Our Mission
We believe that strength isn’t about how your muscles look or how many calories you burn in a workout. We believe that the strength that actually matters lives deep inside. That’s why when you clip into the bike, sweat it out in the hot studio, and find a flow that connects breath with movement, you’ll discover you’re capable of more than you imagined. You’ll leave here more equipped to handle what’s out there. Cause isn’t having a strong soul better than just being strong? We think so.
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Sculpt, Cycling, and Yoga Instructor
Sam Johnsen
Sam has been teaching group fitness for nearly 6 years. She is a Registered Yoga Teacher, and has also completed certifications for Sculpt and Cycling. As the owner of the space, Sam’s biggest hope is for people to feel comfortable wherever they are in their fitness journey. She wants them to know that they are already strong — and that taking modifications doesn’t equal weakness!! Sam loves fitness for the mental health benefits and how it’s helped her get through life’s tough stuff. She is excited to teach all sorts of classes and help you discover inner strength.
Sculpt Instructor
Ted Johnsen
Ted is going to bring the hype to your early morning Hot Sculpt classes. Ted is originally from MN but has lived in Eau Claire since 2011. Over the years, he has enjoyed taking sculpt classes but also takes an interest in running and strength training. Ted enjoys fitness because he loves the connection in the classroom and chases the good feelings after taking on a new challenge.
Sculpt, Cycling, and Yoga Instructor
Carrie Blake
Carrie has been teaching group fitness since 2019. She is a Registered Yoga Teacher, and has also completed certifications for Sculpt and Cycling. Carrie loves ALL forms of movement and will be teaching a variety of classes on the schedule. Her favorite parts of fitness lie in connection with students and mental/emotional health benefits. You’ll likely hear Carrie’s infectious laugh when you’re at the studio. She is excited to show you how fitness isn’t a job — it’s fun, joyful, and motivating.
Hot Sculpt + Step Instructor
April Sablan
April is our resident nurse and cardio/lifting fanatic! If you know April, then you know she has a passion for health and fitness. In fact, her background includes a degree in physical education. She was also a long-distance runner in college and has participated in bodybuilding competitions. April will bring the heat to your Hot Sculpt workouts and she looks forward to teaching our high energy Step classes as well. She wants you to have fun and feel welcome no matter your experience level.
Yoga Instructor
Dallas Dosch
Dallas joined StrongSoul as a yoga instructor shortly after we opened. She completed her 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training in 2024 and truly loves exposing students to the benefits of yoga. Outside of the studio, you can catch Dallas on the lake waterskiing — something she has done since she was very young. You can even see her perform with the Ski Sprites during the summer months.
Sculpt Instructor
Elle Hemauer
Meet Elle Hemauer — one of our Hot Sculpt instructors! Elle was a three-sport athlete in high school and continued her Track and Field career at UW-Eau Claire. Over the past few years, Elle has enjoyed taking Hot Sculpt classes and still enjoys long distance running. She loves the mental and physical challenges that working out provides. Join Elle on weekday evenings for her killer Hot Sculpt class!
Cycling Instructor
Emily Barnes
Emily comes to StrongSoul with plenty of cycling background. She took her first cycling class over 20 years ago as an off-season/cross training workout while playing Div 1 college tennis. Cycling continues to be a part of her workout routine because it is an effective workout that can be done to all kinds of high energy music. When she's not at the studio, Emily is a full-time dentist and loves watching her kids do dance and karate.
Cycling Instructor
Heidi Paxson
Heidi moved to Eau Claire from Georgia just last year and has quickly found a sense of community at StrongSoul. She found her love for fitness early as a cross country and track athlete. Over the years, group fitness classes have helped her find balance after losing the structure of playing a sport. Outside of teaching fitness, Heidi is a local journalist and enjoys reading, writing, and playing with her dog
Hot Sculpt Instructor
Katie Talberg
Meet Katie — one of our Hot Sculpt instructors. Katie's infectious energy shines through in her classes where fun themes meet creative and effective programming. When she's not at the studio, Katie teaches high school English in Chippewa Falls. She also loves everything theater, music, and dance related. Sometimes, you can catch her directing or acting in a local play.
Hot Sculpt Instructor
Kristin Solfest
You've probably seen Kristin at the studio before because she LOVES taking classes. In fact, that's what inspired her to become a teacher at StrongSoul. After several years of taking Yoga and Sculpt classes, Kristin decided to take the leap and learn how to teach Hot Sculpt. Since then, she has also learned how to teach Barre classes and loves challenging you to work your low body while maintaining balance. We're positive Kristin will bring the hype and make you laugh
Hot Sculpt Instructor
Maddy Schwendinger
Maddy is so excited to share her love of Hot Sculpt with you! She's been taking classes for several years, and enjoys how heated classes help her let go of the day's stress. Maddy was born and raised in EC and currently works as a nurse at Mayo. Aside from school and work, Maddy loves being outside, spending time with her dog, and traveling. Her biggest hope is that when you attend her class, you are comfortable being exactly who you are and leave feeling confident.