Being so close to the University of Texas, a good chunk of our community consists of students. We’re always so impressed with the amount of dedication our students can show, especially when finals come around.

One of our July Fusion Athletes, Esteban Rivera, just graduated from UT at the beginning of the summer, and while we’re sad to see him go, we applaud his work he did on campus and, of course, at the Shop!

Congratulations, Esteban! We wish you the best in all of your professional and fitness pursuits!

Esteban, what brought you to Austin? Where are you originally
from?

Hi! I came to Austin to go to school at UT, I just graduated in May with a degree in Advertising! I am originally from Matamoros, Tamaulipas in Mexico, right across the border from Brownsville, TX. I commuted between these two places almost daily for the first 18 years of my life, it was a cool and interesting experience!

How did you hear about Dane’s Body Shop? What was your first class like?

I had seen DBS before, when I would pass by and I remember thinking, “What are these people doing?” I wanted in on it! I remember researching different gyms in Austin online and this one seemed (and is obviously) the best one! I loved the whole community aspect, as well as the types of programs and classes offered. The first time I was at the Shop was for my consult. I remembered being a little intimidated, but thought nobody starts by flipping huge tires or lifting ridiculous amounts of weight. We all have to start somewhere. My first class was Fusion Fundamentals, and it was awesome. I remember thinking that there was so much I needed to learn!

You excelled very quickly in your fitness, often attending both Fusion and Strength classes in one day. What’s your motivation?

I like to think to myself that it is going to be easier to get into shape, healthier, and fitter at this age than later in life. That has been my motivation: starting sooner rather than later. Before taking Strength and Fusion classes, my workouts consisted of runs. They were boring, classes at the Shop are fun. Small achievements like adding another 5lbs or 10lbs to the bar, or swinging a heavier kettlebell were also motivators that kept me going.

How has being a part of the Shop affected your life in Austin?

The Shop changed my Austin experience for the better. I am now a morning person and take greater advantage of my day. I feel more productive, sharper, and balanced throughout the day. I get more done, and still make time for the Shop. Being part of DBS has also helped me be more conscious of the food I eat, getting more sleep, and focusing on my overall wellness.

What’s your greatest accomplishment at the Shop?

I think my greatest accomplishment at the Shop has been with Olympic lifting. I had no idea what it entailed before I started, and was, to be honest, very intimidated about strength classes at first. I still have much to learn and work on, but I and very proud of all my achievements so far.

What is your favorite movement? What is your least favorite?

It’s a tie: My favorite movements are back squats and push press! My least favorite are pushups. I just can’t get to like them!

How would you describe the community at the Shop to a friend?

DBS is a community of people who encourage each other to be the best they can be. This place is full of nice, great people with positive attitudes! If you want to get stronger, fitter, and healthier while being surrounded by awesome people, DBS is for you!

The best thing about working at the Shop is seeing everyone bring us their best, whether you’re a beginner or have a ton of fitness experience. At the end of the workout, no matter who you are, if you gave it your best, you’ll feel the same! Stronger, faster, and, yes, maybe ready to take lay down after class during conditioning weeks.

July Fusion Athlete Kellie Thames came to the Shop with extensive fitness experience, and we’re so happy she found a home here! Kellie shows up at the crack of dawn and gives 110% every workout! We’re so proud to be a part of her fitness journey!

Congratulations, Kellie!

How long have you been coming to the Shop and what made you decide to give it a shot?

I’ve been at the Shop for one year. When I first moved to Austin I joined a local CrossFit gym. After seven months, I realized that I left most classes feeling like I wasn’t strong enough, good enough, fast enough, ‘you name it’ enough. So I took a break and threw myself into yoga and Barre classes for about a year. Near the end of that year I began feeling anxious to get myself moving more. I heard about Dane’s through social media and decided I would give it a try. After my first class, I realized this is the challenge I had been looking for.

How is the Shop different than the training you have done in the past?
It’s similar in a lot of ways to a CrossFit gym I was a member of at Ramstein Air Force Base in 2008. It is a group of friendly people that want to be fit and have fun. I think the programming at Dane’s is fantastic, and I have yet to be bored with anything we have done.

You have competed in the AFM FITTEST for the past couple years. What other competitions or races have you done? Do you feel your workouts at the Shop help you train for these events?

I ran marathons for 6 years before starting at the gym in Germany. I also competed in a Crossfit Competition in Denmark that was humbling. One of the workouts involved a 12/10/8 scheme with a deadlift bar of 250 (at the time my deadlift PR was 185). It may sound over the top, but the Shop has prepared me for the competition of life. Both my mental and physical strength have surged since joining the Shop.

You are getting married soon. Tell us about your fiancé and the things you enjoy doing when you are not at the Shop.

My fiancé and I met on Match and we are total opposites in some ways, but very alike in others. Our relationship is fun and easy and I’m lucky to have found him. Both of us are busy young professionals with a list of engagements, so during the weekend we try to spend as much time together as possible. We love hanging out with our 2 dogs, exploring the many restaurants in Austin, or sitting on the couch and catching up on some of our favorite TV shows like Veep, The Walking Dead, and House of Cards. Bear in mind this is all while planning a wedding, so what little down time we do have is cherished.

What goals do you have for the future? Are there any specific skills you are working on improving at the moment?
I want to get stronger and have been pushing myself to stop being a wuss and pick up the heavier weights! I will always and forever be working on my squat. So simple, yet to complex.

What would you say the Shop offers that you won’t find at other gyms?

Low pressure, high fun. I feel like everyone I’ve met at the Shop is down to earth and friendly. I love that the Shop has dedicated coaches that show up at 5 AM to teach, along with dedicated members that show up in the wee hours of the morning to make me feel like I’m not a crazy person. (Thanks Leann, Chris, and Brittany! Thanks morning crew. Y’all rock.)

If you were going to convince a friend to come try a class at the Shop how would you sell them on it? What would be the one warning you might give them?

I’d tell them it’s the best way to get a total body workout and do things you never would have thought you could do. I’d also tell them the coaches are great and want you to succeed while having a good time. As far as a warning, it can be really intimidating to go into a class with people who have been there for several months. You may feel like an outsider at first, but that will soon change. I am introverted by nature, so I can relate to people feeling stressed out in a group class environment. A newbie should trust that everyone is too exhausted from their own workout to notice what you are doing. The best thing to focus on is doing your best at each workout and not what others are doing. You are there to challenge yourself!