Lauren Drinkhall
Studio Founder, Dance & Fitness Instructor, Healer and Coach
With over 20 years of experience as a dance and fitness professional and entertainer, Lauren D dedicates her heart and soul to help others by bringing health, fitness, dance, healing, empowerment, confidence and community together all in one to form a unique experience for anyone who crosses her path. Her approach is genuine and provides a safe, fun, comfortable environment full of positive, raw energy and support so you can feel better and take back your power at any age, stage and phase of your life.
“Every one of us has our own story, our own WHY that keeps us showing up for ourselves daily and for me mine is that there came a point when I knew I had to make changes inside and out because my life literally depended on it.... so now I help others do the same.”
Lauren D has an elaborate background in the dance, fitness and entertainment industry that includes the Performing Arts League at SLTCC, ROCO Dance Company, Blues Brothers back-up dancer, magic shows, Warriors basketball games, Ring Girl for boxing matches at Cesars Palace and many events and clubs around California and Nevada. Her certifications include Turn Up Dance Fitness©, Tone n Tease©, GROOV3©, Zumba©, Zumba Kids©, LeBarre©, Spinning, Kickboxing, Fierce Funk© , Step Aerobics, SCW Personal Training, SCW Group Exercise, Les Mills Body Pump© and is the creator of her own workout program called POWER30 by Lauren D.
During the 2020 pandemic, Lauren D won the Best of Sonoma County Virtual Exercise Trainer and has been featured in the Valley of the Moon Magazine over the years for her extensive knowledge in addiction recovery, fitness and healthy living.
Megan James
Dance Fitness Instructor
Born and raised in Sonoma County, Megan James has been dancing her way through the Valley for over a decade. Currently a student at Sonoma State University, Megan has dedicated her college years to studying two of her favorite passions: dance and early childhood development. Much of her knowledge of teaching has come from coaching the Sonoma Valley High School dance team, dancing on the Sonoma Sapphires team, and teaching at Sonoma Children’s Creative and Performing Arts. Her background includes experience in hip-hop, musical theater, jazz, contemporary and modern. Megan is thrilled to be entering the world of dance fitness through Turn Up Dance Fitness©. She is ecstatic to have the opportunity to join the Lauren D Studios family and work with such incredible and influential members of our community.
Tina Simpson
Group Fitness Instructor
Tina has been a dancer at heart her whole life.
She became a certified Zumba, instructor 15 years ago and has since taught dance fitness in Alaska, Hawaii and California. She has also been certified as an AFAA group fitness instructor, SCW and NASM personal trainer, SCW Yoga, SCW Aqua, Zumba Strong, Zumba Toning, Aqua Zumba, Turn Up, PiYo and in SCW Nutrition, Hormones & Metabolism.
Her love of teaching and holistic health practices has led her to her latest devotion and is now a nutrition specialist. Having graduated from the Institute of Integrative Health Practitioners as well as the Institute of Integrative Nutrition, she specializes in Balancing the Female Body as an Integrative Health Practitioner & Coach.
Yoli Sheridan
Yoga Instructor
Yoli has taught adult fitness classes in Los Angeles, children’s classical ballet, visual fine arts, theater for children, Zumba and Yoga. Her practice and love for yoga has grown through meditation and movement and she is dedicated to bringing peace and wellness to people, animals and the planet with her holistic approach to life both on and off the mat. After studying her RYT200 at Yoga Farm Ithaca, she is excited, humbled and honored to spread her love of yoga to the community at Lauren D Studios. She strives to pull pieces of her continuous study of life and evolution into a teaching style that is both strong and graceful, empowering and grounding, honoring each student's journey
Shannon Dailey
Strength Training Instructor
Shannon began her passion for fitness when she first took Lauren D's Zumba class in 2011 and has been taking them since. She then ran her first 5k in 2012 where her love for running was born and she went on to complete many more 5k, 10k and 15ks, the marathon from Sonoma to Napa (more than once), 6 ToughMudders and more. Shannon has actively been participating in dance and fitness classes for over 12 years now which has inspired her to get certified in Strength Training so she can help others in their health and fitness journey at Lauren D Studios.
Gustavo Pedroza
Dance Fitness Instructor
Born in Encarnación de Díaz, Jalisco, Mexico, with nearly 8 years of experience in Mexican Folk Dance, Gustavo has traveled throughout Mexico performing and gaining national recognition. He previously represented Mexico, Colombia and now he belongs to the team at Lauren D studios where he teaches various genres of music such as hip hop, bachata, cumbia and merengue with uplifting songs in Spanish and English. Gustavo has an incredible passion for movement and music that when you take his classes you will leave with a mind full of happiness and joy.
