REAL Magazine: When we put out the call asking for Austin’s best fitness trainers, the reviews streamed in like runners across the finish line of a downhill race.
Amanda Gonzales, who looks to Dane Krager to keep her fit and motivated. Once, while practicing squats, Krager grabbed her hand so she could lean back farther. In a calm and encouraging voice, he told her to trust him, that she could do anything if she put her heart and mind into it.
“I told Dane then and there I trust him more than he knows,” Gonzales says. “I trust him with my health and well-being, and it’s because I know he truly does care to see me succeed and achieve my fitness goals.”
From his Hyde Park studio, former professional football player Dane Krager, 33, tunes up all kinds of bodies, from those who want to climb mountains to those who just want to strengthen their bodies for life. He calls it fusion fitness, a sort of mash-up of Crossfit, yoga, Pilates, running and martial arts, with a squeeze of holistic wellness tossed in. “I want (my clients) to be able to do what I’m teaching them for the rest of their lives,” he says. “It’s something they can feel good about doing that won’t hurt their joints, bones or muscles.” Certified by National Academy of Sports Medicine. Dane’s Body Shop, 4227 Guadalupe St.; www.danesbodyshop.com.
Krager’s tip for Wendi Kushner: “It seems like you’re ready to take my dream vacation, so get after the muscular conditioning and range of motion exercises. Do a combination of strength endurance routines mixed with your favorite yoga practice to keep those well-conditioned muscles capable of speedy recovery after long adventures.”