At 18 years old I decided to move from Bogota, Colombia to South Carolina. Without knowing what I wanted to study in college, I decided to take two years off and do an exchange. I moved in with an American host family and became their nanny. This wonderful Au Pair program allowed me to take care of two beautiful children, Ethan (3 years old) and Lilah ( 9 months) while studying English. Shortly after, exercise science became my career path. Sports have always been a huge part of my life. I played basketball and soccer all through middle school and high school and then continued to play soccer in college. My dad and two brothers also played soccer so I’ve been exposed to sports for as long as I can remember. It was not until I moved to the U.S, however, that I realized I could make a career out of my passion for sports and working out. Once I started to study, that passion turned into a fascination for body movement and health. As an athlete, I always saw exercise and training as a way of achieving performance goals. My focus was only on physical benefits. Nonetheless, the more I studied and learned, the more my perspective changed; I understood that exercise is medicine for the body, mind, and soul. 

I’m passionate about using my knowledge to improve the body’s overall function. Taking the body to its highest capacity and see what it can do, is both amazing and beautiful to me. My coaching philosophy is based on seeing exercise as a synergy between body, mind, and soul. I strive to provide clients with an experience that fulfills all aspects of life. Exercise and healthy eating are lifestyle habits that unlock paths to happiness. The confidence that comes from exercising is not only from making your body feel and look good, but also from overcoming the mental hurdles that come with it. Every time you push yourself to come to the gym when you have zero desire of doing so, whenever you tell yourself to go for an extra minute, an extra rep, when you keep going even when your muscles are burning and feeling like they’re about to give out, that is when you have to show mental toughness. You have to turn on that little voice in your head that tells you to keep going, to hold longer, to stop making excuses. Over time, those little moments build up and create a mental strength that translates to other aspects of life. You become more resilient when facing situations that are uncomfortable or painful. You become confident about your capability to overcome obstacles. Working out puts the body at ease and gives mental clarity, allowing us to understand and process our feelings better which is essential for emotional health. 

In terms of eating habits, I try to encourage a plant-based diet. I believe it’s the healthiest way to feed the body. However, I never try to impose any sort of diet on anyone. I just love advocating for it and being proof that it is an attainable and healthy lifestyle. I could keep going forever on the benefits of exercise and a good diet, but for now, I am just trying to give you a general idea of who I am as a personal trainer and what I stand for in terms of health and fitness. 

I hope this helped give you a better idea of where I came from and who I am, but most importantly, I hope I was able to transmit my love and excitement for what I do. 

If you are interested in completing some personal training or nutrition with me, email me at dani@phoenixacoaching.com 

Dani Ruiz