Meet the Team
Michael Riordan
Mike is a born and raised New Yorker and Central Park has been his “backyard” since before he could walk. A former high school and college athlete, being active has always been a way of life and Central Park has always been the go-to venue.
Since becoming a professional Fitness Trainer in 2007 using the park instead of a crowded stuffy gym was always Mike’s choice. The more time he spent in the park the more curious he became about its history. During research he found the details and information so fascinating that he decided to take it further and get certified as an official New York City sightseeing guide and combine his passions of fitness and NYC history and created Fit Tours NYC.
Meredith Bechtel
Meredith has been a proud member of the Fit Tours tribe for over three years, and loves getting to hang out with cool people from all over the world during her 5K tours in Central Park! Additionally, she is a yoga teacher who strives to help people feel strong, present, and more embodied through movement. She proudly runs Yoga With Meredith – a private yoga business that brings customized yoga lessons into people’s homes, apartments, and workspaces. Additionally, she teaches group classes at the Prenatal Yoga Center and at various corporate offices in NYC. She is currently continuing her education at Columbia University in the Exercise Physiology graduate program.
Outside of teaching, Meredith loves hiking, backpacking, learning how to keep plants alive in her apartment (she’s still working on that), continuing her studies of anatomy and biomechanics, and generally being outside whenever possible. You can find out more about Meredith and what she offers at www.yogawithmeredith.com
Instagram: @merbechtel
Sammi Callaghan
Fit Tours Chicago
Original FTCHI Team member! Sammi is from the suburbs of Chicago, Sammi is a Yoga Instructor, Dancer, and Actress. After receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Physiology at the University of Tampa (where she also earned teaching certifications in Barre, Yoga, and as a Personal Trainer!) she has returned to the “Windy City” where she loves sharing her passions for wellness, creativity, and the great city of Chicago on her Chicago River Yoga Walk!
Evan Vlahandreas
Fit Tours Chicago
Original FTCHI team member!, Evan is a sophomore at Northwestern University studying Cognitive Science and French. He has lived in the Chicago suburbs his entire life and has been running with FTCHI since July of 2021. He loves showing people around the beautiful city of Chicago, and knows that running is the best way to see it!!
Gabi Samels
Gabi is thrilled to be a part of the Fit Tours Family! She recently received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre from Syracuse University. Born and raised outside of Boston, she has always been extremely active. She has participated in half marathons, 10Ks, and 5Ks, throughout high school, college, and post grad. Combine her love for running with her background in the performing arts and her ability to be chipper at 8 in the morning, and you have one great tour guide! When Gabi moved to New York, Central Park immediately became a second home to her and she can often be found running in the park when she’s “off duty”. She loves the beauty, history, and stories that come from Central Park, and she is delighted to share this with the members of her tours.
Instagram: @gabi_samels
Anne Vipperman Cohen
Anne is currently earning her Masters in Nutrition and Exercise at Columbia University to become a Registered Dietitian. To balance out the time she spends sitting for school, she enjoys being up and on her feet running and biking through NYC parks with friends, playing volleyball, doing yoga, volunteering in food pantries, and cooking. She is passionate about empowering and supporting people to enact sustainable, healthy changes to live in line with their values and goals. She is extremely excited to be a part of Fit Tours NYC because it allows her to blend knowledge with fitness to cultivate a unique and personal experience for everyone taking her tours!
Instagram: @annecohen1111
Alisha Braddock
Original FTCHI team member! Originally from Grand Rapids MI, Alisha has so much love for this incredible city and has been visiting Chicago her whole life. She finally moved here in early 2021. She also loves Yoga and can’t think of any better way to enjoy the two than on a Chicago River Yoga Walk! She received her YTT 200 hour certification from Yogaview and enjoys teaching vinyasa at several local studios. “I’m excited to meet you and looking forward to guiding you through a one-of-a-kind tour through the heart of Chicago!”