Mamaroneck Trainer Helping Clients Discover Their Hidden Potential

We live in a culture that’s obsessed with fitness and dieting, however, despite the cultural pressure to be thin, current statistics reveal a reality that couldn't be further from that credo.  According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), nearly 36 percent of adults are classified as being obese.  The U.S. has the highest rate of obesity among the 41 developed countries, according to a recent report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

And, although there is no shortage of workout books, DVDs and classes promising quick weight loss and a toned body, what works for one person may not be right for another.

That’s where working out with a personal trainer—someone with knowledge and expertise in fitness who can help recommend a healthy excercise regimen—can make sense.

According to Personal Trainer Vince DePasquale, who works out of the Equinox Gym in Mamaroneck, no two clients are evaluated the same.

“I always gauge a person when they come in,” said DePasquale, adding that he tailors workouts to his clients based on their individual needs, which include health issues like diabetes, heart problems and Parkinson’s Disease. 

Though some may be intimidated by working one-on-one with a personal trainer, DePasquale’s low-key approach and warm personality put his clients at ease and helps them achieve the goals that may have sounded far-fetched in the beginning, but, with perseverance, soon become achievable. Positive reinforcement is a centerpiece to his philosophy on training.

“It’s a matter of guiding that person in the right direction and building confidence in themselves and what they can do,” explains DePasquale.

Potential clients typically approach him for one of two reasons: to get (and stay) in shape and to lose weight.

“Losing weight is a function of getting strong,” said DePasquale, who said that he tries to incorporate exercises resembling “what people do every day” into his workouts, like squats and push-ups.  But, perhaps more importantly, he makes his workouts fun, a word many may not equate with exercise.  

“I try to do things that people gravitate toward—it depends on the personality and comfort zone,” he said.

One thing that DePasquale cautions against, however, is the expectation that minimal effort is better than none at all.

“If you don’t do anything in between that time [one session per week], I can’t make everything better in an hour.”

Equinox has approximately 23 trainers at different levels of expertise from Tier 1, someone who has recently been hired, to Tier 4, a trainer whose expertise allows him or her to instruct other trainers.    

DePasquale—a Tier 3 trainer who is certified by the American Council on Exercise (ACE)—started working at Equinox in 2009 after a downsizing at his corporate job with Mitsubishi.  

“I had been working out all my life—it was an avocation of mine,” he said, regarding the career change. 

He admits the learning curve was “enormous” when he officially gave up a traditional 9-5 day to work on a schedule that revolves around his client’s needs and preferences, plus has him on his feet most of the day.

“I cherish my alone time,” admits DePasquale.

Despite the perils of the job, DePasquale said he loves teaching people and really enjoys what he does. 

He recalls the story of a client who came to him for free personal training sessions, vowing to not continue his services.  Not only has he been a client for two years now, but he also recommended his son and daughter to DePasquale for training.

“My satisfaction comes from teaching the 65-year-old to do a dead lift,” he said, continuing, “It’s not about ‘I lost 10 pounds and I’ll see you later'...you need to be fit for your entire life.”

To contact DePasquale directly, please email him at: trainervince@yahoo.com.