Los Angeles & Beverly Hills: Bel Air, West Hollywood, Westwood, Beverlywood, Hancock Park, Holmby Hills, Larchmont

Susan has always been interested in fitness. She ran her first of countless 10Ks in 1979, completed four marathons and continues to run today. After her fourth child started school full time, Susan began taking courses that led to her certification as a personal trainer. She works with clients individually and in small groups.
Susan’s certifications include:

• American Council on Exercise (ACE) Group Fitness Instructor
• Functional Aging Institute (FAI) Aging Specialist
• ACE Senior Fitness Specialty Certification
• FAI Certified Functional Aging Group Exercise
• FAI Age Well Collective
• FAI Certified Brain Health Trainer
• FAI Certified Functional Balance and Core
• Total Body Resistance Exercise (TRX) Suspension Training for all ages

Susan is 64-years-old and has sustained numerous injuries. She understands the special challenges that face many of her clients due to age or physical restrictions. She is inspired by her mother who, at age 91, is still participating in group exercise and water exercise classes.

In her sessions, Susan’s goal is to challenge each individual. Two of her favorite sayings are “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone” and “Your attitude determines your altitude”. She educates her clients about the function of specific exercises. Susan motivates and equips her clients so they can exercise comfortably while both training with her and on their own.

As Susan has evolved as a trainer, she has acquired more clients who have Parkinson’s disease (PD) or some form of dementia. Each case is different. There are, however, some similarities. Susan works around the effects of medication. Medication helps, but is also a hindrance, as timing is crucial for energy and alertness. The keys to dealing with PD are attitude and perseverance; that we all need to continue to exercise. For those with PD, it is crucial. Muscles need to keep moving and remain strong. The act of doing so also stimulates the brain. Susan does whatever possible in order to continue to challenge each individual to reach beyond his/her perceived limitations. Even if the client doesn’t see results immediately, it is not an indication that progress has not been made. In addition to strength exercises, she has learned to integrate movements for brain stimulation. She uses body weight movements, in addition to specialized tools for those with PD. To incorporate movement and brain stimulation, she uses colored dots placed on the floor, along with the use of a phone app that shows arrows, numbers, or colors that the client can respond to as directed.

Susan knows that movement is the key to aging well and having a quality of life that we all desire, regardless of our age.