Walinga Fitness

Dan worked with me after my second pregnancy. I was having some back issues after rushing back in to lifting weights on my own. Dan bought me back to foundations and safely built me up. The service I valued the most was that along the way he taught me how to perform maintenance on my own body so that I could prevent and get on top of pain quickly. Something that happens quite easily when you are chasing around little people all the time. I will get value out of applying that knowledge for many years to come.

My complaints of an aging body “seizing up” due to inactivity and injury, led me to Dan at Walinga Fitness.After taking the time during my initial consultation to understand my physical limitations and how I got there, Dan created a mobility/flexibility regimen for me which ultimately enabled me to get back into a manageable fitness routine that I am able to perform on my own.I used to think that you go to the gym, work out on the machines (with some knowledge of their use), or attend a fitness class and that was it. You just went. A one-size fits all approach. How very incorrect was that!!Learning about body mechanics, affects of injuries, and your own personal limitations all play a huge role in your personal fitness approach. The education that Dan has provided me in this regard is invaluable. I have learned so much. And I have “unlearned” some bad habits that I had developed over time. I can also say that my lower back and hip pain have vastly improved.Dan is patient, encouraging, and I believe, truly wishes the best outcome for all of his clients. I highly recommend Dan and hope to have the opportunity to work with him again in the future.

A personal trainer like Dan is what I've been looking for ever since I moved to Kamloops. There are certainly a lot of personal trainers around but it's rare to come across one that understands the biomechanics of the body to the depth he does. His movement assessment is very comprehensive allowing him to identify dysfunctional movement patterns and the reason for those patterns so he can customize an individualized plan facilitating strength in areas that are underdeveloped and mobility in tight areas that are chronically compensating for lack of strength. In essence his focus is to help your body move the way it was designed so you can live an active lifestyle and perform daily activities without being in a comprised state. As a doctor of chiropractic I recommend Dan to my patients and to anyone who would like to learn to move their body the way it was designed. - Dr. Thea

Dan was great to work with, I highly recommend him. He gave me the tools to be able to achieve my fitness goals. The best part is that the program fits within my busy schedule and is realistic for me to continue long into the future.

Dan is so much more than a personal trainer. He's what I would call a Movement Specialist. Professionally as a doctor I am always hesitant to refer clients to personal trainers as many just stick people on the same reps and workout plans from the internet. Dan is truly personalized and understands the body to a whole new level. He understand the body must be strong in one area before doing specific exercises. The initial assessment is in depth and he's constantly checking your functional progress rather than just checking how much more you can lift etc. Personally my spouse (who is also a doctor) and myself have been training with Dan for over 6 months and its the best movement routine I've had in my life to date. I confidently recommend Walinga Fitness both professionally to any practice members and personally to friends and family. Take advantage of Walinga Fitness because you don't find these types of personal trainers anywhere.Dr. Brock

Dan is absolutely amazing and seeing him has been the best use of my money! I love his approach to fitness as something you can do at home without needing to use complicated machines, but mostly just weights and bands.In the few months I trained with him, my fitness has become night and day and I am so much more confident in my abilities.He has helped me tremendously in learning proper technique for all exercises, learning how to do mobility and stretch to help release tight muscles, how to develop your own workout routines, proper nutrition and so so much more!

Trained with Dan for a year and had great results. My goals were to improve muscle strength, increase endurance and prevent further bone density loss. During one session I told Dan I had been having foot pain and he added some bare foot exercises to my routine and problem was solved. The investment in personal training with Dan was definitely worth the time and money. My sessions ended but with what I learned from him I am able to continue to maintain my fitness level and enjoy a very active retirement lifestyle.

I started a coached gym schedule with Dan due to wanting to ensure my body was supple enough (now aged 59) to handle a physical job for many years ahead.My lower back gets lots of action in my work, so building up my core muscles is important to me, to shift the pressure from my lower back. Dan keeps my weekly exercise schedule varied. He is very flexible and if there is some point of pain, is quick to alter the days programme to meet the need of the moment.I have seen my core strength increase week by week. When I look back, the growth and development can be clearly seen.Dan's helpful and holistic approach means he has a whole range of options to meet the needs of the moment. I have no hesitation in recommending Dan to people of all ages looking to build their strength and flexibility.I consider the cost of Dan's personal training regime as a welcome investment, to partner with me in unlocking my future potential.Brett Muir

Dan came highly recommended from a friend and from the first time I met him we immediately got on well as I felt he very quickly understood my issues and even more so, understood me. I like to know how things work and learn along the way so Dan’s skill in explaining and demonstrating things really engaged me and gave a real drive to go to the gym which is something I had never had before.My programme was mostly 3 sessions per week with Dan for over a year plus 1-2 bike rides outside of this. 3hrs of PT per week is a big expense but I prefer to look at the value rather than the cost. For me this has been one of the single best investments in my health I have ever made. I have learned something new at virtually every session due to the way Dan really listens and understands where you are at on any given day. His depth of knowledge and experience is outstanding providing great nutrition and general health advice as well as the more specific mobility and training routines.Dan’s training style is very conversational which I really enjoy. He is not the type of guy that is just going to shout at you or tell you things – he will certainly push and encourage when needed but this is always done in a very engaging way. He is a problem solver so picks up on the slightest comment made or body movement and feeds this back into evolving training sessions, delivering maximum benefit. Anyone can watch a YouTube video and do an exercise but by having an expert like Dan consistently involved in your workouts, you are always doing the right things at the right time and doing them in such a way that ensures you meet your goals.I would highly recommend Dan to virtually anyone as I think his wide-ranging skill set can hugely benefit all types of people - regardless of whether you are a sedate person or an elite athlete and whatever your goals, issues or limitations.

After 3 years of searching out help for my aching knees with physio, family doctor, and Acupuncture I had given up. I met Dan through KBC, a business group I go to. He speaks weekly about working with people so they can do the things they used to do when they were younger or before injuries. I decide to give Dan a try. After doing an entry package with Dan I am almost completely pain free. Even after a hard ski day I now have the tools to make my knees better. I can’t thank Dan enough and would recommend Wallinga Fitness to anyone, especially anyone like myself trying to reclaim some of the glory days.