“I have really enjoyed training with Don over the past 3 years. He has kept me focused on my fitness goals which are to stay active and continue to build strength for personal well being and overall good mental health. Don has been flexible and able to devise challenging workouts that I can do online and with varying amounts of equipment (which occasionally meant little to no equipment) depending on where I was located. Despite working out completely virtually since the pandemic began I have seen a continued growth in my strength and balance.

Don has a great amount of knowledge and expertise and has been able to help me work through injuries, always providing tips on how to deal with various aches and pains! Finally Don provides a very calming presence and is always cheerful and great to talk over the days events with! I highly recommend Don as a personal trainer.

— Patricia

Don is such a wonderful trainer! We would highly recommend him to any of our family and friends. He spends a great deal of time understanding the quirks and ailments of our bodies to really personalize our group exercise plan. We both have nagging chronic injuries that he has help us overcome. Thank you Don! We also have to mention that Don has great taste in music and is the nicest person on the planet :)

— The Howells

I have been training with Don for well over two years now.  Don listens to the concerns and goals of his client (in my case - mobility, flexibility, and improved muscle tone). He is attentive to detail and innovative, and always comes up with various ways to do the same exercise so that it can be repeated with minimal equipment at home for sustained effort between sessions.  His approach is extremely motivating -  he is quick to notice what works best and suggests ways to increase the challenge if he feels the client can benefit.  Don clearly puts great effort into planning out his sessions, but can still re-orient a specific day’s plan if necessary.  I appreciate his patience, his professionalism, and his dedication to his work, and would not hesitate to recommend him to anyone wishing to improve any aspect of their physical wellness.

— M

“Don is an amazing personal trainer. He has helped me develop a great amount of knowledge on fitness and the gym. He works very hard to customize workout plans that fit your body needs. His space is extremely clean and I always feel safe working out with him even during covid. Don is not only an excellent personal trainer but a kind person. The conversation always flows easily and makes the workout fly by. Keeping my personal trainer forever!”

— Katerina

Don is pleasant, knowledgeable from his training as a Kinesiologist, and willing to work with all levels of physical ability.  I am not a “Jock”.  He is very patient and plans my sessions to suit my ability.  The result is that my muscle tone and strength have improved and I feel better after our sessions.  Not only has my physical fitness benefited but my mental health has benefited as well.  Don is attentive to detail, thus helping to ensure that I don’t cause harm or waste time by performing exercises incorrectly.  The gym is very clean and I feel safe there during this never-ending pandemic.

— Claudia

Don is a First-Class Personal Trainer. I had a history of sporadically weight training for a few months here and there over the last 30 years. Then I started training with Don in 2014, and over the next few years, my results were transformative.

Weight loss was one of my concerns at age 57 as I had drifted into having a "Dad-bod". I also wanted a weight training regimen that would chart a new health course for me, to somehow help fitness become my top priority.  I had seen my patients devolve into a lifestyle of inattention to their own health. I noticed middle-aged men, getting fatter, not caring about their physical appearance, developing hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, and depression. I did not want to go down that path. As a doctor, I know that muscle bulk, tone and strength, all contribute directly to brain health. Muscle is brain.

Don did not just help me. He guided me to a new way of life.  I started training with him 3 days a week and doing a spin class 2 days a week. Don ingrained in me the importance of form and proper technique, showing me the way that exercise could become a lifestyle - and enjoyable!  And while pushing myself with his guidance to increase my weights and reps, Don always ensured I never got hurt.

I began at about 230 pounds, 25% body fat. Now, I'm 240 lbs but 17% body fat. My shape completely changed from square to tapered.  And I’m no longer embarrassed to take my shirt off, I’m proud.

I was sad to see Don leave for Guelph; however, he left me with a solid foundation of skills and drive. His advice to keep my head up, maintain form, breathe, connect with the pull/push and slow the eccentric all still resonate with me every workout 3 years after his departure.

Don has your back. He is all-in during every session. I'm 65 now and in the best shape of my life; I owe a lot of that to Don! 

— André Hasspieler, MD

Don is amazing! I told him my fitness goals and he helped design perfect workouts to meet these goals. He challenges me each session and keeps building on what we work on. Don pays attention to technique and understands the physiology behind all of the exercises. I had noticeable gains after the first few sessions. Would definitely recommend training with Don

— Megan

I (47m) have had a lot of personal trainers over the years as I’ve been pretty athletic but as age and injuries have increased and time has become more scarce my demands of a trainer have gotten higher. Don is without a doubt the most thorough, knowledgeable and dedicated trained I’ve ever had. Chronic issues have improved, strength and flexibility are way up…and it’s fun! He’s really interesting to talk to! Five out of five stars!

— Alan