Today we’d like to introduce you to Dani Iosefo.
Hi Dani, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Here’s a first-person version that weaves everything together and reads like you’re actually talking to the interviewer:
My path to fitness ownership has taken me all over the world, literally. I earned my Doctorate in Athletic Training from Indiana State University, studied under world-renowned surgeons at the Steadman Clinic in Vail, Colorado, worked internationally at the Australian College of Sport and Fitness, and traveled the globe as an Athletic Trainer with USA Rugby. Along the way, I became a certified strength and conditioning coach, and I’ve had the privilege of helping hundreds of people – whether that’s guiding someone through their very first squat, helping them conquer chronic back pain, or coaching elite athletes to national-level competition.
In 2014, I founded Iron Pineapple Fitness. A name that started as a workout buddy’s playful nickname for my signature top bun. What began as an inside joke grew into something much bigger: a movement built around eliminating limitations, building confidence, and maximizing strength.
My chapter in West Linn started in 2022, when I joined Epic Fitness as a coach. I fell in love with the community that founder Connie Sutherland had built, and when the opportunity came to purchase the gym from her, I jumped at the chance to carry that legacy forward and make it my own.
These days, life is beautifully full, and absolutely crazy. I’m raising two toddler boys who keep me on my toes (turns out coaching athletes is great training for chasing little ones) and still have my full time sales job with Interpath Labs. My team of incredible coaches, and my village of friends and family make it all possible. Helping people move, feel, and perform at their best is my ultimate dream.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Smooth? HA not even close. I won’t sugarcoat it: this has been one of the most challenging seasons of my life.
I’m juggling the gym, a full-time sales job, two toddler boys, and a marriage all at the same time. I call it my 5-9, my 9-5, and my 5-9. Every single day I go straight from a sales call to coaching a class or managing the gym to bedtime stories, and I’m honestly not sure how it all fits into 24 hours. I run almost entirely on coffee and I’m still waiting for Alani to sponsor me haha
The hardest part is that everything I’m juggling matters deeply to me. Learning to give myself grace and accepting that not every day will be balanced, but every week can be has been a work in progress.
I could not have done any of this without the people around me. My husband and family have carried more than their share while I’ve chased this dream. And Connie, the founder of Epic Fitness, has supported this passing of the torch in a way I will never be able to thank her enough for. She didn’t just hand me keys to a building, she trusted me with a community she spent years building, and she’s cheered me on through every stumble since. That kind of support is rare, and I don’t take it for granted.
The road hasn’t been smooth, but honestly I thrive in the chaos.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Epic Fitness?
Epic Fitness is a community-driven gym in West Linn specializing in coach-led group training for every stage of life. We serve the community at all ages – from our youth athlete program (Epic YAP) to adults in their 40s, 50s, and beyond who want to move, feel, and perform at their best.
What sets us apart is the coaching: with my background in athletic training and strength and conditioning, every class is built on real science, not fitness fads, and scaled to meet you exactly where you are. But what I’m most proud of is the community we’ve built and the coaching staff who leads them. This is a gym where members become friends, show up for each other, and turn out for events like our annual Epic Dry Tri and community fun runs. If you’ve ever felt intimidated by fitness, this is the place where that feeling disappears.
What were you like growing up?
I liked most sports and tried just about everything, but dance was my obsession – I lived and breathed it growing up. If I wasn’t at practice, I was probably choreographing something in the living room or fixating on film to perfect the craft. Staying active wasn’t something I did; it was who I was, and honestly, it still is. I never really had one set friend group either. Instead, I had a bunch of people I loved from all different corners of my life, and I’d bring them together to create my own close circle.
Pricing:
- Monthly Membership: $159.99
- 8-Pack class: $175
- Drop in class: $25
- Dry Triathlon Sept 12th: $75 solo/ $99 relay
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.epic-fitness.net
- Instagram: @epic.fitness.westlinn
- Facebook: @epic.fitness.westlinn
