July 2026 Member of the MOnth: Dan DiPasquale

When Dan DiPasquale first walked into Kanna, he had a serious case of imposter syndrome. His wife Jessy had been a member for three years, and Dan didn’t have much of a relationship with exercise. He’d tried a class or two elsewhere, but nothing stuck. Still, he was ready to commit, and from his very first workout, the community made him feel welcomed instead of out of place.

Almost two years later, that decision has paid off in every direction. Dan deadlifted 345 pounds this year, dropped 20 pounds and is still working at it, and reframed his eating habits with help from Coach Ashley. But ask him about his “why” and he won’t lead with any of those numbers. He works out because he loves his family and wants to grow old with them, and because he wants his daughters Rory and Marigold to grow up in a house where exercise is a source of joy, not a chore.

A math nerd, improv teacher, crossword devotee, and board game and Escape Room enthusiast, Dan brings the same curiosity and consistency to the gym that he brings to everything else. We sat down with him to talk about his journey from imposter syndrome to a 345# deadlift, his advice for new members, and the fitness bucket list item that involves a great white shark. Congratulations Dan!

Name

Dan DiPasquale

Occupation

Technical Recruiter

When did you start at Kanna?

June 2024

What are your favorite numbers and why?

We’re a family of 4, so 4! I also like 11, just a lucky number. My birthday is April 8, so 4 and 8. I like a lot of numbers, plus weird mathy numbers like pi and e.

What movements do you like?

BB Push Press, BB Strict Press, DB Push Press, BB push jerk; runs that are either 200m or 400m (especially at the beginning or end of an AMRAP); deadlift; Power cleans; farmers carry, KB Swings. I prefer AMRAPS (with a goal of several rounds not just a round and a half).

What movements do you dislike?

Burpees are the worst. Period. My knees make me nervous with squats (front, back, the whole shebang).

What sports or fitness things did you do before Kanna?

Not much! I had done Body Pump at the Y a while ago, but it didn’t stick with my schedule. I joined a class at our gym at work right before joining here, but after going a few times, I realized I’d rather work out with the community I had started to get to know at Kanna.

How did you find Kanna? How did you feel when you first walked in?

My wife Jessy O’Neill had been going for about 3 years when I joined. I was a little intimidated because of my own relationship (or lack of relationship) with exercise, but I felt welcomed and encouraged from the beginning. I felt a lot of imposter syndrome but was ready to commit.

What’s your “why” for working out? 

I love my family and I want to grow old with them. I had gotten a few warnings from doctors that I had to make some changes, but I don’t think that motivated me as much as thinking about all the time I want to spend with Jessy and my daughters, Rory and Marigold. And I want my girls to grow up in a house where exercise is part of what you do, something that brings you joy and helps you feel your best and enables you to do the things you want to do the way you want to. Now I enjoy it too, but I just want to extend my life as long as I can because my life is awesome.

What’s your favorite thing about Kanna?

It has to be the people. I love the sidebar jokes in classes, the encouragement and celebration, and the range of people and abilities. Sometimes in class I feel like a boss and other times I feel particularly humbled by some of the incredible athletes, but everyone fists bumps and celebrates each other and encourages each other. I haven’t felt this comfortable in a workout environment ever.

What are your hobbies?

I perform and teach improv at the Lab in Ambler. I love crossword puzzles (NYT every day) and other logic/trivia/daily games. I play a lot of board games (some classics and some nerdy niche games) and love Escape Rooms. I’m also a math nerd! If you want to get me talking, ask about the Atlanta Aquarium, Survivor, or my family… but it’s also not hard to get me talking.

What’s something most people don’t know about you or a fun fact?

Jessy and I once did 3 Escape Rooms in the same day (GREAT day!). I also speak the language they spoke on the PBS show Zoom fluently.

What PRs or accomplishments (fitness-related) are you most proud of?

Working with Ashley to reframe my eating habits has been huge. I have lost 20 lbs so far this year and am still working hard at it. I’m proud that I want to exercise and miss it when I’m traveling or sick. I’m really proud that I trusted Kanna and stuck with it, and that I am getting better and better at not selling myself short on any workout. I also deadlifted 345 this year in an open gym.

What’s on your fitness bucket list?

I want to get faster running and ultimately get a consistent strict pull up. I would love to deadlift 400 at some point but that’s down the road.

What’s on your general bucket list?

I want to make a Crossword Puzzle that gets published in the NYT. I also would love to see a great white shark in real life.

What advice do you have for people new to Kanna?

When you’re comfortable, don’t be afraid to adjust the workouts to tailor your needs. It took me a long time to accept maybe I needed to do the blue weight but the orange calories or that I could do the blue workout even if I can’t do the double unders yet. And trust that this community of folks are gonna support you no matter how you need to modify or adapt. Just doing it how you need and want to is awesome.

Anything else you’d like to mention?

Grateful for Kanna!

Kanna members: The MOTM custom workout date will be Sat, July 25th

How does one become Member of the Month? By embodying the Kanna ideals of Learning, Working Hard, and Having Fun. By contributing to the community and supporting others in and out of the workout. By being open to coaching and improving oneself for the sake of being better, not to “win” the workout. By just generally being a good person and having a positive attitude. And a lot more, but you get the idea!