Meet Coach Dawn

Working with Coach Dawn has been nothing short of phenomenal! She creates a warm and encouraging environment where you feel heard and loved...From my heart to your eyes, when you work with Dawn, not only are you truly working with the salt of the earth, but you will get the results you’re looking for!

I am a massage therapist...To say Coach Dawn has changed my life seems cliche, but there’s no other way to describe it...Now I do these things with ease and I love that I can see my biceps in my arms working when I do a curl!

Coach Dawn was an absolute Godsend helping me with low back pain...We walked through stretches and exercises on Zoom a few times a week, and within weeks I was back among the living! ...Coach Dawn is knowledgeable, caring, and has a heart of gold.

When Coach Dawn moved, I was heartsick- I couldn’t imagine not working out with her. I’m 76, and too many of my friends have lost their balance and fallen and broken their hip, pelvis, wrist, or back; or fallen and can’t get up off the floor. My work with Dawn has helped me so much, I’m in better shape than I was in my 40’s. She moved, then called and said, ”no worries” we’ll train using ZOOM. It’s perfect! I call her eagle eyes..she has no problem seeing even the smallest mistake when I make it and correcting it. Zoom was super easy to set up on my laptop and phone, and it is safe & secure. I am so thankful for her. Unlike trainers who basically use a “one size fits all" basic routine, she designs a specific plan and adjusts it as I progress- feel so lucky to have her!

I am a massage therapist. Going into my 20th year of doing 25-30 hours of bodywork per week and being very out of shape and obese with some other than healthy habits, I was exhausted and was experiencing chronic pain in my elbows. I have never been motivated to exercise regularly and needed a change!

My journey with Coach Dawn has been more rewarding than I could have ever imagined! Her coaching approach is not only centered on exercise and nutrition, but comes full circle with “life” support. There are so many ways to describe her expertise, endless vault of knowledge and resources, her commitment to excellence and huge empathetic heart, but the one word that always comes to mind is BRILLIANT, in every sense of the word. I love our ZOOM sessions so much, she can adapt to my space, my environment, my equipment, and when I have pain/soreness, she always has ways to rehab/relieve the issue. I come away feeling strong, energized, and empowered!

To say Coach Dawn has changed my life seems cliche, but there’s no other way to describe it. When we began my journey, I couldn’t put my foot on my knee to tie a shoe or do any kind of yoga pose without falling over. Now I do these things with ease and I love that I can see my biceps in my arms working when I do a curl! My elbow tendinitis is gone because she has successfully shown me how to strengthen the muscles around my elbows without straining them. I am confident that with Coach Dawn, I can go the distance with my career and be motivated to be healthy and strong! Thank you Brilliant Coach! 

What I love about Coach Dawn!

There are so many things to say about Dawn and her coaching style. I'm in my seventies. I've had a few personal trainers along the way. They were all caring and talented but seemed to treat me like an old lady and I never felt I was challenged. When I started with Dawn, I finally found someone who truly cared about me and every aspect of my health.

Dawn was so thorough in our first meeting to assess where I was in my goal to stay in shape that I was immediately impressed. Her knowledge and plan to help me meet that goal were complete and challenging. She included physical activity, nutrition, and emotional well-being.

While working out, Dawn never allowed me to use poor body mechanics, always showing me the correct way to perform each exercise to avoid injury and get the maximum benefit.

When Dawn moved away, I was able to find her and continued online, which was so great. I was able to get instant feedback and record some sessions so that if I couldn't remember exactly how to do something, I could review it online before my next session. Dawn always went above and beyond. When I was injured, unrelated to my exercise sessions, she found me a massage therapist who could see me quickly. When I had a back muscle that was not responding to the Sports Medicine exercises, she gave me a set of stretches that has, for the last several years, prevented the problem.

Today, I walk 4-5 miles 3 x a week up some challenging Camano island hills, swim 20 laps twice a week, and paddleboard during the summer. I feel I'm in great shape and can always call on Dawn with any questions or problems.

You will not find a better coach than Coach Dawn anywhere!

Coach Dawn was an absolute Godsend helping me with low back pain that had mysteriously appeared when I turned 40. I had seen my doctor, chiropractor, ortho-surgeon, and physical therapist for months, all exacerbating the pain, affecting my quality of life with pain meds and immobility, I was at my lowest. We walked through stretches and exercises on Zoom a few times a week, and within weeks I was back among the living! I was skeptical at first that Zoom would work in my situation, but Dawn's attention to detail had her positioning my stretch just right and demonstrating exercises up close and... RELIEF! It was as if her healing hands were there with me even though she was 3000 miles away! On a particularly rough day of being completely immobilized and on the floor, she got on an emergency FaceTime call with my husband and me to walk him through helping me gently stretch... she really goes above and beyond! Coach Dawn is knowledgeable, caring, and has a heart of gold. She gives whole-heartedly for her clients and can offer more than you could ever imagine with personal training, nutrition, goal planning, and overall wellness! We've had sessions regarding career changes to meal planning, from creating boundaries to the best exercise program for me! She's incredible! Don't wait. Call Dawn now!

Working with Coach Dawn has been such a blessing. I am 36 years old and lost my way and was eating terribly and not doing much movement or workouts. Ever since she came into my life, she has radiated such positivity and has helped me out of my funk. My first goal was just getting back into eating healthier. I am a little bit of a picky eater, and with Coach Dawn there to guide me, I found that I could still enjoy eating without hating a lifestyle change. With her help, I crushed goal one in the first month! The second goal was actual weight loss/toning up, which means starting more movement and workouts. Coach Dawn took the time to create a personal workout for my specific needs. I love how she watches you, critiques your movements, and shows and teaches you how your form should be during workouts. She has truly helped me in a way I cannot repay her! Coach Dawn is always available to me whenever I need her or have any questions. She is even available to me via Zoom, which is a huge plus. I think people come into your life for a reason, and Coach Dawn showed up at the right time. She is truly an angel! 

The Top Ten things I appreciate about Coach Dawn:
1. Her custom workouts that keep me engaged
2. The strength she has helped me build, I don't have to ask for help picking up heavy things anymore.
3. Her knowledge and experience working with/around injuries and problem joints. She has helped me strengthen those areas without causing further injuries or problems
4. Coach Dawn knows what I am capable of. She knows exactly how much to add to each workout, building on the previous one, to help me build overall strength and balance.
5. Her nutrition advice - I feel SO much better today due to her education and assistance.
6. Her expertise and assistance in reaching my goals (100 push-ups on my 55th birthday after one year of virtual workouts with her!)
7. Her sense of humor. Just when I start taking myself too seriously, she zings me one!
8. The sincerity in her approach- she has taken time to get to know me and what motivates me, as well as what doesn't.
9. Her encouragement without judgment.
10. Her well-rounded approach to my overall strength, fitness, nutrition, and well-being set me up to enjoy the rest of my life so much more with an able body.Note: I was skeptical about whether working out with Dawn virtually would be as effective as I had experienced with her in person. What I found- it's even BETTER! I can roll out of bed, hop on Zoom and no one has to see my "bed head" at the gym!

Note: working out virtually with Dawn is amazing. Her ability to see and correct form is just as good as it is in person with her. The only difference is I don't need to leave my house! 

Coach Dawn, what can I say about what she has done for me? I can do anything I set my mind to with the nutrition part and also the physical part. She pushes you when it is needed to make you a stronger person. You always let her know what is sore due to me being a Housekeeping supervisor, things get a little sore. She will take care of areas of your body that need certain attention. If you are looking for someone to help you out with nutrition and full-body workouts, she is the person you would want. I Me some coach Dawn! 

I have worked with Coach Dawn for well over ten years in various situations, including in her studio, at the gym and most recently over Zoom. When Dawn moved out of state, I tried working out with another trainer, but I didn't have the same connection, so I was thrilled when Dawn contacted me and said she was having success working with clients over Zoom, and we have been doing so ever since. Dawn knows just when to push me. She keeps the workouts fresh, adding in new things to keep me motivated. I told her once I wanted to be able to get down on the floor and play with my grandkids and still be able to get back up. She has kept that in mind through our workouts, so we do things to help me with my movement and balance. Every workout with Dawn, I know I am doing things that will keep me strong and healthy as I age. I am so thankful for Coach Dawn and her friendship over the years.

Coach Dawn was an absolute Godsend, helping me with low back pain that had mysteriously appeared when I turned 40. I had seen my doctor, chiropractor, ortho-surgeon, and physical therapist for months, all exacerbating the pain, affecting my quality of life with pain meds and immobility; I was at my lowest. We walked through stretches and exercises on Zoom a few times a week, and within weeks, I was back among the living! I was skeptical at first that Zoom would work in my situation, but Dawn's attention to detail had her positioning my stretch just right and demonstrating exercises up close and... RELIEF! It was as if her healing hands were there with me even though she was 3000 miles away! On a particularly rough day of being completely immobilized and on the floor, she got on an emergency FaceTime call with my husband and I to walk him through helping me gently stretch... she really goes above and beyond! Coach Dawn is knowledgeable, caring, and has a heart of gold. She gives whole-heartedly for her clients and is able to offer more than you could ever imagine with personal training, nutrition, goal planning, and overall wellness! We've had sessions regarding career changes to meal planning, from creating boundaries to the best exercise program for me! She's incredible! Don't wait. Call Dawn now! 

I am 68 years old and have had Parkinson's for over 10 years. I first connected with Dawn here on Camano Island after she was recommended to me by a close friend. I began working with her several times a week and soon noticed an improvement in my mobility. At one point, my neurologist said that my symptoms were not as developed as someone who has had Parkinson's twice as long as I had. When she moved, I lost track of her and looked for other options but couldn't find anything as helpful. Then the lightbulb went off in my head. I'm not great with modern technology, but I had started having regular Zoom meetings with my siblings, and I thought, why couldn't I do that with Dawn? I found Dawn, and she got me set up right away. We're back on track, twice a week in the comfort of my own home. Once again, I am fighting back at Parkinson's thanks to Dawn, who keeps track of the latest information on treating this rotten disease. 

I have worked with Coach Dawn for well over ten years in various situations, including in her studio, at the gym, and most recently over Zoom. When Dawn moved out of state, I tried working out with another trainer, but I didn't have the same connection, so I was thrilled when Dawn contacted me and said she was having success working with clients over Zoom, and we have been doing so ever since. Dawn knows just when to push me. She keeps the workouts fresh, adding in new things to keep me motivated. I told her once I wanted to be able to get down on the floor and play with my grandkids and still be able to get back up. She has kept that in mind through our workouts, so we do things to help me with my movement and balance. Every workout with Dawn, I know I am doing things that will keep me strong and healthy as I age. I am so thankful for Coach Dawn and her friendship over the years. 

"If you want a knowledgeable, thorough, and caring coach to help you with your fitness and life goals, look no further than Dawn. Dawn will exceed your expectations and will help you become healthy, happy, and strong."

"Dawn is an exceptional life success coach who has helped me experience balance and significant positive results in all areas of my life, especially in the areas of physical, mental, and spiritual fitness. Dawn has the education, life experience, values, and vision to coach for results. She is professionally demanding of herself and her clients. Her style is motivating and reflects an abiding belief in clients’ potential and ability to achieve. As a result of my experience with Dawn, I am a stronger person and have realized results that I didn’t think were possible. It is a pleasure and honor to be associated with such a talented, professional, committed, and accomplished person. Thanks, Dawn. Yours is a special life and Spirit.”

"I have worked with Dawn for the last four years as my personal trainer two times a week; prior to that, I followed an independent program she designed for me. My motivation was seeing my cohort group getting frail, taking falls, and having unsuccessful knee surgeries (I am 70 years old). In the last six years, I have gained strength, my balance is now good, my bone density has improved to a good level, and my BMI has gone from 24 to 19. I was very impressed with the thoroughness of her initial intake and assessment, and the questions she asked. Over time I came to appreciate her patient and kind spirit, and her genuine desire to have her clients reach their goals. Her programs always have a plan to keep you moving forward and she encourages you to challenge yourself. I have worked with many trainers over the years and consider her to be the most qualified trainer I have known. She is a stickler for teaching you the correct form. I also believe she has a better knowledge of physiology than most M.D.'s. I have observed her working with a variety of clients-from firefighters to people with severe limitations, including stroke survivors and those with M.S. She shows great flexibility in adapting to the needs of her clients. Her past work experience reflects both her commitment to her work and her strong interpersonal skills."

"I am pleased to recommend Coach Dawn, although it will be difficult to truly convey how much her fitness training and nutritional counseling have positively impacted my life and how strongly I would recommend her. As an executive of a community bank, I am a confident and motivated individual. However, for most of my adult life, I could not achieve the health and fitness goals I regularly set forth for myself. That all changed when I began working out with Coach Dawn. Through her ability to assess my skill and fitness level and adapt to my training style, she was able to accomplish what no one else before had. I am now healthier and in better shape than I was in my 30's and I attribute that to Coach Dawn. Dawn has the ability to motivate while holding me accountable, and I have observed her adapting her style and communication to fit the needs and expectations that each unique client has. Her strength is in her skill at assessing each individual's fitness level, identifying weaknesses and injuries and working one-on-one to help them overcome that. She gives each of us the tools we need to be confident to reach and maintain our goals."

"I am an 80 year old retired educator with persistent atrial fibrillation, chronic lower back pain and cervical stabilization secondary to spinal stenosis surgery. I have known Dawn Griswold for more than 4 years. Coach Dawn has been my personal trainer since 2013. She has guided me through my recovery from recurrent prostate cancer and subsequent chemotherapy and radiation therapy in 2014. Coach Dawn's commitment to a personalized approach in tailoring a training program for me has been reliable and effective. In early 2016 Coach Dawn and I focused on improving my balance and posture. Under her guidance and encouragement, I have made significant improvements in these areas as well as enhancing my sense of well-being and engagement in daily living. I was initially impressed with Coach Dawn's technical skills, mastery of muscle function and overall qualifications. In my experience, Coach Dawn has been a thoughtful and knowledgeable trainer. I feel that she is particularly gifted in sensing my needs and capabilities. Her communication skills are readily apparent, as she is clear and effective in her coaching. Coach Dawn has been instrumental in my fitness and function. I recommend her as a trainer and inspirational coach without reservation."

"I am honored to be able to recommend Dawn as the finest and most motivational health professional coach I've known. Dawn is an expert in total fitness training and instruction. I have known Dawn for 10 years. I first met her at the Pentagon Officers Athletic Club, Washington D.C. where she worked as a personal trainer. Within five months of training with her I had lost 20 pounds and began a lifelong change in my health habits. I reached personal bests in marathons and triathlons within the next year. At the age of 40 I transitioned from being a recreational runner to being an amateur competitive athlete. Dawn's commitment to total follow through is unmatched. She has tracked my progress, training and nutrition since 1991. Besides the personal example and standards she sets by her own actions. She stays current in the latest training techniques and with nutritional information. Dawn always proactively provided me the best advice, clearly delineating the difference between fad and good science. I command over 4000 personnel and a $161 million budget at the largest Air Force Base in the United States. I'd hire Dawn immediately and put her in charge of my health and wellness center if I could get her to come south. Challenge her with your toughest job. She is absolutely the best."

"I started working with Dawn in late 2009 (age 69) after my wife had been working with her for the previous six months. Up to this point, I had done very little with my upper body strength, mostly focusing on endurance for running and skiing. I was actively working with Dawn on a weekly basis and during the course of these sessions not only have I seen an improvement in upper body strength but overall fitness. The benefits mentioned are supplemented by Dawn's depth of knowledge around health, physical fitness, nutrition, and overall well-being. Her ability to provide the personal attention necessary to make gains is exceptional, and I would recommend her to anyone. I say regardless of age, physical or mental capabilities; Dawn has the bandwidth and ability to improve one's quality of life."

"Dawn Griswold has been my fitness coach for almost ten years. Dawn developed a fitness program "with me," not "for me.” When an exercise didn't feel quite right, she changed it on the spot. When it felt a bit too easy, she pumped up the volume. She is a standout in many ways, but one way she is far above the other personal trainers I have had is that when I am with her in a training session, she is there 100%. She watches my moves from all angles and makes minor and major changes in my form to be more effective and to be sure I don't injure myself. Regardless of whether I was exhausted from a hard day at work or just not "into" exercising that day, I always left my session with Dawn with new enthusiasm and a sense of accomplishment. She never judges; she is always a positive, reinforcing, and motivating force for me. I highly recommend Dawn to anyone wanting to improve their fitness and nutrition. She is a professional and a highly trained fitness, nutrition, and life coach."

“Working with Coach Dawn has been nothing short of phenomenal! She creates a warm and encouraging environment where you feel heard and loved. You can tell that she truly cares deeply for her clients and their well-being. She is so patient, kind, and attentive to your specific needs. From my heart to your eyes, when you work with Dawn, not only are you truly working with the salt of the earth, but you will get the results you’re looking for!”