Quality of Life Fitness

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About Dante Venegas, BS, ACE-CMES

Medical Exercise Specialist | Corrective & Functional Movement Specialist


Dante Venegas is a Medical Exercise Specialist with more than 15 years of professional experience designing and delivering evidence-based exercise programs for older adults, post-rehabilitation clients, and athletic populations. His practice emphasizes safe, progressive, and clinically informed movement strategies that bridge the gap between physical therapy and independent fitness.

Mr. Venegas holds a Bachelor of Science in Applied Arts and Sciences, with a minor in Biology, from San Diego State University, providing a strong academic foundation in human movement, anatomy, physiology, and health sciences. He also holds an American Bar Association–approved Certificate in Paralegal Studies from the University of San Diego, with an emphasis in real estate, business, and environmental law, reflecting a broad professional background grounded in ethics, documentation, and regulatory awareness.
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Clinical & Medical Exercise Background

Dante’s clinical experience includes internships and applied training with:
 

  • San Diego State University Student Health Services
  • Kate Grace Physical Therapy (San Diego, CA)
  • Select Physical Therapy (Los Angeles, CA)
  • University of Southern California Athletic Medicine
 
These experiences inform his collaborative approach with physicians, physical therapists, and other healthcare providers. His programs are designed to support continuity of care following discharge from physical therapy, orthopedic rehabilitation, or medical clearance for exercise.

Professional Experience

  • 25+ years as a Certified Personal Trainer with premier fitness organizations including Spare Time Clubs (Sacramento), Club One (San Francisco), and Equinox (Los Angeles)

  • 5 years as an elementary and secondary school Physical Education teacher
  • 2 years as a high school Sports Medicine instructor
 
This combination of clinical exposure, performance training, and education allows Mr. Venegas to effectively serve diverse populations across the lifespan—from youth and student-athletes to active older adults.
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Certifications & Continuing Education

  • American Council on Exercise (ACE) – Certified Medical Exercise Specialist (CMES)
  • CPR Certified

Continuing professional education includes advanced coursework and symposiums in:
 
  • Corrective exercise and post-rehabilitation programming
  • Functional movement training for older adults (“active agers”)
  • Lower back health and orthopedic considerations
  • Movement-based strength training
  • HIIT and metabolic conditioning (appropriately scaled)
  • Youth and athletic performance development
  • Nutrition fundamentals for health and recovery
  • Behavior change and client empowerment coaching

Areas of Focus

  • Medical exercise and post-rehabilitation conditioning

  • Functional movement screening and corrective exercise

  • Fall-prevention and balance training for older adults
  • Return-to-activity and return-to-sport programming
  • Chronic pain–informed exercise (back, joint, and mobility limitations)
  • Performance enhancement with injury-risk reduction
  • Metabolic disorders

Athletic & Personal Movement Background

Dante has participated competitively in basketball, baseball, football, track, swimming, tennis, ice hockey, skiing, and bowling, with tournament victories in baseball, tennis, and bowling. His personal training practice includes resistance training, functional strength work, soft-sand running, and sailing—reinforcing his commitment to lifelong, sustainable movement.

Physician & Provider Collaboration

Dante Venegas works within scope of practice and values clear communication with referring physicians, physical therapists, and healthcare providers. Exercise programming is individualized, progression-based, and aligned with medical history, functional limitations, and provider recommendations.