OUR INSTRUCTORS
PATRICIA (TRICIA) S. BROWN, PT, DPT, NCS
Clinical Assistant Professor
Chapman University
Department of Physical Therapy
Patricia S. Brown, PT, DPT, NCS is a licensed physical therapist. She received her Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy from California State University Long Beach and her Doctor of Physical Therapy from Western University in Pomona. She is certified by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialists in neurology since 1999. Currently she is an Assistant Clinical Professor teaching in the doctor of physical therapy program at Chapman University’s Rinker Health Science Campus in Irvine. She is a certified LSVT BIG clinician and a faculty trainer for LSVT Global. She travels nationally teaching physical and occupational therapists the LSVT BIG treatment approach for persons with PD. She is also a certified PWR! Clinician and a graduate of National Parkinson’s Foundation (NPF) Allied Team in Training (ATTP) for PD.
GABI FREI, PT
Physical Therapist
MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center, Laguna Hills
Gabi was born and raised in Switzerland and came to the USA with her husband in 1993. She currently works as a Physical Therapist at Saddleback Outpatient Rehabilitation in Laguna Hills, where she has been treating patients with a variety of different diagnoses in the orthopedic, neurological and geriatric field. Gabi is a certified lymphedema therapist, and is also certified in treating people with Parkinson's Disease in the LSVT BIG and the PWR! program. In addition, she teaches Balance and Fall Prevention Classes for seniors in the community. Her hobbies include traveling, reading, dancing, cooking, volunteering and spending time with her family.
Here at PEP4U, Gabi strives to engage and motivate participants to exercise regularly, while keeping it fun. She likes to share her love of dancing with the class, and incorporates different styles - ranging from ballroom to line dancing to doing the macarena and more - into the class. Come on out and 'MOVE TO THE GROOVE' with us!
CATHY SHEETZ, PT, DPT
Physical Therapist
Cathy has been a physical therapist for more than 30 years. She has worked in many different areas including acute care, outpatient, home health, skilled nursing, and neuro rehab. She enjoys clinical education and is an adjunct faculty member at Chapman University’s DPT program. Years ago she started a Parkinson’s exercise class at Saddleback Hospital’s outpatient rehab clinic. She has three grown children and enjoys spending time with them whenever possible. Other hobbies include traveling, cooking, reading, and exercising.
CYNTHIA PRICE
Certified Yoga Teacher
Cynthia Price, E-RYT 200, RYT 500, YACEP, is devoted to the practice and study of all types of yoga, she enjoys sharing her enthusiasm and knowledge with others. Her introduction to yoga and its 8 limbs started at the beginning, her mother was her first Iyengar yoga and meditation teacher in the 60’s. A lifetime of Yoga evolving from the foundations of meditation, yoga nidra and pranayama gradually moved into postures (asana) and philosophy. Cynthia has been a yoga teacher for over 20 years, and continues to evolve change and grow. She is currently studying to become a 1,000 Hour Yoga Therapist and along the way has developed an interest in using the healing modalities of yoga to help clients who have affected by trauma and specialty groups such as cancer, heart disease and Parkinson’s disease. Fun Facts: She is an avid runner 5k to Ultra Marathon 50 mi, loves to garden, teaches gardening to kids pre-k to 8 grades, loves her husband, her 3 kids and dog, 2 cats and turtle… “Yoga is a Journey let’s practice right where we are, in the body and spirit we have today.”
AIMEE HOSTETTER, PTA
Physical Therapist Assistant
Home Health Rehabilitation, Mission Viejo
Aimee Hostetter is a Physical Therapist Assistant and a Certified NCSF Personal Trainer. She has been involved with PEP4U since its inception over 4 years ago. Recently, she became certified for LSVT BIG and BIG For Life. Her goal is to help participants be as independent and active as possible with activities of daily living in order to enjoy whatever their passions may be. Aimee lives with her husband of 27 years and has three children. Her hobbies include cycling, soccer (LA Galaxy and Liverpool!), and traveling.
STEPHANIE WILLETE
NCSF Certified Personal Trainer
Boxing Instructor
Stephanie has been involved in boxing and physical fitness for the past 25 years. She is a certified Personal Trainer through NCSF and ISSA as well as an ISSA certified Sports Nutritionist.
Stephanie is a retired boxer holding the California Golden Gloves title in 2005, California Regional Champ 2005, Desert Show Down Champ in 2004, Azteca Champ 2003, also winning The Blue and Gold Series and more. She trains boxers and teaches the fine art of boxing to kids, men and women. Stephanie is new to the Parkinson’s family of trainers but loves watching each person reach their goals, day by day and step by step.
Stephanie is also an Interior Designer with a Bachelors degree in Fine Arts and Interior Design from CSU, Chico. She has a wonderful husband and 2 adorable kids that keep her on her toes.
“Train hard, win easy” in fitness and life.
ANDREW DEMING
NCSF Certified Personal Trainer
Rock Steady Boxing Certified Trainer
Andrew has worked with specialized populations (such as individuals with Parkinson's Disease) in the fitness world for over 8 years. He has studied both the methods of physical therapy and specialty exercise in order to be able to create workout programs that serve individuals specific needs.
Andrew has studied the effects of exercise on physical and mental health and is passionate about integrating it into workout programs. He believes that form and function are more important than numbers. You will see him using creative training methods such as boxing in order to get the whole body moving, all while having fun!
SUSAN JUBY
Certified 200-Hour and 500-Hour Yoga Therapist
Susan, CYT 200, CYT 500, loves yoga and passing her knowledge onto others, but at the same time learning from others, as we walk together on the path of growth on our yoga journey. She loves the flowing but gentle movement of yoga (asana) in rhythm with the breath (pranayama). She also uses meditation, yoga nidra, yogic philosophy, and the breath as an exercise on its own. Susan has been a yoga teacher for over 15 years, and currently is about to complete her studies to become a 1,000-hour Yoga Therapist. During this period of study, she has worked individually with many clients one-on-one and with specialty groups including using yoga’s healing modalities for cancer, heart conditions, Parkinson’s disease, and musculoskeletal pain.
On the fun side she walks her dog (one of her best friends!), often with her husband (her best friend), loves her 2 children, one of which is serving our country in the navy as a medical doctor, and can’t think of anything better than reading a good book, or studying!!!
Yoga teaches us instead of seeing our lives as the enemy to battle, consider being soft enough to flow with life’s current in this moment. Inviting you to come and flow with yoga in the moment!
JANE KERR
Certified Tai Chi Instructor
Jane Kerr has taught Tai Chi for Parkinson’s for over 18 years and holds certifications from Kujiweza Healing Arts Institute, specializing in Tai Chi for Parkinson’s, The Tiger Eye Claw School of Tibetan Style Tai Chi/Qigong and the Evidence-based Tai Chi Moving For Better Balance Fall Prevention certification from the Oregon Research Institute. She has taught classes to individuals and at Stanford Medical Center, the City of Palo Alto, the County of Santa Clara, The Villages Golf and Country Club, Moldaw Residences, Midpen Housing, Parkinson’s Association of Orange County and many other community organizations. Jane works to give people living with Parkinson’s the ability to live their best life.