Joanna
Coach
My name is Joanna Pettis and I am 41 years old. I live in PSJ with my husband, Jim, and my 15 year old daughter, Kierston. I grew up in Merritt Island and graduated from Merritt Island High School, where I was a cheerleader and volleyball/softball player. I graduated from UCF with a degree in Early Childhood Education in 2000 have been teaching at Atlantis Elementary ever since. In 2010, I decided I also wanted to be a group fitness instructor so I completed my certification though AFAA. I began teaching classes such as cardio kickboxing, Strong, Core & More, and HIIT. In 2018, I also received my GEAR certification and started to instruct indoor cycling classes.
I absolutely love instructing/coaching classes and there’s nothing better than sweating and getting stronger with others. Through fitness, I have met some amazing people and some of my best friends. It is so exciting to see people reaching goals and doing things that they didn’t think they could do. Regardless of fitness level – from beginner to elite – there is always room for growth and improvement. I believe that the camaraderie of a group fitness setting fosters accountability and more enjoyment of workouts. And, although each person has their own fitness journey, group fitness gives us a little push; whether it’s friendly competition, inspiration or motivation.
I’ve always been adventurous and had an active lifestyle with a passion for fitness. In 2012, I discovered “mud runs” which were relatively new to the fitness and running world. Over the years these fun “mud runs” have become more competitive and have evolved into obstacle course races (OCR’s). These OCR’s provide motivation for my own personal workouts as the obstacles require strength, endurance, agility, grip strength, balance, and mental grit. As an avid OCR athlete, I have competed in over 95 events including the OCR World Championships 3 times, the United States OCR Championships, and the North American OCR Championships twice. Many of my own personal fitness goals currently revolve around my passion for OCR. Whatever your fitness goals are, I look forward to helping you reach them!
