Lincoln Laboratory Fitness Center

Personal Trainers

Cyndi Springford

Cyndi took the first steps towards her career in 1992 when she quit smoking and attended her first aerobics class with a friend's encouragement. Eleven months later, she became a certified aerobics instructor. She began instructing group fitness classes in June of 1993. She grew more passionate about health and fitness from that point and became an AFAA Certified Personal Trainer in 1994.

She decided to take up running as a way to cross train in November 2002. To date, Cyndi has competed in approximately 60 races, ranging from 5K (3.1m) to marathon (26.2m) distance. In addition to group fitness class instruction and running, she enjoys weight training and yoga. Fitness is a love of hers and she enjoys sharing what she has learned with others in order to help them achieve a healthier way of life.

Her Personal Training Certifications include the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA) and the American Council on Exercise (ACE). Her Group Fitness credentials include AFAA Primary Certification, Johnny G. Spinning Instructor, Resist-A-Ball C.O.R.E. Level One and Two, Thomas the Promise Kickboxing Level One, Yogafit Level One and Two, and Turbokick. Cyndi currently trains clients and instructs group fitness classes at MIT Lincoln Laboratory Fitness Center and has been since October of 2000.

Mark Ryder

Mark is a second degree black belt in Shotokan Karate. He began his studies in the mid - seventies under the direction of Kazumi Tabata, Nagao Matsuyama and Sam DeMarco. He has been instructing men, women, children, and college students in the martial arts since 1980.

During his studies at Northeastern University's College of Criminal Justice, Mark taught karate at Tufts University for Sensei Tabata, while also teaching his own students in Chelsea, MA.

In 1984, Mark graduated from Northeastern University, pursued a career; and continued teaching karate at a number of private karate schools for many years. His interests in the martial arts and physical fitness lead him to more in-depth studies of fitness, nutrition, and dietary supplementation and a career in Personal Training.

In 2005 he obtained his Personal Training Certification through American Fitness Training of Athletics, a course study based on the philosophies and practices of the American College of Sports Medicine.

Mark enjoys educating his clients about fitness and often combines his personal training session workouts with a mixture of strength training, martial arts, sport drills and functional training.