Training testimonials

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Deborah's passion for fitness and exercise is evident in her fitness coaching and training experience.  She is very knowledgeable in exercise and training methods, physiology, and nutrition. She leads her exercise classes with a smile, enthusiasm and lots of energy, and makes the classes fun. She provides options for different skill levels.  As a personal trainer, Deborah is very personable, patient, encouraging and easy to work with. She will provide customized workout sessions and programs tailored to your individual needs,  She created several weight training programs to supplement my swimming workouts. My conditioning, muscle strength, and endurance have improved significantly and my swimming strokes are stronger. Deborah is a fantastic fitness coach and personal trainer!

Deborah's workouts are always fun and engaging. Combined with adaptable exercises, work on balance and endurance, we are guided to better conditioning. I always leave with a great feeling of accomplishment and self improvement. 

After 10 months of Deborah's Senior Conditioning class, I feel stronger, as well as, more committed to living a healthy lifestyle.

Deborah took over our Senior Fitness class when she realized we were not being given a program that fit our needs as Seniors.  While teaching our class she was also working to earn her Masters in Exercise Science. After completing her MS, Deborah went on to complete special training in numerous related, more specialized areas.

When Covid hit and our club was closed Deborah developed an online ZOOM class that gave us a few minutes to converse with each other as well as a well-planned exercise program realizing we were missing the socialization as well as our work out. She has continued our ZOOM classes and added recorded programs we can do at our own convenience.  

Several of us are in our 80’s and still moving well thanks to Deborah.

To Whom it May Concern,

I am an 84-year-old man and a retired engineer. Years ago I was quite athletic, and I have strived to stay in shape my entire life. The older I get the more difficult that has become, and I realized that I needed some help to keep me motivated to get the exercise I need to maintain good health. As a result, I joined a senior fitness class that was given regularly at the tennis club where I was a member.  

Deborah Rothschild was the teacher of the class, and I quickly realized her professional training and experience, especially geared to us older folks, was exactly what I needed. Since then I have also used her expertise as a personal coach and more recently as a zoom instructor. Her knowledge of all of the muscles and muscle groups, especially with respect to their uses in everyday living, is truly impressive.

Her hour-long sessions blend aerobic exercises, weight training, balance and stretching while working out your entire body. Because of the typical range of ages and capabilities of the participants in her classes, she always has a range of difficulties in her activities. In addition, she demonstrates how to do each activity while describing it. The rhythmic music she uses for the aerobic exercises make them more appealing (especially for amateur musicians like me).

I strongly believe that anyone, but especially those of us who are retired, would benefit greatly from her classes for seniors.

Debbie approaches each class as though she is teaching it for the first time. Since we are in Zoom, she invites us into her living room, plays generic but upbeat music, and demonstrates each set in one or more ways. We know that if the movement doesn't feel good, we don't have to do it. Everything is up to us to work at our own level with no prodding and certainly no guilt. I am disappointed if I ever have to miss a class!     

Sincerely, Carol Rosenberg, age 80

I’ve been attending Deborah’s Senior Conditioning class for over 3 years. My initial objective was simply to get into a routine of regular exercise for health maintenance – having past my prime years! What I gained from Deborah’s classes was much, much more: better core strength, more stamina, and improved flexibility. That’s not to mention good situational humor from an interactive, fun, friendly, environment Deborah creates in her classes. The best part of attending Deborah’s classes is you actually want to come back for the next session – and feel a bit guilty if you don’t because there’s no excuse! 

Deborah is very personable, and always seems to have your best interest in mind in her classes. She is very sensitive to individual’s limitations and always provides alternative movements for most routines so one can challenge one’s self without excessive straining and possible injury. I’ll say without reservation: Deborah is one of the most if not the most knowledgeable exercise instructors I’ve had the opportunity to work with. She understands physiology really well and uses that knowledge to compose her routines to provide all round body and stretch exercises, everything she teaches has a specific purpose and focus – it’s “engineered”, so to say, why expect less in Silicon Valley! 

I’ve replaced both hip joints due to osteoarthritis and still have painful arthritis in my neck and one shoulder.  By working on balance, strength and flexibility 3 times a week in Senior Conditioning classes, I’ve been able to live independently at 82 years of age.   These classes are a source of my learning correct body form so I can strengthen surrounding muscles while avoiding more damage and pain from poor body form.  I'm very grateful for these classes even now online.  

Thanks so much Debbie

Deborah's Barre class is a GREAT non-impact strength workout that works all of the muscles in the body with a special focus on core strengthening for posture and balance. She is especially good at explaining and demonstrating each exercise and she provides modifications so that everyone can have a personally challenging workout. After being in her barre class for 5 years, I still find it engaging and challenging (and fun :). I also find that I am MUCH stronger now and have a lot less joint pain than before I started Deborah's barre class. 

Debbie allows us to log in 5-10 minutes before actual starting time which gives time for chatting with each other and if needed to ask questions about our own special needs and/or reactions. It really makes you feel as a part of a group exercise although you are doing it out of your home. Before class starts, we are told what equipment is needed and if not available possible replacements. At the beginning of each exercise Debbie goes through all moves in it in slow speed showing both front and side views if needed.  I specially appreciated that this happened at every lesson so when a newcomer like me joined I felt fully included and able to follow the moves better for each time. For the old timers this is a good refresher to check form. Debbie gives all the time reminders how to align ourselves to minimize risk for injuries e.g. knee aligned with foot and toes (which my right knee appreciated). There is a good warmup before more aerobic moves are introduced. They are varied, effective and not too complicated. (By the way the music is great and supportive of the exercises.) You can really get your pulse going. Debbie stops the teaching regularly dependent on physical activity and temperature for a water break. She suggests different weights for different exercises and if a resistance band is needed how to replace it with weights if you don’t have one. What is great is that she demonstrates the moves using both types of equipment.  The same if you do not have a balance ball for a special exercise, how to use a chair instead and in balancing exercises what different types of added support you can use. I liked the variation of balancing exercises and how to increase their difficulty by also using weights. In the floor exercises Debbie shows different levels of difficulty allowing everyone able to participate and with time reach a new level of strength and flexibility. The class ends with good stretching of all areas of the body. You feel good and look forward to next class.

In short she creates a class atmosphere in which everyone feels able to participate at their own skill level and how to push yourself within safe limits to improve your aerobic level, strength, flexibility and balance.