Daniel Critelli

I signed up for the gym to support my husband after cardiac surgery. I hate the gym and the boredom it brings. I am an athlete outside of the gym until July, when a new diagnosis came. So I decided it’s time to have a Personal Trainer.

I wanted someone to understand me, coach me around my difficulties, and adapt everything as I needed. I have good days and bad. I needed a lot of help with balance and self-confidence after a fall. I don’t need sympathy. I need empathy, but with support. I am just a bit competitive. His dancing to the music, joking, and ‘WE’ statements make each session enjoyable. More importantly for me, I have measurable success in improvement and confidence.

On bad balance days, he is right there spotting me for a fall. On good days, he sneaks in an extra weight increase. Never has he said ‘you need to sit out’ or ‘can’t do something’. He can adapt the exercise to remain beneficial but safe. He really listens to me and my goals. His only drawback is that he “forgets to count, so sometimes I do 3 more reps than I planned!” I would not be interested in staying with the gym on my own because I need a motivator to hold me accountable. To top it all off, he has the coolest socks ever!

The short answer: Dan is an amazing Personal Trainer capable of working with those new to Personal Training and experienced individuals looking to meet new goals. Work with him; it’s worth it.

For those who like all the details: Let me set the stage. For a year after I got engaged, I had numerous physical health challenges: a severely pinched nerve that felt like the world’s worst migraine, two sprained ankles, and a torn ligament in my foot that required a boot. Needless to say, I was extremely limited in what I could do to exercise. Finally, I could start training, with only two months before my wedding. I was highly motivated. About one week in, I was using the elliptical on my own, when I felt a new issue with my foot. I couldn’t do anything that required extensive pressure (i.e., leg press, elliptical, even the bike to a certain extent). Dan had his work cut out for him. He could easily adapt my workouts to provide exercises that strengthened my body and allowed my injury to heal. A week after I started, I had my wedding dress fitting, AND IT DIDN’T FIT. Yet again, I had another challenge that I was looking to Dan for help with.

My numerous issues were impacting both my physical and mental health. Dan met me where I was. He exuded empathy while holding me accountable. There were many moments when I had no desire to do the workout (just Google Copenhagen plank). Challenging workouts led me to complain, us to laugh about it, and me to make progress. Dan never gave up on me. He was an integral part of feeling my best on my wedding day, and I had to carry a 6lb brooch bouquet the whole day.

Brides-to-be, request Dan! Those with frustrating injuries, request Dan!

Anyone looking for empathy and accountability, request Dan! You won’t regret it.

For years, I struggled with persistent lower back issues that limited my ability to stay active, run, play with my kids, and enjoy daily life. Dan’s consistent and disciplined approach to building strength and flexibility has been transformative. Thanks to his training, I have built a solid foundation that’s helping me lose weight and gain strength. I highly recommend Dan to anyone looking to improve their fitness, build strength, and take control of their health.