Testimonials

I would like to express my gratitude for Linda’s expert guidance in developing and helping me implement an exercise program that addressed my health issues and injuries.  She went way beyond what anyone could hope to expect from a personal trainer, because she was so knowledgeable about my condition and so attentive to what would work best for me. She gave me practical advice on how to incorporate these exercises into my daily schedule and I have had tremendous results after applying her principles and program into my life.  I am happy to say that I was able to successfully overcome limitations  and I am living a full and active lifestyle.  Her enthusiasm and love for what she does is contagious! Anyone who has the good fortune to work with her will be blessed.

I am grateful to Virginia Beach Recreation Centers for offering Tai Chi classes and to my Tai Chi instructor Mrs. Linda Dierkes for helping me understand both the movements and philosophy behind this discipline. Mrs. Dierkes’ attention to proper body structure and alignment has allowed me to progress at a rapid pace.
I know that Tai Chi is going to help me maintain healthy joints over the years ahead. The practice of Tai Chi provides me with a balanced perspective and an inner peace in a world that’s full of distractions. Thank you, Linda, for sharing your knowledge of Tai Chi and your encouragement as I apply the principles of Tai Chi to my everyday life.

I am a senior with balance and knee issues. Last year I started my quest to develop strategies to help me from falling. Through the gym I belong to at the time, I found Linda Dierkes to help me with improving my physical condition and guide me on techniques for preventing falls. I was impressed with Linda’s knowledge and experience of helping other seniors with balance issues when I reached out to her. Linda conducted an evaluation of my physical condition, agility, and reflexes. Linda then came up with a plan to improve my lower leg strength, core, and upper body. Before I started with Linda, I was tentative going down stairs feeling that my knee would give out. Fast forward, when COVID-19 virus restrictions caused my gym to close, I was concerned about not being able to have my sessions with Linda and that my progress would be adversely affected. Linda came up with the solution of having a one on one video conference so I could continue my sessions at home. I was skeptical at first, but Linda showed me these video sessions are a viable replacement for me. Now I prefer the video sessions. Today, I feel more confident going down stairs and my improved lower leg strength helped with my knee issues. I attribute these changes to Linda. Throughout my sessions with Linda, she conducts periodic evaluations on how I am doing and how I stack up other seniors. I highly recommend Linda as your personal fitness trainer.

Linda Dierkes has been my personal trainer for the last 3 months. She was recommended by my physical therapist at Slocum Orthopedics after hip replacement with Dr. Shaw. I needed a trainer who was in tune with my particular needs due to the surgery and Linda was a great match. She is a recipient of a hip replacement as well and has been sensitive to my body placement during our sessions. Her expertise helped me build strength, balance and much needed endurance as well as self confidence that I lost through many months of inactivity.
She always came to my home prepared to work on achieving more agility, flexibility or working around my limits if needed, with the skill of providing a good workout that was safe but challenging. Her attention was always focused on good form and showing me how to perform in an optimal way to make that days workout count.
Linda has become a valued ally in my progress and I would highly recommend her services to others who would benefit from her extensive skills.

Thank you for the opportunity to support Linda Dierkes. She has served as my fitness instructor for the last six months. She brings an excellent blend of rigor and support to the process. I am a former ultra-marathon cyclist who is rehabilitating from injury. Linda has been tremendously helpful in bringing me back to full mobility. I recommend her highly for anybody who desires optimal physical performance.

I worked with Linda Dierkes on not only losing weight but strengthening my core. She is a very friendly trainer who pushed me to succeed both in and out of our sessions. During training, she utilized outdoor activities to help me achieve my goals and to give me more creative workout ideas for home. We also worked together in the pool on strengthening my core and conditioning my muscles. It was because of her positive reinforcement that I signed up for swimming lessons at 32 years old and finally learned how to swim! I had knee surgery prior and she took my limitations seriously and developed a program that worked for me. As a nutrition specialist, Linda put together a grocery shopping list and meal plan for me. She also developed a workout plan for me to stick to for when we weren’t training together. Linda was always a great source of motivation and helped me to keep on progressing outside of our sessions. It is because of the foundation that she set for me that I’ve lost 20 lbs so far and have kept it off. I would recommend her as a trainer to anyone!

After years of allowing my body to “self adjust” to alleviate pain , I was introduced to Linda Dierkes, personal trainer.
Through evaluation, education and the gradual introduction of exercises for core strength, balance and agility, along with the introduction to Tai Chi for overall stability, Linda Dierkes has helped me to reach my goal of being pain free.
Drawing on her extensive experience with senior citizens, Linda impressed on me the need to dedicate myself to improving and maintaining my health through overall fitness—- and that means a daily commitment. To this end she designed a shortened personal program for me to continue on my own— a multi-tasking oriented program — which incorporates everything a senior citizen needs for overall fitness and stability.
As I continue on this daily program I remain ever grateful to Linda Dierkes for her commitment to help me along the way to good health in these “golden years” .

Linda is an amazing personal trainer.  She listened!  I have some medical issues that prevent some of the usual exercises.  She took in that information and adjusted exercises to work the same muscles, but in a safe, healthy way for me.  She helped me reach my goals over the time I worked with her by holding me accountable during each session.  In just 8 sessions, I lost a total of 5.6 pound, 2% body fat, and an overall 12.25 inches from the various measurements!  My clothes fit better, I have better energy and most of all stamina.  I quadrupled the amount of time I could hold a plank and was able by the end of my time working with her to swim the length of a pool!  I highly recommend her to anyone looking to get active and fit!

My name is Robert Meads and I live in Virginia Beach, VA. I met Linda Dierkes shortly after I was given a diagnosis of diabetes on March 28, 2016.

The doctor made it clear to me that I had to change my daily activities and diet if I wanted to control the situation. She was very clear on my not continuing on the path that I was on.

I contacted the Virginia Beach Recreational Center and advise them that I wanted to set up a program with a physical therapist and a program with a nutritionist. I was introduced to Linda Dierkes as my exercise specialist and nutritional specialist. Linda Dierkes introduced me to the concept that you do not need to over stress yourself in improving your exercise routine you just need to operate at 75% of your comfort zone. She also started me on a diet of more vegetables with lean meats and less read meat with the direction being towards a vegan diet.

The glucose and the hemoglobin A-1 immediately dropped into acceptable ranges. The HDL immediately moved up into acceptable ranges and the triglycerides immediately dropped into acceptable ranges. In the same time my weight dropped from 232 lbs to 203 lbs.

Linda Dierkes has shown me that it is possible to gain control without trying to over exercise or over diet. This important when you’re trying to establish a new regiment for yourself.

Her emphasis on the the proper exercise combined with tai chi and a reasonable diet has been a major impact on my now sustainable life.

Thank you Linda

I trained with Linda for 2 months straight and saw real results in the first month.  Not only did I lose inches, my stamina was much improved.   She was very easy-going to talk to and gave me achievable mini-workouts to do in between our sessions.   Her workouts were challenging but not overwhelming.  I highly recommend Linda as your personal fitness trainer.

Linda Dierkes is someone I highly recommend to assist anyone who wants to develop a SAFE effective workout routine that is geared to a individuals unique issues.   As a senior, I highly recommend Linda to anyone.  She has a special gift in assessing what a client needs.