WHAT IS IT LIKE TO WORK WITH
NANCY ALLEN BURNS?
Testimonials
When I first joined Nancy's outdoor fitness program, I came as someone who enjoyed the Great Indoors, and it showed: overweight, out of shape, uncomfortable all the time, and still in recovery from serious injuries sustained when I was hit by a car as a pedestrian.
A one-and-a-half hour program seemed all but unthinkable. But I've now been doing this for nearly two years and am completely hooked. I'm also happy to say everything about me is changed for the better: posture, sense of physical self, and most profoundly, my level of self confidence. I am now in better shape than I've been in decades.
Nancy is knowledgeable, exacting, encouraging, and always, always helpful. And it's hard to describe, without sounding over-the-top, the profound joy we find out there on the trails, being alive together in this beautiful world. Jane Vandenburgh
Nancy Burns is a compassionate teacher and coach who continually inspires me to age gracefully in a fit body. The adjectives "guts, grit and grins" best describe her workouts. Nancy motivates me to work harder than I thought I could and I have been rewarded with pounds shed, increased energy and well being. Peggy Bennington
I've been working out with Nancy for over three years, indoors and out. Her boundless enthusiasm and expert knowledge can steer you around your own physical (or even mental) obstacles so that if one way of doing an exercise is not possible for you, she provides other options that can produce the desired result.
Outdoor workouts are particularly exhilarating and are one of the few things that make me excited about getting up in the early morning, depending on the time of year, sometimes before dawn! She knows what we are all capable of, and challenges us to see that we can indeed do it! The rewards are immeasurable, but include: the sheer joy of a sunrise viewed from Mt. Tam, the magic of a foggy path deep in the forest with only the sound of a lapping stream. Closer to home: the discovery of 'hidden' trails in the hills right around the corner, and the vista of bay and mountains beyond. It feels so great you forget you are tuning and training your body to be the best it can be. Who could wish for anything more? Rita Gardner / Brickyard Landing
"I worked with Nancy privately for 6+ months, early mornings, twice weekly. It was worth dragging myself out of bed at 5 a.m. to hear her chipper "Good morning, Miss Kim!". She is very knowledgeable and an excellent teacher. She tailors exercises and work out programs to the individual; taking into account previous injuries and weak areas so as to strengthen them without re-injury. I also joined her water exercise class on Fridays at Brickyard Landing. Had fun in the group setting and met lots of neighbors. Now that the holidays are over, I'm thinking about taking a Pilates class to improve my overall well being, and work off those holiday pounds." Kim Robertson
Nancy is great--I don't know how many times I have heard people at Brickyard say how lucky we are to have her. I have worked with Nancy both in individual sessions and in a summer outdoor exercise class. She is an excellent teacher and in a group situation she is very adept at responding to differing levels of skill and co-ordination. She got me started on an exercise routine that really works for me, was patient with my slowness to learn, came up with a suggestion that made the difference for an ongoing foot problem. I am both impressed and inspired by how hard she works, how she keeps expanding her repertoire with new skills and how she always makes things fun! Carol Morrison Straforini p.s. She also is a fabulous massage therapist.
I had no interest in working out with Nancy Burns. I was doing just fine on my own. I managed to get to the gym 4 or 5 times a week and did my 40 minutes on the elliptical machine. For a 50 year old woman, I was pretty pleased with myself.
Of course, there were the occasional mornings when my back was stiff, making it hard to get out of bed. A couple of times a year I would stumble and twist my ankle or knee. There was the ever-present 10 pounds that I just never could lose. And there was this nagging feeling that, somehow, the aerobic exercise was not really all I needed. But I was sure that all this was normal for a woman of my age.
One advantage of going to the gym so often was that I had the opportunity to watch the various trainers with their clients. From the start, Nancy stood out. I was impressed with how each session was specifically designed for the needs of the particular client, rather than the 'one size fits all' attitude of the other trainers. I was also amazed at the extent of her knowledge. She really understands how the body works and tweaks each exercise to suit the specific needs and limitations of every client. I was so impressed that I decided to try a six week session with her.
Three years later I am, literally, a changed woman. Nancy showed me that, while aerobic exercise is essential, it is not enough. She helped me strengthen my back and abdomen, work small muscles, and focus on my balance. The result is that I have never felt so comfortable in my body. I literally stand, sit and move differently. My back, a source of discomfort since I was twelve, rarely bothers me anymore and, when it does, I know exactly which exercises will make it feel better. I am confident that, as I age, I will be able to maintain my physical activity. Oh - and that 10 pounds I couldn't lose? I lost them - and another 10! I've never felt better, physically or emotionally. Ida Abelson
"When I suffered a minor stroke several years ago, I engaged your services to help me regain my fitness. In my opinion we succeeded extremely well, and I will be forever grateful for your help and encouragement." Karl Chester
"Nancy Allen Burns has worked with me on and off for years. Her knowledge of the human body is thorough and she knows what muscles to use and how to use them correctly to become strong and healthy. She knows her stuff. If she can help me, a 67 year old guy, she can help anyone." Anton Selkowitz
I started working out in the gym with Nancy Burns about four years ago, and later joined her outdoor fitness group, which I especially love. Today I take Nancy's Restorative Exercise studio class, in addition to hiking and working out with her, usually on Mt Tam, on Saturday mornings. I always learn something new--mostly that I can do a lot more than I thought I could.
When I started, I felt my advancing age--just shy of 60. Now, I'm happy to say, I know the difference between my abs, my triceps and my biceps. I know what my heart rate is at rest, and I know what it is when I'm pushing it. I take great pleasure in pushing myself well past limits I thought were cast in stone long ago. Best of all, I'm 37 pounds lighter than I was when I started, and I've kept it off for three heart-healthy years!
Nancy's programs the best "life" insurance I know--well worth the time, effort and cost. Sallie DeWitt
"I have been working with Nancy Burns off and on for over a year. I am a senior woman who loves to play tennis and hates to stretch. This combination does not always produce good results for one's body. I am currently trying to recover from an agonizing bout of sciatica. Nancy has been helping me to identify and stretch out some of my "problem areas" to achieve pain relief. She has also been designing a program of restorative exercises for me to help me avoid further pain and injury. I find Nancy to be extremely knowledgeable about the myriad parts of the body and their interrelationship and functions. She is persevering and dedicated to finding solutions for relief for me and all of her clients. I particularly appreciate the way she conducts her classes. They are small and she always remembers to customize an exercise to fit each person's abilities and needs. Her new studio is great and offers a view of the boats and water, which sure helps make the "dreaded stretching thing" more palatable." Eileen McDavid
"Nancy, I will always remember how patiently you worked with Spencer as his health and cognition skills were on a downhill slide. Your patience, persistence, skills, and smiles encouraged him to keep moving. Thank you." Nancy Compton
Trust Body Wisdom!! "Whatever Nancy Burns says, you can believe! I have been working with her for the past five years and continue to marvel at her relentless pursuit of knowledge about the dynamics of each client's situation; I assure that you can trust her assessment of your needs and feel confident that whatever your goals are, she will develop a plan that will facilitate your achieving them-------plus you'll have fun along the way!" Barbara Bream
