the Bar Method because it is at once accessible yet incredibly challenging. She has found teaching class incredibly rewarding-just knowing that she is helping to make a positive difference in her students’ lives. And, as she says...”It’s fun to watch people shake!”
Kelsey Gamradt is a California native, a former marketing executive and now the proud mother of three beautiful children. She found the Bar Method after the birth of her third child -- and she was instantly hooked! As a student, Kelsey loves the mental work out just as much as she does the physical work out of the Bar Method. As a teacher, Kelsey loves being a part of people working hard to make a positive impact on their mind, body and spirit. Kelsey loves being a mom and spending time with her husband and children. She is so proud to be a part of the Bar Method family.
Kelsey Riach is a Taurus from Dana Point, CA . Kelsey majored in drama at Chapman University and received a BFA in theater performance as well as a BA in screen writing. Although her passion is acting and writing , in her free time she also assists on fashion shoots as a stylist. Kelsey has 15 years of dance training and she was on a nationally ranked dance team in high school. Kelsey’s started working the desk at Bar Method in 2008, and by June of 2009 she was training to be a teacher. She just loves the way The Bar Method makes her feel. It’s the only exercise that keeps her constantly excited because there’s a new challenge every time she takes class. She loves being able to give this feeling to her students and make one hour of their day, healthy and positive.
Kristen Campos was raised in the Pacific Northwest and graduated from Washington State University with a degree in Business Administration. Kristen moved from Seattle to Los Angeles in 2003. She started teaching Bar Method in August 2006 while working full time as a Commercial Property Manager. In October of 2008, Kristen decided to quit her corporate job and work full time for Bar Method LA as the Managing Director of the LA studios. Kristen is also a national evaluator and trainer. She loves the Bar Method because it never feels like “work” and she gets to meet new people and be a part of their journey to become stronger, both physically and mentally. When not teaching, training, evaluating and taking classes, Kristen spends her spare time with her husband and adorable, 9 month old
Kym Hoy grew up in Pasadena, California, and currently lives in Los Angeles with her two beloved cats and her faithful chihuahua. She studied at Depaul Theatre School in Chicago and graduated from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art in London. She had her professional musical theatre debut in Singapore with the musical Sing To the Dawn and recorded the original cast album. She then toured for two years with the 2nd National Broadway company of Miss Saigon performing the lead role of "Kim" She is also featured on the the Jerry Herman Tribute Album Tap Your Troubles Away. Her versatile singing has taken her from Carnegie Hall in String of Pearls, to singing the National Anthem at Dodger Stadium. She also does voice-over work and can be heard in your favorite video games such as “Maximo 2” and “Mass Effects 2”. TV appearances include Guest Stars on NCIS, CSI: NY, and a recurring role on General Hospital. While performing in the musical Tease (with instructor Tiffany) all the performers got to take a Bar Method class and she felt muscles she had never felt before! Her love of the Bar Method continued well past the short run of the show, and she became addicted! She was thrilled when Mimi gave her the opportunity to become an instructor, and has found an inner strength and discipline she didn't know she had. She feels so blessed to be part of this great community and to be able to help people along their journey of health, strength, flexibility and grace.
See teacher bios L-Z (alphabetical by first name)
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