I started personal training with Gareth over one year ago, and the results have been absolutely beyond my expectations. I have achieved my objective of staying fit, and the results of working with a personal trainer have been extremely rewarding. After a stressful day on the job, I look forward to my workouts, as they help me to distress and to calm my body and mind. I have never felt better, I have more energy, I am more toned and I look forward to my sessions as I have achieved my personal goals quickly with the program Gareth designed for me. I should have started this routine a long time ago, I would highly recommend it.

(Jan) Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Hello Garreth,

I finally took the time to try your video on Monday night. You were right, it was a great full body workout. I'm already quite active with running, strength training, and yoga, so I wasn't expecting it to be as tough for me as it was! For me, this workout seemed to target my core (abs, back, hips, glutes) which doesn't always get a workout in the other exercises that I do. I will be adding this in to my weekly routine. Thanks for the video!

Good luck!

                                             Angela (Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada)

          Five months ago I first came to Five Animal Kung Fu with my stepson who was enrolling in the children’s classes. I was so impressed by what I saw, but I never
thought I could do it myself. Being 33 year old overweight woman with multiple chronic injuries, I figured I was doomed to a life of weakness and pain. At first I considered trying yoga or Tai chi to improve my circulation and muscle aches. At the time I was prone to back, knee and ankle injuries so I didn’t think I could do anything high impact. I was wrong!  
    

     I  decided to join the classes when Sifu Warren reassured me that I could go at my own pace. However I was still so intimidated and self conscious that I cried before my first class out of worry. But as soon as class began, everyone made me feel welcome and I totally let go of my fears and could focus on what I was being taught.
 
          Four months later, I now have my yellow sash. I have lost 4 inches in my hips, 3 inches in my waist and I have muscles now! I only have pain now when I push
myself too hard in class, but my muscles have gotten so much stronger and more developed that my joints aren’t under as much stress. I feel stronger in so many ways. Sometimes when I am walking somewhere I will flex my arms just to feel that new strength I’d never known before.
 
          The physical changes are amazing, but those aren’t the only benefits. I have more confidence, more awareness and I live with less fear. My mental attitude has become very positive and balanced. I have more energy during the day and I sleep better at night. Training in kung fu has changed my life, and I will always be eternally grateful to Sifu Warren for making me see that the limits I thought I had were only in my head.
There is no limit to what you can do! I can’t say enough positive things about Five Animal Kung Fu, and if my words could help just one person then they were worth writing.

                                         Leslie A. Halifax, N.S. Canada

          If you would have told me six months ago that I would be practicing Kung Fu and have a yellow sash, I would simply have laughed and brushed it off. Six months later and here I am, training six days a week and loving every second of it. Several years ago I was injured practicing other martial arts and was told by a doctor that I would probably need hip surgery at a very young age (I was 18) and would very likely never be able to train again. I fell into a depression stopped training altogether and ended up with a few real demons on my doorstep. Things changed over the years but I never got back into training and well I gained a substantial amount of weight. I was pushing 270 pounds and was not showing any signs of stopping the weight gain. I was depressed and was generally always in some sort of pain related to my injury or my weight. I went to a chiropractor and was told that I should be able to train again after some attention, actually he told me training, if it was low impact would help strengthen my muscles and reduce the pains I was feeling.

          I chanced to come across Five Animal Kung Fu as I was looking for something for my son to train in. My wife and I decided after a free trial lesson my son would be returning, this is when both of our curiosity was put to the test. We spoke with Sifu Warren and well, he made such an impression on both me and my wife that we started classes the very next day. Sifu has always made us feel nothing but welcome and for me, being as out of shape and prone to depression as I was this was a key factor to my staying with it. Not only have I stayed with it but I have lost an amazing 35 pounds in four months! I breath easier since training and as an asthmatic I couldn’t ask for a greater gift, I actually barely use a puffer anymore! I have made some great strides in my depressive tendencies as well. Hung Gar is said to “focus on personal physical, mental and spiritual development” (taken from fiveanimalkungfu.com) and let me just say that it does all of that! From the weight loss, general feeling of inner happiness and the chronic pain not being so chronic anymore I would certainly recommend Hung Gar for any and all walks of life!

 Thank You Garreth

                                                                                 Aldore C.     Halifax, N.S. Canada