Woman in activewear smiling outdoors, with green foliage and fence in background.

Founder of iGnite
At Home - Online Instructor
About Neissa:
Originally from the small town of Riesel, Texas, I moved to Austin to attend the University of Texas and lived in Austin for nineteen years. After studying Kinesiology, Health Promotion and Fitness at the University of Texas, I worked as a personal trainer and group fitness instructor for a number of years at Austin-area gyms and country clubs before founding iGnite in 2006. The creation of iGnite was based on my passions for women's health and fitness, nature, positive communication, being part of an encouraging community and a deep desire to inspire and impact the lives of women. With iGnite's unique programing and philosophy I am honored and humbled that now, 17 years later, iGnite has positively impacted and connected the lives of women in Austin, San Diego and throughout the country.
My husband Russell and I have two children, Durant (13 yrs) and Malaine (11 yrs), and a loving extended family in Texas and Maryland. Understanding the many demands of being a woman — wife, mother, caretaker, and professional, I remain passionate to nurture and expand our existing community of women so their lives can be encouraged, inspired, and empowered. Through iGnite, my team and I work everyday to ensure our community is leading healthy, inspired, balanced, active, fun and connected lives.
EMAIL NEISSA HERE

Woman in blue tank top holding a black exercise ball outdoors

Austin Team Leader
Member Services, Cardio, Strength & Core
About Rebecca:
Fitness Background: I have always had Health & Wellness/Fitness as a core aspect of my life. My mother taught us what good, real food was from an early age and I was always involved in some sort of sport (or multiple) through High School and continued on in various fitness groups after school. After having my first child, I had the pleasure of meeting Alli Phillips! She helped show me how to keep fitness and health a focus in my life as well as demonstrate it to my children. I am forever grateful for “Backyard Fitness."

What Led Me to iGnite: I started iGnite with a Swim Technique class led by Sha. I heard about it from Alli Phillips. I was signed up with friends to do my first triathlon and thought it might be good if I had some sort of basic training in swimming… Ha! I fell in love with Sha and all of the swimmers and eventually started taking some of the other classes.

Smiling woman in athletic wear standing outdoors with arms crossed in a park-like setting.

Austin Team Leader
Cardio, Core & Strength
About Jill:
I was born and raised in Texas (Houston and Dallas), attended the University of Texas at Austin and earned a Bachelor of Science in Textiles and Apparel. I am married, have two adult daughters, 14 and 17, and a an adult stepson. I lived in Seattle for 8 years after I was married and loved living there, but family and job changes brought us back to Austin which is where I call home.
Life-Changing Experience: Physical fitness has always been important to me and an integral part of my life. I started track in middle school and realized that I had some talent with sprinting so I continued to run track all through high school. I was on my way to pursuing a track career in college, but during my senior year in high school I was in a very serious car accident that broke both of my legs. This changed everything for me, but I stayed positive and never gave up. I learned some tough life lessons, and that accident helped make me the person I am today. It has given me the positive and hopeful outlook that I have on life. It made me realize that life can change in a moment and you have to make the best of what you have now and count your blessings. You also can not sit around and wait for life to be perfect, you must make a choice to live you want, despite some hard work and perseverance. You can never let anything get you too far down and you must always have faith. After a few years of surgeries and physical therapy I was back to normal and doing all the activities I loved again — skiing, running, dancing, hiking, and exercising.

Woman smiling outdoors with trees in background.

Austin Team Member
Pilates
About Alice:
Fitness Background: I've always loved dance. It's what I did when I was in high school and what makes me so very happy. Funny enough, dance is also what led me to iGnite. My youngest had just turned 3 and was going to pre-school and my best buddy and I were looking to get back in shape. Specifically we wanted to look like Jennifer Lopez who is the same age as us.
Anyhoo, friend Jamie saw a sandwich board outside the gym where we'd take our kids offering up Zumba. It sounded like a match made in heaven - if Zumba couldn't make us into Jennifer Lopez, well then we just weren't trying.
The Zumba class happened to be taught by iGnite leader, Betty who mentioned that Zumba was only one of oh-so-many classes offered by iGnite.
So, Jamie and I signed up for the 2 week trial, took as many different classes with as many different instructors as we could cram into those 2 weeks and then (after an epsom salts soak), signed up for the full deal and have not looked back. We just celebrated our 12 year iGnite-versary!

A woman in a black sleeveless top and leggings holding a dumbbell in an outdoor setting with greenery in the background.

Austin Team Member
Metabolic, Strength & Water Sports
About Kathleen:
I was born and raised in Texas! As the youngest of 6 children, I was raised in a chaotic, active and fun household. Playing outdoors and in the water was a huge part of our childhood. We were blessed with parents who encouraged an adventurous lifestyle. My father wakes each morning looking forward to his “adventure” for the day, and he turns 98 this year! His philosophy is “a healthy and active body keeps a healthy and active mind.” He's still the smartest man I know.
I graduated from the University of Texas Austin with a BA in Business Marketing. I worked as a corporate recruiter in Dallas and married Brad, my college sweetheart, while he was in his 3rd year of Med School. We've been happily married for 37 years and have four daughters, my oldest, Paige, and Claire, Kristen & Courtney who are triplets.
Brad and I thrive on adventure and travel the world to rock climb, mountain bike, canyoneer and any other adrenaline providing adventures we can find. We spend most of our days in town on Lake Austin water skiing, surfing and teaching the grandkids to love and play on the water as well.

A woman in a turquoise tank top and black leggings standing on grass with trees in the background.

Austin Team Leader
Dance
About Betty:
Family Life: I grew up in Richland, Washington in a family of 8 girls and two boys and there was never a dull moment in my childhood. I learned how to share in a hurry! I would not trade the experience of growing up in a large family for anything. You see yourself from the eyes of others at an early age when you are surrounded by siblings. I am honored and blessed to be the mother of three children, Michael, Richard and Cara. They are the love of our lives.
Background in Health & Fitness: My first encounter with the competitive dance world came in the form of baton twirling where I drug my poor mother all over the state to various twirling contests. After twirling came competitive gymnastics and cheerleading in high school. I selected a college of “higher education” based on “what college half time performance got the most TV air time” and left Washington to fulfill a childhood dream of becoming a Kilgore College Rangerette. I finished college at the University of Tulsa on a cheerleading scholarship and of course married a college football player/coach, Kyle, and we have been married for 28 years. While Kyle coached football and left me “Home Alone” all too often, I began
competing in aerobics. I was selected as a Reebok/Crystal Light Regional Champion and had the opportunity to tour Europe as a representative for Crystal Light. Then, when the University of Texas was looking for a trainer and coach for the Texas Cheerleaders, I knew it was the perfect fit for me. During my tenure at Texas from 1988-1997, I was the co-founder and coach of “Texas Pom” and had the opportunity to implement many of the spirit traditions still in place at UT today. I am currently certified as an ACEPersonal Trainer and a Zumba Certified Instructor, and to stay fit I love to run on the trail, run ½ marathons, take dance classes, yoga and an occasional boot camp.

Woman in red tank top and black leggings holding a medicine ball in a park.

Austin Team Leader
Total Body Strength & Sweat
About Andy:

Fitness Background: I've been coaching for over 22 years now. I'm a runner, a cyclist, a dancer.

What Led Me to iGnite: One of the other iGnite leaders has a sister who knew about me and Neissa reached out to see if I'd be interested in joining the team. I've been teaching since 2022.
Fitness Philosophy: If you don't take care of your mind, body and spirit you won't be able to take care of anyone else's!

Woman in a pink tank top and black leggings standing outdoors with arms crossed, smiling in front of a blurred green background.

Austin Team Leader
Cardio Sculpt & Stretch
About Sarah:
Family Life: I have two grown daughters, Kemper and Callen, who are my pride and joy! Callen lives in Nashville (not such a bad place to visit right?!!!) and Kemper lives in Austin which means that I get to see her often (lucky me!!!). I love spending time with them, think the world of them, and I can honestly say that they make me a better person. All three of us enjoy the lake, the beach, traveling, healthy food, and staying fit. When we're together we can get pretty silly! It's always a fun time with them!

Life Changing Experience: Many years ago, when my children were babies, I experienced the sudden loss of my husband. That experience taught me that I could handle anything that comes my way. I wanted to teach them how to be strong, confident, capable women and that life is a wonderful gift. Taking care of myself and staying healthy and fit enabled me to do just that. I want to be an encouragement to all women not just my own children - we are all in this together!

Smiling person in workout clothing stands outdoors with trees in the background.

Austin Team Leader
Yoga & Pilates
About Amy:
Born-Again Texan: Although I am originally from Lake Forest, Illinois and graduated from Miami University in Ohio, I have lived in Texas for 40 years!
Background in Health & Wellness: Being a “reformed Type A” I have always been active and I have practiced yoga and pilates most of my adult life. As a lifetime cyclist, swimmer, and competitive runner and triathlete, I find yoga and pilates to be the perfect compliment to repetitive-motion sports. I still love to hike, cycle and swim, though the “need for speed” has left me in favor of a much more balanced and mindful approach to fitness.
My Yoga & Pilates Journey: I was first inspired to become a yoga teacher for teens and athletes because I felt I would have been a healthier teen if I had been exposed to yoga, and I could also relate to tight-bodied athletes who were seeking more balance in their fitness routine and life. In 2006 I earned my 200-hour Yoga Teacher Certification from the Living Yoga Program, and then went on to earn my Advanced Yoga Teacher Certification (300 hours) from Castle Hill Fitness in 2009. My continued quest for learning led me to seek a Pilates Mat Certification from Balanced Body in 2012.

Smiling woman in a red shirt outdoors with green background.

Austin Team Leader
Cardio, Strength & Core
About Molly:
Background in Health & Wellness: I grew up loving to be very active! I was a gymnast and a cheerleader for most of my young years and went on to study Nutrition at the University of Texas, graduating with my Bachelor’s degree in 2010. My kids keep me very, very active these days so I do my iGniting at home when I can.
My iGnite Journey: I found iGnite 10 years ago when I needed a change in my life. I know God knew what He was doing when I was introduced to Neissa by a mutual friend. I was unhappy at my previous job, and had never experienced stress like that before. I was taught to finish everything I started, but I knew my body, mind and spirit couldn't handle the negative environment any longer, so I made a decision, never looked back, and I’ve been with iGnite for 4 years!
I LOVE what I do, who I work with, and the women I’m surrounded by every day. I think the best part is that I’m inspired, motivated and challenged every day in my job. Knowing that I am a part of a warm, welcoming and supportive community is amazing.

Smiling woman with blonde hair wearing a pink top outdoors.

Events and Retreats

It started with an introduction & invitation:
In 2010, a dear friend of mine introduced me to Neissa who then invited me to an iGnite Holiday Shopping Event. I spent three days at iGnite leader Kathleen’s kitchen counter getting to know all the leaders and iGnite members as they came to connect with one another and do a little shopping.
Those three days showed me that this was a unique group of women who loved and supported each other in life (not just in their workouts). With iGnite, wellness is more than sweaty exercise classes (but there are plenty of those)…iGnite is founded on bringing women together in an authentic, encouraging community.
As it did so many years ago for me, that spirit of Introduction and Invitation still holds meaning for me personally and especially now as I am honored to be part of the iGnite team.