Kay Aplin, Owner

Kay came to the fitness business with a Masters' degree in Management from the University of Houston and a 15-year career as a professional dancer and ballet company director/choreographer. In 1998, Ms. Mays designed and built the Family Fitness facility in Lake Jackson, responding to a need in her community for a full-service health club.

She has been recognized by various fitness industry organizations as one of the leading female entrepreneurs in the country and by the Brazosport Chamber of Commerce as owner of one of the "Ten Fastest Growing Businesses" in her region.

Kay has been presenting motivational lectures to community and national organizations on fitness awareness and lifestyle changes for years. At Family Fitness, Kay personally directs the yoga and pilates programs. She is a certified Pilates instructor. Kay continues to travel and consult with other wellness facilities on program enhancement and community outreach, importing her own special style of non-intimidating exercise with a large dose of Southern hospitality.

Kari Chupp, Program Director

Kari has been with Family Fitness since 2001 and is currently the Program Director. Her certifications include AFAA Personal Trainer, AFAA Group Fitness, SCW Aquatics, Stamina Pilates Reformer, Les Mills Pump Instructor and SCW pre-post natal Certification. She has a great passion for sharing her knowledge of health and fitness with anyone seeking a better quality of life.

As a Personal Trainer she pushes and motivates her clients to that next level and believes anyone can reach their goals with the proper resources and positive mindset. She designs training programs that are unique to each client, teaching safe and effective exercise techniques, encouraging sound nutrition habits and helping each client to have a positive self image.

In addition to personal training, Kari teaches a variety of group fitness programs. Some of her favorite would include Indoor Group Cycling, Boot-camp, Muscle Conditioning, BOSU, Step and Aquatic Fitness. She loves the energy that comes with a group setting and motivates her classes with great music in a fun and non-intimidating atmosphere.

Amy Daspit, Kids Club Director

Amy has recently joined the Family Fitness Team as Kid's Club Director. She has been working with children for several years and enjoys it immensely. She was a substitute teacher with AISD for 3 years, worked as a nanny with Mom's Best Friend for 2 years and was a pre-school teacher at Green House Learning Center most recently.

She attended Southwest Texas State pursing a degree in Sociology. She is a very outgoing person and enjoys working with others. Amy stays busy outside of work with her husband, her three-year-old daughter and other family & friends. Her hobbies include reading and doing things in the great outdoors. Amy says, "Making a difference in a kid's life is the greatest reward."

Sasha Jaramillo, Human Resources Director

Sasha has been with Family Fitness since 2005. She started as a Membership Coordinator and was later promoted to our Sales Department as our Sales Manager. Sasha enjoys working with people and helping start membership and fitness goals. She handles all corporate and membership accounts. Sasha’s level of commitment and dedication to Family Fitness deserves great praise. She enjoys working with people and helping them to start their membership and fitness goals.

Merie Abercrombie, Trainer/Group Exercise Instructor

Merie's extensive background in the area of health & fitness and athletics exceeds over 25 years. Merie a former NPC competitive bodybuilder holds numerous championship titles.

Her past personal training certifications include I.P.F.A., her AFAA certification is pending. She is also a certified Pilates instructor.

Merie has the natural ability to motivate and encourage others to change their bodies and their lifestyle! Her passion to share her fitness knowledge while building relationships with her clients is the driving force behind her personal training. As an asset to our Aerobics program, her clients say "Merie is exciting, lots of fun, makes them work hard and keeps them coming back"! Merie's outgoing personality allows her to work well with clients of all ages!

Reggie Baker, Personal Trainer

Reggie has worked for Family Fitness for since 2001. He is knowledgeable concerning all fitness programs at the club. He specializes in getting members set up and re-evaluated, along with adjusting their programs to help them achieve optimum fitness. Reggie makes it a point to understand each member's fitness needs and customizes a program for each individual. He has a great personality and works well with members of all ages. Reggie believes that a program followed with personal training and good nutrition will help any member achieve their goal.

Reggie has a strong background in fitness and sports and has achieved his own weight loss and fitness goal at Family Fitness. He understands that it's never too late to start a fitness life change and that every goal can be met with consistency and dedication.

Reggie is a Certified Personal Trainer and is available evenings from 4 until 10.

Crystal Lezak, Trainer/Group Exercise Instructor

Crystal has been a group exercise instructor at Family Fitness since it opened in 1998. She comes to us with a background in dance, as well as athletics. She played volleyball in high school and college. Upon graduating she played competitively in a Houston area women's and co-ed league.

She is AFAA Personal Trainer and Group Fitness certified, Keiser Power Pace, SCW Aquatics and Stamina Pilates Reformer certified. She is also a Les Mills Body Pump Instructor. Crystal teaches an array of classes, ranging from Cycling, one of the most popular classes, Step Aerobics, and Muscle Conditioning.

Crystal has a unique ability for bringing variety, creativity and intense challenge to her classes. She is a dynamic instructor with a flare for motivating the "un-motivated." Her playfulness and outgoing personality make her a definite asset to our group fitness and training programs.

Manjiri Paradkar, Group Exercise Instructor

Manjiri began teaching group fitness and received her primary group exercise certification from AFAA in year 2003. Since then she has continued her education in fitness by completing AFAA’s Mat I certification, Yogafit Level I, II and III as well as Pilatesfit certification. She is also a Les Mills Body Pump Instructor. Manjiri came to Family Fitness in search of an opportunity to teach Yoga, her personal favorite class format. Manjiri also teaches Pilates, Step, Strength training and Low impact aerobics.

Manjiri has a Master’s degree in Genetics from Clemson University, SC and recently started working for Dow Chemical.

Fat Walts, Trainer/Group Fitness/Pilates

Fat started her fitness career in January 2006. She is a certified AFAA Group Exercise Instructor, NETA Personal Trainer, and Certified Pilates instructor. She is also a Les Mills Body Pump Instructor. She has attended various workshops to further her knowledge in the fitness industry. She moved to Texas in 2000 and has fallen in love with the warm and friendly people here.

As a group instructor, Fat enjoys teaching a variety of fun, safe, non-intimidating classes such as Kickboxing, Step, Hi-Lo, Spinning, Muscle Conditioning and Fit Circuit. Fat is highly motivated , enthusiastic, encouraging, and full of energy Whether or not you are a beginner, intermediate, or advanced exerciser, you will fit right into one of Fat's classes. "If you want to be fit your in" and "as long as your moving, you're in" is what she will tell you.

As a Personal Trainer, her own passion for a healthy lifestyle is her best credential to helping people attain their goals. She believes that Attitude, Commitment, Drive and Consistency are the keys to one's individual wellness for a lifetime change. She is very dedicated in reaching out to people, keeping them motivated, and helping them stick to a routine of staying healthy and fit.

Rebecca Baldridge, Personal Trainer/Group Exercise

Rebecca has been employed with Family Fitness since October of 2006. She has a passion for the fitness industry. She currently has her personal training certification through N.E.T.A. and her certification through A.F.A.A. is pending. She is also a Les Mills Body Pump Instructor. As a new mom, Rebecca has a special interest in pre-post-natal exercise and is currently pursuing her certification in this field. Some of her other special interest areas include: Pilates Reformer, Yoga, and Strength Training.

Rebecca is currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Kinesiology and believes in building a strong core. Her philosophy of exercise is that it should be functional and beneficial based on an individuals lifestyle.

Tom Williams, Personal Trainer

Tom comes to Family Fitness with an extensive background in health and fitness. He was a two year letterman in high school and played baseball at the collegiate level.

As a Personal Trainer he has trained a number of high school and college athletes as well as non-athletes. He has worked along side with the trainers of the Dallas Cowboys, Texas Rangers, Dallas Stars, Dallas Mavericks and Houston Texans. Tom was a guest host of the Houston Texans Fitness Show on the radio. While training his clients Tom stresses safety and technique to improve quality of life.

Toms Certifications include AAAI Personal Trainer Certification, ISMA Certification, NASM Certification and is Stretch and Flexibility Certified.

He is available evenings and weekends to help you meet your fitness goals.

Angie Keefe, Group Exercise Instructor

Angie has been an aerobics instructor for over seven years and has recently joined the Family Fitness Team. She recieved her group excercise certification through AFAA in 2000. She is also a Les Mills Body Pump Instructor. Angie has always enjoyed living a healthy lifestyle which led her to complete a Bachelor's degree in Health, Promotion and Wellness from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

At Family Fitness, she enjoys teaching an array of classes which include: Fat Burner, Step, Muscle Conditioning, Bosu, Cardio Training, and a Senior Fit class. Angie loves getting to know the members of her classas and helping them to stay focused on a healthy and fit lifestyle.

Pinky Patel, ActivTrax Team Leader & Trainer

Pinky Patel began working at Family Fitness in April of 2003. She started working as a front desk associate, and fell in love with the health and fitness lifestyle. She then broadened her talents and began fitness training. With her AFAA Personal Training Certification pending, she is continuing to learn more about fitness and nutrition on a daily basis.

Pinky is the team leader of ActivTrax, a customized program that is uniquely created for each individual based on his or her strength, experience and goals. Pinky is also available as a sales coordinator, helping new and current members with their membership needs.

Pinky is knowledgeable with all Family Fitness programs and is available to help at any time and has her own 5 K Club class. She is a people person and is always happy to help anyone in any department.

Kim Turk, Group Exercise Instructor

Kim has been an exercise instructor for 11 years and joined Family Fitness in 2007 as a Pilates Group Exercise Instructor. She began her career teaching step classes and holds a SCW Group Step certification.

She recently earned a STOTT Pilates Intensive Mat-Plus certification. After taking Pilates classes for several years and seeing personal changes in strength, flexibility and posture, she realized what a powerful form of exercise it can be.

She chose to study the STOTT Pilates method because of its focus on safe movements and proper body mechanics. By focusing on strenthening the core, Kim hopes to help her class participants have better posture, relief from back pain, improved balance and coordination and to move with ease.