Hi, I'm Daniel!

Certifications: 
NASM Personal Trainer

Bio:
For as long as I can remember, I have challenged myself in a variety of physical activities. Whether it is running a little faster, cycling a steeper climb, or lifting a heavier weight, I’ve always enjoyed both the physical and mental aspects of exercise. In college, I was an NCAA athlete and competed in the sport of gymnastics for the University of California Berkeley. About 5 years ago, I joined the Berkeley YMCAwhen my niece challenged me to take up barbell weights. I was inspired to become a certified personal trainer after being approached by fellow members for help with their form and technique. I found assisting others to achieve their fitness goals to be incredibly fulfilling. I like to keep things simple and enjoyable. Each client should have a progressive, fulfilling, and sustainable program created for their needs. The journey should be as enjoyable as achieving the goal. I aim to program workouts with functional fitness in mind. I would like members to be physically fit for whatever they enjoy in life, whether it’s a particular sport, activity, or living life. I prefer to keep things simple with the use of free weights and bodyweight movements.

Likes and interests?
In the gym, I enjoy training the Olympic lifts and various gymnastics movements. Outside the gym, I love to cycle and run in the Berkeley hills. Woodworking and my next trip to
Japan are also high on my list.

Favorite quote:
“Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship.” 
-Buddha

Interested in training together?
Reach out to me directly at dsperber@ymcaeastbay.org

Hi, I'm Tupaq!

Certifications:
NASM Personal Trainer

Bio:
Fitness has been a part of my life for as long as I remember - playing sports, running around with friends and exercise as a whole. During the COVID-19 lock-down, I became interested in learning and researching exercise. In April 2021, I started working out at the Berkeley Y. As I got more into working out, I developed an interest in helping people reach their own goals alongside me reaching mine. I get the best of both worlds as a trainer - helping people and exercise, both of which I feel passionately about.

When it comes to training philosophy, my core values are:
1. Progressive overload is the best way to improve in lifts
2. Doing an exercise at a lower weight with full ROM (range of motion)
is 100x better than doing an exercise at a high weight with little
ROM (ego lifting)
3. Over-training a lift (ex: bench, 5 times a week) isn’t going to improve
your strength and rest is just as important

All training is interesting to me and I love learning new methods. I specialize in training that I focus on for myself — this type of exercise consists of strength and hypertrophy training for power lifters, power and body builders. This training consists of compound lifts (squat, bench, deadlift), doing a specific workout until muscular failure, utilizing full ROM (range of motion), etc.

Likes and interests?
I like anything that involves exercise — like swimming, hiking, biking. I
also enjoy being social, cooking, watching and playing most sports.

“If you don’t like something, change it; if you can’t change it, change the way you think about it”
-Mary Engelbreit

Interested in training together?
Reach out to me directly at tperes@ymcaeastbay.org

Hi, I'm Wyatt!

Certifications:
NASM Personal Trainer
 
Bio:

I was born and raised in Berkeley, and have been a part of the Berkeley Y since I was a kid learning how to swim here. Growing up I loved playing sports and currently play ultimate frisbee with the professional team Oakland Spiders. I got interested in personal training through helping friends and other members with exercises and form. After hearing how helpful my advice was, I developed a passion to help people reach their fitness goals and got certified through NASM during the lockdown and started training people on my own time while working other part time jobs. Post lockdown I decided to focus more on a career in fitness and thought the Y where I first started helping people would be the perfect place and started working here in January 2024.

Training style:
When training clients, I like to keep things simple, straightforward, and enjoyable so working out is something you look forward to and want to do. I like to train using a combination of free weights, body weight, and band exercises focusing on everyday movements to make life a little bit easier. I won’t make you do an exercise if you truly don’t want to do it, but will always emphasize why it’s a good exercise and why I want you to do it.

Likes and interests: 
Outside of playing and coaching ultimate, I’m passionate about calisthenic exercises and can find me in the gym floor trying my best to perform them. Outside of exercise I love movies, spending time with friends and family, and spending time with my dog. Feel free to say hi if you see me in the weight room.

Interested in training together?
Reach out to me directly at wberreman@ymcaeastbay.org

Hi, I'm Helmi!

Certifications: 
NASM Personal Trainer

Bio:

I am born and raised in the East Bay and currently in my last year as a student at Cal Berkeley, earning my Bachelors in Nutritional Science with a focus in Physiology. Growing up I played soccer and basketball, but found my way to weightlifting about three years ago during the pandemic. I fell in love with working out, being in the gym, learning about weightlifting, having a great time with everyone around me, and becoming an Athletic Trainer at Cal. These all led me to want to become a Personal Trainer. My training philosophy is "PUSH YOURSELF, your body and mind are MORE CAPABLE than you think they are". I specialize in increasing strength, muscle mass, and overall health. If you need help and have any goals you want to achieve, I can aid you in that direction.

Likes and interests:
I like to work out with my friends, play and watch sports, go to the beach, watch movies, and go on hikes.

Favorite quote:
"Give everything you do your all or just don't do it."

Interested in training together?
Reach out to me directly at habdellatif@ymcaeastbay.org

Hi, I'm Lulu!

Certifications: 
NASM Personal Trainer, CF-L1

Bio:

II was never a sporty child growing up, I got into sports when I moved to the US in my early 20s, when I (almost accidentally) got into the water polo team at Laney college. After my experience there and with the pandemic, I wanted to continue with an athletic activity, and that’s how I found CrossFit and functional fitness. This really helped me get through a tough time, and empowered me, by making me feel strong and able to do and learn new skills. I’ve learned that it is never too late to find an interested in sports and overall wellbeing. I want to help people, especially women, the Latine/Spanish-speaking community and the queer community find that passion for their wellbeing, Selfcare and health. I want people to enjoy their workouts, so I will always work with you to find your preferences, but know that I’ll try to challenge you by introducing new and varied movements where we can work on technique, stabilization and endurance.

Likes and interests: Cats and any cute animals, food, craft beer and CrossFiT

Interested in training together?
Reach out to me directly at lzapata@ymcaeastbay.org

Hi, I'm Osiel!

Certifications: 
NASM Personal Trainer

Bio:

I grew up in Oakland and have lived in the East Bay my entire life. As an adolescent, most of my time was spent participating in organized sports, such as basketball and baseball. My athletic endeavors eventually transitioned into resistance training during the pandemic while I was an undergrad Kinesiology student at Cal State East Bay. My background in Kinesiology made the transition relatively smooth as I could apply the knowledge I was currently learning in anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, etc., to aid me in my training journey and overall lifestyle. I got involved in personal training through an internship where I built exercise programs and trained faculty members from CSUEB. 

Through my internship experience, I found it fulfilling to positively impact the lives of individuals by helping them strive toward their fitness goals and improve their overall health. I also learned how vital it is to build relationships with the people you work with, whether clients or peers. I believe clients deserve an individualized exercise program that caters to their needs and yields positive results. I strive to create programs for clients that are enjoyable but also challenging through the use of free weights, machines, cables, etc 

Likes and interests:
I currently enjoy working on cars, reading, gaming, playing sports, and spending time with my friends, family, and cats.

Favorite quote:
"One day, in retrospect, the years of struggle will strike you as the most beautiful.” —Sigmund Freud

Interested in training together?
Reach out to me directly at oquintero@ymcaeastbay.org

Hi, I'm Richard!

Certifications: 
NASM Personal Trainer / B.S. in Kinesiology (Exercise Science)

Bio:

My whole life revolves around sports (basketball, football, soccer, etc). I played soccer at a junior college/ semi professional level. Whether it is general training, preparing for a competitive season, I find ways to stay fit. Exercise will benefit our body and well being. I was inspired to become a trainer because I had a back injury when I started college. I did not know how to work out properly so my body was not prepared for the level of stress of college soccer. If I knew how to workout properly, it may have been an injury I could have avoided.

What is your training philosophy: 

At any point in your life, it is always good to exercise. Depending on your level of fitness, whether you are training for a sport or just want to be fit. Mastering the fundamental movements will be my priority first. After that, the possibilities for your improvement will open.

Likes and interests:
I love music. I play the guitar, bass, and mix/master soundtracks in my free time. I also like to play soccer during the week. Sports in general interest me and I try to master a lot of them.

Interested in training together?
Reach out to me directly at rperez@ymcaeastbay.org