Our trainers are both fun and highly-qualified. They specialize in giving you not only an effective workout, but a safe one too. Girl Fight has a stringent set of requirements to ensure that only the best trainers in the area are taking care of our members.
Amanda was voted 2020's Best Personal Trainer and 2021's runner-up by The Daily Gazette's "Best of the Capital Region" people's choice awards. Her journey in fitness began after college, when she had gained the Freshman 15 (and then some!) and decided to make a healthy lifestyle change. She is an Elite Trainer through the International Sports Sciences Association and holds multiple specializations.
In addition, Amanda is schooled in Israeli Special Forces Krav Maga, a devastating martial art used for self defense and hand-to-hand combat. She is a published author and summarizes her philosophy on nutrition in The 80/20 Plan. Amanda has also completed an Ironman endurance triathlon, consisting of a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike, and 26.2-mile run -- all in one day! She combines all of these skills to create fun, fast, and effective workouts.
Stacey obtained her personal training certification through ACE and has assisted clients individually and in group settings. Notably, she managed and instructed at ILoveKickboxing in Clifton Park and then later at Girl Fight Fitness in Latham. However, her focus now is ensuring a seamless transition from “curious, excited, and maybe nervous” potential new member to “empowered and READY” new member.
Stacey is also a Certified Life Coach, specializing in helping women to “let loose their roar” to create a bad-ass life, with a strategic focus on improving self-confidence and the building of healthy, lasting habits.
In her spare time, you can find her with her wife and pets. Stacey also enjoys the outdoors - kayaking, hiking, and biking - as well as creative ventures of writing and candle-making.
Sami has been a NASM-CPT for over 10 years. She has her BA in Fitness, Exercise, and Nutrition and her MS in Applied Nutrition with a focus on ED Prevention and Obesity.
She is passionate about helping others in every way imaginable to help get them on a healthier path, whatever that looks like! Her focus in fitness is all about functionality for now and into the future. Her nutrition focus is all about enjoying food and her mental focus is all about neutrality.
In Sami’s spare time, you’ll find her baking delicious goods, trying all the matcha lattes in the Capital Region, and going for walks with her dog, Toast.
Donna joined the Girl Fight Fitness team in November 2021, bringing with her extensive coaching experience in youth sports such as soccer and softball, spanning both recreational and competitive levels for ages 4 to 17. Alongside her coaching roles, Donna is an accomplished runner, having competed in races ranging from 5Ks to half marathons. She has also volunteered as a running buddy for Girls on the Run, as a mentor for the American Heart Association's Couch to 5K program, and as an “Angel Runner” with Ainsley’s Angels of America, lending her legs to those in need of a little support.
Donna loves to create dynamic and engaging classes that cater to a wide range of fitness levels and goals. Her dedication and passion were recognized in 2023 when she received a Capital Region Living "Bestie" Award for her efforts as a trainer. Donna holds a certification as a Group Fitness Instructor through ACE.
Outside of the studio, Donna works full time in Information Technology for a large healthcare organization. Her passions extend to animals, nature, music, and photography. She is a proud pet mom and adores her feline fur babies.
Karen’s fitness adventure began about 10 years ago when, in order to keep up with her active toddler, she went from couch to 5k to 15k to half marathon to triathlon in just under a year. She has also completed 4 Ragnar races in Cape Cod. What Karen loved most about racing was not the competition, but the community developed along the way.
Over the years, she began to pursue other interests, including becoming a Level 2 Reiki practitioner, and in 2020 was ordained as an Interfaith Minister.
Yoga teacher training was a journey of self love so that she could live her vow to embody love. Teaching yoga combines Karen’s gifts for sharing, healing and grace with others, with guiding students toward the authentic expression of their best selves – mind, body, and spirit.
Karen works full time in health care-human services, specializing in caring for vulnerable populations. She lives in Glenville with her amazing children and their beloved cats, Sophia and Butters.
Kirsten’s love for fitness started at a young age when her parents enrolled her in soccer and softball. Once she got to high school she joined the Marine Fitness team, which is a sport based off of the Marine Corp physical fitness test.
Ever since then, KJ has always made fitness a priority of hers and has tried out so many different work outs; kickboxing being her favorite! A close friend who studied Muay Thai taught her some kickboxing basics in college and she was immediately hooked. This started her search for a kickboxing gym, and luckily she found Girl Fight Fitness!
KJ joined as a member in March 2021 and appreciated the empowerment and support she received from all her trainers and the other members. She hopes to continue that trend and encourage other members to find their love for kickboxing and fitness as well!
Kirsten works at the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation in the Division of Water writing discharge permits, and is always weirdly excited to talk to people about wastewater treatment. In her spare time, she enjoys watching soccer, hanging out with college buddies, and hiking with her husband and dog.
Paula finally realized that the countless starts and stops of at-home exercises and videos just weren’t cutting it anymore. She needed something that would hold her accountable and keep her engaged. So, she decided to try a trial with Girl Fight Fitness in July 2018 and, since then, it has become a habitual part of her life.
Although she is a home body, Paula enjoys attending plays, traveling, and getting her "Rock On" at concerts with her family. She believes music in all its forms can really speak to one’s soul. And just like music, Girl Fight is an outlet to escape everyday pressures.
When not at Girl Fight, Paula work as an Accounts Manager for a local General Contractor and has worked in the construction industry for over 20 years. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, drawing, catching up on Netflix, and sometimes channeling her inner child by breaking out the crayons and coloring books.
Peter (he/they) started Martial Arts as a teenager in the Bronx, NY at "America's Finest Karate and Kickboxing Academy." Throughout his time, he's trained in Karate, Kickboxing, Jujitsu, Tai Chi, and Tae Kwon Do. He obtained his 1st Dan Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do in November 2022. He continues to have this art as his main focus and continues to work on obtaining the next rank.
He found a passion for Martial Arts with the understanding that he wanted to learn self-defense as a member of the LGBTQ+ community. Peter identifies as transmasc, which caused him to feel uncertain/unsafe when training in cis-male-dominated sports. This fueled his ambition to create a safe and open training space for everyone.
In his spare time, you can catch him at a table playing Dungeons & Dragons or relaxing with his partner, their two cats, and dog!
Jen joined Girl Fight as a member in the winter of 2022. She was looking for a way to exercise, to push her limits, and to relieve stress. What she discovered was an energetic and supportive community with trainers who knew how to motivate her to work harder. After two years of membership, Jen set a new goal to merge her career in education with her passion for exercise by becoming an ACE certified trainer. When a trainer opportunity at Girl Fight presented itself, she jumped at the chance to join the team.
Teaching is in Jen’s blood. With a degree in English Education from St. Rose, she embarked on a twelve-year journey as a High School teacher in Schenectady. Earning a Masters in Education and then a Masters in Higher Education Administration took Jen out of Schenectady into Post Secondary work. After a rewarding span prepping a new generation of teachers in the Education Department at Siena College, Jen took the opportunity to evolve her career once again by joining the New York State Education Department.
At home, Jen is joined by her black rescue cat, Magic, and husband, Jack. A voracious reader, she enjoys non-fiction, true crime, and historical fiction novels. She also enjoys travel and all things summer related.
Lucy is a NASM Certified Personal Trainer with a true passion for fitness. She discovered her love for health and fitness five years ago, and, since then, it has become her life’s mission to inspire others to live healthier, stronger lives. Along the way, she’s pushed herself to new limits by completing five Spartan races, which have helped build not only physical strength but also mental resilience.
She is here to help you achieve your personal fitness goals, whether it’s building strength, improving endurance, or gaining confidence in your own body. Fitness is not just about working out – it’s about building a lifestyle you can sustain and enjoy. She is constantly exploring new types of fitness and loves learning new skills—next on her list is kickboxing, and she’s excited to start teaching it!
Alongside being a dedicated trainer, she also works full-time in healthcare as a phlebotomist. She knows how important it is to maintain a healthy balance between work, fitness, and life. On weekends, you can usually find her hanging out with friends and family, recharging, and enjoying life to the fullest.
Jenelle joined the Girl Fight Fitness team with a lifelong passion for sports and movement. A dedicated athlete from a young age, she played soccer throughout her life before expanding her fitness journey into the world of CrossFit. During college, Jenelle instructed a wide variety of fitness formats, including yoga, kickboxing, spin, CrossFit, and Zumba—bringing a dynamic and well-rounded perspective to every class she leads.
Outside of the studio, Jenelle works full time as a high school physical education teacher and has coached multiple youth sports teams. One of her proudest fitness accomplishments was completing the Tough Mudder, a testament to her love for both challenge and teamwork. Jenelle is also an avid pickleball player—if it's summer, you'll most likely find her on the courts with a paddle in hand. When she’s not teaching, training, or playing pickleball, Jenelle loves spending time with her two dogs—a spunky corgi and a sweet dachshund—who keep her active and entertained year-round.
As a coach, Jenelle is known for her energy, encouragement, and ability to motivate others. She believes everyone has their own unique way of rising to a challenge and aims to create an environment where people of all ages can enjoy movement and feel empowered.
Call: 518-321-3524
Email: info@girlfightfit.com
Girl Fight Fitness
959 New Loudon Road (Route 9)
Latham, NY 12110
© 2014-2025 Girl Fight Fitness
