Have Dee Speak to Your Group

Dear Dee Hakala:

It was such a joy to meet you and participate in one of your wonderful "ENCOUNTERS," for calling what you do a fitness session does not begin to capture the powerful way that you enter people's lives in the interest of their own lives. I can still see and hear you, and there are times when I am doing my exercise that I chuckle to myself, recalling a "Dee-ism."

Thank you so much for sending me material on New Face of Fitness. I am sharing it with colleagues here at Spelman with the hope that we might be able to bring you to our campus to do what you do so well: get womenfolks moving!

With all good wishes, I am

Sisterly yours,

Johnnetta B. Cole
President
Spelman College

Are you looking for someone to inspire and motivate your group? If so, I would like to recommend Dee Hakala. Dee was the keynote speaker for our National Senior Health & Fitness Day Celebration. Dee kept the seniors smiling, laughing, and moving. The seniors had so much fun listening to Dee's inspiring message and moving to Dee's chair workout. Dee made the day a great success! Everyone left the celebration with the knowledge and feeling that they could improve their health and fitness.

Just give Dee a call - she will return all phone messages and will keep in touch as the plans develop. Dee is easy to work with and she is willing to help in anyway that she can. I enjoyed Dee and look forward to working with her in the future. If you have any questions, please call me at (904) 747-7858.

Sincerely,

Angle Hankii
Senior Friends Advisor

"You don't need a thong to belong. There are many misconceptions about fitness and body image. Not everyone can be or should be a size 3."

- Dee Hakala, fitness and health expert.

Dee Hakala electrifies, energizes and motivates audiences. In 1994, Dee Hakala became the first recipient of the Nike Fitness Innovation Award for her program, New Face of Fitness. Selected to receive this award by a panel of fitness industry professionals, New Face of Fitness goes where few have been successful - it meets the needs of those who are extremely overweight or out-of-condition and brings health and wellness into their lives.

Once weighing more than 300 lbs., Dee based this program on her own experiences. Although now fit and toned. Dee is still a large woman. She is certified as a Health/Fitness Instructor by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). Also, she is an ACE-certified fitness instructor, personal trainer and continuing education provider and an AFAA-certified fitness instructor. Her program incorporates physical activity, behavior modification, support and celebration. This is not a diet; participants are advised to throw away their scales. Participants measure inches, not pounds.

February 3, 2000

To Whom It May Concern,

The Hamilton (Ontario) YWCA and Hamilton Health Sciences are in the third year of presenting a series to our community entitled "Feel Good Wellness".

The series is directed primarily at women and their concerns; be they physical, emotional or spiritual.

Dee Hakala, the originator of the New Face of Fitness, was our featured presenter in January 2000.

Dee is one of the most dynamic speakers I have had the pleasure to listen to. She is a powerhouse of energy and exudes positive vibrations. She has a real gift in being able to reach out and touch her audience. I saw the response in others and certainly felt the response in myself. Her message is profound and touching. She presents her message with candor and humour. It was a pleasure to be part of the listening audience.

Sincerely,

Maureen O'Hare
Feel Good Wellness Series
Hamilton YWCA

Dee is making over the face of fitness. She underscores that fitness comes in all shapes and sizes - success is based on health and wellness, not size and ability.

Her book, "Thin is Just a Four-Letter Word, Living Fit - For all Shapes and Sizes," Little, Brown and Company, is now in bookstores nationwide. A member of the National Speakers Association, Dee has taken her message to scores of groups and associations throughout the U.S.

A wide range of topics and motivational addresses in formats for consumer and corporate audiences and health & fitness industry professionals, these include:

Body Image: To perceive or not to perceive. An examination of body image perceptions and misconceptions. This address will enlighten and inform. As a result, you will redefine perceptions regarding your body image and others. Available in workshop format, too.

The "T" Factor: I don't have time for myself! No time for exercise? The most frequently cited reasons for not exercising is time, time and time. How do we manage our time? There never seems to be enough of it. Includes practical stress management techniques. This topic may be expanded into a workshop that provides tools to manage time to achieve healthier lifestyle habits,

New Face of Fitness: A motivational address that includes Dee's personal background, provides personal examples and highlights practical tools for creating and maintaining healthy lifestyle habits. Dee's own journey to health and fitness is compelling.

"Tailor Made" for YOU: Presentations and workshops based on individual requests.

Fat vs. Fit - Perceptions and Misconceptions
Lecture/Panel/Discussion

The panel discussion creates an audience participation format, where a panel of diverse professionals and consumers relate their views on fitness, the industry, personal experiences while providing instant feedback on important issues including: why inactive persons aren't in the gyms, clubs, consumers' perceptions of the fitness industry, fitness professionals' perceptions of overweight, obese people along with the perceptions and misconceptions about the Fat vs. Fit issue from consumer and fitness professional view point. Opening lecture and moderation of this session is conducted by Dee Hakala, the panel has been professionally trained with Dee. Open floor format provides for interaction between panel and audience (2-4 hour time frame)

Couch Potatoes Sprout! Motivating Inactive Individuals to Move
Info-Workshop-lecture & workout

This "get-up-and-get-at-it" Info-workshop offers insights and tools to create a non-intimidating environment so that inactive people will enter the fitness environment. We'll explore and examine perceptions and misconceptions about the fitness industry, consumers and professionals. Policies, procedures, cueing, class instruction, personnel and marketing techniques will be examined, with tools provided to create fitness-friendly environments. These new tools will reach and welcome inactive individuals into an active lifestyle. (2-4 hour time frame)

Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation

February 16,2000

Dear Dee:

Thank you for coming to Hamilton and our hospital to share your wonderful presentation "Couch Potatoes Sprout! Motivating Inactive Individuals to Move". As an organization employing more than 8,000 employees the feedback from those who attended was overwhelmingly positive - your mix of humor, compassion and practical ideas to change lives was key to the success of your message. Please never stop what you are doing - you have the right ingredients to motivate people and make a difference!

We look forward to having you back some time in the future. Please keep in touch.

Sincerely,

Sue Smith
Clinical Manager Operating Rooms and Post Anesthetic Recovery Rooms
Community Health Programme - HHSC

Consulting on a project basis includes: material reviews, inactive programming, health and fitness agendas, marketing to the inactive and other related topics.

Invite Dee Hakala to inspire and motivate your group. For information about scheduling, call:

New Face of Fitness
Toll Free: 877-364-4288
Dee Hakala - Illinois: 630-375-6539
Dee@newfaceoffitness.com

Michelle D'Amore
Aenhance Fitness
Exercise Physiologist
Aetna,Inc.

April 23, 1997

It gives me great pleasure to write a recommendation on behalf of Dee Hakala. as the Aenhance Group Committee Leader. Aenhance is Aetna's in house fitness and health promotion program dedicated to the well being of its employees.

As the Aenhance Group Committee Leader, I had the fortunate pleasure of hearing Dee Hakala speak at the 1996 IDEA conference in Orlando. Florida. Dee's presentation focused on her recent book, "Thin is Just a Four Letter Word: Living Fit For All Shapes and Sizes". Her message captivated myself, as well as the entire audience.

Upon returning to Connecticut, I was excited to share with my colleagues Dee Hakala's concerns and strategies for our inactive employees, and how it would benefit our Aenhance Wellness Program. She educates her audience about her personal experience of going from the couch to beginning an exercise regime. Dee's target market is the individual who is sedentary, inactive and deconditioned.

Dee Hakala spoke to 1000 of Aetna's employees on February 26, 1997. Dee captivated these employees and motivated them into joining an exercise program which, as Dee says, "they rightfully deserve". Her energy, sensitivity, and overall caring for people lifted Aetna's employees to a level which they were unaware they could be taken. Dee's motivation and energy during her presentations were only the beginning of what we hoped to be one of the most successful programs here at Aetna. While spending two days with Dee, I had the opportunity to interact with her on a professional and personal level. Her sensitivity, deep desire to help, and compassion was evident during casual conversation.

I wholeheartedly endorse Dee's character and ability. She is a credit to the fitness industry.

Respectively,

Michelle D'Amore

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