Danny Prasarnphanich

Co-Owner | HEAT Coach | Personal Trainer

I moved to Austin from Northern Virginia, October 2016, to start a new chapter and continue my career in personal training and coaching. However, I did not have a job or a place to train and coach, which made me extremely nervous about the move. Thankfully it didn't take long to find HEAT, which is kind of a funny story and truly a small world. Before the move, I had a friend/client whom I had been training for a couple of years who used to train here in Austin when she was at UT. I informed her about the move and she referred me to her old trainer (who is also a real estate agent), and said he could tell me about Austin's fitness industry and the real estate market. So, when I came to visit, I met up with him at what used to be Seventh Flag Coffee and as we chatted he actually told me about HEAT, where he also coached and trained. This trainer I'm referring to is Greg Gallindo, some of you may know him. He's a trainer at HEAT and was an OG coach. After our conversation I headed up to HEAT to check it out. Thankfully it was open and Sarah, studio manager at the time, greeted me and gave me a tour and explained what HEAT was about. 

I was sold. When I got home that day, I submitted an online application and Cody Butler (founder of HEAT) reached out about a week later to schedule a phone interview. 

I fondly remember that call because of how smoothly our conversation went and how surprised he was when he found out how much experience I had. He was so surprised, as was I because of his reaction. I thought he only hired trainers and coaches with multiple years of experience.

He asked me to come in for a second interview and to take a camp five days later. Honestly, I was so nervous coming in because after seeing all of the pictures of the trainers and reading their bios I thought I was completely out of their league in training and level of fitness. 

Thankfully and fortunately, I was hired. It only took about a month (November 2016) for me to find a studio to train and coach. However, I didn't coach my first camp until January 1, 2017. I had very large shoes to fill because Cody entrusted me to take over his prime-time camps on Monday and Wednesday evenings at 5:30 p.m.

Today, I focus on providing personal training, but I still love coaching camps. I'm happy and proud to say that I am co-owner of HEAT along with Haider Laghari. Something I've wanted to be and do several years into starting this career. When I first walked into HEAT and experienced what it stands for, I wanted to be a part of owning/operating something like it. Seeing its potential and community-focus mission, I wanted to grow with it and carry it forward.

When Haider became a part of the HEAT family and find out about where he wants us to grow, I knew I wanted to be included. It was finally time to commit and make an offer to become his business partner. 

A Dream Come True.

Now, the next step is to extend the dream's path and journey with the community. 

The HEAT family and community has truly been a second, third, and fourth family for me. I have found so much happiness through them and hope to pass this same experience to everyone that comes through.

As for me, besides HEAT being my life, I am very simple and probably kind of a boring person. I was a chef for about 10 years in my past career, focusing on many cuisines, mainly Mexican, French, Italian, and American. I worked at Rosa Mexicano in Washington, D.C.and Chevy Chase Club in Maryland before changing careers to personal training. I'm a big foodie and enjoy cooking at home. I'll talk food all day and probably eat it all day if I could. FYI, pizza is my go-to.

I also enjoy paddle-boarding, hiking and running on the trails — and of course exploring the Austin food scene.

I'm also an animal lover, mainly dogs, and have a Belgian Malinois named Kiko who is my sidekick, my child, and whom I try to take everywhere do everything with. Looking to find a brother for him, maybe I'll have one by the time you read this...