Strength at any age.
Confidence for life.
Functional Strength & Conditioning
Weight Lifting
Mobility Training
Darlene Arriola, CPT (BCRPA,) Vancouver, BC
Hello! I’m Darlene
I’m passionate about helping people of all ages and forms build strength, confidence, and ease through functional strength training.
I offer one-on-one sessions, small group classes, and introductory fitness consultations.
More about me
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After two decades designing human-centered solutions in the tech world, I’ve returned to something more grounded—helping real people build real strength. As a newly certified personal trainer based in Vancouver, I bring a deep belief that it’s never too late to start.
Whether you're recovering from a setback, trying to improve your balance, or simply want to feel better in your body, I’m here to support your journey with compassion, structure, and evidence-based movement.
I believe that anyone and everyone needs to start strength training—not to chase perfection, but to reclaim power, confidence, and ease in daily life.
Fitness doesn’t belong only to the young or the athletic. With the right medical, mental, and social support, every person can benefit from moving their body with purpose. It’s never too late to begin.
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BCRPA Certified Personal Trainer (Expected May 2025)
CPR-C / AED Certified
3-month in-depth personal training certification program with 140 hours of hands-on training time
Background in Human-Centered Design and Behavior Change Coaching from over 20 years in large organizations as a UX professional
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Building foundational strength and mobility
Supporting older adults with safe, functional training
Empowering individuals with medical conditions through modified programs
Using a coaching approach rooted in empathy, habit change, and body awareness
I’m committed to ongoing learning and professional development—especially in how to train older populations and those with medical conditions.
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To design ways to empower and facilitate the lives of those around me—so they can navigate life with more ease, confidence, and joy.
I believe that physical strength transforms more than just muscle—it supports the mind, uplifts the spirit, and reminds us what we’re capable of.
Personal Training Packages
Build strength, confidence, and ease, at your own pace
Whether you're just beginning your fitness journey or returning after a long break, I offer flexible and compassionate coaching to help you feel strong in your own body. Sessions are tailored to your current ability, goals, and comfort level.
“Start Where You Are”
Intro Package
$99 (One-time only)
Perfect for first-time clients who want to explore working with me.
1 x 60-minute Initial Consultation + Movement Assessment
1 x 60-minute Personalized Training Session
Summary of recommendations & customized starter routine
Option to roll this into a training package within 30 days
1:1 Personal Training
Single Session - $75
60 minutes
Includes pre-session check-in, personalized workout, and post-session summary
4-Session Package - $280
$70/session
Great for weekly training or short-term goal support
8-Session Package - $480
$60/session
Best value for consistent, focused progress
**Packages valid for 90 days. Sessions can be held in person (gym or home setup) or virtually via Zoom.
Small Group Training (2–4)
$40/person per session (60 minutes)
Train with a friend or family member and stay motivated together!
Includes customized programming for each participants.
Custom Training Plan only
(no sessions)
$125 – 4-week plan
Includes a virtual intake consultation and a detailed plan tailored to your goals, schedule, and equipment access. Includes email check-ins.
Have questions? Let’s talk! I offer free 15-minute consults to help you decide what’s right for you.
Use the form below to get in touch with me.
Let’s start where you are!
If you've been hesitant to try personal training, feeling like fitness is out of reach, worried you’re "too out of shape" or "too old to begin", I want you to know: you deserve to feel strong in your own body. And I’d be honored to help you get there.
Client Wellness Resource Directory
Recommended Practitioners & Services to Support Your Strength & Wellbeing
As part of a holistic approach to health, I believe in connecting you with qualified professionals who can support your journey—whether you're recovering from injury, improving your nutrition, or just looking for balance in your life. Here are some helpful services I recommend exploring.
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Myodetox Chinatown A modern physiotherapy and manual therapy clinic focused on proactive care and long-term movement health.
Jessie Wong, Physiotherapist Specializes in personalized rehabilitation programs and performance optimization. 📍 Myodetox Chinatown, Vancouver 🔗 Jessie Wong's Profile
Jenny Park, Physiotherapist Known for her holistic approach to injury prevention and recovery. 📍 Myodetox Chinatown, Vancouver 🔗 Jenny Park's Profile
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DaoEssence – Jacob Larmour, R.Ac
Jacob combines Traditional Chinese Medicine with a compassionate, individualized approach to healing. 📍 Vancouver, BC 🔗 daoessence.com
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Dr. Annie Gibson, ND
Dr. Gibson offers integrative naturopathic care, focusing on holistic wellness and preventive health strategies. 📍 Vancouver, BC 🔗 dranniegibson.com
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Canadian Mental Health Association | BC Division A website to help you find mental health support anywhere in the province of BC. 🔗 CMHA BC - Find Help Now
Stand Up For Mental Health A unique program teaching stand-up comedy to individuals with mental health challenges, promoting healing and reducing stigma. 📍 Vancouver, BC 🔗 Stand Up For Mental Health
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BC Council for Families Provides programs and resources to strengthen families, including parenting workshops and community initiatives. 📍 Vancouver, BC 🔗 bccf.ca
MOSAIC Supports immigrants and refugees with services ranging from employment assistance to community integration programs. 📍 Vancouver, BC 🔗 mosaicbc.org
Testimonials…
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“Darlene is an exceptional UX designer whose empathy enhances every project.
At Best Buy, she not only elevates her team but also acts as a supportive mentor and friend. Her leadership fosters a nurturing UX community, always providing advice and a listening ear. Working with her is a genuine pleasure.”
Nancy Yu Wen Sun worked with Darlene in the UX community of practice.
UX Designer, Best Buy Canada -
“I had a blast working alongside Darlene during her time at Best Buy Canada!
She is an exceptional UX Designer who not only rocks at her work, but also adds an invaluable element of positivity and warmth to our design community. Darlene's work as a UX Designer, focusing on various aspects of the e-commerce customer journey and internal employee experiences, was consistently top-notch. Her attention to detail and collaborative problem-solving skills greatly contributed to the success of the experiences she was involved in.
What truly sets Darlene apart is her incredible personality. She brightened our meetings with her friendliness, and her kind and supportive nature created a work environment where people felt valued and heard. She has a talent for making everyone around her feel at ease, and her good-humoured spirit added a touch of joy.
Darlene is not just a colleague; she's a friend and a remarkable team player. I highly recommend her for any role that requires a combination of professional expertise and a genuine, kind-hearted approach to collaboration.
It was a pleasure working with her, and I'm confident she will continue to shine in all her future endeavours.”
Carlo Reyes worked with Darlene in the UX community of practice.
UX Designer, Best Buy Canada -
"Darlene is truly a gem that I would recommend to any team.
I worked with her for 4 years, she really impressed me how from a very high level, sometimes vague requirements, she come and design the full experience from end to end, and seek for feedback and validation.
It is very refreshing to have a colleague with that level of deep knowledge on UX and understand so well the business. That alone guarantees and gives the confidence to all team members and gives clarity on what each team needs to achieve.
Darlene is not just awesome technically in her role, she is also a very pleasant co-worker, always looking to create and maintain a performant and fun work environment. She will be a powerful asset to any teams.
I really hope to work with her again in the future.”
Krishna Nadarassin collaborated closely with Darlene within a product team.
(former Senior Software Developer, Best Buy Canada) -
"Darlene is an excellent UX researcher and a great collaborator.
She makes everyone feel welcome and valued in any setting. She listens and empathizes with others, building trust and rapport. She is always learning and improving her skills, and welcomes constructive feedback. She is a positive and professional colleague who delivers impactful results. I strongly recommend Darlene for any role that involves interpersonal skills, empathy, and relationship-building.”
Matt Gardner managed Darlene directly.
(former UX Practice Lead, Best Buy Canada) -
“Darlene is a designer who truly puts users first
… and seeks to understand their challenges before solving the problem. Her empathy for the end user experience, and for her teammates, shows in her actions. She is a natural at applying the Design Thinking approach!”
Jennifer Coleman Co-facilitated Design Thinking workshops with Darlene.
Change Leadership Facilitator, SAP -
“I am delighted to recommend Darlene’s work as a User Experience designer.
Darlene’s interaction design skills are first rate: she has an innate understanding of how to design elegant, easy-to-use interfaces that are appropriate to the user tasks, and she is capable of taking the design lead on any project. Darlene has successfully collaborated with cross-functional project team members, including product managers, program managers, and developers, in order to create final designs that fulfill both user needs and project requirements/timelines. Darlene also has experience running usability studies and incorporating the analysis of the findings into the final design. Darlene would be an ideal asset to any [UX] team.”
Lee McIntyre managed Darlene directly.
(former UX Manager, SAP BusinessObjects)