About Strapped Fitness in Waterloo, ON
We Built our Gym
Around You
A better way to get strong starts here.
Resistance straps for safer, scalable training. Mobility before ego. Sessions that are smart, supportive, and surprisingly fun – with unique programming, clear coaching, and an approach that always puts people before performance.
This is Our Team
Strapped Fitness is led by a team of passionate, experienced coaches who genuinely care about your progress. We’re fitness lovers with a vested interest in seeing you succeed – not just in class, but in real life. Our coaches are over 40, navigating busy lives, changing bodies, and evolving goals right alongside our students. Clear coaching, real support, and smart progression are how we help you move forward with confidence.
Certifications
Founder’s Story
I wasn’t the sporty kid. I didn’t grow up on teams or trophies. I found the gym later – and when I did, I went all in. Lifting. Competing. Killing it on paper. Trying to earn a body through discipline and intensity.
From the outside, it looked like success. Inside, it was brittle.
In 2019, everything cracked. I became critically ill from toxic mould exposure – sick enough that it nearly cost me my life. It brought me back to Canada, back to my family, and back to square one with my health. My nervous system was fried. Traditional gyms gave me panic attacks.
Still believing in movement, I tried to replace gym intensity with Bikram yoga. More heat. More pushing. More forcing flexibility without mobility or control. Instead of healing me, it left me depleted and in pain.
That was the turning point.
I realized strength couldn’t be about punishment anymore – and flexibility without control wasn’t freedom either. Real strength had to support the body and the nervous system.
So I built what didn’t exist – using one of the most overlooked strength-training tools: resistance straps.
Strapped Fitness was created during the global pandemic because I believed Canadians deserved better – safer strength, smarter mobility, and training that builds resilience instead of burnout, especially for bodies navigating hormonal change, aging, and recovery.
I’m 47 now. Still not an athlete.
But I’m strong as heck – and I built Strapped so you can be too.
Our Coaches
Cindy
Certifications
Cindy is a wife and mom to two young adults, excels in her career, and somehow still shows up as the positive, steady sunshine people rearrange their schedules for. She leads with heart, consistency, and deep care for everyone in the room, delivering classes that are encouraging, effective, and sneakily challenging in all the right ways.
Certifications
Dawn is a single mom of two young children whose lived experience deeply shapes how she coaches. Her teaching blends strength fundamentals with breathwork and nervous system awareness, creating classes that feel intentional, empowering, and incredibly smart. As our go-to resource for all things pregnancy, postpartum, and pelvic health, Dawn brings clarity, compassion, and serious knowledge to every room she leads.
Dawn
Jill
Certifications
Jill brings heart, empathy, and real-life experience to her role at Strapped Fitness. A midlife joiner herself and an entrepreneur running two businesses, Jill is deeply passionate about community, growth, and supporting people in the moments that matter most.
Starting her strength journey later in life, Jill understands what it means to prioritize mobility, consistency, and feeling good in your body-for real life, not aesthetics. She believes it’s never too late to get stronger, build confidence, and create habits that support longevity and independence.
As both a Strapped student and a key part of the team, Jill helps create a welcoming, supportive environment where members feel comfortable, encouraged, and genuinely seen. She knows progress doesn’t come from perfection-it comes from showing up.
Proud to be part of the Strapped community, Jill believes in its power to help people become stronger in every sense of the word.
Clean and Well-Maintained
Equipment is the Standard
Strapped Fitness is the only group fitness studio in Canada that puts resistance straps front and centre. Our open, pristinely maintained space is intentionally uncluttered, creating a safe, welcoming environment where people can move freely and feel supported. We choose our equipment thoughtfully to help members get results faster, without sacrificing safety or enjoyment.
STRAP IN – Our signature classes use resistance straps for feel-good strength that’s scalable, joint-friendly, and way more fun than it sounds.
Kind to Your Joints – Crawl, dance, play, repeat. Premium flooring supports movement that’s fun, fluid, and easy on your joints.
Back to Basics – Our unique programs use kettlebells, free weights, functional trainers, bars, and rings. Simple tools. Big results.
A Facility Designed for
Performance & Community.
Different On Purpose: Strapped Fitness is intentionally designed to feel nothing like a typical gym. Our open studio encourages movement, learning, and confidence, creating a space where grown adults feel comfortable showing up and moving with confidence. You’ll also find premium athletic wear, branded gear, and Strap Sets that reflect how we train and live.
Easy In, Easy Out – Ground-floor access with no stairs, designated free parking, and a bright, spotless studio that’s easy to get in and out of.
Clean Gear, Every Time – Freshly sanitized resistance straps are provided for every class, so you can focus on your workout, not your equipment.
STRAP IN Anywhere – Enjoy 12+ virtual classes each week plus an On-Demand library with mobility quickies and recovery-focused sessions.
That’s Us.
Let’s Learn About You!
We’ve had a blast telling you a bit about ourselves. But this isn’t about us, it’s about you. Your journey, your goals, your results. So let’s get to know each other, set some life-changing but attainable goals, and welcome you to our supportive community.
Book Your Free Call