Meet the Team
Cathleen Deutscher
Cathleen brings a vibrant background and years of diverse teaching experience to her own Fluid Power Barre Fitness of Sayville. She holds an MFA in Dance from NYU Tisch School of the Arts where she was privileged to learn Pilates from Kathy Grant, an original protege’ of Joseph Pilates. Thus began her fascination with movement as a true healing art. As a member of the Joyce Trisler Danscompany under the direction of Regina Larkin, she was immersed in the Lester Horton technique which is based largely on corrective exercises and emphasizes a “whole body, anatomical approach to dance.”
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Cathleen directed and choreographed for theater, concert dance, and a wide variety of educational settings, developing an ardent passion for teaching movement to students of diverse experience and skill levels. Her teaching credits include Adelphi University, Eglevsky Ballet Summer Workshops at Hofstra University, American Theater Dance Workshop, Peridance Center NY and W.C Bryant Public High School in Queens.
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Cathleen was hooked on barre after being introduced to the Lotte Berk method by Jamie Greer. She was among the first teachers invited to teach Exhale Barre (formerly Core Fusion TM) by it’s founding creators, Fred Devito and Elisabeth Halfpapp almost 20 years ago. As a member of Exhale’s team, she was involved in workshops including prenatal and postnatal exercise, while she had her own two beautiful babies.
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Fluid Power was opened in 2008 with a limited class schedule accomodative to her two small children. It has grown to include 17 weekly Barre Classes, Monthly Restorative Yoga and Reiki evenings, Modern Dance Workshops, HIIT-Barre pop-ups, and yoga.
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Cathleen is also a Registered RYT 500 with Yoga Alliance, a certified Reiki practitioner, and most recently became an energy medicine practitioner through MRIAC: The Melaney Ryan Institute of Applied Consciousness. She is thrilled to provide ITA treatments (Integrative Therapeutic Alignments) to assist clients in finding balance and healing in mind, body and spirit.
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Cathleen is inspired to see her clients transform with regular classes. Her motivating and safe approach allows for each individual to work at their own level for a thoroughly challenging workout that is efficient, energizing and fun!
Alisha Banisch
Alisha fell in love with barre instantly when she walked in the door as a student at Fluid Power in February 2014. Looking to get back in shape after having her second baby, she decided to give barre a try. She had multiple herniated discs in her back and couldn't find a workout that worked for her. Alisha became hooked right after her first class and consistently attended classes 4x a week. Not only did classes at Fluid Power transform her body, but it made her back pain completely disappear. Alisha became so passionate about barre and what it can do for your mind and body that wanted to pass along her passion to anyone looking for an amazing workout. Combined with months of private training with Fluid Power owner Cathleen Deutscher, Alisha took her training to the next level and became Barre Certified by Exhale, where she trained with two of the originators of barre fitness Fred Devito and Elizabeth Halfpapp.
Alisha's goal for all of her classes is to transfer the passion she has for barre to each and every class. Come to her class for an amazing, judgment free environment that challenges everyone to work out of their comfort zone. When she isn't at the barre, Alisha is an elementary reading specialist and lives in Blue Point with her husband and two children, Madison and Jack.
Jennifer Heslin
Jennifer Heslin is a long time Fluid Power devotee turned teacher. She had been taking classes here regularly for six years before deciding to join the team. Originally she came to the studio in search of a class that would challenge her while also providing a safe way to exercise without aggravating her sciatica. After her very first class at fluid power, she was in love and knew this was the perfect fit for her.
Jenn felt stronger in both her mind and body and her passion only grew from there. During her pregnancy with her second child, going to barre class proved to be incredibly rewarding, allowing her body the time and space it needed to move and stretch in a safe environment. Movement and fitness has always been an important part of Jenn’s life, and becoming certified at Fluid Power Barre Teacher Training was one of her proudest moments. Teaching classes is the perfect opportunity for her to express her passion for the practice. Jenn’s goal as a teacher is to ensure everyone leaves her class feeling stronger, more flexible and energized.
Lesia Wilk
My love for Barre began in 2014 when I took my first class. I was sore, exhausted & hooked! I absolutely love the fact that the movements never get easier but you feel yourself grow stronger with each class. In February 2022, the stars & schedules aligned for me and I was finally able to take Cathleen's Barre Teacher Training and became certified as an official Barre instructor.
Under Cathleen's careful guidance & passion for Barre, I have learned so much as a budding Barre instructor and cannot wait to continue to grow and teach. In addition to teaching Barre, I am a 500 hour certified Yoga Instructor. I have been teaching yoga for 11 years with a practice of 22 years. One of my favorite styles of yoga to teach is the Restorative Yoga & Reiki classes that are offered with Cathleen. Holding space for others to reset, relax, recharge and renew brings me great joy. I am incredibly honored to be a part of the Fluid Power Barre Fitness Team.
Ashley Nicole Smith
Ashley Nicole Smith is a dancer, teacher and award winning choreographer. Many of her former dance students currently perform in prestigious dance programs, companies, and are signed with commercial agencies. Ashley holds a Bachelors degree in communications, which she uses as inspiration for her choreography. She loves to integrate dance technique with humanistic movements of the body. She continues to teach dance, while also traveling regularly to give master classes, and is on the faculty of Embody Dance Conference.
Fluid Power has helped to support her mind and body by keeping it strong to allow for the physical demands of dance. It has also improved her own relationship and connection to her body, motivating her to guide others toward a deeper connection of their strength and potential. Ashley’s priority is to share her passion and appreciation for the art of movement while instilling a strong understanding of technique and form.
