Meet the BFF Team
We pride ourselves on our experience, training knowledge and no-hype approach to healthy living. Our staff are all professionals who have made health and fitness a career, gaining experience with a wide range of people and goals.
• Our Executive team •
MARK LYNN
Owner, Personal Trainer
Mark has always had an interest in fitness and competitive sport. He played soccer for 11 years in his youth and enjoyed time as the traveling league team captain. After taking a hiatus from competition, he got involved with endurance sports. In 1998 he began competing in triathlon and by the end of 1999 was a nationally ranked competitor. During his time away from sport, he got involved with the fitness industry with the specific goal of working with athletes. It was during this time that he discovered a love for working with people from all populations. It was the satisfaction of seeing, first hand, the impact a healthy lifestyle can have on quality of life, that inspired him to embark on a career path of fitness and wellness.
Mark maintains his passion for sports but no longer competes at a high level. Instead he focuses on sharpening his knowledge of state of the art training techniques and helping his clients achieve the highest possible quality of life with fitness as a corner stone. Mark has been in the industry for 15 years and still has clients from his early days as a trainer. He’s worked with clients from elite athletes to post spinal injury patients. Mark has chosen this profession because of the pure joy he gets from being a part of people’s lives in a positive way and seeing the changes a healthy lifestyle can bring.
Certifications: ACSM: American College of Sports Medicine — PP-S: Periodization Planning Specialist — SC-E: Sports Conditioning Expert
Experience: 20 years in fitness industry; 16 years personal training; 15 years teaching and presenting; 7 years endurance athletics coach; 9 years competitive endurance athlete
Area of Expertise: Core Stability; Balance Training; Endurance Sports Coaching; Functional Training; Sport Training; General Wellness
Education: Studies in Environmental Science and Comparative Literature
ALISSA GRAUNKE
Programs Manager
Alissa started her lifelong love of movement by dancing around the house as a toddler, and she was enrolled in ballet class by age 2 1/2. She danced ballet, jazz, lyrical, and modern through college, and turned to Pilates to rehab after an ankle and knee injury in 2004. She completed her 500-hour comprehensive Pilates teacher certification through Body Arts and Sciences International under the direction of Rael Isacowitz in 2010. She continues to expand her knowledge of body mechanics through continuing education with Pilates master instructors, physical therapists, and kinesiology experts. Alissa also loves experimenting with other movement modalities such as rebounding, weightlifting, kickboxing, and breathwork.
Alissa believes that anyone can benefit from the mind-body conditioning principles of Pilates. She loves that the Pilates method can help just about anyone feel more strong, stable, and mobile in their movement. Her training provided her with an extensive background in traditional and clinical Pilates, as well as detailed training in individualized program design for a diverse range of fitness and special conditions clientele. Throughout her career, Alissa has had the opportunity to work with a variety of students ranging from teenage and adult athletes, pre- and post-natal mothers, chiropractors, personal trainers, those with auto-immune conditions such as MS/fibromyalgia/rheumatoid arthritis, amateur and professional yogis, massage therapists, spinal/hip/knee surgery patients, and the elderly population.
MICHAEL SMARTT
Owner, FDNP, A-CFHC, Z-Health Personal Trainer
My interest in the health and fitness industry began when I was introduced to mountain biking in 1994, a chance encounter that would renew my love for being active and healthy. I quickly discovered a purpose I didn’t know I had and was motivated to learn and grow in the sport of cycling and the greater fitness industry, kicking off 6 years of higher education with the intent to combine real world experience with proven exercise science and critical thinking.
My first experience within the health industry was at Eden Medical Center in 1998, working with post-op cardiac rehabilitation patients. Although very rewarding on a personal level, I soon realized that the preventative approach was more my style and it would allow me to help more people before they found themselves critically ill.
Since then, I’ve enjoyed many years as a personal trainer and health advisor, culminating in becoming an ADAPT Certified Functional Health Coach (Kresser Institute) and an FDN Practitioner.
Being an FDNP allows me to work with clients on a comprehensive level, using functional lab tests to identify H.I.D.D.E.N. stressors (hormone, immune, detoxification, digestion, energy, nervous and oxidative stress) and wholistic lifestyle-as-medicine approaches to show clients how to overhaul a chronic condition or dial in elite level health and performance.
Certifications: FDNP: Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner — A-CFHC: ADAPT Certified Functional Health Coach — Z-Health Certified Personal Trainer
Specialty: Comprehensive health building programs that combine functional lab testing and the DRESS for Health Success® program.
Experience: 25 years in the health, fitness and wellness space, from elite endurance performance to Parkinson’s.
Areas of Expertise: Lifestyle as medicine — Functional Strength Training — Adult Health/Wellness — Sport-Specific Training —Cycling/Endurance Performance
Education: Bachelors/Masters of Science: Kinesiology
CAITLIN FRY
Operations Manager
Caitlin joined the Bay Functional Fitness team in 2018 as a project manager and has since contributed to the online development of the business during the COVID-19 pandemic, corporate program and studio processes, and HR policies.
Caitlin is a former travel and Olympic Development Program soccer player who was forced into retirement after multiple ACL tears. She has since pivoted to different forms of fitness through yoga, hiking, and cycling.
In her spare time, Caitlin volunteers with her local cat rescue organizations as well as the county shelter. Some of her favorite things include: matcha, books, and donuts.
•Our Personal Trainers•
JASON JOHNSON
Jason was first introduced to weight training at the age of 14. Without any proper education on strength training & conditioning, he managed to achieve new levels of muscle development. This would come at the expense of his joint health, as he proceeded to exercise improper technique and neglect muscle groups that were vital to his safety. Not only that, but he had absolutely no clue as to what he should eat or how to balance his caloric intake. By the time he reached the age of 23, his body was dealing with several ailments which compromised his training. Jason had tendinitis in both shoulders, low back pain and was diagnosed with prehypertension. After coming to terms with the fact that he needed to make shifts in order to change these issues, Jason began studying about nutrition and food addiction. Though his training regime became very sporadic at the time, Jason was able to focus much of my energy towards his eating habits. After making the necessary adjustments, the very course of his life and career changed forever.
With his new found confidence after achieving weight loss goals, he wanted to learn more about strength & conditioning. In 2007, he began his studies with the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) to become a certified fitness professional and nutrition/corrective exercise specialist. Applying the best science to his fitness routine, he saw rapid results without injury and wanted to change the lives of many others as well!
Carmela fell in love with movement and athletics at a very young age and hasn't looked back since. She studied Exercise Science at Willamette University, co-owned a gym in Berkeley for five years, and now works one-on-one with clients that want to move better, not feel their age, and learn how to take care of their bodies from a more holistic perspective.
In addition to her certifications from the National Academy of Sport Medicine (NASM) and TRX, Carmela has completed numerous continuing education courses with Z-Health Performance (R, I, S, T-certified, as well as four of the advanced courses), which has allowed her to take her coaching to a whole new level.
She enjoys showing clients the tools and techniques that can help them relieve pain, get stronger faster, improve their vision and balance, and improve or learn movement skills regardless of their age. She believes that everyone is an athlete (no matter what their sports background is) and that each client's body holds more potential for great accomplishments than we realize.
ZOE MERAZ
Zoe grew up in an unstable household with lots of unhealthy habits. When she moved away to start college she got to learn about and experience all the benefits of regular exercise, a healthy diet, and mental health care. After getting her degree in biochemistry and molecular biology, she moved to the Bay Area where she was able to enjoy all of the outdoor recreation the area has to offer. A true believer in moderation, she enjoys challenging herself with progressive overload, eating foods that are both pleasurable and nutritious, and enjoying a nice cold beer on the weekends.
She believes exercise and nutrition, when properly employed, are preventative and proactive healthcare. Zoe has worked with organ donors for over 4 years and as a personal trainer for 6 years and sees the effects of diet, exercise, and stress from the inside and out. She believes knowledge is power and loves when clients ask her WHY we do the things we do.
She finds immense joy in helping people step into their strength and becoming embodied with sustainable behavioral changes they can carry throughout life. She has received her certifications for personal training and nutrition coaching from NASM and wilderness first responder from NOLS.
PAMELA DAVIDSON
I have a passion for movement and feeling/functioning optimally. I coach and empower people to feel and function at their best without making the same mistakes I did. Growing up a competitive athlete in an era where the mentality was "train harder, achieve more/better," it was a hard concept to shed. As an adult, I worked a full-time job in strength and conditioning for athletes and personal training, while trying to train like a full-time athlete as well. Physical, mental, and emotional stress broke me and my body down. I also fell prey to various false beliefs I had picked up early in life and the myths spread by well-intended and not so well-intended healthcare providers and the media. Living optimally and performing at one's best comes only after health. Over the course of my career, I expanded my knowledge and became my own advocate through my own research and working with other professionals to not only solve some of my underlying health conditions caused by the underlying stress and ill-healthcare but to coach and guide others to their best lives as well. I now coach with a holistic approach to health, fitness, and performance (whether performance applies to sports or everyday life)
JONATHAN INGERSOLL
As a life-long athlete in his late 40’s, Jonathan understands the challenges of balancing family, friends, and career, with personal health and well-being. He wants to help you experience the confidence, balance, and power that being in your body, and moving well provides. He will be your coach and guide to tuning in to how you’re feeling and what your body needs at any given moment.
Jonathan is an ACE Certified Personal Trainer and Z-Health Neural Performance Specialist (Essentials of Elite Performance, R-Phase, I-Phase, T-Phase). He wants to help you be the best possible version of yourself, which starts with better movement, and is only possible when the brain and nervous system are functioning well.
He believes aging doesn't have to mean an inevitable decline into inactivity, and that everyone has an inner athlete. When you work with Jonathan, you’ll discover that you can do things you didn't think possible!
•Our Instructors•
Mel completed her Pilates teacher training with Pure Body Studio. She has been a personal trainer and fitness instructor since 2009 and has certifications from NASM, TRX, Spinning, Barre Above, and Z-Health Performance. A reformed klutz who loves teaching movement, Mel began martial arts and regular ballet classes as an adult. When she’s not on her home reformer, you can find her bourréeing in pointe shoes, hitting a bag, or working as a writer/creating comics and graphic novels with the Bay Area-based Triple Dream Comics. Like words, bodies tell stories; Mel believes everyone can embrace their own story, both on paper and in their own skin.
COURTNEY RAMM
Courtney was introduced to Pilates and Yoga during her pre-professional ballet training in New York City. Alongside a career in both ballet and contemporary dance, Courtney received her Pilates and Yoga teaching certifications and has been teaching for the past 15 years. She has been fortunate to teach all over the world–from Singapore to Thailand to Hawaii. Courtney has experience teaching a wide range of clients, from children to seniors with various limitations and injuries. She has a B.S. Degree in Kinesiology and Masters Degree in Dance Education from New York University. Courtney is passionate about helping others feel good in their bodies, and incorporates her breadth of movement experience within her classes.
DIANE LAZIC
Diane is a Yoga Alliance 500 (RYT) who was born in Frankfurt, Germany then moved to the island of St. Lucia in the West Indies. Her mother’s ancestors are from Uttar Pradesh, India. She began to practice yoga in her early 30s. Before Diane began or considered teaching yoga, she worked with persons with disabilities in social services. She would teach pranayama (breathing exercises) to help them cope with sensory issues and anxiety. When her third child was diagnosed as on the autism spectrum, and began the long journey of health and developmental challenges, she increased her home yoga practice to six days a week. She deepened beyond physical practice by reading voraciously on the subject of anthropological study of yog and yogic (treaties) text.
Diane has practice a wide range of styles, beginning with Astanga, Vinyasa, Yin, Postural Hatha yoga, and Chair yoga. She believes that yoga is for every BODY and finds fulfillment creating playful sequences that safely help others grow while enjoying the benefits of a yoga practice. She specializes in Adaptive Chair, Mixed Mediums (partial mat and chair), Power Flow, Yin, and Therapeutic yoga, but is an old school Astangi yogin. She has found it most effective to create hybrid classes drawing from different styles and lineages to meet the needs of her clients. She believes that yoga instructors are assistants to help others find what they are seeking from a yoga practice. Diane currently teaches private Therapeutic yoga for a stem cell neurosurgeon and lives in Southwest Florida.
SABRINA MONAHAN
Born and raised in the Bay Area, health and wellness has always been Sabrina’s passion. As a Certified Trainer and Zumba instructor, my goal has been to enrich lives through exercise. She believes that keeping your mind and body healthy will persevere through tough times. Sabrina can attest to this as a breast cancer survivor.
Exercise doesn’t have to be a chore. When you exercise with Sabrina, you’ll find that time flies with energetic workouts and routines. The best workouts are the ones you finish without realizing how much time has passed. She looks forward to working with persons of all levels and showing them how she can brighten their day with a workout.
Jonathan’s passion for health and movement is based in a life-long practice of dance, strength training, yoga, climbing, running, swimming, mixed martial arts, hiking, and more. In his mid-20’s, he was diagnosed with a serious neuromuscular disorder (Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy) which rendered his body nearly useless for over two years. He has since made a full recovery and has developed a huge respect for the importance of a balanced and holistic approach to health and fitness. These days Jonathan can be found obsessively practicing handstands, tap dancing until the sun goes down, or simply relaxing with friends and family.
Amy is a NASM-Certified Personal Trainer, with a history of physical trauma and a passion for inspiring others to have fun getting fit.
Amy has battled body image issues her entire life, spent time in a wheelchair as a 12-year-old, and survived three life-threatening bicycle accidents as an adult. She is here to tell you that you have the power to overcome anything! You have the spark, or "The Whoa" as she likes to call it, and she's gonna help you find it, ignite it, and let you shine like the magical, glittery disco ball you are.
CYNDI LEZCANO
Yoga found Cyndi over fifteen years ago but she still remembers it vividly like it was yesterday! Those first few classes challenged her physically and woke her up emotionally.
In 2016, she began her journey to become a certified yoga teacher. She completed an advanced 500 hour Yoga Teacher Certification program through Yoga Works. The more she learned, the more she wanted to know! She was hooked!
Cyndi continued to feed her passion for learning and furthered her education in 2019, receiving an additional 150+ hours of training in Specialized Yoga Therapies. She is certified in Oncology Yoga and Accessible Yoga in order to be of service to more people.
I believe that our yoga practice is a mirror to our everyday lives and can help us change our perspective if we can learn to surrender and trust the process. In my classes I emphasize the importance of self-awareness, alignment, and personal growth. My teachings are lighthearted, playful, and educational with creative sequences that are ever evolving and changing, just as we are. I look forward to growing with you.
JESSICA BARRAGAN BITTING
Jessica, a lifelong fitness enthusiast, has been transforming lives for over a decade through her dedication to health and wellness. From her early days of playing soccer, Jessica's passion for personal fitness and well-being has only grown stronger.
Having experienced the challenges of yo-yo dieting and eating disorders, Jessica developed a "Health at Any Size" personal training philosophy. She focuses on providing a safe, enjoyable exercise environment while helping clients rediscover their inner strength and body confidence.
Jessica loves guiding people of all ages and fitness levels towards achieving their unique health goals. She advocates for a holistic approach to wellness, promoting an authentic relationship with one's body, free from societal pressures and diet culture.
Certified by the American Council of Exercise in 2010, Jessica is also a #Moderation365 Coach and is currently pursuing her Precision Nutrition Coach Level 1 certification. Drawing on her expertise in Muay Thai kickboxing and circuit training, she customizes fitness programs to suit each client's needs.
Eager to make a difference, Jessica looks forward to sharing her infectious enthusiasm for health and wellness with those ready to embark on their journey to a stronger, more vibrant future!
