Yang's Martial Arts (est. 1988) relocated to Andover in June, 2005, Yang's purchased the gym formerly known as the Andover Training Station/Andover Fitness & Conditioning Center.

YFC's owners, Alex and Diana Kiesel are full-time, hands on owner/operators. They, along with the dynamic team at YFC, look forward to helping you achieve your fitness and wellness goals.

Personal Training

Mike Dahlinghaus holds a masters degree in Exercise Science and has several health and fitness related certifications including (but not limited too) ACSM, NASM, NESTA, Metabolic Typing Advisor, and a CHEK Practitioner. Mike has years of industry experience ranging from owning his own personal training business in Chicago and consulting to various gyms to improve and educate their training staff/program. He prides himself in consistently learning and always progressing in the field. He currently is pursuing his PhD in health education. Mike has specialties in a multiple areas and has trained a variety of clients including professional athletes, clients with musculoskeletal issues, and those struggling with weight loss. Mike believes that every fitness program should be client centered and holistically balanced with every other aspect of the individual.

Cindy Rayner is an ACE (American Council on Exercise) Certified Personal Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor. She has been in the Fitness Industry since 1987 and was the Owner of Intentional Fitness Training Studio in Andover. Cindy also holds certifications in Lifestyle & Weight Management and Reebok Spin. She was an English Literature major at Gordon College and is a native of New Jersey. Her experience with health and fitness includes teaching physical education to grades K-8, working with special needs and obese individuals as well as teaching sports specific/boot camp and family & lifestyle management programs. Cindy enjoys running, biking and triathalons and was the executive producer of A.M. Jam Fitness, a Fox 25 fitness show. Next to her passion for sharing fitness with others is her passion for her four children.

Jamey Lachiana Jamey is a graduate of Bridgewater State College with a BS in Physical Education, Exercise Science. He is ACSM (American College of Sports Medicine) certified and has been a local personal trainer since 1996. Jamey's 12 years of Personal Training experience has given him a strong desire to help people accomplish their health and fitness goals, whether that goal is weight loss or muscle gain for teens as well as adults. Jamey has a wide range of experience from teaching kids spin classes to assisting in injury rehabilitation for clients of all ages. He has worked with people who have special needs, children and adults looking for sports specific training as well as clients over 80 years old. Jamey also manages the Teens In Training program, teaching teens the basics about gym equipment and preparing them for one-on-one or group training. He is an Andover resident and enjoys baseball, paintball, roller hockey and many other sports. If you don't find him on the gym floor, you may find him in a Kung Fu class.

Kimberly Horsman is an ACE certified Personal Trainer who works with clients both one-on-one and in small groups. She is also certified through AFAA, Johnny G Spinning and Body Training Systems for Group Power. Kim’s passion is helping those new to fitness, as well as seasoned exercisers, become more fit by working with them to develop a clearly defined fitness plan that is both motivating and fits into their lifestyle. Her philosophy states that "It doesn't matter where you begin, what matters is that you have direction, know how to follow the path, and can see the improvements you have made along the way!” Kim attends several fitness conferences and trainings each year to stay on top of the best fitness exercises and tools available. This allows her to provide her clients with a variety of new workouts that keep them interested and excited about fitness. Kim loves traveling, hiking, biking, water sports and most of all, her two kids.

Evie Caron is an ACE-certified Personal Trainer & Certified Stott Pilates Instructor, has been a member of the Yang’s Fitness Center personal training team since its inception. Her passion for wellness and fitness is demonstrated not only by her active lifestyle, but also by her commitment to her own education in the field. She is well known long-distance runner and cyclist and she has earned her certifications as a Stott pilates instructor and Spinning instructor. She continues to attend pilates workshops and just recently completed an eleven hour sport-medicine conference in Boston which covered kinesiology, strength-training, and the biomechanics of the spine. She plans to pursue a Masters degree in kinesiology in the fall of 2009.

Evie enjoys working with clients of all ages and ability levels. She will be spending her second summer instructing kids in math and athletics at the Cardigan Mountain School in Canaan, NH. She also consults with Cardigan’s wrestling coach on techniques and strategies for core strength and conditioning during her stay there.

Evie lives in Andover with her husband Steven, their four children, and two dogs. She loves spending her free time reading and taking trips with her family and friends.

"Pilates training with Evie has allowed me to regain strength and decrease pain from previous back surgery and chronic sciatica. She focuses on proper movement and alignment such that I am less prone to repeat injury. She works respecting my limitations while slowly pushing the boundaries of what I can do. My posture is improved and more importantly I have returned to prior activities that I thought were no longer possible." Joanne N., Andover, MA

Nutritional Counseling

Helen Long holds a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition & a Masters of Arts in Health Care Administration. She is a Licensed Dietitian in MA and has been a Registered Dietitian since 1984. Helen has over 20 years of experience working in local hospitals and has been a Certified Diabetes Educator since 1995.

She is available for individual nutrition counseling sessions. Call (978) 475-2020 for more info.

Mind and Body (Yoga , Pilates & Tai Chi)

Diana Kiesel is a native of Mississippi and moved to Massachusetts in 1987 after graduating from Mississippi State University with a BPA in accounting. She spent the next 9 years as a public auditor and corporate lender at several firms in Boston. After being introduced to martial arts through a Tai Chi course, Diana decided to leave the corporate world to devote her energies towards health and fitness. Over the course of the past eighteen years her goal has been to help educate and lead her students towards a better, healthier lifestyle. Diana is certified through several leading health and fitness organizations including the Aerobic & Fitness Association of America (AFAA), National Association of Professional Martial Artists (NAPMA), Physical Mind Institute, for Mat and Standing Pilates, and the Reebok University Personal Training Program. Her specialties are in the areas of Fitness Kickboxing, Mat Pilates, Yoga and Reebok Core Board. Diana has studied with Natasha Rizopoulos, Yoga Journal’s Beginner’s Expert, and has earned her 200-hour, Yoga Alliance compliant, teaching certificate under Natasha’s tutelage. In her spare time she enjoys taking daily walks with "her boy", Cosmo (a beautiful Yellow Labrador Retriever).

Stephanie Dalmer a native to the Boston area, is a 200-hour Yoga Alliance certified Yoga instructor. She originally received her certification from Robin’s Yoga and Healing Center in 2002, and then went onto earn a Prenatal Yoga certification through Focal Point Yoga, Children’s Yoga certification through Color me Yoga, and Chakra Yoga certification through Endless Possibilities Yoga and Dance. Stephanie first began practicing yoga when her second daughter was an infant, and she quickly developed a love for its physical, spiritual and emotional benefits. She teaches an interdisciplinary style of Hatha yoga, that emphasizes each student's personal experience and awareness in each moment, alignment, and incorporation of the breath. Stephanie consistently encourages her students to find the inherent peace within themselves.

Lynn Kennedy has a BS in Physical Education and has been teaching fitness since 1985. She is a Group Fitness Instructor and holds certifications in Group Centergy, and Group Kick. Her true passions, however, are Spinning and Yoga. Lynn fell in love with Spinning in 2000, and this amazing program has been her teaching focus ever since. Spinning is more than just a great workout, and through her teaching, Lynn inspires others to discover the undiscovered within themselves and experience the mind body connection that is the essence of Spinning. Lynn's yoga journey began in 2002. Formally trained through Yogafit, Lynn has also completed a Restorative Yoga workshop with Judith Lasater, founder of Yoga Journal and one of the nation's foremost yoga instructors. More recently, Lynn has been a student at the Baptiste Power Yoga Institute in Cambridge, MA since 2006. She has completed both the Baptiste Teacher Training Program Level 1, as well as the Baptiste Assistant Training Program. Lynn is in ongoing training with Baron Baptiste and will attend Baptiste Teacher Training Level 2 in 2010. She also continues to study with Master Baptiste Instructor Claire Este-McDonald, Jane Cargill and Paula Harvey. She wishes to thank all her teachers for their knowledge and inspiration. Yoga is a gift for the body, mind and spirit. May you escape the chaos of your life and may you see, even for 60 minutes, just how incredible you really are.

Kristin Olson began practicing yoga in New York City at Cyndi Lee’s studio, after deciding she needed an outlet that provided a sense of serenity within the city’s non-stop chaos. As she deepened her practice, she found that in addition to serenity, the physical and mental challenges of yoga led the way to a more balanced, centered lifestyle. Kristin has studied with Natasha Rizopoulos, Yoga Journal’s Beginner’s Expert, and has earned her 200-hour, Yoga Alliance compliant, teaching certificate under Natasha’s tutelage. Kristin’s practice has been influenced by Ashtanga’s emphasis on connecting breath with movement and Iyengar’s emphasis on proper alignment. In her teaching, she combines these two core components with an equal interest in graceful transitions and honoring where one is in his/her own practice. Prior to moving to Andover, Kristin worked as a journalist and publicist in New York City. She earned her BA at Colgate University and her MS at Boston University.

Meg Holmes an Andover resident, has had a lengthy career as a school librarian/teacher working with students at every grade from kindergarten through college. She believes strongly in the value of education and knowledge, and has especially enjoyed her position in the elementary schools of North Andover where she has been able to instill children with the desire and skills to become lifelong learners. Meg considers herself to be a life-long learner and on a lifelong journey as a student of Taiji. Meg began studying taiji in 1990 at Yang’s Martial Arts under the tutelage of Alex Kiesel. She has been a student within the YMAA system ever since and has learned from instructors like Master Yang Jwing-Ming, Ramel Rones, and Jeff Pratt. Not only has Meg been trained in the Yang-style Classical Long Form of Taiji, but she also has received training in the Simplified 24 Short Form of Taiji; pushing hands; solo saber and sword forms; and two person fighting set. She has participated in numerous courses and workshops on qigong taught by Master Yang and Master Liang Shou-Yu including the Eight Pieces of Brocade. Because she believes that people can accrue many benefits from Taiji, Meg has been an instructor at Yang’s for over ten years. Her experience and expertise as a public school educator are reflected in the way she instructs her Taiji classes and interacts with her students. Meg truly enjoys sharing her knowledge of Taiji and qigong as she helps others begin their own Taiji journeys.

Paul Blake began at Yang's Martial Arts as a student in 1991, developing his expertise under the tutelage of Chief Instructor Alex Kiesel. Paul deepened his understanding of Tai Chi through the study of Xing Yi and Baquazhang with Master Liang, Shou-Yu, as well as through the study of Qin na, Tai Chi sword, Qigong, pushing hands and the martial applications of Tai Chi with Instructor Jeff Pratt and Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming. Mr. Blake became YMAA certified to teach Tai Chi by Dr. Yang in 1998 and gains great pleasure from sharing his knowledge of this contemplative martial art with his students.

Fitness/Spinning/Body Training System (BTS)

Danielle Benson is a certified Group Centergy instructor that joined the Yang’s Group Fitness Team in September of 2007. She has been a member of the gym since its’ original opening and with much encouragement and support, decided to join the Group Fitness Team. Danielle has always enjoyed all aspects of fitness and felt it was a natural progression from member to instructor. In addition to her Group Fitness instruction, she enjoys working part-time as a consultant. Danielle currently resides in Andover with her husband and 3 children.

Tracy Callahan has been teaching group exercise classes since 1986. She is ACE certified and has taught a variety of classes over the years that has given her the opportunity to work with toddlers, teens and seniors as well as the mainstream exercise population. Teaching is her passion and she loves it. Tracy earned her Masters in Business from Lesley College and her undergraduate Business Degree from Assumption College. Tracy currently resides in Andover with her husband and two children. When she is not teaching at the gym, Tracy can be found volunteering in the Andover Schools, coordinating the AJFL Cheerleaders and teaching religious education.

Erin Cooper-Denicola has been a member of the gym since January 2006. With the encouragement of the other instructors, Erin became a Group Power certified instructor. She believes that fitness helps people feel good about themselvesspecially when set to great upbeat music. A native of Rhode Island, Erin moved to Massachusetts for college. Since 1998, Erin has been a public school teacher for the city of Lawrence, specializing in English as a Second Language. She works with children from Kindergarten age through 8th grade who have immigrated to the US. Whatever the subject, Erin enjoys helping people learn to the best of their ability, which is evident when she teaches Group Power. She lives in Lawrence with her 2 favorite boys, husband Rob and dog Jorge.

Jen Hoffman a certified Group Step instructor is a former gymnast and free-style aerobics instructor. After having children, she was inspired by the Yang’s Group Fitness team to make fitness a priority in her life again. The results she obtained from the classes fueled Jen’s passion for Group Step and ultimately a certification. As an instructor, she enjoys sharing her passion for fitness with other members each week during her classes. Jen currently lives in Andover with her husband and her two sons.

Ben Kellman is a Certified Johnny G Spinning Instructor and began his teaching career at Yang’s in February 2006. He has been Spinning for 9 years and is an avid road cyclist. Ben’s passion for fitness began the day he quit smoking in 1977, when he took up running. This eventually led him to run the Boston Marathon in 1979. Since then his fitness regime has included running, cycling and swimming which has given him a perspective on endurance and strength training. Ben brings his enthusiasm for injury-free, challenging exercise, love of cycling and music to his classes. He encourages all of those new to exercise to find something that both makes them feel good and is fun. Originally from Brooklyn, Ben currently teaches 8th grade Woodshop in Billerica. He now lives in Andover with his wife, 2 children, a shy dog and a bold cat!

Susan Lucy is a Johnny G Certified Spinning Instructor and began teaching at Yang’s in February 2006. Originally from the Boston area, Susan graduated from Boston College with a BS in Accounting and spent 6 years in public accounting and 5 years as Director of Finance for a healthcare company. She now resides in North Andover with her husband and 3 children. Susan believes her drive to stay fit and healthy has been essential to her physical and mental wellness. She credits Spinning as the instrumental piece in helping her get back into shape after having her 3 children in 3 years. In addition to her passion for Spinning, Susan also enjoys outdoor biking, tennis, golf and spending time at her Cape Cod home.

Lourdes O. Munoz has over 15 years of experience as a dance and AFAA certified aerobic instructor. She has worked with a number of professional dance companies including the National Ballet Academy & Company in the Dominican Republic, the Brely Academy and the Creation Ballet Company, both in Miami. As a mother of two, participating in youth fitness activities is important to Lourdes. She developed and teaches a dance/fitness program for children called Hip Hop & More in Andover and North Andover and created a dance team for the underprivileged children in Lawrence, MA called "Positive Results". Lourdes has also been a presenter for a kids fitness marathon called "Be Fit-Don't Sit", Blue Cross Blue Shield's "Jump Up & Go" fitness week and the UNICEF International Broadcasting Day for children. At Yang's, Lourdes teaches a program that she created called "Move N Groove" which is a spicy fusion of aerobics and dance styles including hip hop, jazz, ballet, line dancing, salsa, meringue, rumba, flamenco, bhangra and more. She also offers Diva/Hip Hop Birthday Parties at Yang's and is excited to be a part of the instructional team at Yang's. Dance experience is not required to join her, just the willingness to move and have fun!

Jen Rogers has worked at this location since it originally opened in 1998. In addition to being a Personal Trainer, she is AFAA Group Fitness, Group Power and Group Step certified and has been teaching since 1993. She enjoys teaching a variety of free-style classes including floor aerobics, step aerobics, cardio combination, core strengthening, and children's fitness. During the winter season, Jen is a skating instructor for the North Andover Figure Skating Club. She enjoys skiing, biking and painting. Jen and her husband, Sean, have three children ranging in age from two to seven years old. She holds both a BA in Elementary and a M.Ed. in Moderate Special Needs from Boston College. Until the birth of her second child, Jen was an elementary school teacher for 6 years.

Dina Routhier is certified in Group Step and has been teaching since 2004, and is a Johnny G Certified Spinning Instructor. Teaching provides her with the regular opportunity to be around people committed to fitness. "Positive energy is catchy!" Dina shares her Andover home with her husband Gregg and their daughter Eva. During the day, she works in the finance field in Boston. But by the days end, you can find her sprinting back to Andover to catch a class at Yang's.

Tina Sawyer has been teaching since 2000. She is an AFAA Group Fitness certified Instructor and holds additional certifications in YogaFit, Mat Pilates, Group Centergy, Group Power and Group Step. Tina has great enthusiasm for teaching Group Fitness classes and really inspires her members. She grew up in Medford and currently resides in North Reading with her husband and her two children, Gregg and Katie.

Dr Yang Jwing-Ming has been involved in Chinese Kung Fu since 1961. He has spent 13 years learning Shaolin White Crane and Shaolin Long Fist Kung Fu, and Tai Chi Chuan, as well as massage and herbal treatments. YMAA has developed into an international organization of over 55 schools in 18 countries.

As a child, Jwing-Ming Yang learned patience and endurance throughout nine years of Japanese occupation of Taiwan, during which his family of 9 often went without food for days.

Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming started his Kung Fu training at the age of fifteen under the Shaolin White Crane Master Cheng, Gin-Gsao. In thirteen years of study (1961-1974) under Master Cheng, Dr. Yang became an expert in the White Crane style of Chinese martial arts, which includes both barehand techniques and the use of various weapons such as saber, staff, spear, trident, two short rods, and many others. With the same master he also studied White Crane Chin Na grappling, Tui Na and Dian Xue massage techniques, and herbal treatment.

At the age of sixteen, Dr. Yang also began the study of Yang style Taijiquan (Tai Chi Chuan) under Master Kao Tao. After learning from Master Kao, Dr. Yang continued his study and research of Taijiquan with several masters and senior practitioners such as Master Li, Mao-Ching, and Mr. Wilson Chen in Taipei. Master Li learned his Taijiquan from the well-known Master Han, Ching-Tang, and Mr. Chen learned his Taijiquan from Master Chang, Xiang-San. Dr. Yang has mastered the Taiji barehand sequence, pushing hands, the two-man fighting sequence, Taiji sword, Taiji saber, and Taiji Qigong.

When Dr. Yang was eighteen years old he entered Tamkang College in Taipei Xian to study Physics and also began the study of traditional Shaolin Long Fist with Master Li, Mao-Ching at the Tamkang College Guoshu (Kung Fu) Club (1964-1968). He eventually became an assistant instructor under Master Li. In 1971 he completed his M.S. degree in Physics at the National Taiwan University and then served in the Chinese Air Force from 1971 to 1972. In the service, Dr. Yang taught Physics at the Junior Academy of the Chinese Air Force while also teaching Wushu. He returned to Tamkang College to teach Physics and resumed study under Master Li, Mao-Ching. From Master Li, Dr. Yang learned Northern style Kung fu, which includes both barehand (especially kicking) techniques and numerous weapons.

In 1974, Dr. Yang came to the United States to study Mechanical Engineering at Purdue University. At the request of a few students, Dr. Yang began to teach Kung Fu, which resulted in the foundation of the Purdue University Chinese Kung Fu Research Club in the spring of 1975. While at Purdue, Dr. Yang also taught college-credited courses in Taijiquan. In May, 1978 he was awarded a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering by Purdue.

In 1982, Dr. Yang began teaching martial arts in Boston, MA, and founded the Yang's Martial Arts Association (YMAA). Shortly thereafter, he resigned from his engineering career in order to pursue his dream full-time of conveying the benefits of Chinese culture and Chinese martial arts to the West. In 1983, Dr. Yang founded YMAA Publication Center, through which he has published 32 books and over 75 videos on the martial arts and Qigong.

YMAA school has developed into an international organization of over 55 martial arts schools in 18 countries. Dr. Yang has also been invited to offer seminars around the world to share his knowledge of Chinese martial arts and Qigong, including Canada, Mexico, France, Italy, Poland, England, Ireland, Portugal, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, Belgium, Iran, Chile, Venezuela, Morocco, South Africa, Holland, Hungary, Spain, Egypt, Brazil, Austria and Germany.

Dr. Yang combines training and personal experience with a scientific approach and research. His depth of knowledge and his superb teaching style sets him apart as one of the most valuable sources of theory and practice for Tai Chi and Chi Kung.

In addition to teaching regular classes at the headquarters in Boston, MA, Dr. Yang also teaches at the Andover branch, location.

Courses are offered to students from beginner to advanced levels; plus interested individuals may attain certification in four different fields: Tai Chi, Kung Fu, Chin Na and Chi Kung.

In 2005, Dr. Yang founded the nonprofit YMAA CA Retreat Center and the nonprofit Qigong Public Research Foundation (QPRF) with the goal of stepping up his efforts to bridge the knowledge of the East and West for the rest of his life.

Alex V. Kiesel - Chief Instructor
Chris Fazzio - Kung Fu Program Director

For directions to our facility,

Map of 5 Dundee Park Dr
Andover, MA 01810-3743