Linda Ryan

Born in Brooklyn, New York, on May 2, 1953.  Worked at Exxon Company International from 1970-1997.  Left to raise my three children.  Since exercise has always been very important to me, I decided to get my group fitness and personal trainer certifications.  Mostly I teach between 10-12 group fitness classes a week including step, step/sculpt, kickboxing, zumba, hi/lo, and senior aerobics. I also volunteer at a nursing home where I lead the mostly wheelchair-bound residents in an exercise class. I am a very fit individual with a high energy level.  Since I love to dance, I prefer more choreography in my step and aerobics classes but can also teach basic classes.

I have been married since 1987, have three children (22, 20, 15) and live in northern New Jersey.  My hobbies include volunteering at the nursing home and battered women's shelter, downhill skiing, hiking, and dancing.  More recently I became a vegetarian and am leaning towards a vegan diet, mostly for humane reasons but also for the health aspect of that lifestyle.  In this process, I have become a more enthusiastic cook as I look for new ways to incorporate common and some uncommon vegetables into my diet.

As I read through the profiles of the members of this site, I think I may be one of the more "senior" instructors!  However, I pay more attention to the "birth of the year" rather than the "year of my birth" - age is just a number.  I am healthier and more fit than I've ever been in my life and I think I am a great role model for both young and old.