Our team.
Sarah Gillenwater, Owner and Founder
Certified Barre Intensity and Prenatal Barre Instructor
Sarah was born and raised in Tipp City, Ohio where she currently resides with her husband and two children. With a background in dance, Sarah took an interest in the Barre technique because of the familiar fundamentals. What she didn’t expect was the overall passion it would plant for a healthy lifestyle, not just for herself, but for her peers as well. During the forced closure of fitness studios in 2019, the opportunity to take on a space of her own was presented and she jumped at it, opening The Yoga Barre & Co. Sarah feels that health and mental wellbeing are a crucial part to life balance. With every student that enters a class, she tries to understand their lifestyle and purpose for being there. She believes that everyone walks through the studio door for a different reason and wants that reason to be fulfilled. It brings her great joy when her students start seeing progress in their bodies and the confidence that builds.
Sarah’s class motto is “It doesn’t get easier, you just get stronger.” Her goal as a studio owner is that every person that walks through the doors feels there is a place for them - that they belong here.
Holly Coby, Certified Pre/Postnatal Yoga
Holly is a trained pre and postnatal yoga instructor as well as childbirth doula. Her focus is to use her knowledge and skills to help educate, empower and guide women through pregnancy, postpartum and parenthood both physically and mentally. Holly's yoga style is all about meeting you where you are at whether you are a seasoned yogi or brand new.
Ashley Dixon, Certified 500CYT,Y12SR, TCTSY-F
Ashley was first introduced to yoga in 2003 through community college classes. As a previous dancer and acrobat, she found in yoga a place to move and connect in a different way. After developing a meditation practice for several years, Ashley was led back to yoga in 2016, and soon after she completed her 200-hr teacher training at True Freedom Recovery Yoga in southern Ohio. Yoga has given her the freedom to be present on and off the mat. Yoga has offered a deep healing; giving way to self-love and self-acceptance. Ashley is very passionate about creating an environment of safety for each participant and providing a space to be authentically themselves. Yoga is far more than an asana (posture) and the possibilities are endless!!
Ashley remains a student at heart. She enjoys workshops and trainings to further her self-practice and those of the participants she is engaged with. She is also deeply grateful to share yoga and learn from her fellow teachers. The deepest gratitude goes to the participants in her classes. Ashley offers a variety of yoga disciplines from trauma-sensitive, recovery yoga, hatha, gentle, yin, and vinyasa. She is very passionate about cultivating a co-created space of safety, choice-making, authentic experiences, interoception, and empowerment with each and every individual she interacts with.
In addition to her 200-hr, Ashley has completed a 300-hr training at True Freedom Recovery Yoga, a 300-hr Kundalini training, and most recently, a 300-hr Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga Facilitator course (TCTSY-F). She has taught in various studios and substance abuse centers in and around Dayton, and has offered private yoga sessions since 2017.
Katie Leavell, Certified Barre Intensity Instructor
Katie lives in Troy, OH with her husband and three boys. After having babies she was on a mission to find some sort of fitness / exercise routine. She went to multiple different kinds of group fitness classes, but when she found Barre she fell immediately in love. She loved everything about the barre workouts, and especially that feeling after class of both mental and physical strength. It was also a major bonus that our studio instructor / owner had created an incredible community of women who encouraged and cheered her on. She wanted to be a part of that movement to encourage and lift others up, and help them feel like they could do this workout too. The physical gains are amazing with barre, but the mental and emotional gains of group fitness is what keeps her going. Katie hopes to be an encouragement and a positive light in her students’ lives.
Melanie Manuel, Trained in Barre Intensity
Born and raised in Tipp City, Melanie is no stranger to this community. She is married to a wonderful husband and currently spends her time working as a stay-at-home-mom with her two babies. While, she is not currently on the schedule, Melanie is trained in Barre Intensity and serves at the studio as a substitute instructor. She is well-versed in the techniques and rhythms of barre. Her passion is to watch the progress of each client as they learn to expand their strength, stamina and confidence.
Chelsey Mosier, Certified Barre Intensity Instructor
A Tipp City native, Chelsey currently lives locally with her husband. She is a nationally board-certified Physician Assistant. She received her undergraduate degree in human biology from Kettering College in 2015 and continued her education to receive my Master of Physician Assistant Studies from Kettering College. Chelsey has been practicing barre for the past 8 years and teaching since 2022. She has a passion for seeing others achieve their fitness goals. Her cheerful personality is contagious in and out of class. Chelsey brings the fire and energy to every class.
Amanda Shaffer, Certified Barre Intensity Instructor
Amanda resides in Troy, Ohio with her husband and three children. She runs a small business out of her home. Amanda has been practicing barre for the past 7 years and after falling in love with the only workout style she felt like she could stick with long-term, she decided she wanted to share it with others. She recently took the plunge into barre certification and has been teaching since August 2022. Amanda prefers a fusion style of class that incorporates more pilates into her training. You will find her on Monday nights as well as a frequent sub.
Bailey Willoughby, Certified Barre Intensity Instructor
A Tipp City native, Bailey lives with her husband and currently works as a nurse at the local children’s hospital. No stranger to fitness, Bailey was a swimmer in high school and college and now assists in coaching the high school swim team. Bailey has her Barre Intensity Certification and has been teaching barre since 2021. Her desire to teach barre comes from the drive to push others to reach their health and fitness goals. She prefers an athletic approach to her trainings and incorporates more weights and strength training. She may appear quiet and soft spoken, but don’t let that fool you. She brings that deep muscle burn through her teachings.
In addition to barre, Bailey enjoys running and you can find her frequently training with her mom and sister.