About

My career began as a group fitness instructor teaching classes in High/Low Aerobics, Step Aerobics and Group Muscle Conditioning. I quickly realized that all conditioning and no stretching makes for a very unhappy body. My education then turned to Yoga, while I was tempted to train in Bikram or other forms of Power Yoga, I had to accept that I needed to slow down in many ways and chose the path of Kripalu yoga which incorporates some fitness but centers more around stretching as well as a mind-body approach.

As I went through my first pregnancy in 1997 I vowed to continue my journeys to the gym. At the time I found that many obstetricians didn't have enough education in safe exercise during pregnancy. I thank Fitness Resource Associates for a wonderful course in PreNatal Fitness gave me knowledge and peace of mind as I continued to teach all classes during both of my pregnancies---a phase of life, by the way, where fitness is essential.

As I began to feel my body change with age and noticed that I had many "older" students, I decided to investigate the many nuances of Senior Fitness. I developed a special program that is based on modifications to traditional classes that are helpful for seniors to continue their healthy lifestyle as they age.

While preparing at home for my Adult Hatha Yoga Classes, I noticed that my children were very curious about yoga and practically begged me to show them various poses. A lightbulb went off somewhere in my head and I thought it would be great to offer children's yoga classes in the Western suburbs of Boston. Some of my classes are taught with parent/caregivers, more what I call Family Yoga. Through wonderful school systems like Acton-Boxborough, elementary-aged yoga is taught to the children in the same style as a Physical Education class.

Several inquiries were directed towards me as to whether I did personal training in peoples' homes. I found that several people who reached me ranged from slightly overweight to obese. They simply were not comfortable in a gym setting. For these clients I found that education is key. I expel the fears and fallacies associated with fitness and progress from there. You just can't explain it all in a group fitness situation.

People need to accept the fact that, for the most part, people can't lose the weight by simply dieting. A fun workout with someone watching over them or leading them along was key!

A combination of weight training without resistance, for example simple leg lifts and sit ups or with resistance including dumbbells, resistance tubing (rubber bands), body ball and other fun props. Building a bit of muscle hugely increases an individual's metabolism.

Cardio training in its many forms is also imperative to not just weight loss, but health. At home we can get very creative, treadmill programs, simple, safe, low-impact, high-low aerobic routines, kick boxing, urban rebounding (mini-trampoline), paced outdoor walks and hikes and many other fun ways to safely raise the heart rate.

The final piece of personal training has to be to instill into clients the importance of stretching. Many people intent on losing weight go gung ho with cardio and weight training and forego the stretching only to be injured and sidelined shortly after committing to a fantastic fitness regimen.

I am certified in Hatha/Kripalu-style yoga, children's yoga, senior yoga and fitness, aerobics, and personal training.

I currently teach at Gold's Gym in Concord and Maynard, Massachusetts and occasionally at Dedham Health & Athletic Club in Dedham, Massachusetts. I teach children and adult yoga classes through metrowest-Boston area recreation departments including Acton, Concord, Stow and Sudbury. I also teach at various at corporate sites. Recently I have begun to partner with like-minded individuals to offer topic-specific yoga workshops.

If you are interested in group or personal fitness programs, please contact me and I will be happy to discuss ways to design a successful program.