Bio
Aida Johnson-Rapp has over 30 years experience in fitness and recreation. Her classes have been highlighted in the New York Post, Essence Magazine, the Chicago Tribune, Miami Herald, CNN and Windy City Live. Additionally, Aida has danced professionally on stage and as a cheerleader for the NBA Chicago Bulls; served five years as an active member of the U.S. Army; she served as Event Chair on the Mayor’s Fitness Council for the City of Chicago.
In 2006 she left Chicago to work on various fitness and recreation projects in Florida and also California where she worked as the Recreation Center Director during construction and opening of state of the art, LEED Gold Certified, 138K square foot Student Recreation Center at California State University Northridge. Aida earned a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Liberal Arts from Excelsior College in New York, a certificate in Sports and Entertainment management and a Masters of Arts Management Degree from Columbia College Chicago.
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 is 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 current:
- 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