At Oh Baby! Fitness, our focus is to give new and expectant moms a place to find support, make friends, get fit and bond with their babies. We offer the widest variety of fitness classes designed to take moms from pregnancy through birth, and then into the toddler years with their child. Our programs allow Mom to get out of the house, get her body back in shape and spend time with baby. We've specially trained our instructors in a nationally recognized pre/postnatal fitness certification, so they really know what they’re doing. Our instructors will help you make the modifications you need to build strength and lose weight. We've also partnered with area hospitals because they offer a safe environment for our classes and because doctors need to know what kind of exercise their pregnant and postpartum patients are participating in.

Clare with Jay and Sofi

Clare Schexnyder is the co-founder and owner of Oh Baby! Fitness. She was a producer at CNN for 17 years before she came to the fitness industry. Now, Clare and her husband, Jay, are the proud parents of Sofi, who was born in August 2004. Clare is certified by SCW Fitness in group fitness and perinatal instruction.

So how did someone with such a non-fitness career decide to start an exercise program for new moms and pregnant women?  When Clare was pregnant with her first child, she was asked to produce a series of stories on newborns for CNN's American Morning program. One of the stories focused on how to lose weight after pregnancy. All the experts told Clare the best way to lose weight was to work out with your baby. She looked all over Atlanta, but there really wasn’t a program that offered a variety of exercise programs to showcase Mom and Baby fitness. After travelling to major cities to profile different fitness programs, Clare considered starting a business in Atlanta.

After the birth of her daughter, Clare experienced postpartum depression. She went to a new parents' support group and met several new moms and their babies. The women quickly became a close-knit group. Daily walks became the norm. Through exercise, the support of other mothers, and a doctor's prescription, Clare was able to work through her depression. Clare's struggle helped convince her there was a real need in her community for a pre/postnatal fitness program where mothers can exercise with their babies in a safe, supportive and comfortable environment. The idea for Oh Baby! Fitness was born.

Our Instructors

All of our instructors are certified by one or more of the following organizations: The American College of Sports Medicine, the American Council on Exercise, the Aerobics and Fitness Assocation of America, the  International Sports Science Association,  Aquatic Exercise Association, American Dietetic Association, YogaFit, and Schwinn Cycle Training. Our instructors are also specially certified in pre/postnatal fitness by SCW Fitness. All are trained in adult and infant CPR. Many of our instructors have children of their own. Oh Baby! Fitness follows American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) guidelines.

Kari Bono

Kari Bono holds her B.S. in Exercise Science and Health Promotion. She also holds a National Certification in Massage Therapy and Bodyworks. Kari has been instructing a variety of wellness classes; including couples massage, stress management, healthy eating habits, yoga, etc. for about 5 years. She has a strong passion to educate people on nutrition, fitness, and wellness. She has worked with world renowned spa's such as LaCosta Resort and Spa, The Phoenician, Willow Stream Spa, etc. She recently moved back from Miami as a Fitness and Spa Director. Kari has taken many continuing education classes in yoga, herbs, aromatherapy, nutrition and studied a few weeks with a Naturopathic Doctor. Currently, Kari is working with Azul Spa in Atlanta as a massage therapist and provides wellness consultations. She also is working with the Atlanta YMCA's to provide a Weight Loss Program. In addition, Kari teaches yoga and prenatal yoga with the Atlanta YMCA's and Oh Baby! Fitness. Her career path is leaning toward obtaining a Masters in Nutrition and to work with pregnant women. Kari is available for in-home pregnancy massage. Click here to make a reservation with Kari.

Stephanie Chikhaoui

Stephanie Chikhaoui draws her yoga experience from several schools of teaching and tradition.  She has practiced Hatha, Ashtanga, and Iyengar styles of yoga.  In 2001, she discovered Be Yoga’s ISHTA yoga (Integrated Sciences of  Hatha, Tantra, and Ayurveda).  She completed her 500 hour teacher training there in 2004 and became Yoga Alliance certified.   Stephanie received a B.F.A from the University of Arizona for her studies in dance and combines her knowledge of yoga with her background in dance to promote a safe, kinesthetically aware class atmosphere.  In addition to being an avid yoga practitioner and teacher, she is also a yoga massage therapist.  She has used yoga massage throughout her own pregnancy and encourages her students to do the same.  She believes that yoga and yoga massage is very personalized and should be tailored to the specific needs of the student.  She encourages her students to discover their own strengths and capabilities.  Her classes bring a connection of peace through the mind, body, and spirit.

Jessica Covington

Jessica Covington is excited to combine her lifelong passions for health and teaching into various classes for Oh Baby! Fitness. As a certified specialist in perinatal fitness, she enjoys blending different exercise modes (including dance, yoga, toning, aerobics and others) to meet the needs of each Oh Baby! mom. Jessica also runs her own business called FIT-ology. It's the comprehensive solution to corporate wellness. FIT-ology works with human resources teams and other business leaders across the country to design, implement, and manage programs that improve and maintain employee health.

Kelly Crenshaw and Trey and Grace

Kelly Crenshaw Kelly grew up in Ohio and moved to Atlanta about 6 years ago due to a job at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Professionally, she worked in various pediatric health care settings as a nurse practitioner until recently. March of 2006 brought about an exciting change personally and professionally for Kelly -- the birth of her first baby, Grace! Since then, Kelly has been blessed with being able to pursue some personal passions of hers which include: working with babies and fitness, thus, why she enjoys working for Oh Baby! Fitness so much! She also just joined a company called Play 2 Grow which incorporates the development of social, cognitive and motor skills through play and allows the caregiver to share the experience too. Kelly is married to Trey, who is a supportive husband and wonderful daddy. Kelly currently teaches H2Oh Baby, Pilates, yoga, and total body combo classes. She is certified as a Perinatal Fitness Specialist through AFPA. Besides spending time with her family and fitness, she also enjoys baking and cooking, spending time outdoors, taking pictures, and reading.

Kathleen Donahoe

Kathleen Donahoe is an ACE certified personal trainer specialized in training pre/postnatal populations. She is thrilled to bring her extensive dance, movement and fitness training to Oh Baby! Fitness clients. As an employee of National Home Trainers, she is also available for individual personal training sessions offered at the client's home.     To contact Kathleen click here

Karen and daughter, Paige

Karen Dunmire is the mother of 5-month-old Paige. She graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelors Degree in Exercise Science and a Masters in Business Management.  After three years in sales and marketing, Karen has enjoyed the past two years of personal training and teaching yoga and body sculpting classes.  She is an AFAA Certified Personal Trainer, an ACE Certified Group Exercise Instructor, a Level 2 YogaFit Trained Instructor, and an SCW Certified Moms in Motion Instructor. Karen enjoys meeting the women in her classes and relating to their feelings during this exciting time in their lives.

Paula Gustafson with Riley and Chris

Paula Gustafson is the mother of two-year-old Riley. She graduated from Georgia State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Criminal Justice and is pursuing a graduate degree from the same university. After the birth of her daughter and seven years in a corporate legal environment, it was time for a new challenge! Paula is certified in Group Fitness and Moms in Motion through SCW Fitness. She keeps busy volunteering as an International Exchange Coordinator with the EF Foundation for Foreign Study and frequently works with high-school exchange students. Paula feels that the H20 Baby! Water aerobics class inspired her interest in exercise and physical fitness -- creating a desire to learn more and to share the wonderful experience with other Moms.

Angie Haddad

Angie Haddad has been an aquatic exercise instructor for five years. Her emphasis has been on pre/postnatal exercise for women. She has certifications from Moms in Motion with SCW Fitness and is also a certified personal trainer through IFTA, Interactive Fitness Trainers of America. She has completed study and taught classes for the Arthritis Foundation. Angie first became interested in aquatic exercise after her first child was born: "I was looking for a way to get back in shape after my first pregnancy, and I always loved the water. After a few water aerobic classes, I was hooked and thought it would be fun to intstruct classes." Angie's professional life includes working for the Walt Disney Company in Corporate Communications, Senior Event Planner at the Cobb Galleria Centre and PR Director and Event Manager for Career Publishing Network. She is married to Naji Haddad and has two children, Jordan (5) and Cameron (2). She stays busy as a full-time mother, part-time aquatics instructor and also volunteers for many special needs and child related causes.

Suzette and daughter, Maya

Suzette James is a mother of two wonderful children, Maya, age 3, and Ezra, age 18 months. Suzette has been practicing yoga for over 12 years. Her practice began with Inyengar and branched out to other forms of yoga including Ashtanga, Kripalu, Kundalini and Viniyoga. While on maternity leave from her very corporate job, Suzette decided it was time to begin her yoga teacher training. A path she had contemplated for many years. Leaving the corporate life behind, she became a Registered Yoga Teacher thru Yoga Alliance and has been teaching since 2003. Suzette teaches in a manner uniquely her own. She weaves a variety of yoga styles as well as oriental and ayurvedic medicine principles throughout her classes. She focuses on freeing the body through breath to facilitate the journey inward. The development of mindfulness, compassion, and self inquiry are all elements used to deepen the students' experience of self.

Lori with children, Grace, Luke and Alex

Lori Langan Lori Langan is an ACE Certified Personal Trainer and SCW Certified Moms in Motion Instructor who is also the mother to three children (Alex 7, Luke 5 and Grace 3 ½). Lori has been an avid fitness participant her whole life, and exercised through her pregnancies for fitness, as well as psychological benefits. After leaving the corporate world when her oldest son was born, she is now happy to incorporate her passion for fitness into a career. Lori enjoys working with moms in the classes she teaches through Oh Baby! Fitness, as well as those she trains in their homes, whether they are trying to shed baby weight or trying to fit exercise into their busy schedule as moms. Click here to contact Lori for information on Personal Training.

Meta Lee is a local mobile personal trainer. " I absolutely love my job! I love the whole process of teaching group exercise and personal training – watching a person get in touch with their body through exercise, replace negative habits with benficial ones, and feel better about themselves and what they are capable of. I get to spend the day meeting new people, help them reach their fitness goals and as a bonus I get to spend time with adorable chunky little babies! "

Meta is AMPFT, CPR and First Aid certified, and can be reached at www.flexappealfitnessatl.com

Stephanie Pearce

Stephanie Pearce has been practicing hatha yoga since 1997 with her first class at the Pierce Program in Virginia-Highlands. She had heard yoga was a good way to stretch and to learn to still the 'whirlings of the mind.' "WOW, did I underestimate the power of yoga! I can always tell when I have not practiced yoga for a few days...I become cranky, impatient and out of touch with myself – which inevitably keeps me out of touch with others." In retrospect, when Stephanie made the decision to sign up for her first yoga class she was setting a course for how she would live her life and make a living. After eleven years of practicing yoga, Stephanie wanted to study yoga deeper -- leading her to the Classical Yoga certification at Kashi Atlanta. After graduating in 2004, some of her existing yoga students and massage clients became pregnant and wanted to continue with Stephanie. Stephanie wanting to be comfortable and insure confidence in her clients, so she became Yoga Alliance certified in Pre-natal yoga from Asheville Yoga Center. Stephanie brings to her yoga classes her enthusiasm for lightness and compassion and not taking oneself so seriously. Anyone can do yoga! Stephanie has run marathons, half marathons and is training for her first relay triathlon. She will be doing the swimming portion of the relay! Needless to say, Stephanie is very excited about teaching pregnancy aqua, as well as prenatal yoga. Her two favorite forms of movement! For further information on Stephanie or to book a pregnancy massage, please visit her website at www.stephaniepearce.com

Sarah Plummer

Sarah Plummer is a graduate of Marshall University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Athletic Training and a Master’s of Science Degree in Exercise Physiology.  She has a four-year-old son, Tylon, who is full of life and keeps her extremely busy.  She enjoys staying active with her son, especially when they spend time outside going on stroller rides.  She is excited about teaching classes for Oh Baby! Fitness, and she is enthusiastic about teaching stroller workout, water and toning classes and meeting all the new parents.  Sarah understands the importance of a program like Oh Baby! Fitness and feels that the emotions she experienced during and after her pregnancy would have been eased if she had access to such a great program.

Ife Rosser is a mother of three who knows all too well what challenges moms face and how to deal with them.  Ife teaches Stroller Workout, H₂Oh Baby! and Mom & Baby Fitness.  She is passionate about helping moms take care of their mental and physical health through exercise. She is an ISSA certified fitness trainer who loved the idea of working with pre/postnatal moms so much, she became certified as a pre/postnatal specialist.  She has been teaching Moms and babies for 3 years now and still loves it!

Alison Sherrill and family

Alison Sherrill is the mother of two daughters (ages 5 and 4 months), a stepdaughter (age 12) and a stepson (age10). She teaches group cycling and core strength/abs classes for her local Y. She’s a long distance runner and is currently training for a winter marathon. Alison is also a lower elementary teacher at Arbor Montessori School. “I started exercising after the birth of my first daughter. At the time I was 90 pounds overweight and completely inactive. As I began to lose weight I started setting more and more exercise goals for myself. First a 5K walk, then as a run, next a 10K run, half marathon, triathlon and finally a marathon. I ran my first marathon in Chicago of 2002. After completing the marathon I wanted to guide others in a fitness setting so I sought certification as a cycling instructor. Being physically active during my second pregnancy helped control weight gain, limited my swelling, and I kept an overall positive attitude. I did a group cycling class on my due date and was back on the bike a week postpartum. It felt great! I hope to help others achieve their fitness goals and give women a connection to other mothers (or men to other fathers!).”

Jocelyn Simpson has been involved in fitness of one kind or another most of her life, whether it be track & field and marching band as a youth, or hiking, swimming, jogging and leisure sports as a youth and adult. Since her father had a bleeding ulcer, she was raised on a very healthy diet and continues to pursue a healthy diet today.

She has a beautiful 9 year old daughter named Lily who is very involved in dance, and is also quite active. After 3 miscarriages, however, Jocelyn made it her goal to reach and maintain a healthy weight, and was reintroduced to the "fitness world". She returned to aerobics classes and decided to become an instructor herself.

In 2003, Jocelyn began teaching step aerobics and strength conditioning, and continued her training the following year adding pilates, low impact aerobics and senior fitness. In all, she gained training and certifications in all of those disciplines as well as primary group fitness, yoga, advanced pilates, kickboxing, water aerobics and pre/post-natal fitness. She currently pursues a 600 hour intensive training in the area of pilates apparatus.

Jocelyn holds certifications with AFAA, SCW Fitness, IFTA and Fitour. She's a member of the Pilates Method Alliance. Her apparatus Pilates Teacher Training Program is through Core Bodyworks in Acworth.

Jocelyn likes to keep current in all areas which touch on the classes she teaches or the clients she works with, and attends several continuing education workshops each year including such topics as midlife fitness for women, injury prevention & rehabilitation, pregnancy & postpartum modifications, as well as specific workshops relating to the latest research and trends in fitness and health. Jocelyn is also CPR certified.

In addition to her teaching pursuits, Jocelyn enjoys spending time with her family, hiking, visiting the mountains or the beach, playing piano & flute (and perhaps a bit of teaching there as well!) and focusing on her spiritual life. She also leads worship (music) at Bethesda Fellowship in Smyrna.

Maggie Walls and Family

Maggie Walls is a mother of three, with a 5-year-old, 4-year-old, and 18-month-old. A dancer since childhood, she has been teaching dance and fitness classes for more than 10 years. She is trained in ballet, hip-hop, jazz, and gymnastics, and is an award-winning soloist and choreographer. Maggie is certified through the American Council on Exercise as a Group Fitness Instructor, and is certified in Pre- and Post-natal Instruction through SCW Fitness. Maggie is the owner and artistic director of Studio Dance, which is committed to providing quality dance and fitness classes to adults throughout the Atlanta area. Click on the logo to visit her website.

Aja Wilson is a Certified Pilates Instructor, Aerobic Teacher, and an aspiring African Dancer. She graduated from Georgia State University with a degree in Theatre. She currently teaches Improvisational Theatre to children in Union City, Georgia. Aja is originally from Brooklyn, New York, but has lived in Atlanta for the last seven years.