"I first began training with Dan Hellman to primarily reduce stress and keep my weight down. I had trained for years with other personal trainers with varied results. It became clear, almost immediately, that my experience with Dan was going to be unique. He is far from ordinary. I discovered that he had a lot more to offer than simply “personal training”.
One of our first objectives was to work on my posture. For years I had poor posture or more specifically, “forward head posture”. Dan developed stretches and incorporated exercises that improved my posture. My posture has improved dramatically and has significantly improved my balance and strength.
Once Dan opened his own training center we began training in bare feet. It became obvious that I had flat feet. When exercising, my knees would naturally “cave” inward when lifting weight. Dan developed specific exercises to add a degree of arch to my feet and to ensure my knees remained in alignment. All of this helped to improve my posture and enabled me to workout more safely and with greater success.
Dan conducted metabolic typing tests with me to determine my nutritional needs for my “body type”. This has helped me better understand nutrition, my eating habits and how my body best interacts with proteins, carbohydrates, and fat. As a result, my body today at age 50 has better definition and am stronger than I was in my twenties. Additionally, I feel better physically and mentally. Today, I am more even-tempered and less moody. This in itself was a huge lifestyle change for me.
Once I felt better mentally, I wanted to take my training to the next level. Dan introduced me to meditation exercises and gave me a book to read and a tape to listen too. Meditation came naturally to me. It made a significant improvement in my life. It taught me how to spend a few minutes every day with myself. Meditation has taught me how to relax by reducing the once constant clutter and chatter in my head and how to avoid and deal with the chaos and the stress that naturally comes into our daily lives. It has given me the strength to make some difficult decisions in my life.
For me it is difficult to define what Dan Hellman’s professional title ought to be. He is a personal trainer, lifestyle coach, nutritional advisor and physical therapist combined into one. Dan is a professional who can guide you in making dramatic improvements in your life. In order to see improvements, however, you have to be committed as it will require a significant amount of time and effort, both mental and physical. If you are at this point in your life, you will have one of the best experiences of your life."
Michael C.
"When I moved to Fort Lauderdale in July '04 friends who previously worked with Dan Hellman recommended that I meet with him. They felt that Dan could be most helpful to me in two areas.... physical fitness and nutrition. I met with Dan and have found success in both areas. Dan recommended a nutrition plan and I have since lost (approximately) 40 pounds. While still living in New York City I had two operations for herniated discs and developed drop foot in both legs. The exercises Dan designed strengthened my muscles and improved my balance vastly, as a result I've had the confidence to take a Balkan cruise, a Mediterranean cruise, Caribbean cruise and a very recent week's trip to San Francisco and Las Vegas.
The two best things that have happened to me since July '04 have been moving to Fort Lauderdale AND being a client of Dan Hellman."
Ed R.
“Dan Hellman and I have worked together on my physical fitness, including importantly flexibility and balance, as well as overall strength and agility, for almost seven years. As a 65 year old male, I was determined to find a trainer who had understanding and experience in working with older folks; Dan is that trainer.
For a variety of reasons, Dan Hellman is an extraordinary professional. He creates specialized training packages for each of his clients, depending on their goals, their overall health and strength, and their motivation. He regularly updates his knowledge and expertise by attending seminars and conferences around the country. His work focuses on core strength; he does a lot of exercises on the Swiss ball, which promote such strength and focus. Balance, flexibility and general overall physical conditioning is his goal, though he also offers focused attention for specific issues, such as golfing challenges. In 2006 he opened an excellent private training facility; it is his own space, configured in a way that is most conducive to the one-on-one attention he gives each of his clients. It is also conveniently located near the Fort Lauderdale beach and has reserved parking. He does not use the machines at our gym, preferring the challenges which come from free weights, balance enhancement, and core strengthening.
Dan is also a very pleasant training coach and companion: he’s a counselor and sympathetic listener but he is also prepared to be a tough taskmaster – which, for me, has been important. He is timely, reliable, and honest. In sum, Dan Hellman is an extremely impressive professional package of expertise, thoughtfulness, and skill. He has my unqualified recommendation.”
Peter B.
"I have been acquainted with Dan since early summer of 2006. My personal trainer at the time enlisted Dan's help in creating a program of exercises for me to utilize three times a week at my local gym. We varied the program into two sets of exercises initially and after 8 weeks, Dan created a second set of workouts for me. At that point in time, I was suffering from chronic pain in my shoulder. My trainer recommended that I go to Dan's studio and have him evaluate the injury and work on a program of relieving pain and increasing mobility in my shoulder blade area. After four consecutive weekly visits, Dan was able, with hard work, to open up my mobility and decrease the pain through neuromuscular therapy techniques.
During that period, my trainer was away and Dan agreed to work with me on my routine that he created. In the process of my sessions, Dan noticed that I was having trouble with leg exercises and after some discussion about a ten-year-old injury and him performing a special test on my knee, he diagnosed a right knee meniscus tear and referred me to an orthopedic surgeon. Since I had not exercised with a fitness expert previously, I had not been aware of the extent of the damage. After one x-ray, the doctor scheduled me for surgery to repair the meniscus. Dan was the key to diagnosing this damage and after approximately 6 weeks, I was back at the gym doing abbreviated knee exercises and using the stationary bicycle for cardiovascular conditioning.
Again, I went to Dan for a training session and he diagnosed that I may be storing fat in my body because I had a congenital breathing problem which included not being able to take in air on one whole side of my nose, thus hindering adequate oxygen exchange. I sought the help of a ear, nose, and throat specialist who agreed with Dan and performed a septoplasty to open my right nasal passage and improve my breathing which has enabled me to improve my exercise routine and work on weight loss and muscle gain.
After doing an evaluation of my eating, sleeping, and exercise regimen, Dan then created a nutrition program based on “metabolic typing.” I can honestly say I have more energy now than ever!
My overall physical condition is improving through hard work and the inspiration I gain from my interaction with Dan. He really cares about his clients and I honestly can say that my physical and mental well-being have greatly improved through working with Dan.
He is a true professional and very good at helping people get their personal best results from exercise and good nutrition."
Jim H.
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