Meet Our Instructors

Stephanie Minton
Aqua Fitness Trainer
Aqua Aerobics Instructor
Swim Coach/Swim Instructor

B.S. Health & Exercise Science, CSU, 2000
Teaching/Coaching Major
USWFA Water Fitness Instructor
AAAI/ISMA Water Aerobics Instructor
AAAI/ISMA Personal Trainer
American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor
& Lifeguard Instructor Trainer

Stephanie has been teaching and coaching swimming since 1977. Growing up in Tucson, Arizona, as a competitive swimmer, diver, and water polo player, she has always enjoyed water sports and exercise in the water. It is her passion and dream to teach as many people to learn to swim as possible and to involve as many people in Aquatics to stay fit for life. Stephanie believes that everyone can be successful in the water. It is a fun, safe, and a healing environment for every participant no matter what age or ability level.

Stephanie has worked at the The New Fort Collins Pulse since 2001 and has been the Aquatics Director since 2003. She also teaches Swim Lessons, Private and Small Group Instruction, and Aqua Aerobics, and coaches Youth Swim Team and Adult Swim Technique/Triathlon Swim Class.

Stephanie is a single mom with three children: James, 26; Michelle, 24; and Justin, 16. In her spare time away from Pulse, Stephanie enjoys singing, reading and writing, and hanging out with her four cats, Savannah, Xena, Sativa, and Sabrina.


Sandy Ernst Aldern

Sandy grew up in northwest Arkansas and graduated from the University of Arkansas with a degree in Psychology. Originally, her dream was to become a child psychologist... that is, until she started skiing in Colorado with her dad.

She was 17 years old and skiing in Aspen for the first time when she realized her love of the snow, the mountains and the freedom of living in Colorado. It was then that she knew she would leave her family after graduating. She moved to Estes Park for a year and a half, then moved to Fort Collins to work in hotel management.

After many years in the hotel business, specifically in catering, as well as a stint in restaurant ownership, Sandy earned her black belt in Tae Kwon Do alongside her 9-year-old son. It was a long-awaited goal that had finally been achieved! Continuing her physical workouts, Sandy fearfully attended a Spinning class. Hard work, good music, and voluminous sweat....the challenge became addicting! In 2004, she knew she had to become an instructor....not just any Spinning instructor, one with great music! Sandy believes that great music and a winning attitude will get you through any workout.

Since then, Sandy has been certified to teach Kickboxing and Core Strength. In February 2008, she will test for her Personal Trainer Certification.

Oh, and about that degree in Psychology? Sandy and her husband Sam have four fantastic boys: Ezra, Jared, Christopher and Jackson. Yep, all boys. Matter-of-fact, even their dogs are boys. So, don't worry about that degree going to waste....it's being used every single day.

Sandy also owns rental property and volunteers at her church, in Poudre School District and for CSU. She loves remodeling projects, whether it is electrical work, flooring, or building kitchen cabinets.

Aquatic News

New! AquaJazz with Patti O. and Stephanie - M & W 5:30-6:30 p.m. Starts Wednesday January 2, 2008. Join us after work for a great workout, great music, and stress relief!

Back by popular demand! Adult Swim Technique and Triathlon Swim Class - T & Th 5:15 - 6:15 p.m. Starts Tuesday, January 1, 2008. This class is designed for Intermediate to Advanced Level swimmers only. No extra cost or sign up required.

New! Adult Swim Lessons/Lap Swim - M & W 11:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. and M & W 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. All four lanes will be utilized for lap swimming. One to two lanes will be used as needed for any level adult swimmers interested in Swim Instruction at these times. Extra cost and registration are required. Please contact Stephanie Minton, Aquatics Director at 970-490-1300 ext.114 for more information.

Pilates for Body Conditioning

Mat Pilates is a method of body conditioning that uses stretching, lengthening, and strengthening the body. The Yoga Center offers Mat Pilates classes that emphasize the basic elements of this method of conditioning: Concentration, Control, Center, Fluidity, Precision, and Breath.

Implementing even one of these principles will impact muscle toning, improve posture, increase flexibility and balance, and achieve mind and body cohesion. By integrating the entire body all at once, Pilates creates a streamlined shape of your body as you concentrate on the core muscle group. It is these core muscles (called the Power House) that are engaged and flexed to provide stability throughout the exercises. It is the breath and fluid movement that strengthen the muscles and increase flexibility and the body's range of motion.

Not everyone has the freedom of a strong and flexible body. Joseph Pilates himself was a sick child with asthma and rickets while growing up in Germany. As an adult, Joseph Pilates was determined to strengthen his weak body and in the early 1900s, he developed a method he called "The Art of Contrology," or muscle control by using the mind to control the muscle. This method of conditioning has been studied over 9 decades and used to condition patients, athletes, models, dancers, and the average fitness enthusiast.

Joseph Pilates believed that to order to be truly happy it is vitally important to master your body. He believed that this can be done at any age, be it 20 years old or 60. The achievement of just showing up to class, learning something new, or mastering a challenge will contribute to a balanced life and to overall fitness level. Remember, a healthy body, a healthy mind, and a healthy life achieves a happy balance.

Personal Trainers

WOW Training with Michelle
Come join other motivated women in a group weight lifting/circuit training class to increase muscle tone, burn calories and have fun. There are two openings in the Tuesday/Thursday 8-9 a.m. class and one opening for Monday/Wednesday 9-10 a.m. class. Cost is $120.00/month for the 4-week commitment. If interested please call Michelle at 232-4303 and begin today.

Special Interest Class

Please come to our Special Interest class that is being offered over the course of the winter months. The classes that will be offered are non Les Mills discipline classes. We have a variety for you to try.

Some of the classes that will be offered are Tai Chi, Power Gong, Boot Camp, Pilates, Adult Dance, Nia and a Hula Hoop class. Fliers will be available at the club or check the schedule or your e-news for more information.

Racquetball Players

ATTENTION ALL YOUTH RACQUETBALL PLAYERS OR THOSE WHO WANT TO LEARN

Pulse Youth Fall and Winter Racquetball Clinic
Click here for more information.

Who: All youth of any Pulse Member who wants to learn racquetball. Lessons and game strategies taught to all those who participate by qualified Open/A players in Fort Collins.

What: Learn a great cardiovascular game of RACQUETBALL and HAVE FUN, who knows maybe you'll be able to beat your parents one day.

Where: Pulse Racquetball Courts - Nos. 2 and 3 every other Sunday starting in October.

When: Every 1st and 3rd Sunday of the Month - starting November 4, 2007, and continuing through January 20, 2008, from 4-5:30 p.m.

Swim Activities

Swim Lessons & Youth Swim Team Holiday
Mon. 12/24/07- Fri. 1/04/08

Winter Registration Session 1 Swim Lessons & Winter/Spring Session Youth Swim Team
Mon. 1/07/08- Fri. 1/11/08

Winter/Spring Swim Lessons
Registration Session 1: Mon. 1/7/08 - Fri. 1/11/08
Session 1: Mon. 1/14/08 - Sat. 2/9/08

Registration Session 2: Mon. 2/11/08 - Fri. 2/15/08
Session 2: Mon. 2/18/08 - Sat. 3/15/08

Off Spring Break: Mon.3/17/08- Fri. 3/21/08

Registration Session 3: Mon. 3/24/08 - Fri. 3/28/08
Session 3: Mon. 3/31/08 - Sat. 4/26/08

Registration Session 4: Mon. 4/28/08 - Fri. 5/2/08
Session 4: Mon. 5/5/08 - Sat. 5/31/08

Pulse Patriots Youth Swim Team
Starts Tues.1/8/08 - Ends Thurs. 4/24/08
(Registration is ongoing throughout the season)
Special May Session:
Stroke Clinics
T/Th 4-5 p.m. 5/5/08 - 5/29/08

Upcoming Events

Welcome to the Spin Doctor Social Club

Most people who know Jon Kushner will tell you the same thing, "Jon has a passion for people, music and sharing his excitement of cycling."

Show up at Jon's house any weekend night and ask him to play some great classic blues, classic rock, jazz, or classical music from his huge collection of LP records as the two of you tune up your bicycle, or out on road for a training ride proves the above points.

About 8 years ago, Jon was nick named "The Spin Doctor" by a group of Pulse cycling members based on his love & knowledge of music. Three years ago, while playing a stack of classic LP records and music videos, again for a group of Pulse members at a holiday party in early December, the host said "Jon, you have to play this stuff during a Spinning Class at the club."

So the first "Spin Doctor Social Club" ride was born and the first concert scheduled for January of 2005. Now in the third year, the Spin Doctor Social Club concerts are scheduled for the 2007-2008 season. This year's series includes the following concerts:

Saturday January 12, 2008: Van Morrison Live at the Montreux Jazz Festival with a classic performance by Janis Joplin from the Festival Express Tour.

Saturday February 9, 2008: An encore performance from the 2005 series The Bands Last Waltz.

Saturday March 8, 2008: An evening with The Beatles, from Liverpool, to their 1st two US performances on the Ed Sullivan Show, Shea Stadium and more.

Jon tells us the idea and format for his Spin Doctor Social Club are based on a classic series of R&B concerts headlined by Howlin' Wolf and Muddy Waters on December 17, 1960, sponsored by the Honeyette Social Club held at the Silvio Lounge on Chicago's West Side. The original concert posters for the Silvio Lounge concerts are the model for our Spin Doctor Social Club promotional concert posters you see at The New Pulse.

Each year Jon chooses four classic concerts that have great music and rhythm to cycle to. Jon says, "As long as you like the artist, show up for a great ride even if you just want to sit on the floor and listen!"

Our cycling studio is transformed into a concert hall with an 8' x 10 foot screen, video projector and great music!

The 2006/2007 concert series included the following performances:
Derek Trucks
The Allman Brothers
Carlos Santana - Supernatural
Susan Tedeschi

The 2006 concert series included the following performances:
The Band's Last Waltz
Stevie Ray Vaughn & Double Trouble
Steve Winwood & Traffic - The Last Traffic Jam
Carlos Santana - Live by Request

Reservations for each concert are available one (1) week prior to each ride on Saturday morning. Register at the front desk. Refreshments are served during each of the rides.

For more information please contact "The Spin Doctor" (Jon) at one of his cycling classes or at jk@tridentconsulting.org.

See you at the Show!

Massage Therapists

Click here for more information on our massage therapists.

Health Tip

Information courtesy of Les Mills - http://www.lesmills.com

Fill at least half of your plate with low energy-dense foods such as vegetables and fruit.

Child Care News

Books... Books... Books! Child Care will once again be offering scholastic books at a discounted rate beginning in September. The orders forms will be available the first of each month in the Child Care. Stock up early for the holidays!

Missing Anything? Has your child lost his/her coat... shoes... cup... favorite toy? Remember to check Child Care's Lost-n-Found each month. Unclaimed items will be donated to Goodwill at the end of each month.

Cluttered House? Is your living room starting to look like a toy store? Can't find any more room on the toy shelf? Child Care will gladly accept gently used toys and equipment or blankets, receiving blankets and bibs.

Pulse Members Receive Discount