Personal Training

PERSONAL TRAINING

Find encouragement, motivation, and expert coaching with our personal trainers

No matter your fitness or performance goal, working with one of our personal trainers can help you achieve greater results than training alone.

Depending on your individual needs and objectives, you’ll be paired with one of our certified personal trainers who can best help guide you towards those goals. After a consultation and fitness assessment, a personalized program will be created and you’ll work with your trainer during weekly sessions to help you shave some time off your next marathon, learn how to powerlift, or achieve better overall health.

Pair with our wellness therapies to aid with recovery and mental focus.

Meet our Trainers

Our personal trainers bring a wealth of experience, diverse certifications, and specialized expertise to help you reach your goals. They’re passionate about supporting people from all walks of life—whether you’re a seasoned athlete aiming for peak performance or someone looking to build healthier habits and feel stronger day to day. With personalized guidance, motivation, and encouragement, our trainers meet you where you are and inspire you to achieve your own version of success.

Steve
Eileen
James
Jaime

The first step in your personal training journey is being matched with the perfect trainer that will complement your schedule, personality, and fitness goals. Before purchasing a package, please fill out the inquiry form. We’ll contact you to chat about your goals, match you with one of our staff trainers, and arrange your session schedule. Sessions cannot begin until this is completed.

FIND MY TRAINER

Pricing

Private packages

60 Minutes30 Minutes

1 Session - $115

1 Session - $60

12 Sessions - $1,320

12 Sessions - $690

24 Sessions - $2,520

24 Sessions- $1,320

48 Sessions- $4,800

48 Sessions- $2,520

Semi-private packages

Prices for semi-private are per person. Max 2 people.

60 Minutes30 Minutes

1 Session - $80

1 Session - $45

12 Sessions - $900

12 Sessions - $510

24 Sessions - $1,680

24 Sessions- $960

48 Sessions- $3,120

48 Sessions- $1,800
PURCHASE PACKAGE

To arrange your session schedule and be matched with a trainer, please fill out the inquiry form. Sessions cannot begin until this is completed.

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For questions and more information, contact Steve Pruiksma [email protected]

Steve Pruiksma

Head of Personal Training

Steve is a lifelong athlete and fitness professional who brings over a decade of experience in personal training, fascia stretch therapy, and leadership in the fitness industry. He began his journey in high school through sports and strength training, which sparked a passion for helping others move better and live healthier lives.

At the Ridgewood Y, Steve oversees the personal training program, supporting both clients and trainers while continuing to work directly with members. His specialties include fascia stretch therapy, corrective exercise, strength and conditioning, and holistic wellness coaching.

Steve believes in a whole-person approach to fitness, combining strength, mobility, and recovery practices to help clients reach their goals in a sustainable way. What he loves most is watching clients gain confidence, resilience, and energy through movement.

Eileen Rakowski

Personal Trainer + Group Fitness Instructor

Eileen is a lifelong fitness enthusiast who brings passion and energy to every session. As an avid pickleball player, runner, and yoga practitioner, she knows firsthand how important strength, mobility, and endurance are for both sport and everyday life.

At the Ridgewood Y, Eileen leads group classes including Total Body Conditioning, Morning Circuits, Osteoblast, and Pickleball Prep, designing engaging workouts that meet members where they are. She specializes in working with women at all stages of life, from pregnancy and postpartum to maintaining strength with osteoporosis. She always emphasizes safe movement and proper form.

Her training style is supportive, motivating, and educational, and what she loves most is helping clients build strength, regain confidence, and find joy in movement.

James Shelton

Personal Trainer

James has been a Certified Personal Trainer since 2009, building on a lifetime as an athlete and fitness enthusiast. In addition to his work at the Ridgewood Y, he is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and addiction specialist, bringing unique expertise in human motivation and mindfulness into his training sessions.

He has experience working with a wide range of clients across ages 20–80+, including members of the neurodiverse community. Whether your goal is aging well with strength and cardio, achieving weight loss, or improving athletic performance, James creates workouts that are both effective and fun.

Outside the gym, James enjoys staying active as an avid tennis player and certified tennis instructor.

Jaime Aponte

Personal Trainer + Group Fitness Instructor

Jaime earned his B.S. in Physical Education with a Minor in Exercise Science from Manhattan College (2008). With a background as a physical therapy aide, he specializes in post-rehabilitative fitness, helping clients safely progress after injuries and surgeries through exercise, functional movement, and proper stretching.

A lifelong athlete, Jaime also brings personal experience in sport performance training. Over many years in personal training, he has developed effective programs for body transformation, weight loss, and postpartum rehabilitation.

His training philosophy is to learn to move right before you move more, emphasizing proper form, functional strength, and long-term health. Whether you’re overcoming physical challenges, aiming for new goals, or simply looking to get more active, Jaime provides the expertise and motivation to guide your journey.

Thank you for your interest! Now let’s get you set up with the perfect trainer.

Expand to view class descriptions

BODY SCULPT
Shape and define lean muscles through targeted exercises that blend dumbells, resistance bands, and bodyweight movements. This energizing workout focuses on sculpting and toning, helping you build strength and flexibility. Every session is designed to leave you feeling strong, balanced, and revitalized, creating lean, graceful muscle definition from head to toe.

CIRCUITS
Boost strength, endurance, and agility with this high-energy, full-body circuit workout! Rotate through timed stations featuring strength reps, cardio bursts, and functional movements to keep your heart rate up and muscles engaged. With minimal rest between exercises, you’ll build power and push your limits.

CORE + MORE
Build strength and sculpt your upper body with targeted exercises designed to tone your core, chest, shoulders, back, biceps, and triceps. From various core exercises to weighted upper body exercises, this class delivers a dynamic workout that builds muscle, boosts posture, and leaves you feeling powerful.

HIIT SQUAD
Experience High-Intensity Interval Training taken to the next level. These dynamic classes combine functional and athletic movements using the TRX, treadmill, bikes, kettlebells, and more. Get ready for an intense, full-body workout that builds strength, endurance, and agility.

METCON
Challenge yourself with CrossFit-style circuits that combine strength, conditioning, and plyometric exercises. These workouts engage all three metabolic systems to enhance muscular power, strength, and endurance. Each month, you’ll repeat the same workout, allowing you to track your progress and compete against your own time and reps!

PLYOFIT BOOT CAMP
Get ready to sweat with this all-levels high-energy, full-body workout! PlyoFit combines cardio drills, bodyweight exercises, dumbbell strength work, and multi-station circuits for a high-intensity routine that builds strength, endurance, and power.

SMALL GROUP FUNCTIONAL TRAINING
Improve your strength, stability, and mobility through functional movements designed to enhance everyday performance. A small class size ensures you receive 1-on-1 guidance to ensure proper form and maximum results. Push your limits, prevent injury, and build a stronger, more capable body in this challenging yet supportive environment.

STRENGTH TRAINING
Get ready to build strength from head to toe in this full-body workout using barbells and dumbbells. Move to the beat of energizing music as you challenge your muscles, break a sweat, and push your limits. This class is designed to keep you motivated while improving strength, endurance, and overall fitness.

SUNRISE CIRCUITS
Boost strength, endurance, and agility with this high-energy, full-body circuit workout! Rotate through 4 rounds of 8 exercises, featuring strength reps, cardio bursts, and functional movements to keep your heart rate up and muscles engaged. Using sandbags, gliders, and stability balls, you’ll challenge every muscle. With minimal rest between exercises, you’ll build power and push your limits—and if your morning is packed, you can head out early and still get a complete workout.

TOTAL BODY CONDITIONING
This high-energy class provides an invigorating full-body challenge, with intensity tailored by the instructor. You’ll engage in dynamic high-rep strength exercises using a variety of equipment—dumbells, stability balls, steps, disks, and resistance bands—to build muscle, enhance balance, and boost endurance. No two sessions are the same, keeping your workouts fresh, engaging, and effective.

UPGRADE BOOTCAMP
Push your limits and unleash your potential with Travis Sample’s Upgrade BootCamp! This high-energy, full-body workout combines strength training, cardio, and functional movements to challenge every muscle and boost your endurance. Whether you’re sprinting, lifting, or powering through circuits, you’ll leave feeling stronger, fitter, and ready to conquer anything.

WEEKEND RE-BOOT
Kickstart your weekend with this all-levels bootcamp-style class that blends strength and cardio for a full-body reset. Using a mix of dumbbells, resistance bands, and bodyweight moves, you’ll sweat, recharge, and leave feeling strong and energized.

WOMEN’S BARBELL CLUB
Develop the strength and technique you need to approach the bar with confidence! Led by experienced female lifters, this class will focus on basic power and Olympic lifts as well as accessory exercises to build strength and power.
Woman-identifying and gender expansive individuals welcome.

HEAVY BAG
A high-intensity workout centered on striking a heavy bag, this class blends dynamic boxing moves to boost upper body strength, sharpen technique, and supercharge endurance. With punch combinations, body movements, and proper form guided by an instructor, it delivers a full-body challenge perfect for beginners and seasoned boxers alike, all while torching calories and channeling the spirit of a boxer in training.

KICKBOXING
An upbeat, full-body workout set to music, combining powerful punches and kicks with dynamic conditioning. Build strength, boost energy, and leave feeling empowered.

MIXED MARTIAL ARTS FOR SELF DEFENSE
Mixed Martial Arts for Self-Defense incorporates techniques from boxing, kickboxing, wrestling, grappling, and karate with the goal of producing skillful, accomplished, and well-rounded students proficient in the art of self-defense.
All new students must be at least 18 years old, sign a liability waiver, and purchase a white karate gi online (with a white belt) prior to beginning any class.

TAI CHI
Experience the calming power of Tai Chi, an ancient Chinese martial art that nurtures body, mind, and spirit. This “meditation in motion” focuses on gentle, flowing movements that relieve stress, promote relaxation, and enhance balance and coordination. Suitable for all levels, Tai Chi encourages mindfulness and inner peace while building strength, flexibility, and mental clarity, offering profound health benefits for overall well-being.

TAI CHI FOR ARTHRITIS
Tai Chi for Arthritis is an ideal, low-impact exercise for those looking to support joint health and improve strength, flexibility, and balance. Designed with controlled, slow movements and focused breathing, this class is especially beneficial for those with arthritis or other joint concerns. Tai Chi can aid in chronic pain management, enhance mobility, and promote relaxation, providing both physical and mental well-being.

UPGRADE BOXING
Experience Travis Sample’s signature high-energy boxing class, featuring dynamic drills, heavy bag and one-on-one mitt work, and high-intensity interval training. Perfect for all fitness levels.

CYCLE
Prepare for a high-energy workout in our cycling studio! This fast-paced ride lets you climb steep hills, sprint on straightaways, and power through challenging intervals—all set to motivating, heart-pumping music. Transform your fitness and push your limits in every session!

RIDE WITH DDB FITNESS
Get ready to RIDE! Known for her eclectic playlists and smart programming, Danielle Devine-Baum creates cycling workouts that challenge your body and ignite your spirit. With over 15 years of experience teaching in NYC and virtually, Danielle brings unmatched energy and expertise to every class, leaving you energized and ready to come back for more.

DYNAMIC YOGA
Dynamic yoga focuses on flowing movements and breathwork. It is a more vigorous style of yoga than traditional Hatha yoga, and it can be a great way to improve your cardiovascular health, strength, and flexibility.

GENTLE YOGA
This form of Hatha yoga practice involves breath, body, and mind, with poses not as strenuous as in a traditional yoga class.

HATHA YOGA
Hatha yoga is a traditional style of yoga that focuses on aligning the body, breath, and mind through deliberate movement and controlled breathing. This practice incorporates a series of postures, or asanas, held for extended moments to build strength, flexibility, and balance while promoting relaxation and mindfulness. Experience the transformative power of moving meditation.

HATHA FOR HEALTHY BONES
This practice combines traditional Hatha yoga postures with an emphasis on weight-bearing postures to promote bone density, improve balance, and increase flexibility. Suitable for all levels, this class is ideal for those looking to support long-term bone health while enjoying a balanced, focused, and restorative yoga experience.

IYENGAR YOGA
Iyengar yoga offers a structured and precise approach to building strength, flexibility, and inner calm. The class begins with foundational postures—standing, sitting, and lying down—and gradually introduces inversions, deeper backbends, and breathing techniques as the practice develops. Emphasizing proper alignment and posture, the Iyengar method utilizes props like blocks, straps, and bolsters to support practitioners of all levels, ensuring each pose is accessible and safely executed. This methodical approach encourages focused awareness, helping students cultivate both physical discipline and mental clarity, resulting in a balanced, mindful, and transformative experience.

MEDITATION + RESTORATIVE YOGA
This is our gentlest yoga class. Designed for those who wish to find healing, recovery physically and emotionally, and to learn to release chronic tension and stress. 

YOGA
This class will guide you through foundational poses, gentle stretches, and mindful breathing techniques to cultivate flexibility, strength, and balance. Whether you are new to yoga or have an established practice, each sequence is structured to allow you to move with intention, adapting to your own pace and ability.

YOGALATES
Yogalates combines the balance, stamina, strength, flexibility, and awareness of yoga with Pilates techniques to improve posture, core strength, and stability.

BALLS + BANDS
Balls + Bands is a dynamic 45-minute class designed to sculpt, strengthen, and stretch your entire body. Using resistance bands and stability balls, this class enhances core stability, improves flexibility, and tones muscles with controlled, low-impact movements. Expect a mix of balance challenges, deep muscle engagement, and fluid sequences that leave you feeling strong, centered, and energized.

MAT PILATES
Mat Pilates is a core-centered exercise method designed to build strength, flexibility, and body awareness through a series of controlled movements. This form of Pilates focuses on engaging deep stabilizing muscles, especially in the core, while also incorporating the arms, legs, and back for a full-body workout. Rooted in the original exercises created by Joseph Pilates, it is performed on a mat without specialized equipment, making it accessible yet highly effective for developing stability, improving posture, and enhancing balance and coordination.

YOGALATES
Yogalates combines the balance, stamina, strength, flexibility, and awareness of yoga with Pilates techniques to improve posture, core strength, and stability.

BARRE
Barre combines the grace and precision of classical dance with strength-building moves inspired by yoga and Pilates. In addition to the barre, the class incorporates resistance bands, gliding discs, and exercise balls to add variety, challenge, and support for each movement. This dynamic mix of equipment helps enhance flexibility, balance, and core strength, creating a full-body workout that tones muscles and improves posture.

SOULBODY BARRE
Experience the power of Soul Body’s signature method and flow that is smart, functional, and more athletic, yet mindful in its approach. Shape, tone, and strengthen the body in this results-driven program brings that “boutique barre experience” to group fitness.

STRETCH
Improve flexibility, relieve tension, and leave feeling both relaxed and revitalized. Through a series of gentle yet effective stretching exercises, you’ll increase your range of motion, enhance circulation, and release stress held in the body. Perfect for all fitness levels, this class offers a blend of relaxing stretches and invigorating movements that help you reset and recharge. Join us to restore balance, boost flexibility, and leave feeling refreshed from head to toe.

LABLAST® FITNESS
LaBlast® Fitness is a fun, partner-free dance workout created by world-renowned dancer Louis van Amstel, known for his work on Dancing with the Stars. Suitable for all levels, LaBlast® guides you through a variety of ballroom dance styles set to popular music from pop and rock to hip-hop and country. With options for adding plyometric moves, weights, or keeping it low-impact, LaBlast® lets you choose your intensity while toning your body, improving rhythm, and enjoying a fantastic workout. As Louis says, “If you can clap it, you can dance it!”

ZUMBA®
Zumba® is a high-energy, dance-fitness party designed for everybody and every body! This class combines low and high-intensity moves for an interval-style, calorie-burning workout set to Latin and World rhythms, making exercise feel like a celebration. You’ll enjoy a total-body workout that includes cardio, muscle conditioning, balance, and flexibility—leaving you energized, uplifted, and ready for more!

AQUA EX
Aqua exercise combines shallow and deep-water movements to provide a full-body workout with minimal impact on the joints. Using the natural resistance of water alongside specialized equipment like foam dumbbells and pool noodles, each session targets core stability, muscle strength, and coordination. Ideal for all fitness levels, Aqua exercise offers a challenging yet gentle way to build strength, boost stamina, and increase mobility in a supportive, low-impact environment.

AQUA ZUMBA®
Enjoy Zumba® on land? Try your favorite dance workout in the water for a great low-impact workout!

DEEP WATER RUNNING
Deep Water Fitness is a low-impact, joint-friendly workout that builds strength and cardiovascular health through the natural resistance of water. With the support of a flotation device, participants engage in underwater running drills, core exercises, and resistance movements for a full-body workout that boosts endurance, balance, and flexibility. Fun, effective, and suitable for all fitness levels!