Aside from our family and friends, there are few things more important than our health. Here at Alto, we want to do everything we can to help you keep and enhance your health and well-being. Our brand new Aquatic and Fitness Center are a huge part of this equation! We encourage you to attend any classes that fit your fancy - our new team of Fitness Instructors is ready and eager to help you along in your health journey.
Hello! My name is Ann Ellis. I began my yoga practice after years of other forms of wellness and athletic activities. A health provider recommended it to me to help reduce chronic pain from injury and trauma, and after several years of daily practice, I was encouraged to explore the path of becoming an instructor. Influenced by my yoga teachers and the world around me, I bring with me over 28 years of teaching and coaching experience in a variety of things, all ages and levels, and continue to attend clinics on movement analysis, assisted stretching, meditation, functional range conditioning, and Ayurveda. For me, yoga is a blend of fun, discipline, exploration, self-care, and discovery. My goal for those practicing in community with me is for everyone to leave their mat feeling whatever they need for that day plus a little something more. Functional Range Conditioning is incorporated into my sessions, with customizations for different levels and abilities. With compassion, grace, and encouragement, I strive to empower students to embrace feeling joy in movement and to set goals for overall wellness to enhance longevity and alleviate injury or pain. In addition to group yoga classes, I am available for one-on-one assisted stretch sessions, Thai Massage, private yoga, Functional Range Conditioning, Ayurvedic health coach sessions or any combination of these. If you are receiving PT, I can help with your prescribed exercises to assist you in reaching your goals. All are welcome in my classes, come as you are! May I be a soft landing spot for you.
My name is Niki Haynes, and I was born and raised in Ruidoso. I started going to yoga classes with my grandmother when I was 12 and I fell in love with it. In 2019, my husband and I started a little gym in Capitan called Capitan Fitness, and after that I started my journey to achieve my yoga teacher certification. I am now a 250-hour certified yoga instructor, and I have been teaching yoga classes for a few years. I teach a Calm Flow Yoga Class that helps with flexibility, strength, pain relief, and calming the mind. I am also busy raising my four children, and I teach kids’ yoga classes, as well. My classes are created with all fitness levels in mind and if I see a pose isn’t working I always give other options. I am so excited to be able to offer some classes at Alto, and I hope you can join me!
My name is Crystal Everett and I am a Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM). Along with my CPT, I am also a Certified Nutrition Coach and in the process of becoming a Certified Golf Fitness Training Coach, as well! The gym can feel discouraging, challenging, or intimidating at first, but it can and will become enjoyable, comfortable, motivating and FUN! My passion is to help you feel good about yourself, to love yourself through the process, and to gain a better lifestyle in the end! My specialty teaching proper form and making sure you feel comfortable and confident with the gym equipment we have. It’s hard to be motivated sometimes, but after those first few days it becomes a new habit that you won’t want to stop! I want everyone to benefit from our new facility and would love to encourage your new fitness journey!
My name is Helene Vitt. I moved here from San Antonio about a year ago, and taught fitness classes for Gold's Gym there for 17 years. My favorite classes were water aerobics, senior strength and cycling. I enjoy helping people achieve their fitness goals and stay healthy. Movement is the key to staying healthy. I look forward to teaching water in the new facility and meeting new members. I am here to help!
My name is Regina Lane; I am a graduate of ENMU-Portales and NMSU with a master’s in special education and with licensure as a School Administrator. My educational career covered 35 years, and during that time I found that exercising made me feel ready to meet the demands of the rest of my day. I was asked to join the team of aerobics instructors at the Roswell Athletic Club and certified as a group fitness trainer in 1986 dance aerobics, body sculpting, and aerobic kickboxing. These were all through the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA). I taught an after-school class for mostly teachers, and an early morning set for those who found it difficult to work out later in the day. Since the beginning, I have continually held group classes at local fitness centers and on school sites. I was certified as a Personal Trainer in 2020, and hold current certification through the American Sports & Fitness Association (ASFA). I also train as a martial artist and hold a second dan black belt in Kojosho Karate. I teach youth and adult classes at the Capitan Fitness Center, and am scheduled to begin classes at ENMU-Ruidoso this spring. I enjoy working to help people meet their individual fitness goals. I find it rewarding to see people become healthier, and to teach them that they can live a more active lifestyle at any age. My reward is sharing in others’ successes.
My roots are in Southern California along the coast, and I spent most of my childhood either at the beach, mountains, or desert. It’s the mountain life, though, that captured my heart forever. I worked in healthcare most of my 20’s and was very active, always moving my body. Other than being a gym rat, I loved being outdoors whether it was hiking, jogging, running stairs, or rollerblading… I loved cardio and pushing myself. On my best days I would practice yoga twice a day and strength train. Our bodies and the power of movement has always amazed me with regard to how it can affect and alter us from the inside out. The more movement I incorporate into my day, the better I feel. After getting introduced to the world of CrossFit, Ibecame the strongest I had ever been. I received my Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from California State University Long Beach and was fortunate to live full-time in Big Bear Lake, CA, in my early 30’s. One fine day in 2020, I made the life-changing decision to embark on a journey of self-exploration, pack my car with all my belongings and see where the universe took me. That happened to be Flagstaff, AZ, Austin, TX, and finally Roswell, and then Ruidoso in the summer of 2021. I immediately fell in love with Ruidoso and knew I never wanted to leave this magical hidden gem. I’ve been longing to immerse myself back into a healthy lifestyle so I jumped on the opportunity to work for Trina at the Fitness Center! It’s felt like home ever since and I absolutely love my job. The most fulfilling part of my day is meeting all the members and making connections with them in combination with being able to assist them throughout their fitness journey at Alto Lakes.
My name is Mckenzie Legg, and fitness has been my passion and a consistent part of my life for many years. After high school, I started strength training and running. From there, I explored aerobics, jazzercise, and even Taekwondo, where I earned my First Degree Black Belt in 1996. Fast forward to 2019 and I was given the opportunity to help open and manage an Indoor Running Studio, where I earned my Group Fitness Instructor Certificate and became hooked on teaching fitness and sharing my passion for fitness to others. In 2022, I became a Certified Personal Trainer through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) and at the same time studied and received my Pilates Certification on the Reformer/Mat and began teaching Pilates, Strength, Spin (Cycle) and Personal Training. Recently, I achieved my CNC (Certified Nutrition Coach) certification through NASM. My goal is to serve members by helping you train your body, and teaching you how to feed your body with all the right foods in order to gain more energy, stamina, and to be the absolute best version of yourself! Remember, food is energy and NOT your enemy! I am also a firm believer in "consistency" in training and allowing yourself to experience new ways of moving your body! I am here to help you do just that—let's do this and start you on the path to a lifetime of healthy living!