Category: Instructor

laurie benenati

IG Handle: @benela39


Favorite Lagree Exercise: Dancing Bear


Why I Lagree: I love the high intensity workouts without the high impact especially since I have multiple knee injuries. I am able to challenge my body while quieting my mind. It is so inspiring and heartwarming to workout with my amazing team of instructors and dedicated clients.


You’ll always hear me saying this in class: Smile! You Got This!


Favorite Muscle Groups to Target: Obliques & Glutes


Fun Fact: I am obsessed with collecting passport stamps and want to step foot on every continent. Some of my favorite places I’ve been to include New Zealand, Thailand and Greece. I am scared to death of heights but have no problem skydiving!


Laurie grew up and currently lives in Queens, NY. She’s spent some time in Newport Beach, CA and Manhattan. Laurie graduated St. John’s University with a Bachelor’s degree in accounting and worked for various media companies since then. She always knew she was meant to do something else in the field of fitness and service. In 2017, after taking a trip to Bali, she decided to jump ship, pursue a lifelong dream and opened lagreeny. Laurie has always been active and adventurous. She loves snowboarding, travelling and football.


Certifications: Lagree Fitness: Level 2, Balanced Body Pilates Mat & Reformer

eileen kielty

IG Handle: @ekielty

Favorite Lagree Exercise: Reverse Tailbone Angel

Why I Lagree: To feel strong and because I have never seen definition in my body in such a short amount of time or in the way I do after training on the Megaformer. Class makes me feel like a badass!

You’ll always hear me saying this in class: Change happens the moment you want to give up. Failure is a good word in this class, you want your muscles to fail, make the choice to be uncomfortable, you can do it!

Favorite Muscle Groups to Target: Outer Thighs & Triceps/Lats

Fun Fact: My husband and I met in an AOL chat room when we were 13 and 14 years old and were pen pals for 5 years before we met in person; the rest is history.

Eileen was born and raised north of Boston and grew up dancing. She found her love of cross training after working at her physical therapy office where she had been a patient for dance related injuries (at the time). She has an A.A. in Dance from Dean College (summa cum laude), a B.A. in Psychology from Lesley University (magna cum laude) and completed both The Ailey School’s Summer Intensive and Independent Study Programs. Eileen was the Lead Teaching Assistant for the Rockettes Educational Programs for five years, a member of BoSoma Dance Company and a founding member of SPUNKandCOmpany Dance. She became a Certified Lagree instructor in 2013 and is the former Director of Training and Curriculum and Instructor Trainer for AntiGravity Fitness. Actively auditioning for Broadway and writing an original show with a friend, Eileen is thrilled to be teaching fitness in Astoria, where she lives with her hubby and two cats.

Certifications: Lagree Fitness: Level 2, Antigravity Fitness: Level 5, 2-Star Instructor Trainer

andrea dusel-foil

IG Handle: @aduselfoil

Favorite Lagree Exercise: Spider Kicks

Why I Lagree: To feel strong in my body.

You’ll always hear me saying this in class: It’s gonna be fun. Are you breathing?

Favorite Muscle Groups to Target: Abs all day.

Fun Fact: I hate burpees.

Andrea was born and raised in Casper, Wyoming, and grew up dancing. After graduating high school, Andrea completed her BA in Dance Performance from UNC CHARLOTTE, the Professional Training Program at North Carolina Dance Theatre and the Independent Study Program at the Ailey School. Since then, she has danced with Ballet Theatre of Maryland, Ballet Mink, MCG Dance and The Coppola Rhythm Ensemble. Andrea began her journey into fitness as a form of cross training and rehabilitation. She started with Pilates and Yoga and followed with her Lagree Fitness Certification in 2013. She believes in working with clients in a supportive and non-judgemental manner and promises you, “It’s gonna be fun.”

Certifications: Lagree Fitness: Level 2, DK Bodybalancing: Comprehensive Pilates Certification, It’s Yoga International: 200 hr Ashtanga Yoga & 50 hr Rocket Yoga, NASM Certified Personal Trainer

brent shultz

IG Handle: @who.is.brent.shultz

Favorite Lagree Exercise: Plank to Pike

Why I Lagree: To build strength and balance.

You’ll always hear me saying this in class: “Press down to lengthen up.

Favorite Muscle Groups to Target: Shoulders

Fun Fact: I moonlight as a Fight Director.

Brent is an MFA in Acting graduate of The New School for Drama. He is currently working on his Sword and Shield Certification from the Society of American Fight Directors. He became interested in fitness as an undergraduate and holds his Yoga Teacher Certification along with being an ACE Personal Trainer. Brent enjoys teaching fitness because he believes exercise should be fun and personal while keeping you safe.

Certifications: Lagree Fitness: Level 1, Yoga Works 200 hour Teacher Certification, ACE Certified Personal Trainer

casie tisellano

IG Handle: @casiertisellano

Favorite Lagree Exercise: Wheelbarrow

Why I Lagree: To do something for myself, and to remind myself that I am a strong woman.

You’ll always hear me saying this in class: Sooo good!

Favorite Muscle Groups to Target: Abs & Glutes

Fun Fact: I put ghost chili pepper on everything!

Casie grew up in a small town in Texas, playing sports and cheerleading since she was 4 years old. In 2006, she moved to NYC to go to musical theatre school. After working in theatre for a few years, Casie retired from “the biz” and worked in the restaurant industry, always making fitness and working out a part of her daily routine. Fast forward a few years, she got married to a New Yorker and hasn’t left. Casie and her husband have one son, who is the center of their lives. Lagreeny has made such a huge impact on Casie’s life. She started working out there shortly after she had her son. It whipped her into shape, and she was hooked! Casie received her Certification in Lagree Fitness in July 2018 and is so proud to be a part of this amazing team.

Certifications: Lagree Fitness: Level 1

danielle robak

IG Handle: @danielleashleyrobak

Favorite Lagree Exercise: Dancing bear- you’ll rarely find a class of mine without it.

Why I Lagree: The challenge is addicting! I’ve found that strength training is where I see the most changes in my body, and I love that Lagree is a low impact way for me to look and feel strong.

You’ll always hear me saying this in class: You’ve got this!

Favorite Muscle Groups to Target: Biceps & Obliques

Fun Fact: I lived in Chicago for 2 years shortly after college, before moving to NYC.

Danielle grew up dancing competitively, which instilled a love for an active lifestyle from an early age. For her, fitness serves as an outlet; a way to feel better from the inside out. She’s passionate about sharing these benefits with her clients, and watching them grow stronger physically and mentally. Originally from Melbourne, Florida, Danielle moved to New York for a taste of the big city and her career in the financial industry. She met her husband Patrick shortly after, and they live together with their pup, Denver.

Certifications: Lagree Fitness: Level 1

emily wolff

IG Handle: @nycity_fit (fitness)

Favorite Lagree Exercise: Standing Inner Thighs

Why I Lagree: To challenge myself mentally and physically.

You’ll always hear me saying this in class: Draw your shoulder blades together / shoulders down your back / relax your shoulders or some variation of that… posture is everything!

Favorite Muscle Groups to Target: Glutes!

Fun Fact: I am secretly a cat lady, but don’t own any 🙁 one day…

Emily moved to NYC from the Washington DC area in 2016. In mid 2017, she decided to leave her desk job to enter the fitness world. She currently teaches Lagree and barre at Physique 57, and loves all things fitness. She lives in the neighborhood, so if you skip class to go to QWNS Cafe, she’ll find you! 😉

Certifications: Lagree Fitness: Level 1, Physique 57 Certified Barre Trainer

laura gilreath

IG Handle: @laurakristenx


Favorite Lagree Exercise: I LOVE to pulse lunges. When your legs are exhausted and you keep pushing them deeper into the exercise, then you press back into full range. WHEWWWWW!! I crave it!


Why I Lagree: I love to get my heart rate up and feel my body working HARD without sweating through my clothes.


You’ll always hear me saying this in class: Let’s get them high booties!!!


Favorite Muscle Groups to Target: The Booty!! Also, I love working that inner thigh.


Fun Fact: When I was in high school, I started training for the Miss Georgia Muscle Competition.


Laura is a Georgia Peach living in The Big Apple with her cute husband, scaredy dog and needy cat. She is a marathon runner, spinning enthusiast, and loves to chat it up. When Laura is not working out her body, she loves to work that mind, training kids ages 3-9 the artistry of chess. She’s always been into fitness since she started a running club with her friends in 2nd grade. She loves to teach because she loves helping people feel their bodies come alive. Laura has a BFA in Theatre and is ACE Group Fitness Certified.


Certifications: Lagree Fitness: Level 1, 30/60/90 Certified, ACE Group Fitness Certified, CPR Certified

marie carroll

IG Handle: @midgenewin


Favorite Lagree Exercise: Super Lunge


Why I Lagree: I love the intensity! It’s never the same workout twice.


You’ll always hear me saying this in class: Mind over muscle!


Favorite Muscle Groups to Target: Arms and the THASS (the butt crease, where the THigh meets the ASS)


Fun Fact: I’m also a graphic designer and help with lagreeny’s branding and marketing collateral.


After spending over 20 years behind a desk doing graphic design, Marie pursued her passion for fitness. She believes health and wellness is a mental as well as physical journey. There is no one way to achieve results and see progress. She always encourages her clients that it’s not about perfection, but progress! You may run into her on the streets of Astoria with her two beagles, Hammer & Clover!


Certifications: Lagree Fitness: Level 1, NASM Certified Personal Trainer, NASM Corrective Exercise Specialist, CrossFit Level 1 Trainer, Balanced Body Pilates Instructor in Training, First Aid/CPR

natasha karoutsos

IG Handle: @nsafa


Favorite Lagree Exercise: Floor Lunge


Why I Lagree: I lagree because I love the change I see in my body.


You always hear me saying this in class: Make that change happen!


Favorite Muscle Group to Target: Booty!


Fun Fact: I was once mistaken for Mila Kunis and received a free meal and drinks.


Fitness is the center of Natasha’s life. Good energy equals good vibes. She’ll try any exercise method once …Lagree got her hooked! Natasha works with special needs children as a speech therapist and moonlights as a Lagree instructor. “Love what I do…AND I’m a mommy of two!”


Certifications: Lagree Fitness: Level 2