Dana Cripps - Personal Trainer

I think this photo has completely captured how it feels to me as new mum, coming back to exercise. Getting in the gym tired, running on what feels like close to zero, worried about the million other things I feel like I should be doing, watching the timer and wondering how I’ll get through the next minute, getting to the 15s rest and having a word with myself, summoning what feels like all my strength to keep going… making it through the class without giving in and feeling bloody amazing at the end.

It’s taken 10 months to feel like I can remotely push myself again. Fitness is different on everyone, pregnancy is different for everyone and post-partum is one hell of a ride! So if, like me, pregnancy really did a number on you and you’re struggling to find your way back, know that you are not alone ❤️

I’m available for 1-1 PT and small group sessions, specialising in post-partum, helping new (and long-time) mums feel confident and comfortable in the gym, and helping you find yourself again ❤️

Based at .dozen.gym | Macclesfield

Big thanks to for the covert photography 😁💪

Finally rocking these Reebok Nano 4’s after buying them from about 10 years ago 😂 They were always a little too big and I never got around to selling them on… My feet appear to have grown during pregnancy and now they fit perfectly 😂 My trainer hoarding tactic worked out this time!

Fantastic session with my 9:30am class .dozen.gym this morning! Sweaty Deka Erg session followed by Tank Wars - 3 teams, 3 tanks, 5 minutes to smash out as many 10m push/pulls as possible. We all lost count, but the team work was amazing. Such a great morning, bloody love my job 💪❤️
🏋🏻‍♀️ Want to train with me? DM for info on classes and PT availability!

Some days exercise looks like this. Making the most of a 30 minute nap with the equipment I have. Don’t get me wrong, most days I haven’t been training at all for one reason or another… mainly because of time… BUT, I’ve got to start making the time and doing what I can, when I can.
Having Nate really hit my body hard - morning sickness, pelvic girdle pain and sciatica - so now I’m rebuilding, albeit slowly. But it’s not just for me now, it’s for him too ❤️ I have a lot of respect (and admittedly, jealousy) to all the mums who can and do make fitness a priority. The whole ‘bounce back’ culture can do one though.

Friday’s DEKA Strong crew 💪 Loving leading these sessions, especially seeing everyone improving in the zones they have found challenging 🙌 Such an awesome group!

Awesome class this morning! Circuit based on the Deka Strong setup 💪 Everyone smashed it 💥

Remember we have our FREE Deka workshop and sim on Saturday 16th May and our first Deka gym event on June 20th! Drop me a DM for details 🙌

Big morning at .dozen.gym today- 4 DEKA circuits 💪 Everyone worked super hard and absolutely smashed it 💥 Even the cheeky tabata finisher 🙌

We worked 4 circuits of 50s/10s work/rest, 3 rounds of each circuit:
CIRCUIT 1: Run - RAM alt reverse lunges - sn**ch (needed an extra station 😂)
CIRCUIT 2: Row - Box jump/step over - RAM burpee
CIRCUIT 3: Ski - Tank push/pull - Dead ball over shoulder
CIRCUIT 4: Air bike - Farmers carry - Med ball sit ups

Erg tabata to finish 💪

🌶️ Spicy Deka circuits this morning with the 6am squad 🌶️
Started with 40s/20s work to rest on skills based movements followed by 2 Deka Strong circuits (45s/15s and 30s/10s) All working to Deka movement and weights standards 💪 Team smashed it 🙌 Next session will be working on erg endurance into strength sets 💥

Circuit 1 - 40s/20s work to rest x 4 each station:
- RAM reverse lunge
- Box step overs
- Over shoulder dead ball
- Tank push/pull
- Med ball sit up
- RAM burpee

Circuit 2 - Deka Strong set up
Round 1 45s work, 15s rest
Round 2 30s work, 10s rest - pushing the intensity under fatigue

💥DEKA WITH DANA💥 On 20th June we’re hosting our first .fit event at .dozen.gym - there’s a Deka Strong or a Deka Mile to choose from! I’ll be running Deka style training sessions for my Fitness Racing Classes at The Institute for the next 8 weeks to get you strong and ready for the comp 💪 If you’re registered to compete, come along! If you’re not registered - take a look and get signed up 😉 For those who attend my classes but not competing, don’t worry - the workouts will still be spicy and will get you working hard!

I’ll be signing up for the Deka Strong - so come along and train with me every Wednesday at 6am and Fridays at 9:30am. Let’s train for our goals together! LFG 💪

Not everyday, but some days, getting a cheeky workout in looks a little bit like this. Baby is content and his giggles are helping me push through (and he’s being fully watched by his dad as well as me in between sets), dog is chilling - 30 minutes to smash out a home workout with my dumbbells 💪
I’ve been staring at the dumbbells and just watching them get dusty as I’ve felt nervous about if I could exercise without the baby crying or being unsettled but this morning I decided to just do it and he was fine - even laughing at me, particularly during my lunges, which is just mean 😂 I don’t expect to be able to do this every day, just like I can’t get to the gym every day, but making some time for myself, as tricky as that may seem, is important. And it doesn’t even need to be time just for me, as Nate seemed to enjoy watching me 😁
Coming back to exercise after pregnancy can be really tough - even for me, a PT! So if you’re struggling, get in touch 😁
I should be back teaching in the gym from January… News coming soon! ❤️💪