Custom Fitness
I recently sat down with Dale Dunlap, owner of Custom Fitness. Dale is a neighbor of mine and very involved in the community. She moved to Mountain View in the 70s and raised her family here. She was the PTA president in 1972 and very instrumental in starting the first ESL program in Mountain View schools. The Mariano Castro Elementary School was the first school to have the program back in 1974. Dale invited neighbors into her living room to talk about how the new program should work and how much everyone in the community would benefit.
She’s always been interested in helping people get healthy and opening Custom Fitness was a perfect fit. Dale’s passion is helping those who don’t enjoy exercising discover a love for fitness. She has empathy for people who struggle with their weight and has a unique patience in guiding them through an entire lifestyle change. Her focus is 100 percent on her clients and her professional style is easy and approachable. She is a natural educator, explaining the purpose of each exercise. Dale loves working with all ages but has a special affinity for the older generation and tailors programs to their unique needs.
She also has some younger clients who are on their computers all day and need to create a realistic plan of action for getting back into shape. She told me that her goal is to work with people who “would be lost in the cracks” of the usual health club environment. Her place is friendly and non-intimidating.
I love that her business in right off Castro Street (directly behind Le Boulanger) and within walking distance to anyone who lives or works in the downtown area. I often walk by the large windows of Custom Fitness and see Dale and her clients working out as I’m on my way to meetings in the downtown area. Yes, it makes me feel slightly guilty, like I should be in there working out with her! And I think it’s great that she’s always been really involved in her community. I firmly believe that we should shop local whenever possible, and by “shop” I mean work-out, get our hair done, eat and play locally. I just love downtown Mountain View.
I agree that Custom Fitness does a great job of getting everyone healthy. And, Dale walks the walk– I have bumped into her at Le Bou — she is ALWAYS ordering healthy.
Another amazing local business. Thanks, ILoveMV for the profile.