Meet the Makers: Dana-Lisa Griffin of F45
Getting to know Dana-Lisa Griffin
We spoke with the inspirational Studio Director of F45 Remuera, Dana-Lisa Griffin on how she got into the fitness industry and why she is so passionate about this form of training.
Not only did she give us the scoop on F45, but she also gave us an insight into a day in the life of Dana at OBV. Let’s just say, she’s a bit of a smoothie bowl super-fan!
It’s always interesting to find out where it all began…. Tell me a bit about your background and how you got into the fitness industry
I was first introduced to fitness at school, being really involved in team sports - particularly football and tennis. From there I got into kickboxing, olympic weightlifting and started working for a gym. This was super rewarding, but I found I was drawn to the group fitness aspect, and realised this was where I wanted to invest my time.
The thing I loved most about group fitness was the supportive, team environment, rather than feeling isolated training on your own. There’s something a little bit different about jumping into a studio with people who have similar goals and being able to vibe off that energy.
Once I had a taste of this style of training, I was on the hunt for a fitness environment that fit that criteria. I was a Personal Trainer for a while… but then decided to do the full send into F45, as in just 45mins of being on the floor, I was able to make a real impact on people’s lives.
What made you decide to take on the Studio Director role F45 Remuera?
When I first joined F45 I started off as Head Trainer, so I was coaching classes but also taking care of the social media accounts too. After time, I naturally got more involved and wanted to become a more permanent addition to the team. I wanted to be part of crafting the F45 Remuera story and to make a difference to people’s lives!
It was a really cool way to get into a management position. By starting as a trainer, I was able to understand the ins and outs of the community. You’re literally on the floor training people day in and day out, so you know the members and you can give a way more personalised experience than they’d get anywhere else.
My relationship with the members is second to none, I wouldn’t trade it for the world. They’ve seen me on my journey to where I am today and watched me grow, while I’ve been with them every step of the way.
What are the 3 things you love most about F45 Remuera?
If I had to nail it down into 3 things, it would be Community, Training and Accessibility.
Community
F45 Remuera in particular has a very diverse community. That’s my favourite part about it - all the different people you get to meet. We’ll get corporates jumping into the 5am class who are super committed, and then a little later in the morning we’ll have the dedicated mums, an older crowd, and people working part time jobs coming in a little later in the morning. They might not even live in the area, but they love the studio and are all there to support each other.
I get so energised meeting people from different walks of lives, especially knowing they might have never crossed paths if it wasn’t for our community. It’s so cool to see all the friendships formed, as well as how the existing members really support new members who join right from the start.Training
Timeframe - I just love the convenience of it. Everyone has 45mins they can dedicate in their day and you can really make a massive difference in your life by finding that time!
Requires 0 thinking - All you have to do is turn up. Go in, get it done! The trainers are there to support you and you don’t need to do anything beyond that. It’s all laid out for you, so there’s no excuses or reasons not to.
Style of training - Because it’s functional fitness, the movements you learn are applicable to everyday life. Everything you do in the studio improves your quality of life. Especially with so many people working office jobs and sitting at computers all day, it’s important to learn how to move properly. It’s not like a commercial gym where you’re sitting at a machine pushing weights… everything you do will have a direct impact on your life.
Accessibility
F45 is literally for anyone! It doesn’t matter how old you are, what kind of injuries you have, or how fit you are, it’s an awesome form of training as trainers can always give you regressions/progressions for every exercise, based on your needs.
“At the end of the workout I love that I’ve taken this time to purely invest in myself, no one else benefits from it, it’s all about me.”
What does a day in the life look like for you at F45 Remuera? Do you have a spot for your morning coffee or brekkie?
My day varies, and that’s what I really love about my job. I might be up and ready to coach at the studio at 4.30am, or starting work at 12pm finishing at 8pm.
I spend so much money at Bowl & Arrow. I’ll always get either a Brazilian or a Superman and an iced americano, then I might work in the shared space to clear a few bits of admin. It’s a really nice vibe in the mornings, super peaceful and quiet so I can have some focus time, but then it starts getting busier and buzzing!!
You’re meeting up with friends on a Sunday morning… What's your go to catch up spot at OBV for brunch?
Obviously Bowl & Arrow. It’s not even a lie… I’m obsessed! If the Ōrākei B&A is closed I’ll go to Newmarket or Commercial Bay. I’m that committed!
For someone who’s looking for a change of scenery / change up their fitness routine, what kind of weekly routine would work for a newcomer?
If someone is a total newbie to health and fitness I would recommend starting with 3-4 sessions a week. The beauty of F45 is that every day is different, so you’ll always know which days are cardio and which are resistance.
I always recommend doing a combination of both so you can get the best experience. The resistance classes are best for beginners as you get more attention from trainers, and the cardio is a bit quicker.
Put it this way, coming 3-4 times a week is about 3hours out of your entire week to invest in yourself. You’re going somewhere where you know people are going to be there to support you and you don’t have to plan beforehand, or prep, you just turn up. All you need to do is turn up for yourself. Every step is a success, there’s no right or wrong way to do it!
Tell us a bit more about the 8 Week Challenge?
We run 4 challenges every year - 2 of these are 8 weeks on and the other 2 are 45 days on (6.5 weeks).
The way I look at the challenge is exactly how they advertise it - 8 weeks to commit to your health and fitness. There are two teams, and each team has a Team Captain to check in with you on how you’re going. Each challenge is broken up into blocks, and each block has a theme which teaches our participants about different aspects of health and fitness - from nutrition to movement. We start with healthy habits and the first 2 weeks are all about laying the foundations to teach people how to create a habit and how to maintain a habit.
A big part of the challenge is the holistic approach. We advocate for people making healthy sustainable daily habits, laying the foundation so you can continue doing that in your day to day life outside of the challenge. It’s about imparting knowledge and teaching people about how to live a healthy sustainable lifestyle. The physical results are the reward or byproduct of learning about your body, so it can serve you well.
There is a competitive aspect to it with prizes up for grabs, but that’s not what everyone’s in it for. We want people to complete the challenge to the best of their ability. We don’t expect the same from everyone, everyone does the challenge for a different reason!
You can get personalised advice based on your goals and you get to build a strong relationship with the trainer who is your team captain. They know why you’re doing the challenge so you can be open, vulnerable and honest with them about your progress.
The next 8 week Challenge starts 22 August. Learn more here.
Do you have any specials or promos you’d recommend for someone who’s looking to join?
We run a 28 day kick start package which is almost like a mini challenge. You get 28 days of unlimited training in the studio, a goal setting session with trainer and a half way check in to see how you’re going. An added bonus is you get access to the 8 Week Challenge app and a body scan. You’re also able to get a personalised meal plan, access workouts from home and explore heaps of resources on health and fitness, like how much you should be training, getting the best sleep and the mental aspect of training.
Get in touch with Dana to find out more about the 28 Day Kickstart ($219 upfront investment)