Introductory meeting with Martina.
AFAA Certified Group Fitness Instructor
POUND®, ZUMBA®, STRONG Nation™, Hip Hop Dance Fitness, Kettlebell AMPD, Generation POUND®, POUND Unplugged
ZUMBA®, Yoga, Barre Fusion, Zumbini, ZUMBA Gold, Cardio Sculpt, Cardio Kickboxing
Tina has been ZUMBA® instructor since 2013. She is also licensed in Zumbini, Zumba Gold. She is also teaching Barre, Yoga, Piyo, Silver Sneakers and her own class creation Mommy and me classes.
Hi, I am Martina!
I am co-founder and owner of Emphico, POUND®, ZUMBA®, Hip Hop Dance Fitness, Kettlebell AMPD, STRONG Nation™, Generation POUND® Instructor, mom of 4 boys, passionate DoTerra® essential oils user and I love everything about health and personal growth. Would you like to know more about me, my dancing background and what I did before we opened Emphico? Click her and keep reading then.
I am originally from the Czech Republic, Europe. I was born in the capital city of the Czech Republic, Prague. I graduated in 2014 and reached my Master's Degree at The Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, at the Faculty of Economics and Management. I was part of our family business Real Estate Agency in Prague East. I worked there 8 year as a Real Estate Agent, 3 years as Office Manager, Project Manager of Reengineering, Project Manager of Certification of ISO 9001, Project Manager of Grant from the European Fund for the development of Real Estate Agents education.
I had my first son July 2012, second son February 2015, third son in January 2023 and fourth son in July 2024. I moved to the USA in December 2014. I did my ZUMBA® license in April 2016. My POUND® license in November 2017. I became itWorks® Distributor in March 2019. I made my Group Fitness Instructor Certificate from AFAA in January 2020. I was selected as brand ambassador for POUND® and became part of the group POUND® Tour Crew in May 2020. I became Generation POUND® Pro in May 2020, which is POUND® program focused on kids age 6-12. I am passionate doTerra® essential oils user. I started my business in November 2020 and opened my health and wellness studio Emphico in January 2021.
Here is something more about my dancing background and how I got to the instructing.
I have been dancing since I was 6 years old. I went through a lot of dancing styles including ballet, disco dance, show dance, gymnastic, hip hop, jazz dance, latino dance, street dance and finally Zumba® Fitness. When I was 6 years old I started doing ballet. Then I continued with disco dancing in the dance crew named Echo, which was based in Prague. In this big crew, I got to the competition group Echo Basic. We went to a lot of competitions in our city and country. In 2000, we went to World Championship and became the Second World Champions in hip hop dance style. The following years I got to other dance crew, participated in several dance videos for music charts. In 2006, I did choreographies for video DVD for famous Czech kids singer. In 2007, my dance friends and I established our new dance company named SQUIB. We were so proud and started our new choreographies and dance styles. We went to a several dance competitions in the Czech Republic. After we finished University degrees and had our babies, there was no more time for our crew.
After having my first baby I found ZUMBA® classes which I really liked. I made friends there and was thankful for the ZUMBA® instructor, my friend Martina. She brought me to my dancing life back after having my first baby. She showed me new direction of healthy life style.
After I moved to the USA, I felt so lost. I used to dancing my whole life and I missed ZUMBA® classes. I had my second baby and then found ZUMBA® in the USA. I am very grateful for my friend Jennifer, who brought me back to dancing and show me, how wonderful ZUMBA® world can be. I got ZUMBA® licensed in April 2016. I was teaching ZUMBA® classes in the Baierl Family YMCA, Wexford, PA and Body and Soul - Heritage Church on the Rochester Road and Ohio Township Nature Center until spring 2020.
After getting comfortable with teaching ZUMBA®, I found another fitness format, in which I fell in love with and did my POUND® license in November 2017.
It was love at the first strike. I first met with POUND® at Open Streets PGH, where I was performing ZUMBA® with my colleague in summer 2017. It was awesome. The energy at the class, striking the Ripstix, I knew, I have to get licensed in POUND®. I attended this one class and went to the POUND® Pro training in November 2017. Since then I am teaching and spreading love also through POUND®.
I taught POUND® at Baierl Family YMCA and Ohio Township Community Park - Nature Center until spring 2020 in the Y and until fall in the Oho Township.
Healthy lifestyle became my new passion and after using itWorks products for several years myself I became itWorks Distributor in March 2019.
As my fitness journey continues, I made my Group Fitness Instructor Certificate from AFAA in January 2020 and was selected as brand ambassador for POUND® and became part of the group POUND® Tour Crew in May 2020. I am really honored and excited to be a POUND® brand ambassador and spread POUND® love where ever I go. It was such a big thing for me and it kept me moving through uncertain times.
I also accomplished licencing process to become Generation POUND® Pro in May 2020, which is POUND® program focused on kids age 6-12. Can't wait to bring this program to our kids audience.
I am passionate DoTerra® essential oils user since spring 2019, so will see where this journey going to take me. And I have to say, our health really improved since using essential oils for emotional well-being, cleaning, skin care and as a supplements. I became DoTerra® Wellness Advocate in May 2021.
After Covid-19 I taught my classes virtually and then opportunity to make my dreams come true appeared. I found a perfect place for opening my own fitness and health studio. I parnered up with my friend Rose and we took the opportunity and started our own business in November 2020 and opened fitness and heath studio Emphico in January 2021. As time continues mine and Rose's business journey split up and I became sole owner of Emphico in October 2021.
If I am not dancing or striking Ripstix®, and now also running my business, I am with my three sweet boys and my great supporting husband enjoying life together.
I am looking forward to meeting you all and enjoying our new adventures together. If you have any questions about my dancing background, ZUMBA®, POUND®, itWorks®, DoTerra® or my life, I would be happy to answer your questions. Sending you love through movement and smile.
Hi, I am Patty!
I started my fitness journey by becoming a certified POUND® instructor on November 13th 2022 and since that I have been working hard, practicing choreographies, queuing, co-teaching, so I could take over Martina's POUND classes in January and February 2023, when Martina was recovering a little bit after Emphico Baby Boy Hajn came to the world. Then I got my own POUND class at Emphico on Wednesday nights. I also looking into another fitness formats to get licensed in to expand my fitness skills. Can't wait to rockout with you.
[ Colleen O'Hare]
[ Becky Myers]
[ Monica Guercio]
[ Sharon Kratzenberg]
[ Rose Conroy]
Kim is a certified SoulBody Barre Unhitched instructor. She has been teaching at various gyms since 2018 and she can't wait to bring this format to Emphico. The reason she loves Unhitched so much is it incorporates Barre and ballet inspired moves, but with a fun twist of yoga and Pilates and much more. The core tracks are fire! In this format, the littlest moves make all the difference. She can't wait to strengthen and tone you lovely people! She has also taught Zumba fitness in the past and most recently received a Certification in Pound Unplugged. 2024 is a big year for her as her fiance and she are building a house and getting married this summer.
Power Circuit, HIIT, Body Sculpt, Silver Sneakers
For the past 30 years Kim has been employed in the health and wellness profession. The majority of that time has been spent in the YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh in a variety of positions including fitness instructor, personal trainer, wellness director and executive director. She has also worked in a number of local fitness facilities over that period of time.
In addition to her professional duties, Kim has been married to her husband, Tim, for 35 years and is mother to four wonderful children and grandmother of two young grandsons.
Melissa joined the SHiNE™ Dance Fitness community about three years ago and became certified as a SHiNE™ Dance Fitness Instructor in 2023. What she loves about SHiNE™ is that is it the perfect blend of dance, cardio, and toning. She enjoys the variety of song and dance genres as well. Some routines make her feel like she is partying at a club, others make her feel sexy, and most importantly, some are truly inspiring and empowering.
As a professional in the mental health community, she strives to make her classes trauma-informed and inspiring, while at the same time providing space for participants to have fun, feel confident, and love their bodies and themselves. Her classes are a judgement free zone where modifications are welcomed, and you are encouraged to leave your roles and responsibilities at the door for a self-care hour to yourself!
Guest Instructor Jun Delos Santos!
Jun is originally from the Philippines and he moved to Pittsburgh to pursue graduate studies and stayed on to work in the life sciences field. His love for dancing is rooted on his desire to get a good physical workout while still having fun!
Guest Instructor Linda Maus!
Linda Maus also as Yinda Bounce, a cardio dance fusion of latin, hip hop, and pop music designed to get you smiling while you're booty shaking!
More about Linda:
Linda has been dancing since she was a child and has always been active, so finding group fitness was a natural extension for her. In 2008, encouraged by her instructor and mentor Dani, Linda took her first Zumba training and fell in love. Since then her style has evolved to include whatever music hits just right, strength and floor moves, and an overall "love first" mindset. Fitness should never be viewed as a punishment, but instead as a way to love, honor, and respect yourself through movement. And if you can laugh at the silly, sweaty muppet leading the way, all the better! Everyone is welcome to join in the Bouncy goodness, just remember to listen to your body, modify moves and intensity, and most importantly, have fun!
Guest Instructor Marcy King!
Cardio Dance
Marcy was a dancer growing up and always loved being active. After taking her first Zumba class, she was inspired to become an instructor. Marcy has taught group fitness classes at several studios and virtually online. She loves meeting new people and sharing her love of dance!
Get ready to sweat, smile and shake it in Cardio Dance with Marcy!
About Cardio Dance:
Cardio Dance is high energy class focuses on body awareness, coordination, grooves, and patterning. Choreography is designed to be in sync with the trending music of pop, R&B, Street styles, Pop and sometimes fusion of latin rhytms. Dancers are invited to put in the choreography their own flavor of movement and have fun dancing while toning whole body and engaging cardiovascular system.