Body Language Staff

Andrea von Behren Owner/Yoga Teacher/Fitness Instructor I love the fact that life has led me down this road of health and enabled me to touch so many students’ lives…I’m truly passionate about offering a fitness, yoga and nutrition program that allows every student to look and feel his/her best and am SO grateful to be surrounded by an awesome staff who share my passion and a wonderful family who have supported me every step along the way. The training that I received in order to be able to effectively share my passions include my degree from MSU as a Registered Dietitian, A.C.E Fitness Certification & Yoga Certification provided by Jonny Kest’s Center for Yoga as well as over 13 years of teaching experience. Look forward to having YOU in class!! Andrea

Brittany von Behren Yoga Teacher/Manager/Childcare I started practicing yoga eight years ago when it first came to Body Language. Since then I have become certified to teach Better Backs yoga, as well as Astanga and Vinyasa. I enjoy teaching teen yoga at Body Language as well as yoga for an alternative high school in Ann Arbor and for faculty members at a recreational facility for University of Michigan students and staff.

Chris Lundin Fitness Instructor/Manager Hey there, my name is Chris Lundin and I have been teaching fitness now for 15 years...WOW!  I have been working at Body Language for 10 of those years.  I teach weight training, kickboxing, cardio, and fitball classes.  I am also one of the studio managers.  I have been married for 21 years and have 2 boys ages 18 and 20.  I love teaching fitness especially the weight training classes, hopefully I will eventually see all of you in one of my classes. That is my goal!  See you at Body Language!.

Beth LaVallee Fitness Instructor/Manager Hi there! I've been with Body Language since 1997. I've taught group fitness classes since 1985 getting my start in California. I've held an American Council on Exercise (ACE) Group Fitness Certification since 2000. I'm also CPR certified through the American Heart Association. I thoroughly enjoy teaching weight training classes, core/stability ball classes, hi-low aerobics and the latest fitness dance craze ZUMBA!! I have great enthusiasm and passion for fitness and it's evident in my classes. Be sure to look for me on the schedule and join one of my classes for a high energy workout! My love for fitness fills my personal life too. I have participated in the Make-a-Wish 300 mile bike ride and the Susan G. Komen 3-Day 60 mile Breast Cancer walk not only for the physical challenge, but for the lives these two organizations touch. I share my life with husband (Jim), two teenage sons (Joe & Matthew) and a Golden Retriever named Lewis.

Ricky Penn Yoga Teacher/Manager Body Language has been an important part of my life for a LONG time. I started as a member here in 1985 (!) Three owners and 3 locations later, I am still here - working out, practicing yoga, managing the desk, and teaching yoga. Guess you could say I really like this place! I decided to train for and teach yoga to others because it has had such a profound and positive effect on my own life. When I am not here, I am busy with my business as a fiber artist at home in West Bloomfield. My life is blessed with great friends, three wonderful children, and, as a yoga instructor, the opportunity to help my students find their way into yoga and all it has to offer.

Karen Bagley Yoga Teacher I am a Yoga teacher at Body Language. I have been practicing yogo for over three years. I have been teaching for 2 years. I have been at Body Language for about 9 years. I have a bachelors degree in Human resources and management. I am a married mother of three girls ages 2, 8 and 10. My husband is a practicing attorney in the area. Looking forward to seeing a lot of new faces at Body Language in the future. It is an awesome place, full of wonderful people.

Toni Giglio Fitness Instructor Hello I'm Toni. I have been teaching fitness classes since 1988. I started my fitness career at Bally’s because “teaching a class seemed fun and hey you get paid to work out”. I have been with Andrea at Body Language for so long – I can’t remember when I started. Over the years I have taught fitness classes ranging from high impact, to high/low impact, to step, to yoga, to kickboxing. At Body Language I teach just about everything; however, her favorite to teach is – KICKBOXING!! Toni finds Kickboxing a total body workout with very little impact – targeting the core area in every move. I have been IDEA/ACE certified since 1988. Just recently I became a certified TurboKick instructor. When not at Body Language – you can find me during the school year at Waterford Kettering High School – teaching history and language arts. During the summer – when not at Body Language – I like to travel – my favorite city – Paris! My favorite spot to recharge and contemplate life – Zermatt, Switzerland. I also have to lovely boys (golden retrievers) that I share my life with – Archimedes and Ignatius. I received my BA from Oakland University and then went to the University of Detroit/Mercy to become a certified elementary/secondary teacher. I then continued at UDM earning a MATM (Master of Arts in the teaching of Math). If I ever have the time (and money) I would like to return to school to earn my Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction for the social studies.

Deb Behnke Fitness Instructor Hi! I'm Deb Behnke. I have been teaching aerobics for 27 yeaqrs. I started teaching at the orignal Body Language in 1979. I am blessed with 2 beautiful grandchildren Logan 5yrs and Ella Rae 2yrs who are pretty heavy into karate. Any extra time I have other than working at the Detroit Gun Club I like to spend it with my family. "I love teaching aerobics-I love the people and the time it allows us to spend on ourselves making us better people. Working out to me isn't a job - It's a passion!".

Karen Cook Fitness Instructor Hi I'm Karen Cook, AFAA certified, Group Fitness, Personal Trainer, and Yogafit certified.  I have been involved in the fitness industry for over 15 years and have been with Body Language for about 1 year.  I teach step, weight training, hi-low, and kickboxing if there is no one else on the planet.  I have taught at different clubs in Florida, Ohio and Michigan as well as owned my own facility in Ohio.  I am married with three teenage children.  My hobbies are traveling, reading and I love animals.  My free time is spent with my family and friends..

Carey Bogle Fitness Instructor Hello!  My name is Carey and I have been teaching aerobics for seven years.  I started teaching aerobics at Michigan State University.  I have been a member at Body Language for about five years and have been addicted ever since!  My favorite class to teach at Body Language is the fit ball classes.  When I am not working out, I enjoy any type of activity that is outdoors!  My other job is teaching.  I teach second grade at Holly Elementary. Steve Guth Yoga Teacher Hello! My name is Steve and I started practicing yoga over 30 years ago. I soon found my true calling was to be a yogi. Yoga became, and still is, very fundamental to my life. I practiced and studied classical yoga (8 limb style) with Dr. Pratap in Philadelphia. I studied with John Schmacher (Iangar style) while in Washington DC. I also studied with Johnny Kest at The Center for Yoga here in Michigan. I have developed many styles to teaching yoga. You could say my style is eclectic, which has given mee the dubious title of a “Legend”. My favorite class to teach is Gentler Backs. I sometimes like to do a candlelight yoga and focus on a deep slow breath for a better relaxation. I currently resides in Waterford with mys wife Gail and two daughters, Hannah 10 years and Alana 9 years. Donna Heiple Yoga Teacher Hi I’m Donna Heiple, I’ve been practicing yoga for about 8 years and teaching for about two. I enjoyed Andrea’s teacher training course so much that I took it twice! Teaching has deepened my own practice and allows me the opportunity to share my yoga with others. It is an honor to teach among some of the best instructors in the state. When I am not practicing or teaching I am cleaning (and I love it)! I own and operate a cleaning company. I have a great husband and two beautiful children. Before them I completed my studies of ancient languages and social anthropology at Wayne State. Beth Pesta Yoga Teacher Body Language Staff