Bio
Part athlete, part community visionary, Aida Johnson-Rapp has spent 30 years redefining what it means to move. Her classes—celebrated by the Chicago Tribune, New York Post, Essence Magazine, Windy City Live, and several other media—are more than just workouts; they are experiences. Aida’s resume reads like an adventure novel: she has served her country in the U.S. Army, electrified crowds as an NBA dancer, and shaped city-wide wellness policy as the Event Chair for the Chicago Mayor’s Fitness Council. She doesn't just teach fitness; she leads a movement.
Seeking new horizons in 2006, Aida brought her Chicago-honed expertise to the thriving fitness landscapes of Florida and California. Her career reached a new summit at CSUN, where she directed the groundbreaking launch of a LEED Gold Certified Student Recreation Center—a massive 138,000-square-foot facility dedicated to student wellness. This blend of operational excellence and strategic vision is rooted in her diverse education, including a Master’s in Arts Management and advanced certifications that bridge the gap between world-class entertainment and high-level sports administration.
For seven years she served as Director of Group Exercise at Chicago’s East Bank Club. During the pandemic, she facilitated virtual programming with livestreaming. Earlier, she created the design and was project manager for renovation of the club’s 70-bike indoor cycling facility.
In the community she served as a volunteer Chicago Ambassador for Bunker Labs, a national network of veteran and military spouse entrepreneurs dedicated to helping the military connected community start their own businesses and served on ILEA’s (International Live Events Association) Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee and currently on the ILEA Chicago's Board of Directors.
Aida’s newest venture, Aspire to Harmony, a company devoted to creating rituals for cycle of life celebrations, weddings, movement, wellness and workshops that support mindful solutions for living your best life.
Aida’s mantra is “To Sweat is to Live.”
Over the years Aida has earned numerous industry certifications including:
- American Marriage Ministries Ordained Minister
- Certified Life-Cycle Celebrant
- Second City Training Center Chicago Graduate, Improv A-E
- Power Yoga 200-hour Teacher Training
- 160-hour Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification
- Power Pilates® Level 3 Certified Instructor – Full System
- AFAA Certified Group Fitness Instructor
- Schwinn® and Stages® Indoor Cycling Certified
- TRX® Group Suspension Training