Issue 124 – The Pawsonal Trainers Behind These Fitness Pros

Derek Kwik

Ultramarathon Racer

Growing up, Derek raised all kinds of animals. His most recent companion, Tommy the Salami, was a long-haired dachshund who recently passed away in November 2024 at 18 years old. His dog before that, a rescue from Los Angeles, named Jamie, moved with him to Hong Kong, and passed at 16 years of age. Both dogs were instrumental in supporting Derek’s various causes, including fundraising for the SPCA.

In 2000, Derek competed in his first-ever multi-day 500-kilometre expedition race. These races are specific, time-bound events that can range anywhere between 200 to 500 km, and are a true test of endurance and determination. To date, Derek has completed 21 ultramarathons across the world, and is set to compete in his 22nd ultramarathon race in Central Asia on 25 April – 4 May 2025, to help fundraise for the SPCA.

When asked how having pets has helped him on his fitness journey, Derek said “Canine ownership significantly enhanced my fitness journey by providing me with motivation, companionship, and emotional support. My dogs also helped to alleviate stress, boost mood, and foster resilience, offering unwavering emotional support on tough training days when I came home and was greeted by a furiously wagging tail.”

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Utah Lee

Nike Master Trainer

Mother of two and Nike Master Trainer, Utah Lee, has over two decades of experience in the fitness industry, promoting fitness in local, regional, and global campaigns, both in front and behind cameras.

The long-time dog lover has previously adopted two dogs from the SPCA; Schnauzer, SaSa and mixed breed, Tofu – the latter of which provided her a great deal of comfort and support during her first pregnancy. She recalls “I got the chills out of nowhere while sleeping and Tofu knew, he jumped up and cuddled up with me until I felt warm again…he was the best dog ever.”

Utah currently has three mixed-breed dogs – 10-year-old, Yogi, four-year-old, Kato and two-year-old, Pickle Juice – two of which were adopted from the SPCA. “They all have their personalities and we just adore each one of them.”
When asked how her pets have influenced her lifestyle, she says “You have to be active when it comes to owning dogs because they need to be outside; walking, running, doing their business and socialising with [other] dogs… On days that you are feeling lazy, you have dogs that are scheduled to walk four times a day, at least 20 minutes each; that’s our mind and body [wellness] routine right there.”

Utah previously participated in SPCA’s Drink for Paws event in October 2024 as a guest bartender, helping raise HK$15,050 for animals in need. This April she plans to kick off our Fit for Paws campaign by hosting a group workout at Dogathon on 4 April 2025.

Calvin Au Yeung

University Lecturer and Strength & Conditioning Coach

Physical Education lecturer and Founder of ClassicCal Fitness, Calvin Au Yeung, always had a love for dogs growing up, but didn’t get his first dog, Duke, until later in life when his dad retired.
Noticing a change in his dad’s physical and mental well-being post-retirement, Calvin suggested getting a dog in the hopes it would encourage his dad to get out more and be more active.
Although Calvin’s dad was initially resistant to the idea, taking Duke out for walks soon became his favourite thing to do, and Calvin soon noticed marked improvements to not only his dad’s physical health, but the family’s overall mental health.
“I wouldn’t say he was a therapy dog but he brought happiness [to my dad’s life] and gave him something to do, and to prioritise” Calvin says.

Calvin has since adopted a second dog named Bruno, and states “you can never have too many dogs”. When Calvin is not spending time with his two dogs, he helps people achieve their full athletic potential and educates people on the importance and benefits of exercise. He participated as a guest bartender for a fundraiser with Thirsty Shaker in May 2024, which helped raise HK$17,225 for the SPCA, and has also run the 100 km long MacLehose Trail to raise money for another local dog shelter. Calvin will be hosting a group workout to raise funds for the SPCA through our Fit for Paws campaign! Watch this space.

Toby Moo

Personal Trainer & Bodybuilder

Toby Moo works as a Personal Trainer at a gym in Central called MotionPlus, where she specialises in pre and post-natal training, and frequently brings her four-year-old corgi, Chestnut, along to work with her.

Toby says “preparing for bodybuilding competitions can be mentally and physically exhausting.”
One of the requirements during her preparation is to walk more, which is made more enjoyable with Chestnut. Toby says “Chestnut is my best walking buddy.”

Prior to getting Chestnut, Toby admits to not knowing much about dog ownership and says “I felt like I was a new mum, I had no clue what to do with a lot of things. Since [getting] her, I try my best to understand more about how to care for them and what they need. I even took a pet nurse course last year, so I know what to do in an emergency [in case something happens to her].”

Toby has found Chestnut’s companionship and presence at the gym helps create a great atmosphere that encourages clients to hang around even after training sessions and as a result, encourages others to bring their pets along to training sessions. She hopes that exposure to these furry companions can influence non-pet-owners to consider adopting one.

Wesley Lo & Winnie Ng

CrossFit Coaches & Athletes

CrossFit coaches, Wesley Lo and Winnie Ng, founded Apeiron Performance, an affiliated CrossFit box in Wan Chai, in 2022, offering CrossFit and Hyrox group training to their members.

The couple are not just committed to their sport but also to developing a local CrossFit community in Hong Kong. Each workout session starts with a personal question to help break the ice and allow their members to get to know one another. With their box open seven days a week, the couple, also competitive athletes, split their days between their training and running classes in their gym. In their downtime, they enjoy spending time with their three-year-old cats, Sley, and Ngo Ngo.

Winnie says “Having cats makes our lives happier and more meaningful. We fully understand the importance of their companionship in every aspect of life, including our fitness journey and training, so we are big advocates in allowing our members to bring pets to our box.”

Of course, this depends on the pet’s personality, and everybody’s safety is paramount. But there’s no denying that animals are great companions and facilitators of social connection and are being recognised as such in the fitness community.

Apeiron Performance are offering a free trial to Pawprint readers and donating 5% of successful membership sign ups to the SPCA between now and June 2025. For more details, WhatsApp (+852) 6849 7222.