Raquel has been a certified ACE/AFAA Fitness Instructor since 1988, teaching hi/lo aerobics, step, hiphop, and body sculpting classes while still in high school. Currently, in addition to teaching Spinning®, she also teaches yoga, cardio kickboxing, and bellydance. She also is a mat & reformer Stott certified Pilates instructor.In 2004 she was selected to join a regional cycling team as a category 4 cyclist and went on to win gold medals in the New York State Criterium Championships (2005), New York State Time Trial Championships (2004), and a bronze medal in the New York State Road Racing Championships (2005).Internationally she has traveled to Europe (with bicycle in tow) to ride several stages of the 2003 & 2004 Tour De France with local cycling enthusiasts.Raquel holds a Ph.D. in education from the University of Buffalo and is a full time faculty member at the State University of New York College at Buffalo.