Hello there! My name is Daniel Bryan aka DB of DBK Fitness. In the spring of 2024, I retired from 17 years as a certified fitness instructor at a YMCA facility. For the last 2 of those years, I also served as fitness director.
From 2014–2019, I also taught fitness classes twice per week at a small farming community that had taken an interest in their fitness and asked to hire me as their instructor. I was honored and proud to work with them. I only left because it was a long commute for me and eventually became unsustainable, especially in the winter.
At the peak in about 2016, between my YMCA and community classes, I was teaching 14 classes per week! At retirement, I was still doing 9 classes weekly at the YMCA.
Classes I taught included Step ‘n Dance (similar to Zumba), Step Aerobics, Spin, Strength Training, Functional Fitness, and others as needed. My classes were always geared to folks of all ages and fitness levels—some came to lose or maintain weight, some to body sculpt, others to enhance flexibility or mobility.
Over the years, I began to notice a pattern: I had about 12–15 regular participants who pretty much always showed up for class(es). Week after week, year after year. Some had been with me from the beginning and were still there when I retired 17 years later!
These regulars embodied the fundamentals which I always emphasized: consistency, inclusivity, long-term fitness, and joy in movement. They weren’t chasing body perfection; they weren’t trying to bulk up or become ripped; they were showing up, supporting each other, keeping fit, and embracing fitness as a lifelong companion. But I also saw many people come for a few classes and then leave because they weren’t comfortable in a group setting, or couldn’t afford the membership, or other reasons.
Many gyms, fitness organizations, online stores, etc. try to focus on three things: becoming thin, becoming unnaturally strong i.e. bulging muscles, becoming ripped. Nothing wrong with those things if that is your desire.
But here’s the thing: I’ve always believed that functional and long-term fitness and endurance are more important for longevity and quality of life than short-term gains.
To put this another way: If you can deadlift 100Lbs. or bench press 225, That’s great! Your family & friends will be IMPRESSED!,
And that’s what inspired DBK Fitness.
After retiring, I knew that I wanted to keep up. I wanted to create something which would
DBK Fitness is my way of continuing that legacy, offering tools and guidance for real people of all ages and abilities.
Whether you’re just starting out, returning after a break, or adapting to new physical needs, DBK Fitness is here to support you. Our products are curated with care, and our content is crafted to empower—not intimidate.
This isn’t just a store. It’s a movement. It’s a place where fitness feels like home.