Debbie has called Bucks County home for more than 25 years. Debbie has practiced yoga for many years. She became certified as an instructor in early 2019. Debbie taught at Yogasphere, Yoga at 146 Main, and Blossom Yoga, continuing to teach via Zoom during the pandemic. Debbie worked in higher education for more than 25 years at Mercer County Community College in NJ. Now semi-retired, Debbie continues working as a consultant for higher education institutions as they endeavor to gain and retain accreditation.

Questions 1. What motivates you?

I am driven to live a vibrant, active, creative, and fulfilling life, involved with friends and family. Throughout my life, I have loved staying active through dance, aerobics, and yoga. I’ve practiced Ashtanga, Acroyoga, Aerial Yoga, and Vinyasa Yoga.

Questions 2. Give us a background of your wellness journey? How did you get started? What inspired you?

Shortly after the birth of my daughter nearly 40 years ago, I realized that it was going to take work to maintain my fitness and health. I signed up for my first fitness center membership shortly after that. I try to think hard about how I consume the planet’s resources, consider carefully the foods that I consume, and stay committed to enjoying movement in all of its manifestations. Yoga speaks powerfully to me because of its holistic nature – touching body, mind, and spirit. In February, I had total hip replacement surgery, and while I feel as though I have a good bit of my stamina back, I certainly do not yet have my range of motion. I am putting my certification in Chair Yoga to good use as I practice both to heal myself and share yoga with others who enjoy a more accessible approach.

Question 3. What inspires you in life?

I’m inspired by seeing the courage that everyday people bring to caring for their families and other members of society. I am moved by the beauty of nature and the miraculous gift of life. Each moment is so precious.

Question 4. Your favorite movie and why?

I loved “The Fifth Element.” I know it’s corny, but the soundtrack is great, the special effects and choreography are fun, and it’s a “happily ever after” adventure experience.

Question 5. Your favorite book and why?

“The Slow Regard of Silent Things” by Patrick Rothfuss is poignant, heart-inspiring, and heart-wrenching. It’s a very short fictional novel that somehow manages to paint vivid pictures of the indomitable human spirit and see wonders in small things.

Question 6. “If you could have one superpower, what would it be?”

I would love to have the ability to spread compassion. It breaks my heart to see so much cruelty and strife in the world.

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Today I am going to throw the spotlight on a special member of our tribe, Jessica DeRose.

Jessica is a biology teacher and mother of two boys, 5 and 8 years old.  Jessica lives in Yardley, PA. She loves living near the canal and river, where she takes her boys for long hikes and bike rides.

Jessica isn’t only a member of the Tone and Strengthen, fitness tribe. She is also a team member of Tone and Strengthens instructor team. She taught kids yoga classes in winter of 2021. When I met Jessica in fall of 2020, I could tell how she had a special spark for yoga. She is a highly creative kids’ yoga instructor. She has a true passion for bringing joy to kids through yoga.

She weaves the themes of connection to the world, breathing for calmness, compassion for others, and love of self into games, imagination, and exploration. Her classes are guided by the needs of the kids attending the classes. My kids attended Jessica’s classes during the winter yoga session. In every class, they spent time calming and breathing and sometimes on dancing and releasing the energy. My kids walked away with a fuller heart after every single yoga class. Her classes instilled self-confidence, self-love, and self-awareness in my kids. You can learn more about her yoga on her Instagram page names.yay

Keep reading to learn more about her fitness journey in her own words.

Questions 1.  Give us a background of your wellness journey? How did you get started? What inspired you?  

Yoga practice has been very important to me for many years. I am a mom to a child with SPD, ADHD, and anxiety. This has led me on a long and winding journey of learning how to help him manage his physical, mental, and emotional needs in flexible and creative ways.

My Biology background came in handy here. I spent lots of time (so much time!) researching different methods of helping children to manage the increased demands of society and deal with the resulting stress and anxiety. Along the way, I found Yoga Education, an evidence based yoga program designed to improve anxiety, attention and focus, social, emotional learning, mental well-being, and physical health in children and teens. It aligned perfectly with my goals and my love of teaching and yoga. I’m so excited to say I am now a Certified Children’s Yoga Instructor and on my way to being an RCYT for children and teens with a trauma-informed focus.

I feel very strongly about the importance of giving children the tools to become resilient adults. My goal is to teach social-emotional learning and mindfulness through a fun and dynamic physical practice of breath and yoga.

Question 2. What are your current fitness and wellness goals?

Summer means spending lots of time outdoors with my boys and our dog.  We hike or bike most days.  And we love to spend days at the beach and pool.  My goal is to get outside and be active every day with my kids and share my love of the outdoors with them!  I recently got a stand-up paddleboard and enjoyed exploring local lakes and streams from a different vantage.  I haven’t convinced them to come on my paddleboard with me yet, but I’m working on it!

My boys are also my guinea pigs for ideas for my kid’s yoga classes. They’re good sports about it and give me honest feedback!  We tend to practice once or twice a week together.

Question 3. What challenges do you face in keeping up with your fitness goals?

Time.  There is always something that needs to be done.  It’s really easy to let exercise slip during my daily routine.  If I prioritize some exercise right after I drop my kids off at school, I feel much better for the rest of the day.  If I don’t do it in the morning, then it becomes easier and easier to get lost in my to-do list.

Question 4. How did you find Coach Aesha and started working with her?

Last winter, when I wasn’t comfortable with in-person fitness classes, I found Aesha’s classes through the Newtown Parks and Recreation programs.  I loved practicing with an instructor on the live-stream.  She kept me accountable, and I enjoyed her Barre classes.  After a few classes, Aesha approached me about offering a few virtual Kids Yoga Classes, and she helped me to be able to reach many more children and give them a taste of yoga and mindfulness.

Question 5. How has Coach Aesha’s training helped you with your fitness journey?

Before working with Aesha, my fitness routine mainly consisted of yoga with a run thrown in the 1-2x week.  Aesha helped me appreciate the strengthening and toning advantages of Barre.

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