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Meet Susan
Looking back on the journey which has brought me to this point, I realize I've always been a teacher in one form or another. In the 1980s, I was teaching medically-related classes during the day and taking fitness classes in the evenings. As time went on, I was asked to substitute and then teach those same evening fitness classes through Howard County Parks and Recreation programming.
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In 1992, when the Office on Aging was looking to expand their sites to include Western Howard County, I was asked to develop a program to teach exercise classes to senior citizens of varying abilities. Almost thirty years later I am still teaching ‘Sit and Fit’ and ‘Senior Connections Plus’ classes. I became a Certified Personal Trainer in 1995 and later a Lifestyle and Weight Management consultant through the American Council on Exercise. In 2011 I was asked to take part in the Kindred Spirits pilot program in association with the Alzheimer's Association and the Office on on Aging, teaching yoga to those with early-onset dementia.
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My husband and I opened Triumph, the first full service fitness and tennis center in our area in 1997. During that time, I obtained my Pilates and yoga teacher certifications.
Initially, my yoga practice was studying in the Ashtanga style, also known as Power Yoga with David Swenson and Beryl Bender Birch. Later, I studied Iyengar yoga. With its props and pose options I found it to be a more welcoming style of teaching newcomers to yoga. I am also a Registered Children’s Yoga Teacher, a Reiki I practitioner, and developer of Fitastik Kids exercise programming. In 2006 I was fortunate to be named one of Maryland’s Top 100 Minority Business Owners. I continue to teach a full schedule and offer several workshops each year. I am thrilled to be able to say I have clients that range in age from 8 weeks old to over 90 years! The past five years I have also pursued my passion for writing, completing four short film screenplays, four feature length screenplays, and two children’s yoga books. I also enjoy gardening, making my skin products ‘Atha Salve’ and scented lotion bars. |
Certifications
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