Interview by Kelly Postiglione. Photo by Erin Borzellino.
Meet Laura Hersh, a Certified Personal Trainer (NASM) and Group Fitness Instructor (AFAA), and the founder of Training with Laura. Her journey began with a focus on helping local moms build core strength and has since evolved into a thriving business that empowers her clients to feel strong and energized. Laura shares her story, how she balances fitness and family, her advice for busy moms, and her favorite spots in the Sound Shore area.
Where are you from and where do you live now?
I grew up in Mamaroneck with a French dad and an American mom. I speak both languages fluently, and we speak French in our home now. I went to college in Montreal, and then lived in Paris for 8 years, before moving back to Westchester.
That is so cool! How many children do you have and what are their ages?
My husband Dave and I have 3 boys. Max is 16, Lucas is 13, and Ziggy is 11. They are all very active, play soccer at a high level, and love to ski with me. I spend most of my weekends on a soccer field, and 2 months a year we spend them on the slopes.
What is your professional background? Did you always want to be a Personal Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor?
My background is actually in business. I got a Marketing degree from McGill University, and worked in Marketing, PR and Sales for 10 years. I always loved fitness, but couldn’t imagine myself as a personal trainer until my own instructor at my gym suggested I get certified. Once I got the AFAA group fitness certification, I also completed the NASM personal training certificate.
Photo by Erin Borzellino.
When did you first launch Training with Laura and how has your company evolved?
I first started Training With Laura in 2017. I was teaching workouts at Fordham University, and one class was a 30 minute core class. Simultaneously, I also had many mom friends who always complained about back pain and weak core strength. I decided I would run a weekly 30 minute core workout from my home for the local moms, and it was a great success! I ended up having 10-14 moms every week. Then in 2020 the pandemic hit, and all trainers got fired from the gyms. In order to stay in shape and give my many clients from the gym some training, I started leading live workouts on Instagram every weekday morning for 65 days! Once we were allowed to socialize in person again, I started teaching workouts in people’s backyards, and my business slowly grew to where I am today. Now I teach about 15 hours a week of private workouts from my clients’ homes.
What do you love most about your job?
There is so much I love about my job! I love love love being with people! I know that a good workout makes people happy and feel good. It’s fun because we get to listen to music, socialize with friends, and get a workout in, all at the same time.
How do you balance running your business with family life?
Since my job is very taxing on the body, I cannot work many hours per week like a normal job. So I end up having some free time during the day to get all the house things done – groceries, laundry…. Also, I don’t take any clients outside of my kids’ school hours, so that I can be with them every day when they get home from school.
What advice would you give to busy moms who struggle to find time for fitness?
I always give clients one major piece of advice. If you want to start a fitness journey, start by only committing to once a week, but stick to it! No skipping, no excuses. No one needs to know what you are doing for that one hour in the week. You don’t need to justify that time to your boss, your family or your friends. Take that one hour every week and make it a priority. Then, once that hour is part of your schedule, bump it up to 2x a week. It’s unrealistic to start your fitness journey by trying to commit to 3-4 workouts per week right off the bat. That’s usually when it all fails.
What are your upcoming goals?
I recently hired a personal trainer for myself! I have a friend who used to work at SLT and now does private megaformer workouts from her home. I get to see her once a week to work on strengthening parts of my body that I cannot work as hard during my own workouts, to learn new strengthening techniques, and to work on my flexibility.
We love to support local businesses! What are some of your favorite spots here in the Sound Shore area?
So many great businesses in the area! Love coffee from Laughing Horse in Harrison. Love the French bakery Petite Bretagne in Mamaroneck. Love getting some photo shoots with Erin Borzellino in her studio in Port Chester! Cafe Deux in Harrison has such an authentic French vibe to it. And my weekends often start off with a quick stop at the Wine Vault in Harrison!
We’re incredibly grateful for our amazing community and the wonderful people and places that make it so special. Explore our Blog page for features that spotlight local businesses and more. Looking for something to do in the Sound Shore area? Check out our Local Guides and Calendar pages to discover what’s happening locally and follow along on Instagram for more!