JoyRide Instructors
  • Rhodie Lorenz: cycling & pilates

    Rhodie Lorenz: cycling & pilates

    When the Gods created an indoor cycling studio they called it JoyRide. When they selected its head instructor they called her Rhodie. Roughly translated from Greek, Rhodie means “legs of blinding speed, choreography with heart-thumping rhythm, and ability to reduce a person to a pool of sweat in approximately 50 minutes.” On the bike and off, Rhodie is swift, passionate, and purposeful. She co-founded JoyRide and developed its exclusive method based on her belief that form (based on Pilates principles) + attitude (best positive effort) + good music (rhythm and mood) = a better you. She believes that exercise challenges us to be our best and creates new opportunities for us in the studio and beyond. Not just a goddess on a bike, Rhodie graduated from Georgetown University and holds a master’s in education from Stanford University. Many of her best classes have been choreographed on her kitchen dance floor with the assistance of her three young sons, who are music aficionados by default. She lives in Westport, with her three boys and Adonis-like husband, David.

  • Mo Prester: cycling & circuit

    Mo Prester: cycling & circuit

    If Mo were a flavor, you might guess "sweet." He has a beaming smile and happy mug, and you'd be partially correct.  But, in truth, a more accurate description would be "heat."  Trust me, he's got the sweetness, but there is a whole lot of kick, punch, and pow to Mo's ride.  His infectious happiness and ability to perform a song while riding and instructing draws you into your workout before you realize exactly what hit you! Upon graduating from Western Connecticut State, Mo jumped into teaching fitness and has motivated endless fitness enthusiasts to improved health and chiseled bodies. In addition to being a rhythmic instructor who can spin great tunes, Mo is a movie aficionado and computer nerd. He's like an onion! He has so many layers! You will also be pleased to hear that Mo always travels with hot sauce in his gym bag and a portable Bose stereo in his car. "You never know when you are going to need music and spice!" Mo comes prepared JoyRide style - bringing the heat every time! FInd your mo-jo, define your M.O. Sweet!

  • Armond Jordan: cycling & circuit

    Armond Jordan: cycling & circuit

    Armond Jordan: (1) An accomplished athlete (2) An exemplary coach with a mindful approach to fitness (3) A guy who enjoys eggs over easy with a side of Canadian bacon or Belgian waffles any time of day.  Armond's athleticism was cultivated at an early age on the basketball court and on the football field. The intensity of sports offered Armond a glimpse into what pushing one's body to the max can offer in unleashing individual potential.* Sometimes referred to as "Professor Jordan," thanks to his ability to teach the the logic behind the movement.  Armond's coaching incorporates his understanding of exercise physiology, enlightening riders why muscle function is just as important as enjoying breakfast foods morning, noon, or night.  Prof Armond is certified as a personal trainer and has been teaching group fitness for many years.  Now the indoor cycling world (ok, just JoyRide) is jumping for joy that he's adding this exercise discipline to his repetoire. Armond's exercise philosophy echos the JoyRide Method: he teaches with soul, smarts, and a smile. Off the bike and out of the studio, Armond slices a killer backhand in tennis, snowboards with gusto, and works hard at being a stupendous dad.

    * Please note: impressive potential has been unleashed in Armond. 

  • Mackenzie Pretty: cycling

    Mackenzie Pretty: cycling

    Being athletic, motivating, smart, and cool are key attributes of a JoyRide instructor. Mackenzie Pretty is all of the above! She's got a killer smile and she teaches a killer ride. Mackenzie (aka the "Tabata Queen") has a unique ability to connect with riders, pull together playlists, and create hard core workouts, earning her the stellar reputation as one of the best indoor cycling instructors ever. In 2005, Mackenzie turned a lifelong passion for fitness and athletics into a career in group fitness. Instructor Pretty isn't just brawny, she's brainy too. While majoring in Economics, Mackenzie graduated from Fairfield University as co-captain of Fairfield's women's soccer team (not too shabby!). Prior to becoming an instructor, Mackenzie fell in love with indoor cycling when working 14 hours a day in corporate finance trying to squeeze in workouts at the gym. Being a former Division I soccer player, Mackenzie craved the energy, coaching and team atmosphere that is present in group fitness, especially indoor cycling. When Mackenzie isn't teaching, she can be found coaching her daughter's soccer team, and spending time at home in Westport, with her three adorable children and her equally adorable husband Tom.

  • Meagen O'Connell: cycling & circuit

    Meagen O'Connell: cycling & circuit

    As a graduate of Parson's School of Design in NYC and a lifelong soccer player, Meagen is the most fashionable athlete you will meet. Stylish and sporty, refined and rough! Having worked as a buyer and merchandiser for Tommy Hilfiger upon graduation, Meagen soon switched gears from fashion to fitness and pursued her other passion - indoor cycling. While designing the latest in evening wear, Meagen attended her first indoor cycling class in college and it was "love at first ride."  Having instructed for 12 years, this fashionista knows her road well.  The beauty of Meagen's ride is that she makes it look like an effortless stroll down the runway, but her athletic drive ensures a calorie-torching and exhilarating ride! Her playlists are crazy good, and she is a self-proclaimed luvva of old school hip-hop and an R & B junkie (JoyRide luvs too!). Meagen's philosophy: We are all capable of more than we think. When not in the saddle helping JoyRiders reach their lofty fitness goals, Meagen enjoys juicy cheeseburgers, pedicures, and time with her hunky husband Jim and two tikes in Trumball, CT.

  • Samantha Mostaccio: cycling & sculpt

    Samantha Mostaccio: cycling & sculpt

    Sam graduated with a major in Economics and International Relations from East Stroudsbourg University in PA, but she found her love and passion in  dance and fitness as an active teen. Sam has spiced up the NYC dance community as a star Zumba instructor - combining her skills in dance and fitness ensuring participants are having fun while they shimmy and shake to the beat! Sam holds additional fitness and nutrition consulting certifications, so you can ask her what goes well with your Margarita after a Salsa.  She absolutely eats, sleeps, breathes, and loves what she does! When not on the bike inspiring riders, Sam can be found working at Lululemon in downtown Westport and teaching dance in NYC.

  • Emily Kate Swet: cycling & pilates

    Emily Kate Swet: cycling & pilates

    Emily doesn’t wake up in the morning, she turns on.  It was therefore a natural progression to leave the corporate marketing world behind and share her energy and passion as a group exercise instructor  -  and with a last name like “Swet,” it was meant to be!  Emily began practicing Pilates over ten years ago, and after seeing both her body and posture transform, she became hooked and pursued training through STOTT Pilates.  Emily believes the focus, clarity, and mind-body connection are the perfect partner to the high energy workouts JoyRide provides.  Emily is the local Spinlates Queen. Not to be confused with a Starbucks order, her Spinlates class offers the same shot of energy with a little addiction to keep you coming back for more.  Admittedly equal parts cool and nerd (JoyRide actually recognizes this as a benefit, not a confession), Emily loves running by the beach, spending time with her family, laughing with friends, and is always ready for a spontaneous dance party (no joke, we've seen it happen!).  She is thrilled to be part of the Joyride team - and we are too!  

  • Emma Egan-Swain: cycling

    Emma Egan-Swain: cycling

    Diva Emma Egan-Swain began teaching fitness in 1990 in NYC. With multiple certifications in addition to indoor cycling under her belt, including Pilates and personal training, Emma brings a comprehensive understanding of anatomy and how to train most efficiently and effectively. Incorporating her love of music (and great music taste we might add!), sense of humor (off beat, edgy, and clever!), and infectious energy (how can she teach so many classes a day and still kick everyone else's butt?!) into her indoor cycling classes has made Emma one of the most popular instructors in the area. JoyRide isn’t the only place around that believes Emma’s rock star status, she was voted “The Best Spin Instructor” by the New York Press a few years ago! With two decades of teaching experience and a resume that includes so many gyms you’d have to take both hands off the handlebars to count them all, Emma’s classes ensure intensity and fun. When she’s not teaching, Emma enjoys mixing tunes as a part time deejay and playfully messing with people’s minds. When you meet her, you’ll get what we mean. 

  • Julianne Mulvey: cycling

    Julianne Mulvey: cycling

    It is a little-known fact that a stationary bike is where some of the best dance moves are born.  But, it is common knowledge to anyone who has enjoyed the rhythmic flow of Julianne's ride!  With fluid movement and grace, this tom-boy-turned-groovin'-athletic-cycling babe has all the right moves. Julianne is obssessed with the inspiration that comes with riding in a pack and training together towards a common goal. After her second ACL knee surgery, she fell in love with indoor cycling. It was the "only way I could hit a high-sweat-infused endorphin rush and go 100% without full impact." She is obssessed and hooked. Try out her class and we promise you will be too!

    Finding rhythm and coordination began early in Julianne's life jumping rope.  She was named Texas state "super skippers" champion when she was ten years old.  She will jumprope in high heels as a party trick (but only if the party is reeeaally slow). Other noteable skills include: intramural billiards champion, soccer player, Credit Suisse First Boston investment banker, and photographer. Out of the saddle, this hard-core hip-hop gal can be found snapping photos, cooking or cheering on the soccer side lines. She lives in Westport with one husband, three kids, two dogs, and a fluctating number of fish depending on who remembers to feed them. 

  • Robert Newmark: cycling

    Robert Newmark: cycling

    Indoor cycling is truly transformative. Through dedication and commitment, Rob has changed his mind, body, and life through riding. One hundred pounds ago, he was a large man, weighing in at 300+ pounds -- and not as healthy as he is today. "The power of indoor cycling can transorm a body if you make the commitment," Rob tells his riders. And committed he is. This high-tech instructor lost 100 pounds (dropping from 35% body fat to a lean 8% - unbelievable!), which helped him rediscover his competitive edge and inner-athlete. He traded in video game-playing and Duchess-dining for cycling, instructing and weight lifting with an occasional Starbucks to power through. As a rider, Rob set weight loss and fitness goals, then smashed 'em. As an instructor, Rob creates a challenging ride, taking his own fitness to new levels and motivates others' to meet their goals. This lean machine will tell you he doesn't get a year older, he gets a year better -- and JoyRide has been a huge part of that mantra. 

    From 9-5, he sells IT business services, such as cloud computing, but off hours he ditches the pocket protector, and you can find him early in the mornings, evenings, and weekends leading energetic rides to rock tunes from Metallica, Foo Fighters, U2 and Aerosmith. Rob is an old fashioned Rock & Roll fan, but don't be surprised to find some techno remixes on his playlists that assist in pushing you with intensity to go that extra mile! When not torching calories and toning muscles in the saddle, Rob has a passion for hot yoga, NFL football, and staying in touch with his nerd tech-junkie side too. 

  • Stacia Howard: cycling & circuit

    Stacia Howard: cycling & circuit

    Don't be surprised when this wholesome athletic mid-Western gal tightens up her cycling shoes and dons her signature baseball cap to give you a sweat-drenched ride. Six years ago Stacia was bitten by the fitness bug and began teaching an array of hard core group fitness classes. Stacia finds working out with a JoyRide pack of riders to be highly inspirational. Indoor cycling in particular provides the discipline, courage, confidence, and strength both physically and mentally that translate off the bike and beyond the workout. "It's not always easy, but yes, it is definitely worth it!" Stacia states. "Conquering obstacles both physically and mentally is what it's all about." Her favorite thing about teaching is the music, creativity, energy, and impetus to keep improving. 

    When she is not putting together her next killer playlist or awakening a JoyRider's inner-athlete, Stacia loves to bake (and has a healthy obsession with chocolate!), is a die-hard Jimmy Fallon fan, and has a weakness for pudgy babies and pot bellied pigs. Stacia, fitness professional and domestic goddess, lives in New Canaan with one heavenly husband, two dashing dogs, and her three charming "all grown up" children who come visit on occasion for some chocolate chip cookies.

  • Meeghan White: pilates

    Meeghan White: pilates

    This former JPMorgan financial guru brings her smarts and sparkling smile into the Pilates studio training clients to get leaner, longer, and stronger. Prior to her career in fitness, Meeghan worked 18-hour days crunching numbers on Wall Street and flying on airplanes to advise clients in different parts of the country. Now, she crunches abs on the reformer and teaches a mean Flying Leg Springs exercise on the Cadillac. The nature of her finance job led to her becoming "a mess, and I felt like a ball of stress." Meeghan began taking Pilates classes to alleviate back pain and reduce stress, and fell in love with the method. Soon enough, this math whiz left her corporate job and attended the Kane School of Core Integration in NYC. Now, she is a super-duper, rock-star JoyRide instructor who adds classical and contemporary Pilates flair to her training. Multiply that by fun, plus results, and that equals a mind/body transformation! Out of the studio, Meeghan occasionally indulges in dark chocolate, coffee, and red wine (don't worry, she uses Crest Whitestrips too!). She lives in Fairfield with her husband and two kiddos. 

1200 Post Rd E Westport, CT 06880 | 203.349.5454 | info@joyridestudio.com
25 Old Kings Highway North, Darien Conn. 06820 | 203.202.9712
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