HIGHER TERRAIN ASPEN - Key Persons
Aisha Moved to Aspen from Sweden in 2001 to snowboard and enjoy the mountains. She's a certified Pilates instructor and Yoga therapist and is continually studying biomechanics with her mentor Jules Mitchell. Aisha loves the reformer as it "lights up the body like nothing else does." but she especially loves anything with her feet in the straps. Aisha's style is playful and she's constantly turning classic Joseph moves into modern, feel-good sequences. Her mission is to give her students a kick-a** workout and her motto is "Play around and have fun because success is even sweeter if you enjoy the way there."
Originally from Long Island, Bree and her family moved to South Florida when she was a teenager. She moved to Aspen to ski and to enjoy the mountains. Bree specializes in Lagree and loves the low impact and high intensity workout that the Megaformer provides. "Lagree is one of the most effective workouts I have ever experienced. My favorite move on the Megaformer is teaser! I love the intensity this move provides for my obliques."
Bree is also a certified yoga instructor, bringing balance and form into her workouts. Her classes will leave you feeling good physically and mentally. "I love the quote strong is the new skinny. I believe women should be taking the time to add strength based workouts to their routine, and Lagree is perfect for that."
Janelle grew up in St. Louis, Missouri and started her fitness career while studying marketing at Colorado State University. She received her Group Fitness Instructor certification from the American Council on Exercise in 2013, BODYPUMP certification from Les Mills in 2016, Lagree Method certification in 2019, and indoor cycling certification in 2020.
She currently teaches Lagree at Higher Terrain and indoor cycling at Cyclebar. Her favorite moves on the Megaformer are cobra, super lunge and tailbone angel for the full-body shakes. When she's not teaching fitness classes, Janelle leads marketing for The Little Nell hotel.
Janelle's teaching style is informative, motivating and enthusiastic. "Get comfortable with being uncomfortable. That's when we see change!"
Jen Metcalf from Miami is a physical therapist, and Certified Pilates Instructor. After taking a Lagree Method class in Miami, she fell in love with the method that is both challenging, and low impact. She became certified in the Lagree Method in 2019, and opened Higher Terrain, a licensed Lagree Method studio, which offers high quality form focused Lagree and Pilates workouts in downtown Aspen, Colorado.
Karen Morian hails from St. Louis, and has lived in Aspen since November 2012. She moved to the mountains for a quiet, simple lifestyle in a small town that values nature, activity, and community. Karen is a certified Personal Trainer, and loves teaching Lagree at Higher Terrain. She also teaches Pilates and Barre around the community.
If you're taking Karen's Lagree class, you can bet you'll be doing some escalator lunges, and getting a lesson on the importance of shoulder stability in EVERY movement! Karen loves to share information about how your body works, how what you're doing in studio helps you in "the real world," and always encourages efficient movement.
Katie grew up in Hilton Head, SC and is so happy to be in Aspen! It only took one trip to Aspen for her to decide that this is where she wanted to be. She was drawn to the active lifestyle, unreal scenery, and the sunshine. Katie is very grateful to be here after living in the midwest for six years for school.
Katie became certified to teach Pilates through the classical 750-hour comprehensive Pure Body Teacher Training Program. She received a BFA in Dance from Point Park University and recently earned her Master's degree in Movement Science from the University of Michigan. She is also a certified Konnect Method teacher by the creator, Viktor Uygan, and has worked with the esteemed Jerome Weinberg. Katie will forever be a student and continue her education to improve her clients' quality of life through movement.
She loves the reformer because of the endless possibilities it offers to find connections, lengthen, and strengthen. It is accessible to everybody of all levels and abilities. Her favorite exercises on the reformer include any that involve feet in straps, which you can expect to see in nearly every one of Katie's sessions and classes.
While classically trained, her repertoire is adaptable to suit your needs. Whatever your goals may be, Katie will eagerly work with you to enhance your well-being and help you move through life feeling your best!
Kaylee moved to Aspen on a whim back in 2013 from Three Rivers, Michigan and can't bring herself to leave. Who can blame her? She specializes in the Lagree Method and is focused on proper form and on personal challenge. In her own words, "form comes with practice and change comes with challenge."
Her favorite megaformer moves are runners lunge, single leg squat, & giant twisted wheelbarrow, because they are so effective!
Originally from northern Idaho, Kaytlyn has lived in Aspen for nearly 20 years, having first been brought here by the beauty and endless outdoor activities first brought me here, and having chosen …
Originally from Hopkinton, MA., Mackenzie landed in Colorado for college due to her love for the mountains and outdoor culture and eventually made her way up to Aspen in 2014 for a job in PR and marketing.
Mackenzie loves the megaformer because, in her own words, "it is so hard, but so effective! I feel a huge difference when I am taking classes consistently vs. when I've taken some time off." It's perfect for individuals who are dealing with injuries but looking for a high intensity workout that's low impact and easy on the joints, which is how she found the megaformer. Her favorite moves are runner's lunge and super single leg squat.
Her workouts are motivational, fun and challenging, without being too serious or intimidating. In Mackenzie's mind, you are always stronger than you think and are able to push harder than you think you can.